The Brick Magazine: April 2018

BRICK

THE

APRIL 2018

MAGAZINE

ANN ARBOR

SPRING CLEANING: THE CLOSET CLEANSE FIND YOUR INNER COMPASS

PLUS! ON BEING A MENTOR A CONVERSATION WITH ERIN BURKE FROM ROCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL

Janelle Reichman

HITTING ALL THE RIGHT NOTES

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THE

BRICK MAGAZINE

APRIL 2018

Publisher • Sarah Whitsett Assistant to the publisher • Jillian Fraioli

Art Director • Jennifer Knutson

Copy Editor • Angelina Bielby

Marketing Director • Steve DeBruler

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Contributors >>

Ryan Brooks

Angela Harrison

Randi Rubenstein

Erin Burke

Sharon Lawlor

Stephanie Saline

Kristen Domingue

Lisa Nogueira

Maria Sylvester

Lisa Profera

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CONTENTS 8 13

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THE BRICK MAGAZINE makes every effort to provide accurate information in advertising, editorial content and placement; however, we cannot make any claims as to the accuracy of information provided by advertisers or editorial contributors and will accept no responsibility or liability for inaccurate information or placement. No content can be duplicated without the permission of The Brick Magazine, LLC

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Janelle Reichman Hitting All the Right Notes Find Your Inner Compass Spring Into the Art of Being On Being a Mentor Woman on the Street A Campfire in the Darkness

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Can I Sell You Something Green?

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Spring Clean Your Body

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Spring Is the Perfect Time to Reset and Reboot!

Spring is In the Hair Spring Cleaning The Closet Cleanse

It’s going to be a new year, let’s create your new look

Ryan Brooks Cut and Color Specialist

470 Briarwood Circle | Ann Arbor, MI | 734.214.3200 | trichosalonandspa.com

Janelle Reichman

8 | The Brick Magazine

HITTING ALL THE RIGHT NOTES

M

by Kristen Domingue and Janelle Reichman

eet Janelle Reichman, a world-famous jazz clarinetist and web designer. We caught up with Janelle to learn how she’s bridging the gap between what she loves and what she does, and allowing these to be one and the same in both of her careers. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Musical Beginnings

Stepping into the World of Jazz At this point in my musical studies, I’d been playing clarinet classically for four years. I knew all my scales and I was very good at reading notes on the page with great expression. But now, in this tiny music room at Community, I was encouraged to stop reading notes on the page. I was given permission to make up my own notes instead.

I was ten years old when someone handed me a clarinet and told me, “Curl your bottom lip over your teeth, put the mouthpiece in your mouth, and say TOO.” I did just that, and while I’m sure to others the sound that came out was a far cry from melodious, to me it was just about the most wonderful sound I’d ever heard. I quickly fell in love with the clarinet and played it every chance I got, including in the concert and jazz bands at school, in Michigan All State Band, as well as in a woodwind quintet through The Ann Arbor School for the Performing Arts. I didn’t realize it at the time, but what a gift it was to find something I was passionate about at such a young age. Playing the clarinet gave me a newfound confidence I hadn’t before possessed. Like many other people, my middle school years were filled with all sorts of embarrassing and awkward moments that I don’t care to remember.

But one thing I do remember is walking into the band room each day and knowing that I belonged.

As the final days of middle school were fast approaching, one day my band conductor wanted to speak with me privately. He mentioned a jazz improvisation program at Community High School and told me he had a sense that I would flourish there. I didn’t understand what he meant exactly, but I remembered what he said. Community High School’s admission was lottery-based, so when I found out I was lucky number 16 on the acceptance list, I decided to see what this jazz improvisation program was all about.

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How terrifying.

But fascinatingly, I found that once I started making up my own notes and melodies and rhythms, I didn’t want to stop. Classical music had always been fun, but in jazz I found an outlet for developing a unique and personal voice as a soloist and improviser. I felt I was putting the essence of myself into the music in a way I hadn’t before. I knew that jazz was my future. It felt like a realm where creativity, discovery, and growth had no limits.

Life in the Big City and a New Calling Fast forward 10 years and I was living in New York City making a living as a full-time jazz musician — “living the dream.” I had achieved a definite level of success: I’d had the opportunity to perform all over the country and the world with a wide variety of musical ensembles, and I also had a full studio of private students. I’d played at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, in Broadway shows and The Big Apple Circus — and everywhere in between. My life was varied, rich, and continually filled with new experiences. And yet, I knew that something was missing.

I felt a longing inside me to help others in a more tangible way than I was getting from performing music. I love playing music — I always will — but after several years of a full-time music career in the big city, I felt a need inside me that music wasn’t satisfying.

So one day in my Brooklyn apartment, I sat down at my desk and made a list of things I thought I was or could be good at. There were a number of items there, but one stood out to me: Web Design. I put this on my list because I remembered that back in high school 10 | The Brick Magazine

I’d taught myself HTML (a basic coding language for websites). Plus, I’ve always been a visually creative person. It seemed like it might be a good fit.

The website I was using for my musical career at that time was built from a template that almost all jazz musicians were using at the time. In other words, it looked almost identical to everyone else’s. It was a completely cookie-cutter website, and, to be perfectly frank, I hated it.

As I sat at my desk that day in my Brooklyn apartment, looking down at the words “Web Design,” I made a vow to myself right then and there, one that would change everything.

I’m going to learn how to make websites, and I’m going to be great at it. My very first one is going to be my own, and it’s going to be unique to me.

Those words and that vow quite literally launched me into action. Over the course of the next year, I invested in a stack of books, online courses, and a personal coach to help me stay on track towards my goal of becoming a professional web designer. As I worked to learn as much as I could, it was as though there was a fire underneath me. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt so excited about something. This excitement told me I was on the right path.

Bumps in the Road … and Success On my journey to launching my web design business, I encountered a fair number of people who I like to call “The Naysayers.” These are people who, for whatever reason, tell you that you can’t realize your dream — that you shouldn’t even try. One naysayer I remember

in particular was my tax preparer in New York City.

When I went to see him for my yearly visit and proudly announced to him that I was starting a web design business, he literally groaned and said, “The world has a million web designers. Good luck with that one.”

Of course, I should have fired him right then and there, walked out of that office, and erased his words from my mind. But that’s not what happened. In fact, I took what he said to heart. I believed him. After our meeting, I returned home, completely discouraged.

I called my mom and told her I’d realized that my idea of starting a web design business was just a lofty dream, and that there was no way I could succeed.

After all, the world has a million web designers. Why do they need me?

