Cat44magazine flourish fall 2016

T H R I V E • E M P O W E R • S H I N E

FALL 2016

FLOURISH BE OUR GUEST

FLOURISH WOMEN’S SUMMIT COMING AUG. 25 PAGE 47

HEAVY METAL

MEET THE MOTHERDAUGHTER TEAM BEHIND RED FERN STUDIO PAGE 18

TAKE THE REINS

FALL FASHION IS HERE PAGE 22

NO GREEN THUMB NEEDED FOR THESE PLANTS: PAGE 36

Why Pediatric dentistry?

Often i am asked What i dO and Why i dO it.

I went to dental school after realizing my dream of becoming a veterinarian wouldn’t happen. (I was terrified of my cat, let alone someone else’s snake.)

While in dental school I realized all my childhood fears could have been allocated with proper education. Upon examining my career options, the head of the pediatric dental department at the University of Iowa suggested the field of pediatrics.

How I know a lot about children is that I’m a middle child of a large family and have watched children since the age of 8 (I babysat for 25 cents a day!)

My residency was in New Orleans and at the LSA College of Dentistry. The pediatric dental department opened my eyes and heart to the needs of children.

Basically, in my brief 27 years of dental practice, it can all be summed up by the word “Love”. Love what you do and love who you work for and all the days will pass by like they are your first.

I love the patients and cherish every moment I have with them. If you can reach a frightened child with kindness and trust - you can get them to face their fears and conquer them.

Love the parents and let them know they are in a safe place. Parents need to feel that I understand their situation. The parents gain trust that I know what I’m talking about and I can help them out of their predicament. I usually say “throw that parent guilt right out the door and let’s start a anew.”

Love of the job also helps. As a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry I am part of a worldwide, ongoing, strong and devoted group of individuals. Our goal is educating parents and preventing the most preventable disease on the planet cavities.

Love of my co-workers. Without their devotion to patients it is nothing but a job. We all love each other and the families that enter our office. Our patients leave our office as a member of our family. A pediatric dentist’s job is to create positive healthy adult patients for the general dentist. It starts at birth.

So, why pediatric dentistry?

Because of the love!

2845 Professional Court | Cape Girardeau, MO 63703 | 573-334-5545

pediatricdentistrysemo.com 2

Flourish | fall 2016

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Get Inspired at the MAGAZINE

WOMEN’S SUMMIT A Leadership and Empowerment event

THURSDAY, AUG. 25 • 8AM to 2PM OSAGE CENTRE IN CAPE

Featured keynote speaker

GIGI BUTLER

Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Gigi’s Cupcakes.

• Networking Breakfast • Women’s Expo • Luncheon

• Participate in breakout sessions with accomplished local women in business, philanthropy, education, healthcare, government & the arts

SPEAKERS INCLUDE: CAROLYN SANDGREN (Kempf) owner of Elite Travel •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

DR. ERIN FLUEGGE professor in the Harrison College of Business at Southeast Missouri State University •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

DET. DELLA MOORE

CHRISTA HUDSON

investigator with the State Fire Marshal's office/Missouri Division of Fire Safety

dietitian and health educator at Saint Francis Medical Center

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

REP. KATHRYN SWAN Missouri House of Representatives •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

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CHERYL MOTHES

JENNIFER GAST

REKHA PATTERSON

philanthropist and Edward Jones Financial Advisor

philanthropist and founder of Student Santas

head women’s basketball coach at Southeast Missouri State University

TICKETS $50 ON SALE NOW AT www.semissourian.com

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fall 2016 | Flourish 3

contents

FLOURISH

©2016 Southeast Missourian A Rust Communications publication 301 Broadway • PO Box 699 Cape Girardeau, MO 63702-0699

For subscription information, call (800) 879-1210 or (573) 335-6611 or online at www.semissourian.com/flourish/ subscribe For advertising and editorial information, call (800) 879-1210 or (573) 335-6611 Publisher Jon Rust Advertising director Donna Denson