She laughed quietly and said, “Janelle, it’s true that the world has many web designers — but none of them are you.”

Sometimes moms know just the perfect thing to say.

Her words became my personal anthem as I forged ahead toward my goal. Those words gave me the strength to ignore all the naysayers as I worked to build my skillset, as I launched my web design business, and as I began to design and build websites for other musicians in the New York City area.

Five years later, I’d built websites for over 50 musicians. The satisfaction, fulfillment, and pride that I was experiencing from my work in web design is hard to put into words. I felt I was truly making a difference in these musicians’ lives.

The Journey Back Home Life in New York can be many things. Certainly, it’s exciting, interesting, and fast-paced — but it also can be exhausting, all-encompassing, and isolating.

Around this time, my sister had a son and moved back to Ann Arbor to be closer to my parents. I started making monthly weekend trips back home to build a relationship with my nephew. As I made more and more of these trips, I began to feel that things in Ann Arbor just flowed and felt right. I attended a local WordPress meetup group where I was warmly welcomed and where I met great people. A group of women friends from high school I’d lost touch with reached out to me and we reconnected. It felt as though we picked up right where we’d left off. On trips back to Ann Arbor I felt relaxed, peaceful, and like myself. In comparison, I found that when I’d go

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back to New York, I’d feel overwhelmed and often lonely. I knew that it was time to come back home.

The Day-to-Day of Living a Life I Love My life here in Ann Arbor is so much more than I could have imagined. I get to run a web design business in which I work with musicians and artists, yes, but also entrepreneurs and business owners of all kinds.

Though my clients are varied, they all have one thing in common: they’ve created a business out of what they truly love and feel called to. Getting to tell their story and support them quite simply makes my world go ‘round.

When I first arrived back in Ann Arbor, believe it or not, I thought I had lost my love for music. Even though I felt burned out by life in the big city, I surprised myself when after I returned, I didn’t touch my instruments for almost two months. But then something wonderful happened. Being back home provided me with the space and time I needed to rediscover my passion for music and performing.

Although my web design business is now full-time, I spend at least two or three evenings a week out performing with a variety of music groups in Ann April 2018 | 11

A New Look, A New Name By the time this article is published, I will have launched a total rebrand of my web design business — including a new name. I thought up my former business name, Continuum Web Design, eight years ago when I started my business. It sounded good at the time, so I went with it. But after my journey of building this business from the ground up, rediscovering my home of Ann Arbor, and finding myself again, I wanted to create a brand that had a lot more of me in it, that felt authentic and true, and that I could put my heart and soul into.

With the help of some truly amazing professionals I’ve met in the Ann Arbor area, I’ve created my new business name: Ellanyze.

It’s a portmanteau of the words Ella (meaning “she”) and Synchronize. Ellanyze represents both the strong feminine spirit that I bring to my work and designs, as well the synchronization that happens in my work: I see a person for who they are, and I create a design that’s a harmonious reflection of that. I couldn’t be more excited about Ellanyze and all the people I’m going to get to work with as a result.

Reflections If I could go back in time and speak to my younger self, I would say this: If you have a vision of yourself doing something and you know in your heart that you could be great at it, don’t listen to the naysayers. They know not what you can do. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Arbor and beyond. There are many high-caliber jazz musicians in Southeastern Michigan, and I feel incredibly grateful to have been welcomed back into the local music scene after being away for so long.

When I left New York, I wondered if my musical connections there would dry up. Much to my surprise and delight, quite the opposite has happened. I now fly back to New York on average once every three months to perform. In January of 2017, I was a featured soloist with The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis — certainly the most thrilling and important opportunity of my jazz career so far.

Who would’ve thought that when I followed my heart and left the big city, that my musical career in NYC would continue to flourish?

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What we noticed from our time with Janelle is that being yourself, living an authentic life, and “finding your purpose” is a series of choices. These choices are simply about saying yes to what you love and to what gives you life, while having the courage to let go of anything that stands in your way.

Kristen M. Domingue is a copywriter and content marketing consultant in the New York City area. When she’s not delivering on client projects, you can find her cooking up something gluten-free or in an internet rabbit hole on entrepreneurship or astrology.

Inner Compass FIND YOUR

by Sharon Lawlor

M

y journey is everunfolding. I am a deep feeler, and I cherish meaning. At my core, I seek deep dives to explore the mysteries of the universe, the power of the mind-body connection, and the connections between all living things.

Growing up I was quiet, very internal, reflective. Building relationships with nature really spoke to me.

I played in my sandbox connecting with maple seeds and started maple tree seedlings. I went door-to-door with my red wagon gifting these

seedlings for any donation.

My uncle tucked me into bed one evening and treated me to a guided meditation in nature, opening up a whole new world for me.

My father had a pocket-watch that

April 2018 | 13

he had repaired three times, but it never kept working. I intuitively placed it in my hands, closed my eyes and visualized it working, sending it healing energy (which I did not have language for at the time). It kept perfect time after that.

Later, at my grandparents’ home in the country, I immersed myself in the nature there. I spent my time walking among the trees and fields, feeding horses, boating on the serene fishing lake, in awe of the beauty of the lily pads, and connecting with food plants in their vegetable garden. My love for nature expanded from my time there and had a lasting impact on me. All of these experiences assisted in my path, and I am so grateful for them.

As an empath, I am highly sensitive; I feel emotions and energy around me.

I tap into my intuition in my work and

14 | The Brick Magazine

all of these messages guide me. I am also invested in leaving the world a better place. For me, this is my life’s work — I’m here to awaken others.

Not so long ago, though, my road was a bumpy one, full of anguish and dissatisfaction. I always felt as though I wasn’t enough, that I had to push to get things done — late nights, little sleep, always working. I was spinning; stuck in a cycle and not going anywhere — this was my hamster wheel. “If I just do more, then surely that will get me out of my rut,” was my belief then. It brought me to my breaking point.

I was last on my list and never made it to the top. It felt as though my soul was withering away and I was disconnected from my dreams and aspirations. One day I finally chose to start feeling again. I was finally able to listen to my heart, and it was asking, “What makes you joyful?”

You know what the key was for me?

CREATIVITY. I believe creativity is the life force that flows through our beings.

Everyone is creative, but we forget.

Creativity may show up in many ways — through cooking, raising a family, organizing, building a business, how one goes through life, etc. When consciously and intentionally living life, that creative life force awakens and juices our system, energizing all that we create.

According to my husband, when I am in my creative process there is a softness to me and a glow to my skin.

Yes! I love that!

How did I navigate this? I listen to this inner voice. Oh, how I listen. This is my inner compass — my true north star. If you have ever seen Pirates of the Caribbean, you may know about

Jack Sparrow’s compass. His unusual navigational instrument points in the direction of what he most desires. I see this as his north star.

I had to say yes to myself, to give myself the space to find and follow my north star.

I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. I’m a Licensed Massage Therapist Certified in Pregnancy & Postnatal Massage, Reiki Master, Certified Color of Woman Teacher and Intentional Creativity Coach. I’ve been a Massage Therapist since 2005, and have extensive training in Lymphatic Drainage Therapy, Craniosacral Therapy, Chi Nei Tsang (a five-element detox abdominal massage), and Reflexology.

I draw from my eclectic mix of bodywork and intentional creativity training. I feel exactly what the tissues under my hands need — listening ever so closely to them and the body. I love to incorporate essential oils, flower essences, healing sound with Tibetan singing bowls and tuning forks, healing gemstones, guided visualizations, breath-work, movement, and elemental card pulls for messages, or other healing tools into sessions.

I work with the energies of the seasons (fall, winter, spring, summer), the realms of nature (water, earth, air, fire, spirit), and the five elements (water, earth, fire, metal, wood) to move the energy within clients. I’ve been studying the forces of creation with my teacher, Lisa Michaels, since 2014 to become a certified Natural Rhythms™ Creation Coach and Facilitator.

Here are my own words in what I call my Artist Statement: I am guided by the beauty in all things, mesmerized with the

interconnectedness the universe holds. Deep in the unconscious, I gather my inspirations, intuitively expressing those symbols for healing. Consecrating them together energetically onto my canvas, it’s a journey of self-discovery building my connection to self and the Divine using intentional creativity and mindfulness.

I’m a bodyworker, healer, and artist.

Some call me a Transformational Healing Artist. I am an intuitive guide and mentor; I help bring more calm, peace, and stillness to others’ lives so they can hear the universe speak to them too.

I use the Color of Woman Intentional Creativity™ painting method, taught by Shiloh Sophia, with acrylics on canvas, paper, or wood. I am a Certified Color of Woman Teacher and an Intentional Creativity Coach through her Intentional Creativity Foundation.

Shiloh studied with Sue Hoya Sellars throughout her life, and Sue mentored with Lenore Thomas Straus before that. Through this lineage, I now can pass on the wisdom.

Connecting nature with inquiry is one of my magical ways to receive guidance from the Universe, and I mirror this reflection back to those I work with on this level in their own Medicine Walks.

In all my work, Intentional Creativity™ leads the way for the artist and healer in me to come through, and alchemy happens. This is so magical to me and lights my soul fire! I believe that to consciously conceive something is to bring one’s intention, love, and energy to the desired situation. This act in itself opens up the creative flow of the second chakra and water element, tapping into the One’s greatness.

It is within this container that I create a safe, sacred space for others to reconnect to their true essence and awaken their most authentic self. To light one’s spark.

To birth the beauty within.

Next month, we’ll dig deeper into who this work is for and what they may be experiencing. Plus, how bodywork and other modalities integrate with this approach.

I teach others this tool for their self-empowering healing and transformation to bring the feminine into being in a step-by-step process individually with women, as well as facilitating group workshops. It soon became my spiritual practice; my devotion to my Beloved, the Divine. Art had always held many facets in my life, but until I had big life questions, it didn’t have meaning.

I am blessed and want others to experience this too.

Sharon Marie helps clients create spaciousness within for them to pause, connect to their heart, and feel a new sense of peace. She brings so much compassion and understanding to her clients as she holds space for them on their journey.

Her suite is the perfect space for her work, providing a safe and sacred container for her clients to fully relax. Sharon’s eclectic mix of modalities include healing massage and bodywork, infrared sauna, medicine walks in nature, the natural rhythms and elements in nature, the wisdom of the seasons, and creativity for healing.

I tap into the Natural Rhythms™ of the season and the energy of the earth to help bring more ease and grace into life. I help bring this awareness to others as well.

Sharon Marie, Founder and Creative Director at Tranquil Being. Contact her through email connect@tranquilbeing. com or call 734-761-8753. She’s located at Tranquil Being, 320 Miller Ave, Suite 185, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

April 2018 | 15

SPRING INTO THE ART OF BEING

by Maria Sylvester, MSW, CPC

S

pring is upon us! And as nature is welcoming in this time of glorious new beginnings, perhaps you too will be inspired for some fresh starts. The spring

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season, with buds blooming and birds chirping, invites us toward healthier living. Listen. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure you will hear the calling! Healthy living, to me, includes valuing playtime

and just being time as much as work and productive time. We are human beings, not human doings, as the saying goes. So why not use the gift of springâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arrival as the time you

Being, not doing, is my first joy.

–Theodore Roethke

begin to even more deeply embrace the art of being?

Ah, the art of being. To simply slow down and rest in knowing that your very essence is enough. I can almost guarantee that you will experience a magnificent feeling of lightness, presence, and joy when you begin to appreciate that being is as significant and as powerful as doing. Often we get confused into believing that our self-worth is measured by what we do, or produce. We become driven to perform so that we can feel OK about ourselves, equating self-worth with how well we achieve. One can often sacrifice an emotional sense of well-being and peace in failing to

recognize that the restful, in-between moments are as fruitful, rich, and satisfying as busier times. With so much of life focused on outcomes, it can be hard to value and sustain the practice of allowing yourself to just be. And yet, ironically, the more one does this, the more successful, creative, and expansive your life will become.

There are several key ways I have found to more intentionally live in the being zone. Time in nature, for instance, helps. When you can be outside, experiencing the natural world with all of your senses — sight, smell, touch, hearing, and taste – you open to sweet moments of delighting in your existence. Scheduling personal playdates for the sheer purpose of simply being in the world in fun or novel ways also helps. It is amazing the impact of even just a small amount of time spent swinging on a swing, taking a walk, dancing wildly, or quietly sitting on your couch doing absolutely nothing, can have on your state of heart and mind. After these little time-out sessions, you’ll feel refreshed and invigorated because you will have been fully present in those moments. Healthy living indeed.

I love stressing to all my coaching clients the essentialness of making space in their busy schedules for just being time. I’ve marveled at the creative ways they have developed

for routinely building such into their lifestyle. I invite you to do the same.

To remind yourself to stop and be, create an anchor for the intention.

An anchor, for example, could be a concrete block of time you set aside on your calendar for a pause. Or perhaps just associating a certain time of day in your routine solely for being moments. Phone alarms can be set to help with remembering the value of occasionally pausing.