TAKE THE REINS

Editor Robyn Gautschy

22

Design Nadir Hussein Account executives Ashley Aufdenberg, Emily Colbert, Jody Fitzgerald, Elizabeth Gooch, Laura Hulcy, Glenda Mayberry, Samantha Mlot, David Phillips, Debbie Stoverink and Paul Walker

features

living

16 Fishing for happiness

33 Paws & Effect

18 Heavy metal

34 Can do!

36 No green thumb needed

business/finance 8

Get ready to buy

10 Ask away

age appropriate 38 Return to the nest 40 Playing it safe

health/fitness

42 Are you guilty of arguing in front of your kids?

12 Oh, baby!

43 Five of Clubbs

Cover photography Laura Simon Cover model Claire Rankin Photography Laura Simon Flourish magazine is printed four times a year. All contents © 2016 by the Southeast Missourian. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use in whole or in part of the contents, without prior written permission of the publisher, is strictly prohibited.

14 Counting sheep?

style & beauty 21 How to contour like a pro 30 A passion for fashion 32 4

flourish women’s summit 47 A real treat with Gigi Butler 51 Meet our Women’s Summit speakers

Street Style

Flourish | fall 2016

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Remember when Disco was king and the Bee Gees ruled the air waves?

Then you’re probably 50... old enough for a “staying alive” colonoscopy.

1429 North Mount Auburn Road, Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63701 573-334-8870 or 1-800-455-4888 Now in network with Anthem Pathway and Pathway X

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fall 2016 | Flourish 5

from the editor

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is famous for saying, “There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t help each other.” I don’t know that I would go so far as to condemn a person to one fate or another, but I definitely agree that we as women need to support each other.

We’ve earned the right to vote and run for office, to work in the profession we choose or to stay home with our children. We’ve made a crack in that ever-present glass ceiling and narrowed, but not closed, the gender wage gap.

And let’s not forget most of us can go to school, drive cars, travel unaccompanied and go on dates without breaking any laws or bringing shame to our families. We sometimes forget we have it pretty easy here in the United States, and girls and women in other parts of the world are fighting for the very things we take for granted. That means we still have work to do to advance the status of women not only here, but across the globe.

Let’s start by lifting other women up, not trampling them under our feet. I hate to hear of women cutting other women down, critizing everything from their bodies to their way of speaking to their choice of company. Does one woman’s hairstyle really matter, when there are women elsewhere being trafficked or assaulted? That could have been us if the cards had been dealt differently, or it could still be us someday.

I believe we got to where we are today by sticking together and looking out for each other, and we’ve come too far to turn our back on our sisters, and our brothers, too. Instead, let’s help each other, like Madeleine Albright said, and also as First Lady Michelle Obama has said: “When you’ve worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity … you do not slam it shut behind you … you reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.”

On Aug. 25, the women of Southeast Missouri will come together in our very first Flourish Women’s Summit. I hope you join us as we listen to strong, inspirational women share their stories, and hopefully you’ll meet some new friends.

Maybe you’ll meet someone who needs a helping hand. I hope you offer it to her, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because supporting each other is how we all flourish.

~ Robyn Gautschy, editor

connect with us Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/flourishwomen

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Flourish | fall 2016

Online at www.semissourian.com/flourish

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fall 2016 | Flourish 7

business & finance / credit woes

Tips on buying a home when your credit is less than perfect

GET READY TO BUY Stock photo

line utilization,” says Dave Weston, branch manager of Aspire Lending in Cape Girardeau.

To purchase a home, most people need to take “For example, if you have a $5,000 limit on a out a mortgage or home loan. To be approved credit card and you owe $4,000 on that card, for a home loan, you need to have a good credit then the card is 80 percent utilized. Ideally, you want to keep your credit cards at 30 percent history.

But what if your credit is less than perfect? utilized or less, so if your owed balance is way Or what if you don’t have enough credit in the above that, you need to pay those down.”

Cheryl Ziegler, vice president/mortgage loan eyes of your lender to obtain a home loan? Here’s originator at The Bank of Missouri, agrees. what the experts have to say: “Keep the balance that you owe on your credit cards low ... and pay off the debt you have instead IF YOU HAVE POOR CREDIT ...

“The first thing to do is to look at your credit of incurring more debt,” she says.

By Lori Trepasso

8

Flourish | fall 2016

www.semissourian.com/flourish

She also recommends checking out your credit score once a year.

“You can pull up your own credit score for free once a year and it won’t hurt your score,” she says. “You can go online to (a website such as) www.freecreditreport.com.”

Kathi Fish, a Realtor at Realty Executives of Cape County, advises potential homebuyers to visit with a lender early on in the homebuying process.

“Visit with a lender early on so they can help you along the road to recovering your credit,” Fish says. “A good lender will walk a client through each step to improving their credit.”

Payment history is a big part of your credit score.

“Payment history is 35 percent of your credit score and has the greatest effect on improving your score,” says Shelly Kaiser, assistant vice president/mortgage loan officer at First Midwest Bank in Jackson. “Pay your bills on time, and if you have missed payments, get current and stay current. Also, paying off a collection account won’t remove it from your report, as it stays on there for seven years.”

Weston says the past 12 months of your credit score are what’s most important.

“Credit scores are most heavily weighted on what’s occurred over the last 12 months,” he explains. “If you have a delinquency or are late on a payment, wait one or two months past that 12-month time period before applying for a home loan.”

Remember that poor credit history can remain on your credit report for a long time.

“A delinquency or a judgment filed against you can stay on your credit report for seven years,” Ziegler says. “An unpaid tax lien or bankruptcy can stay on it for 10 years.”

Kaiser points out that improving your credit score takes time.

“Improving your credit score is more about

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fixing errors in your credit history and then maintaining a consistent good credit history,” she says. “It takes patience and discipline.”

Fish agrees.

“If your credit is bad, then remember this: You didn’t get there overnight,” Fish says. “It takes time to recover your credit. One of the best programs I have seen to help with debt/ finance management is the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace Program; sacrifice today so you can live freely tomorrow.”

IF YOU DON’T HAVE ENOUGH ESTABLISHED CREDIT ...

Obtaining a home loan when you have very little or no established credit can be a slippery slope as well.

“You can apply for a small loan or for a credit card and make your payments on time to build up your credit,” says Ziegler.

Fish thinks along the same lines.

“I think the very best thing you can do if you have no credit is to get one or two credit cards in your name and charge your monthly purchases,” she says. “Then, pay them off at the end of each month. Just be cautious not to overcharge.”

Sometimes it takes creativity to establish a strong credit history.

“You either need to establish a total of three credit trade lines with a payment history of 12 months, like credit cards, auto loans, etc., or you need to think of four ‘nontraditional’ credit trade lines with a payment history of 12 months, like rent, cellphone, utility or auto insurance payments,” Kaiser says.

Weston recommends paying bills in a verifiable way to help establish a good credit history.

“Pay things like rent with a check,” he says. “That way you have a tangible history.

Paying in cash won’t count (toward your credit history).”

“

Keep the balance that you owe on your credit cards low ... and pay off the debt you have instead of incurring more debt.

”

fall 2016 | Flourish 9

business & finance / interview

Stock photo

ASK AWAY

You may be in the hot seat during a job interview, but employers hope you’ll have questions to ask, too

By Logan Young

“Do you have any questions?”

As times goes on, job interviews seem to become more of a two-way street, with a business interviewing a candidate and the candidate interviewing the business.

Rhett Hendrickson, co-owner and trainer at Hendrickson Business Advisors in Cape Girardeau, says job interviews always should be punctuated by well-planned and thought-out questions by the interviewee.

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Flourish | fall 2016

“More and more, I think people on both sides of the interview table appreciate good, wellthought-out questions that aren’t just something from a script,” he says.

Before entering the interview, applicants should research the company with which they hope to work and customize their questions accordingly, Hendrickson advises.

“An applicant must have researched the company that they’re applying to,” he says. “And it’s easy to do now; everybody stalks everybody.

Facebook, LinkedIn, website — they need to be checking the company out to see what other

people are saying about it.”

Michele Tapp, director of academic advising and career services at Southeast Missouri State University, says interviewees should always be prepared to ask questions and should have a number of options available in case the interviewer answers some of the preplanned questions during the interview.

Tapp, Hendrickson and Dan Presson, coordinator of employee relations in the Department of Career Services at Southeast, offer these suggestions on questions to ask:

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• “What do you expect of me as an employee?”

• “What do you (the employer) like about working at this business?”