My favorite anchor, reminding me to savor just being time, is a piece of jewelry I wear daily. The piece is both beautiful and pleasantly tactile, and when I look at it, I’m compelled to stop and reflect for a moment. Have fun with this! See what triggers you can build into your life this spring to increase the likelihood that you, too, can begin savoring exquisite moments of sheer existence.

Maria Sylvester, MSW, CPC is a certified Life Coach in Ann Arbor, MI who loves empowering adolescents, adults, and couples to live from the HEART of what really matters to them so that they can bring their fully expressed, vibrant selves into the world. She has a special gift for helping women reclaim their feminine power, and embrace their radiant, sensual, sexy spirits. Their lives transform.

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April 2018 | 17

ON BEING A MENTOR

by Erin Burke

L

ast weekend, some friends and I had a bowling fundraiser for a close friend of ours: a young woman battling an aggressive form of breast cancer for the second time. I happened to mention it in passing to my junior and senior Rochester High School students, but I do understand how busy and overloaded their schedules are, and I didn’t expect them to drive out to Ferndale on a snowy Saturday to bowl with their English teacher. To my utter surprise, several of them came to support my friend.

I begin with this anecdote because I so often hear people speaking in a disparaging way about “teenagers today.”

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Honestly, my students are kind, respectful, funny and under an intense amount of pressure. Between media scrutiny, the mounting pressure of test scores, taking AP classes, and the social pressure to portray the exact image on social media that is going to achieve the most “likes,” I have seen kids breaking down more than ever. I think about being a teenager in the ‘90s, and it was so incredibly different.

Social media wasn’t even a thing. My friends and I wrote notes to each other. When I came home at the end of the school day, I was home. I was safe. I could tune it out and be with my family. That isn’t the case today. It never shuts off for them. When I went to U of M in the mid ‘90s, I actually

had an assignment to obtain an email address and email my professor! This thing called email! It blew my mind! I have had students tell me that they will delete a post on social media because it’s embarrassing if they don’t get enough “likes.” One girl told me that she has friends on SnapChat, but she won’t say hi to them in the hallway at school. When I questioned her on that she simply said, “In real life, I don’t look the way I do on SnapChat.”

I teach five AP English courses, and my students are incredibly motivated. But the pressure has become insurmountable for so many of them. Each year, I have an increasing amount of students with anxiety disorders.

They feel that if they aren’t taking all AP classes and scoring well on the SAT and ACT (and AP tests) that they will be failures in life. Plus, they have to be doing extracurricular activities, many of them work, and then have to come home to do homework. They are hardly sleeping and it is taking a toll. When I ask them what, exactly, they are doing this for they routinely say, “To get into a good college.” But when I ask them about their plans beyond college, I’m met with silence. They’ve been conditioned to think of college as the only option for happiness, but they haven’t really defined what happiness means to them. I look at my nephew in first grade, who is so happy to go to school every day and learn, and I wonder how we, the educators, have failed them somehow. I try to do what I can in my own classroom. I try to bring creativity back; to perhaps make learning fun again. To be honest, though, it’s difficult due to the limitations that teachers are faced with today (though that is a whole other article).

their grades and writing assignments. I care about them as people, and I care about their mental health. See, that positivity is reciprocal, and it really is what we need in the world right now. Though I’m a huge advocate for female empowerment, and I work with my girls on increasing their confidence and valuing their own worth in their media-saturated environment, we can’t forget about our boys. They need us too. They need to see examples of strong, confident women in their lives. The take-away is this: please consider supporting the young people in your community in any way that you can. The future is so worth it.

I watched the kids at the fundraiser and realized that several of them showed up by themselves. They were talking to other students outside of their social cliques.

Yes, they were actually talking to each other! They bowled and ate pizza and laughed together. And they were not on their phones. They’re interested in buying vinyl again. They have a fascination with Polaroid pictures. They like to play Scrabble. They genuinely want to connect with each other.

There is, indeed, hope for the future.

Erin Burke has been teaching High school English in Rochester for 20 years. She loves travel, books, and her students.

I had something of an epiphany at the bowling event for my friend. The kids came out — not only because they care about my friend’s personal story, but because they care about me. And they care about me because I often communicate that I care about them. I care about them beyond

April 2018 | 19

WOMAN ON THE STREET

A CAMPFIRE IN THE DARKNESS

by Stephanie Saline

W

e’d been too long in the city. Our showers were regular. Our routines well-worn. Our dreams increasingly circumscribed by what we could search for on the Internet and click to from our social media feeds.

So when our old neighbors texted that there was a cabin up for grabs at their annual gathering in the woods, we 20 | The Brick Magazine

didn’t hesitate to claim it. We drove up Thursday night, and I planned to do a bit of work on Friday before unplugging. My search for ‘coffee shop with wifi’ yielded a McDonald’s, a casino restaurant, and a truck stop.

Perfect. It’s increasingly more difficult to get out of range, and strangely I was glad to drive 40 miles from camp to a regional ski town with Internet and thoughtful egg sandwiches. The

more technology and social media networks connect us, the further apart we also get. This is the paradox.

A good broadband connection gives me the ability to videoconference with LA and North Carolina, but also keeps me from being with my neighbors around the campfire.

Driving south through Seneca Nation at sunset, we made our approach in

After miles and miles of quiet, slow travel, we saw two sets of taillights.

Then we saw the campfire.

We turned into the camp loop, parked the car, and our neighbor Alex, a high school teacher and head brewer at a local brewery, greeted us at the main hall. “Take any cabin that’s open,” he said. There were a dozen cabins at Group Campsite Number Five, plus a bathroom building with flush toilets and showers and a coin laundry. We found an unoccupied heated cabin with electricity and two bunk beds, and unloaded our stuff.

The last time I’d stayed in a forest cabin, there was no electricity, heat, or running water. This was the Ritz!

the dark. At the turnoff to the park, the road changed. It was plowed, but not with the same vigilance of a road used to get somewhere. These roads were for people whose intentions were different.

As we made our way toward camp, our world shrank to headlights, road, and pine trees. I turned the radio off and slowed down.

We walked down the hill to the group kitchen and eating hall. Kids were running around with glow sticks, camping lanterns, and headlights, already feral. Dogs wandered. Alex showed us the beer station — three kegs, hooked up to a blackboard, with labels for what’s on tap — and the kitchen, whose center table held homemade oat peanut butter bars, chips and salsa, a cheese platter, and a full bar.

I could feel my heart expanding in my chest, stretching to hold my joy. And then I walked out the back door to the campfire.