Hendrickson says younger generations are more concerned with interpersonal relationships in a job position, so this question could help analyze whether or not the workplace environment will be a good fit for all involved.

• “What kind of relationships do you value with the people you supervise?”

Hendrickson recommends questions that are strategic in nature, like, “Where strategically are you interested in people moving through your organization — moving up through the chain of command, or lateral moves from department to department?”

• “What else do I need to know to help me decide whether or not this is a good place for us?”

Hendrickson recommends using inclusive language, like “us” and “we,” rather than “me” and “I.” • “What qualities or characteristics are you looking for in a candidate?”

“When they start rattling these [qualities] off, it gives you an opportunity … whatever that quality is, then you can kind of reaffirm and say, ‘Well, I’m really glad you said that, because I’m looking for that as well,’” Tapp says.

• “I’ve noticed …” statements and questions. (For example, “I’ve noticed your company recently opened a new branch in [insert town here].”)

“It allows the company to realize that you are more invested in this past the surface-level interview, that you’ve read about it, you’ve researched X, Y and Z,” Presson says.

Hendrickson says in all cases, allow the interviewer an appropriate amount of time to respond.

Along with recommended questions, there are several interview “don’ts.”

Hendrickson says not to put interviewers in an uncomfortable position, don’t embarrass them and don’t ask them to answer inappropriate questions that workplace decorum prohibits them from answering. He also says to avoid leading questions that could force the interviewer into a sexist, racist or ageist response.

Tapp recommends staying professional, no matter how casual or formal the interview, and says not to ask about salary, benefits or how many people are being interviewed for the position.

“You don’t want to get into that nitty-gritty; it sort of leads to the assumption that you feel like you’ve already gotten the position. And you don’t want them to feel as though you feel entitled to the position in any way,” Presson says.

Hendrickson says to be genuine in all situations, and give honest answers.

“Decide what kind of person you are and apply for a job that values that kind of person,” he says.

He advises candidates to be polite, respectful and deferential, but at the same time be unafraid to ask pointed questions about the business.

“You may be hiring on with a company you’ll be with for 30 years, so let’s do it right the first time,” Hendrickson says.

Those searching for a job, resume assistance or other training and education may look to the Division of Workforce Development website at jobs.mo.gov, or visit the office at 1737 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau.

www.semissourian.com/flourish

now open Our newly remodeled 2nd Floor. 17 brand new, educational and fun filled exhibits are geared to entertain and challenge children from the age of 8 to tweens!

Some of what’s new: Genuine 1964 Cessna 150 Airplane This is not a replica. It’s the real thing!

Climb into the cockpit of this actual 2 Seat Airplane and work the controls!

This exhibit is coupled with a Control Tower, complete with working headsets to interact with your pilot, and fun Gadgets & Gizmos to explore.

Phoebe’s Art Studio

This absolutely amazing Art Room will be filled with supplies and all things “ART” to bring out the creative talents in everyone.

Dogtown Press Theater

Let’s put on a show!!

Kids can express their talents on this Grand Stage!!

Tinkering Workshop Tools and projects Galore!! Tinker with tools on electronics or build a bird house. Perfect, hands on, fun for the “fix-it” minded boy or girl.

AND SO MUCH MORE!!!

Discovery Playhouse 502 Broadway Cape Girardeau MO 63701 | 573-335-7529 www.discoveryplayhouse.org

fall 2016 | Flourish 11

health & fitness / birthing alternatives

12

Flourish | fall 2016

Stock photo

OH, BABY!

A guide to nontraditional birthing options in Southeast Missouri

By Logan Young

Having a baby can be a joyful, beautiful and stressful time in a woman’s life. With the limitless amounts of information on the internet and an abundance of advice from family and friends, it could be difficult for any woman to determine which birthing plan is the best for her.

Although natural childbirth with a physician is the most common practice throughout the country, alternative options like having a water birth and working with a midwife are becoming more available locally.

Tracy Carr, a certified nurse midwife at Saint Francis Medical Center, says alternative birthing options are available to women in Southeast Missouri, but a number of women simply aren’t aware of them.

“Midwives are very popular in other areas, just Southeast Missouri has no idea that we exist, so we’re trying to get the word out,” she says.

In terms of available obstetric options at Saint Francis, Carr, who was trained as a nurse first, then went on to get her master’s degree in nursing and added the midwifery specialty, is available to care for low-risk women (those without high blood pressure, diabetes, previous cesarean sections or other pre-existing conditions) from the beginning of the pregnancy through delivery and postpartum.

She also can help women with annual exams, birth control and management of menopause.

“I can do just about anything outside of surgeries,” she says.

As a midwife, Carr says she is able to, in some cases, provide a closer relationship with her patients throughout their pregnancies.

“We tend to be a little bit closer than some of the physicians; it’s just a different way of managing,” she says. “We’re taught to be nurses first ... ‘midwife’ actually means ‘with women,’ so we tend to be there labor coaching a little bit more when we can.”

Kelly Donze, a certified nurse midwife at Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, agrees, saying she likes to sit down with her patients and discuss their expectations and the plan they desire for their birth.

“One of the things we pride ourselves on is we do really think women should have a choice, and

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“

Tracy Carr, a certified nurse midwife at Saint Francis Medical Center, says alternative birthing options are available to women in Southeast Missouri, but a number of women simply aren’t aware of them.

we encourage women to bring a birth plan in,” she says.

Both Carr and Donze say properly educating patients and ensuring they know and understand all of their options is a vital component of choosing a birth plan.

“We do try to do a little bit more education, a little more teaching, that’s just that nursing part of us,” Carr says. “Doctors do teach as well; it’s just sometimes a slightly different angle at it.”

Ste. Genevieve also has a group health care model called CenteringPregnancy, which focuses on health, education and support for women to experience as a group during their pregnancies.

“I think the information and education that our providers and nurses give women is very empowering for women,” says Lisa Bird, a registered nurse and director of the Women’s Health and Childbirth Center at Ste. Genevieve.

“We feel like our patients are really engaged.”

Donze says she enjoys offering women an array of options during their pregnancy to decide on the best plan for them.

“Research does show that those women have better perceptions of their delivery, better outcomes, less postpartum depression; so that’s all very important,” she says.

Both hospitals offer water births as an option.

In Ste. Genevieve, women can labor and deliver in a permanent water birth tub that maintains

water temperature and helps sanitize the water.

At Saint Francis, women can labor in jetted tubs, but must bring their own birthing tub and supplies if they wish to deliver under water.

“Water is extremely comforting in labor, without a doubt, even if you just labor in the water,” Carr says. “It is much more comforting than laboring out in the air because ... it’s a sense of flotation, the pressure is less intense. It’s not that the contractions are any lighter, they just feel better in the water because when their whole belly is submerged, it’s much more relaxing, it’s much easier to relax.”

Along with natural birthing with a midwife, several techniques are available to help avoid using an epidural or medication while in labor.

Carr says the Bradley Method is a series of classes, more advanced and intense than Lamaze, that teaches breathing and visualization techniques, along with ways to position the body to manage pain throughout labor.

Hypnobirthing also is an option, Donze says, that incorporates hypnosis techniques to fight the fear and pain that come with natural childbirth.

In addition, Donze says a nurse at Ste. Genevieve recently was trained in the rebozo method, which employs a long shawl to help relax the mother, support her weight and shift the baby if need be.

Carr says “lay-midwives,” or women who act as midwives but are not clinically certified, can assist in home births, but may not be able to recognize significant birthing problems. She recommends working with a midwife on staff at a hospital, rather than an uncertified midwife in-home, to ensure there is backup available if any problems with the baby or mother arise.

“I have doctors behind me at all points in time so all I have to do is, if it even looks like something I haven’t seen, all I have to do is walk down a hall or pick up a phone,” she says.

Overall, Carr says women should know what options they have available and the different routes they can take throughout their pregnancies and deliveries.

“They should know that there are alternative options, and it’s not for everybody, it’s your own personal choice,” she says. “But you should know that the option does exist, especially in this area; whereas it exists all over the United States, it should be an option to Southeast Missouri as well.”

fall 2016 | Flourish 13

health & fitness / sleeping

Stock photo

COUNTING SHEEP?