O, campfire. How I have missed your smell. The way you mark me as yours and remind me of you long after we’ve parted ways.

I didn’t know anyone standing around the fire, but it didn’t matter.

In that moment, time collapsed.

All the campfires I’ve ever been at came back, all at once. The backyard parties. The camping trips. The fire pit conversations.

The crackle of the flames reminding me of the simple things: of light, heat, and being together in the darkness.

A teacher and advertising writer based in Buffalo, Stephanie Saline spent one decade on adventures in Japan, Seattle, and Montana, and another decade building a popular copywriting business.

She now leads writing workshops where women become the hero in the story of their own lives. “We live in a world where we are all heroes now – and that’s a great thing.” Find out more about her work at www.stellaorange.com.

April 2018 | 21

CAN I SELL YOU SOMETHING GREEN?

by Randi Rubenstein

Y

ears ago, when I was a student of the program Conscious Discipline, the central theme as I understood it was: “Adults must walk the walk first before we have any business talking the talk to our kids.” In other words, practice what you preach, because kids learn by the behavior their parents model rather than the words we use to lecture them. This is also relevant in terms of living a healthy life involving green habits.

Green habits are exactly what you are probably thinking: replacement habits involving something greener.

Healthier.

If you want your kids to eat healthy, 22 | The Brick Magazine

be athletically fit, have body confidence, and respond calmly and rationally when upset rather than having explosive tantrums, then incorporating green habits into BOTH of your lives will support you in achieving these goals. There is a reason why eating clean and exercising daily is on everyone’s to-do list, or at least it is for everyone I seem to hang around.

As the cutting-edge functional medicine movement teaches us, food, exercise, and mindful practices combat sickness and disease and can really add to living a fulfilled life. The science is finally supporting what many wise folks have long known.

Green habits support optimal health and living a beautiful, LONG life.

Often as parents, we have expectations for our kids that we haven’t met ourselves. It comes from a good place because we want the world for them. Of course, we don’t want our kids to be addicted to sugar or their screens. We know how much of a struggle it has been for us to battle the belly bulge or to develop healthier lifestyle habits. We would never want that for the people we love the most.

To make greener choices for you and your kids, here are three quick tips to get started:

“Kids learn from our example not our advice.”

bodies together, and maybe even time with poor neglected Rex, all at the same time!

2.

3.

1.

Walk outside with your kids for 15-30 minutes after dinner. If you have a dog, then even better — Rex will get some exercise and bonding time, too, as you create a green routine with your kiddo.

There is something about walking side by side with your kids that invites a great conversation. I like to say that peripheral vision is like truth serum for boys and teenagers. Don’t force the conversation. Allow silence and space and the conversation will organically happen.

This green habit is a heck of a lot of bang for your buck — fresh air, connecting convos, moving your

Throw a handful of spinach leaves into a fruit smoothie. No one will be the wiser – especially if you add a little chocolate protein powder.

It takes me back to the delicious Wendy’s Frosty of yesteryear but oh so much healthier.

Breathing is like, the greenest habit ever. Life literally begins and ends on a breath. There is nothing that gets more basic and unfluffy than breathing.

Breathing lowers stress hormones. It’s our own way of creating the natural version of an anti-anxiety med.

Learn how to take a deep nourishing breath. Seriously. If you aren’t into yoga, look up the box breath and watch a quick video on it. Teach your kids how to breathe too. Tell them that Navy Seals use the box breath to remain calm in the field during a high stress situation.

Next, use this breathing technique any time you feel like you’re about

to lose it as a replacement for yelling and losing your stuff. Sounds simple, right? Practice taking deep, audible breaths anytime you feel triggered and notice the diffusion of the tension in your household. This is a game-changer.

Green habits will support you and your family in more ways than I can sell you on here. It’s easy to get started. Simply take babysteps rather than making a mountain out of a molehill. You can begin today by simply replacing yelling moments with the breath. Your kids will love the results — and oh, I forgot to mention that you’ll sleep better too without the guilty racing thoughts spinning through your mind. Are you sold yet?

Randi Rubenstein helps fed up parents learn tools to raise confident, kind, and self-motivated kids by closing the parent gap - the gap between the parent you want to be and the parent you currently are during the REAL triggered moments with your kiddos.

But you never yell at your kids, right? As a parent coach and author, Randi helps parents keep cool and replace old patterns. You can find her at www.randirubenstein.com.

April 2018 | 23

SPRING CLEAN YOUR BODY

by Lisa Profera MD

I

magine what your home would look like if it was never cleaned.

Over the course of a lifetime, our bodies accumulate toxins just like dust builds up on your furniture. Got brain fog? Entangled proteins and cellular waste products can accumulate around your neurons like “cobwebs” gathering in your brain. Without proper attention, the consequences can be debilitating.

Detoxing is not only “trendy,” it is critical to our long-term health.

Unfortunately, toxins are ubiquitous.

No matter how clean your lifestyle

24 | The Brick Magazine

and diet are, there are some exposures that are unavoidable. I was recently on an international flight from Hawaii to Tahiti. When the plane landed, the entire cabin was sprayed with a pesticide to reduce the spread of the dreaded coconut mite from the Hawaiian Islands to French Polynesia as mandated by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). Although we were assured that the unnamed chemical being sprayed on us was considered safe by the World Health Organization, I remained skeptical. I made a personal tent out of the thin

blanket provided by the airlines and remained under it for the duration of the 10-minute treatment.

The point I’m trying to make is that our bodies are dealing with chemicals known and unknown on a regular basis. Our liver and kidneys are doing their best to process and filter out the unwanted clutter in our “living room,” but sometimes they need some assistance. Toxins can stress our systems and accumulate over time. Many of them can build up in our fat. This might not sound so bad,

but remember, 60% of our brain is fat. Every cell membrane in our body is made of fats called phospholipids.

Toxins can build up anywhere.

Cleaning out our systems periodically can avert disaster.

and decreased immune function. If you are experiencing any of these, it might be helpful to make a list prior to the initiation of a detox program and see how that changes after it is completed.

The conveniences of modern-day life have their drawbacks. We are exposed to many more chemicals than our grandparents were. Exogenous toxins are found not only in the air we breathe, the food and water we consume, but also in whatever comes in contact with our skin.

The list is staggering; ranging from preservatives and pesticides in our food to petroleum-based products and other pollutants. It is estimated that there are over 84,000 chemicals circulating in US commerce today, not to mention those declared and undeclared from products made in other countries. Exogenous toxins have not only increased in number, but they have also increased in diversity.

They affect all socioeconomic groups.

We all carry hundreds of potentially harmful chemicals in our bodies at this very moment.

If you have never detoxed before, you may consider consulting with a practitioner who is well-versed in this process. It is important to establish a good foundation of nutrition along with core support including the vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, essential fatty acids, and enzymes that our bodies need to carry out a proper cleanse. For some, a more gentle initial cleanse may be in order.

If your first experience is bad, you may never want to do it again. The purpose of a detox is to de-load your system, not to stress it out even more than it already is. As I have mentioned in previous articles, supporting our digestive and immune systems with high quality prebiotics and probiotics is a must.

Whether you decide to detox your body once a quarter or once a year is up to you. Done correctly, detoxing can leave you with a wonderful feeling of well-being.

Done incorrectly, it may make you feel worse: depleted, sluggish or sick. These are some of the same signs our bodies give us when we are experiencing chemical overload.

Signs and symptoms of toxic stress can include obesity or inability to lose weight, inflammation and autoimmune diseases, feelings of fatigue and low energy, slowed cognition and impaired memory, mood swings and hormone imbalances, skin

The liver is the workhorse of detoxification. A healthy gastrointestinal tract is key to success. Our kidneys, skin and lungs also serve to filter and rid our bodies from unwanted chemicals as well.

There are different phases of a proper detoxification plan. The length of a detox program is a personal choice and can vary from 10-30 days. Some cleansing programs may eliminate certain food groups and then gradually reintroduce them. This is especially helpful for those who are trying to identify specific food allergies, sensitivities, or intolerances.

For others, it may not be necessary and a regular diet can be consumed.

Obviously, trying to eat as clean as possible and avoiding processed foods will serve you well.

rashes and allergies, nausea and poor digestion, elevated blood pressure

Without getting into detailed biochemistry, the phases of

detoxification include the enzymatic breakdown and processing of harmful chemicals harbored in our systems.

Water-soluble toxins are mostly handled by the kidneys and eliminated through the urine. A small percentage of water-soluble substances are eliminated through our skin in the form of sweat. Some fat-soluble toxins can be converted into a water-soluble form though a process known as conjugation. Once conjugated by the liver, they can be transported to and eliminated by the kidneys.

Residual fat- soluble compounds are primarily eliminated through the colon. Some are released through the oil ducts in our skin. With proper support (nutrients, enzymes and cofactors), these biochemical processes effectively cleanse our systems and support health on a cellular level.

A good detoxification regimen can have a powerful impact on your health without causing untoward side effects. When your body is clean on the inside, you will sparkle and shine on the outside, just like your freshlycleaned home. Spring-clean your body and optimize your health!

Lisa Profera MD Owner and Founder of PROJUVU MD Aesthetics and Lifestyle Medicine Please note that the information in this article has been designed to help educate the reader regarding the subject matter covered. This information is provided with the understanding that the author and any other entity referenced here are not liable for the misconception or misuse of the information provided. It is not provided to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any disease, illness, or injured condition of the body. The provider of this information shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity concerning any loss, damage, or injury caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this information. The information presented is in no way intended as a substitute for medical counseling or care. Anyone suffering from any disease, illness, or injury should consult a qualified healthcare professional. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.

April 2018 | 25

26 | The Brick Magazine

SPRING IS THE PERFECT TIME TO

Reset & Reboot!

I

by Lisa Nogueira

know it sounds a little odd, but I actually really like cleansing. I typically do a cleanse with each season change. I don’t see it as deprivation or “giving up” anything, I see it as putting attention on the health of my body and filling my body with nutrients and what will make it thrive. At the same time, I want to let go of what doesn’t serve my body’s greater good. It’s a test; a conversation with my body. What does my body thrive on, and what makes me feel sluggish or less than awesome? When we tune in to our body in this conscious way, we may find that certain foods that we are eating are not great for our energy levels, our digestion, or our mood, and we may discover that other foods make us feel better and more energetic. To me, this conversation with my body is not dreadful, it’s liberating!

In a world where we are constantly distracted, this type of cleansing requires me to pay more attention to the day-to- day and ask myself, “What do I need?” Yes, there are foods I let go of during this time, like gluten, dairy, alcohol, caffeine, and sugar. I may also test how my body feels when I let go of meat, grains, or legumes. But it isn’t only about what we take out; what’s equally important is what we add in. In place of those foods, my body receives so much more in the way of nutrients, enzymes, minerals, and nutrition.

Spring cleansing is about renewal and rejuvenation. The energy changes from the introspection of winter to the growth and movement of spring. This is the time of new beginnings, a time when we want to rid ourselves of unwanted items and create a new space. We do this in our homes and in our bodies, as well. Think about what we expect our bodies to “digest” on a daily basis: heavily-processed foods, sugars, stress, environmental toxins, pesticides, and even unresolved emotions and toxic thoughts. Even though our bodies are designed to naturally eliminate and neutralize toxins, over time the organs and systems can become overburdened with the amount that we take in. This heaviness can cause a buildup of toxins in the body, which can lead to weight gain, unpleasant symptoms, or even a compromise of our health.

Spring is a perfect time to flush out toxins that have accumulated from heavy winter foods and lighten up our eating to prepare for energizing warmer months. The cleanses that I host are designed to be as delicious as they are healthful. We focus on eating nutrient-dense whole foods, an abundance of colorful vegetables, and on ensuring you are satisfied throughout the day. It’s a gentle way of cleansing and supporting the body without deprivation, and may look quite different for each individual depending on the foods that work for their body.

Here is what a day of eating to lighten up for spring might look like.

Upon waking: A cup of warm water with ½ lemon, juiced Breakfast: The Spectrum Smoothie (see recipe)

Snack: An apple with almond butter or sunflower seed butter (add coconut flakes and cacao nibs for a next-level snack) Lunch: Rainbow Wrap with Tahini Grapefruit Dressing (see recipe)

Snack: Cut veggies and hummus (branch into different veggies like jicama, watermelon radish, or endive) Dinner: Roasted Asparagus Soup (see recipe)

April 2018 | 27

The Recipes: Spectrum Smoothie Time: 5 minutes • 1 serving Ingredients:

1½ cups water

½ cup blueberries (frozen or fresh) Handful of mixed greens Juice of half a lemon

1 medium carrot, peeled, chopped 1 red beet, peeled, chopped 1 apple, cored, chopped

1 inch fresh ginger root, peeled, chopped 1 tsp. chia seeds

Protein of choice (1 TBSP of hemp seeds or plain collagen work well) Add ingredients to a high-speed blender. Blend and enjoy.