Five reasons you’re not sleeping

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Flourish | fall 2016

By BrandPoint

Tossing, turning and constantly waking — it can be maddening when you don’t get the sleep your mind and body so desperately need. If you constantly struggle to fall asleep and stay asleep, you’re in good (albeit tired) company.

Millions of Americans across the country are chronically sleep deprived. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that insufficient sleep is a serious and growing public health concern. What most people don’t realize is their lack of quality rest is often connected to bad sleep habits.

Are you guilty of any of these top five mistakes that reduce your body’s ability to sleep all night? Learn what they are and how to make simple corrections for a more rejuvenating rest.

www.semissourian.com/flourish

MISTAKE NO. 1: SLEEPING ON AN OLD MATTRESS An old, unsupportive mattress inhibits quality sleep, yet the cost and time it takes to purchase a new mattress deters people from upgrading. Fortunately, the mattress industry is evolving, so it’s easier than ever to get a new mattress, either by ordering online or shopping locally and having it delivered to your bedroom MISTAKE NO. 2: USING ELECTRONICS AT BEDTIME Tablets, cellphones, smartphones — digital devices make it easy to stay connected, but they mess with the brain’s ability to fall asleep.

Light-omitting devices disrupt the body’s natural circadian rhythms.

That means when you’re checking your phone right before bed, you’re causing your brain to think it’s time to wake. The best solution is to avoid digital devices for at least an hour before bed. Instead of TV or tech, take a bath, read or do some gentle yoga to get your body into sleep mode.

MISTAKE NO. 3: IGNORING PHANTOM NOISE POLLUTION Ticking clocks, beeping phones and buzzing electronics may not seem loud, but this phantom noise pollution is secretly robbing you of a good night’s rest. To encourage your body to get into REM sleep, try to eliminate as much noise as possible from the bedroom. If you’re left with other disruptive noises, such as a snoring partner or outside traffic, invest in a white noise machine or earplugs to block it out.

MISTAKE NO. 4: KEEPING THE BEDROOM TOO WARM If you crank up the heat and grab an extra blanket at bedtime, you might be disrupting your sleep patterns. The National Sleep Foundation identifies temperature as a key factor to sleep, recommending a cooler sleeping environment. So turn down the thermostat, reduce blankets and possibly even rethink your mattres: Sme mattresses are made with latex or gel memory foam that allows for increased air flow.

MISTAKE NO. 5: ALLOWING INCONSPICUOUS LIGHT You flip off the light switch when it’s time for shut-eye, but your room is probably not completely dark. Even subtle glow from a night light, phone or muted TV disrupts those crucial circadian rhythms, causing your body to think dawn is near, which in return triggers you to wake up. Try to remove or block all light in your room, and if there’s some you just can’t eliminate, an eye mask is a helpful alternative.

When Every Moment Has To Be Perfect...

City of

Miner Convention Center

2610 E. Malone Ave., Miner, MO 63801 • 573.471.8520 • www.cityofminer.com

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EPIC

Talk to kids about prescription drug misuse.

“Teens who had learned about prescription drugs from their parents or grandparents were up to 42% less likely to abuse prescription drugs than those who didn’t.”

Caring adults can reduce the misuse of prescription drugs.

MONITOR prescription drugs in the home.

SECURE prescription drugs in a safe and secure place.

DISPOSE of prescription drugs in a safe, environmental and legal manner.

Prescription Drug Drop Box Locations You can safely dispose of unwanted medications at one of these permanent prescription drug drop box locations.

Cape Girardeau Police Department 40 South Sprigg St. in Cape Jackson Police Department 525 South Hope St. in Jackson

Talk to kids.

They are listening, even if they appear not to be.

For more information: EARLY PREVENTION IMPACTS COMMUNITY

(573) 587-1921

www.epicprevention.org fall 2016 | Flourish 15

features / fishing

Kamaria Pearson poses for a photo at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center.

FISHING FOR HAPPINESS

Talking shop with Kamaria Pearson, who teaches about fish and nature with the Missouri Department of Conservation 16

Flourish | fall 2016

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com

By Logan Young

Kamaria Pearson, angler education assistant for the Missouri Department of Conservation in Cape Girardeau, first found a passion for fishing on outings with her grandparents.