Benefits of this smoothie

Because of their liquid form, smoothies are easier for your body to digest and they help you absorb the nutrients you are consuming more efficiently. Apples contain pectin, which binds to heavy metals in the body (particularly in the colon) and aids in their excretion, reducing the load on the liver. Ginger is wonderful for digestion. Chia seeds are rich in antioxidants and are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and protein. Beets stimulate bile flow in the liver, help to break down waste products, and excrete them from the body faster. Beets also are a great source of vitamin C, which is essential for cleansing and overall health.

Roasted Asparagus Soup

Preheat oven to 425° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone mat. Peel parsnips, roughly chop into 1-2 inch pieces, and slice the thick ends in half lengthwise (so all the pieces are roughly the same size and thickness). Trim about half an inch off the bottom ends of the asparagus and discard.

Chop the onion and peel the garlic. Add the asparagus, garlic, onion and parsnips to a baking sheet, toss with avocado oil and salt and pepper. Roast for 15 minutes at 425° F. Remove from oven. Roughly chop the asparagus and add it and the parsnips to a Dutch oven with a generous pinch of salt and pepper and the stock. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Remove from heat and use an immersion blender to blend until smooth.

Alternatively you can add all the roasted ingredients to a ventilated blender with the stock and blend. Divide into two bowls and garnish with hemp seeds or other seeds of choice.

For more of a kick, add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.

1 - 1½ lbs. asparagus

Benefits of this soup

Ingredients:

1 small onion (or half a medium onion) roughly chopped 3 small-to-medium cloves of garlic 2 medium parsnips

2 TBSP Avocado oil

Generous pinch of salt and pepper

2 cups vegetable stock, chicken stock or bone broth 28 | The Brick Magazine

Asparagus is a prebiotic and packed with chlorophyll, which helps detoxify the body. It promotes the growth of the probiotics in our gut. We need both pre- and probiotics for a healthy and thriving micro-biome. Parsnips are a nutrientpacked replacement for white potatoes, and add a creamy, savory note to the soup. They are packed with potassium and folate and offer an array of other nutrients, as well.

To assemble:

Lay the nori sheets on a large plate.

Begin adding half of each cut vegetable to each wrap. Sprinkle fresh mint over each wrap as well as the broccoli sprouts and seeds (if using). Make sauce below.

Tahini Grapefruit Dressing Ingredients: ½ grapefruit, juiced 3 TBSP tahini

¼ tsp. garlic, chopped finely ½ TBSP tamari

½ tsp. raw honey (optional) Salt and pepper to taste

Rainbow Wraps with Tahini Grapefruit Dressing 2 servings

Add ingredients to a small bowl and whisk until smooth. If it is too thick for your liking, use a bit of water to thin it and whisk until desired consistency. You can dip the wrap into the sauce or add sauce into the wrap to enjoy!

Benefits of these wraps

Wrap Ingredients:

2 nori (seaweed) sheets (dinosaur kale or collard greens are nutrient-dense alternatives) ½ red pepper, julienned

¼ cup purple cabbage, chopped 1 avocado, chopped

1 carrot, peeled, julienned ½ cucumber, julienned

2 TBSP fresh mint, chopped finely

2 TBSP broccoli sprouts (any other sprouts work well too) Optional additions: handful of arugula (helps to stimulate bile flow within the liver)

1 TBSP raw sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, tofu, tempeh or other protein of choice

Eating a rainbow of vegetables (particularly raw) offers an array of phytonutrients, which fuel the systems of your body. Nori contains iodine, which, among other things helps, support hormones. Avocado is a nutrient-dense fruit packed with 20 different vitamins and minerals, as well as healthy fats. Garlic (in the sauce) is high in sulfur for liver detoxification, and the vitamin C in the grapefruit juice assists in liver cleansing.

If you are interested in learning more about cleansing with me this spring or other body supporting healthful ideas, visit my website: LNwell.com, or contact me at lisanmassage@ gmail.com.

Disclaimer: Please check with your medical practitioner before making any diet or lifestyle changes. I am not a medical professional.

Lisa Nogueira is a certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach as well as a Licensed Massage Therapist who is dedicated to helping clients live their best lives through health and lifestyle coaching and a unique selection of bodywork modalities.

She hosts group programs online and in person to help clients make their self-care a priority, clean up their eating and live healthier, happier lives. Her no-guilt approach to health is taking small steps for creating a lifestyle, leaving room for the sweeter things in life, and simplifying health and wellness into an approachable and fun adventure.

For further inspiration follow her on Instagram @ https://www.instagram.com/lisa_nogueira/ Join her free Facebook community for support, recipes and small step ideas for change https://www.facebook.com/groups/lisanogueirawellness/?ref=bookmarks April 2018 | 29

hair

SPRING IS IN THE

by Ryan Brooks

F

inally, Spring is here and I am sure all of us couldn’t be more excited. Let’s face it, the last months of winter were long, and who isn’t ready for a fresh new spring look? What better way to celebrate the sunshine than with a brighter look. I absolutely love to give my 30 | The Brick Magazine

clients the option of enhancing their base color with a more natural sunkissed look. There are many different approaches to achieve this particular look, and one of my personal beliefs to achieve a natural look is to stay roughly two shades lighter than your base level, especially if you are a first-

time color client. Doing this can give you can give you a more blended, softer color.

Let’s talk about what you can ask for when going in for a sun-kissed look.

First things first, everyone wants to immediately ask for balayage. For

natural or base color that is painted on and combed or brushed through, usually done closer around the face and pulled down further in the back.

This helps blend out those foiled-in highlights and will give you that balayaged look; it also will decrease the line of demarcation everyone hates with foiled-in highlights.

Now, for the choice of all-over glaze color, brunettes try something with hues of golden-red or caramel hues.

Blondes try something warmer; I’ve been seeing a lot of the ‘cream soda’ blondes in all levels. Choosing something different doesn’t mean you are committed to this forever; most glazes or toners will slowly fade over time, making this a great way to play with your color without feeling tied to it. The options are endless. This is your chance to have fun, don’t be afraid of trying something a little different for spring — this will only set you up for that perfect summer beach hair.

trust your colorist’s opinion on what’s best to achieve the look.

those of you who are not familiar with this term, a quick definition: it means “sweep,” and it’s a painting technique that can create a softer, more natural highlight. Now yes, this is a great technique and can create some fabulous color, but isn’t for all hair types. However, the majority of color we are seeing in magazines and on social media are usually done with multiple techniques. When going in with inspiration pictures, you should

My favorite way to get a softer more natural look is a combination of micro-fine slices and baby-lights focused around the face, blending them towards the back. I then like to tip ends out to get that heavier blonde at the ends, that “leftover summer blonde” look. After processing, I choose to do two glazes, one focused at the root and one for all over. The root glaze, or what you might hear your colorist call a “root shadow” or “stretched root”, is usually a shade close to your

Do you have a hair question? Now is your chance to have it answered.

Feel free to send me an email at stylistryan@gmail.com and I will answer it in an upcoming issue.

Ryan Brooks has been a stylist for over 13 years in the Ann Arbor area.

He currently is working behind the chair at Tricho Salon and Spa located at Briarwood.

For over thirteen years as a stylist, he has worked as an educator for Goldwell and most recently Kerastase.

He has also had the opportunity to work with multiple productions in stage, movie, as well as print. You can also follow him on Instagram: @ryanbrookshair. Have a hair question you need answered?

Contact him at stylistryan@gmail.com he will be answering questions in future publications.

April 2018 | 31

SPRING CLEANING THE CLOSET CLEANSE

by Angela Harrison

W

ith warmer weather on the horizon, it’s time to pack away our heavy-duty winter gear and transition to lighter layers. The seasonal wardrobe change is always a great opportunity to examine our closets. We accumulate so much stuff over the years and our closets suffer because of it. Our quality of life suffers because of it. And yeah, that’s a completely dramatic statement to make, but wouldn’t life be a little better if your closets were organized and only contained things you use?

The spring purge is a daunting task, yet necessary for keeping a balanced home. We use our closets, dressers, and armoires multiple times a day, and that makes them a priority. If your closet is a source of stress and frustration, you have complete control to change things. You can rid that closet of junk you haven’t touched in years. The doors can close with ease, garments don’t have to be shoved onto the hangbar, and each time you visit your closet, you can feel relaxed knowing everything inside is functional. This may sound like a huge undertaking, which is why we’re doing this together. We’re going to see what’s been out of the rotation, what doesn’t fit anymore, what items you bought and couldn’t make an outfit with, and the sentimental pieces like items you spent a pretty penny on, and those special pieces we keep just in case. With this closet cleanse cheat-sheet, you’ll easily be able to identify the items worth keeping and the ones that could go on to the donate pile.

Have You Worn It? Start with one part of your closet; make it your shoes, the left side, the right side, a dresser, and go piece by piece. Have you worn it in the past two years? If the answer is no, think of why you haven’t worn it. Send it to the “donate” pile if your answers are:

32 | The Brick Magazine

•

“it never fit quite right”

•

“I have something similar that I like better”

•

“the material is uncomfortable”

•

“it was on sale, but I’ve never worn it”

If you LOVE this piece (and really love it, because why keep it if it’s a “meh”) then ask yourself: Is it something you could get tailored? Could the buttons be switched out for an updated look? Does it match three other pieces for a complete look? If your answers are “yes,” then pull the pieces aside for an alterations or keep pile. For pieces you’ve spent more than $200 on, and are in new or lightly used shape, consider taking them to your local consignment shop. Designer items like a classic Chanel suit or a St. John knit will always be bought through eBay or consignment, but if it’s something that’s truly significant, it can stay as long as we remove something else.

Does it Fit? For items you’ve worn in the past year, take into consideration similar pieces in your wardrobe. Do you have several variations of the same thing? Have you worn those other garments more? Is the fit still flattering (many of our well-loved pieces lose their shape through washes and wear), and has it discolored or faded? If yes, you know what to do (donate pile!). What does the texture of the fabric look like — is there any pilling or are there snags? Some of these things can be remedied with fabric shavers, but sometimes it’s best to donate and move on; if the piece is in rough shape and not suitable for donation, tossing it out is also an option.

April 2018 | 33

Shoes and Handbags We load on up on shoes faster than any other item in the closet. Start with your sandals: Which have you worn in the past two years? Are they still in good condition, are they scuffed, is the shape still there, are the bottoms intact?

Sandals are the easiest shoes to stock up on, considering they can be stored easily and are literally sold everywhere.

Keep it simple; donate the styles you haven’t touched since you bought them for that trip 4 years ago. Pitch the ones that have seen better days and are barely hanging on.

When it comes to loafers and heels, address their condition: How are the soles? If they were high-quality, are you willing to get them re-soled for a fresh life? Are they creased and discolored? Have the heels worn down or been chewed on?

Most shoes can be given a second chance with the magic of a great shoe repair shop, but only invest in this if the shoe is made of natural materials. For designer shoes that may be out of style, take them to your consignment shop.

Is it “You”?

Trends are always changing season to season, and most of us are guilty of buying these trend items that now look dated and done with. These are donate items. Your closet should be a cohesive collection of all things that reflect your personal style. Do these garments represent the image you want to portray?

Do they all live in the same style-lane? Get rid of anything that feels random or out of place. If it feels random and you still love it (again, truly love), are you willing to buy three pieces that match, in order to create an outfit option? If not, then donate! There’s no need to hold on to anything if it can’t be paired with multiple looks in your wardrobe, and you’re not willing to purchase pieces to make it work.

Same guidelines go for handbags — if you haven’t carried it in a few years, it may be time for it to move on to a new home.

I’m someone who rotates bags season to season, so I may skip a winter with a certain bag.

That’s completely fine. But for the bags you bought years ago that just sit there, add them to the donate pile. This goes for crumpled tote bags, beach bags, old evening bags, and any other bag that has seen better days.

For designer bags, consider luxury resale sites like Rebagg or Poshmark.

Our closets become the catch-all to random accessories and clothes we collect throughout the years; some are good purchases and others are just a total waste of space.

Take the time this spring to go through at least one closet and lighten up your load! Start this season with a closet refresh and I guarantee you’ll want to do it every season!

Angie Harrison received a BS degree in fashion merchandising from Western Michigan University, and after merchandising for a large retailer, went on to start Angela Harrison Style; a personal, print, and film wardrobe styling service. Her experience has led her to build a loyal client list of people from all backgrounds and professions. Angie has also worked in wardrobe on local and national tv commercials and has started a visual merchandising branch of AHStyle, providing styling and merchandising expertise to Michigan retailers.

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WRITING YOUR WAY HOME A workshop where we use writing and the hero story to make big decisions, come alive, and become the captains of our ships.

SUMMER SESSION: June 20 – August 8, 2018 Theme: Inside Voices Wednesdays 1:30 – 3pm Eastern www.stellaorange.com/writing-way-home

Celebrating 47 years as the real estate leader in Ann Arbor

734.272.1371 sarah@sarahwhitsett.com 2355 W. Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103 734.665.0300