They began taking her and her brother fishing when they were about 5 and 6 years old, and although Pearson didn’t like it at first, she quickly warmed up to it once she had a cane fishing pole in her hands.

“It was so hot and sticky, and we didn’t have poles, so we just didn’t understand, ‘Why are we out here? Why did we have to come out here?’” she says. “Finally someone got the bright idea

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to start bringing extra poles, so that’s where the trip got 10 times better.”

When Pearson began high school, she started to think about career paths. She met Chris Kennedy, a fisheries biologist who was helping run the Youth Conservation Corps for the MDC. She joined the corps at 15 and started networking with kids her age who were from different backgrounds, including those from farms and more rural areas.

“Just being exposed to [peers from different backgrounds in the area] and getting a grasp of the importance of conservation, and I started to learn that it’s essential to know your outdoor surroundings, and I feel like that’s a really important part of life,” Pearson says.

The Youth Conservation Corps work started out as general maintenance, making sure conservation and trails were clean and clear, and then they introduced the alligator gar restoration project. The restoration project is working to re-establish the population of alligator gar in the department’s region, which encompasses 16 counties.

“I just found that so fascinating, so I then started looking for schools that were really into fisheries, and aquaculture that specialized in that, and I came upon the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff,” she says.

After earning a full ride at U of A and graduating, she started in a term position at the Missouri Department of Conservation Regional Office in Cape Girardeau as a natural resources assistant, where she had the opportunity to work with a biologist on revising the “Fishes of Missouri” book, reworking distributional maps and adding new images of fish in their spawning colors.

“Overall I just feel like it’s an honor to hold a position within the department to kind of pay forward what was given to me,” she says.

In her current position as the angler education assistant, she provides an array of programs, mainly for youth groups, spanning from 4-H Clubs to Girl Scouts to school classes.

“I tend to target youth groups because those are generations to come, and it kind of exposes them and gets them introduced to conservation to see if that’s an activity that they like,” Pearson says.

One of the main activities Pearson organizes is the Discover Nature Fishing Program, which consists of four classes with progressive lessons, from teaching basic tackle to baiting a hook, lessons about the food web and how to work with MDC regulations in different areas of the state.

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LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com

Kamaria Pearson is an angler education assistant with the Missouri Department of Conservation.

With one set of classes running in April and typically two rounds of classes in the summer, Pearson says it’s a good opportunity for families to rediscover fishing and hopefully incorporate it in their lifestyle.

She also has branched out to other parts of the region, hosting classes in the Bonne Terre and Park Hills, Missouri, areas.

“We’re working to get classes scheduled for their community and hopefully they take on to that and get more people fishing in that area,” she says.

Pearson also advertises the Rod and Reel Loaner Program, which allows families lacking time or money to borrow fishing materials in the same way they would check out books from local libraries.

On a regular day, Pearson could be working with children from all over the area, teaching them about fish biology with fiberglass fish models, about fish that live in Missouri waters or about fish-handling techniques.

The MDC has a stream table — a mobile trailer filled with ground, recycled plastic and a water pump that simulate a stream in its natural setting — that allows Pearson to show channelization and the effects when drastic changes are made to streams and their ecosystems. She teaches about the importance of wetlands and pond ecology and facilitates specialized activities like fly tying and lure painting.

She also works with Discover Nature programs for local schools, and works with students in the fishing club at Jackson Middle

School.

“I live for giving that kid a chance to catch their first fish, touch their first live fish, there’s just nothing like seeing that or witnessing that or knowing, hey, I provided that feeling for those kids,” she says. “Or I gave them that confidence and now that kid’s definitely going to be an angler; when he or she grows up, they’re going to continue to get their hunting license, fishing license, they’re going to participate in fishing and things like that.”

One of the things Pearson enjoys most about her position is giving people an opportunity to tap into the happiness she finds in fishing, and opening up a new recreational activity to them.

“I don’t feel like I’m coming to work. It’s definitely not about the wages or the money, it’s just about going out and giving citizens that happiness,” she says. “I feel like, personally, there’s nothing more relaxing than going out fishing; you have the sounds of nature … If it’s a nice, clear day with a small breeze, I mean, that’s priceless and it’s totally free.”

Above all else, knowing she’s influenced children in a positive way makes her job feel rewarding and worthwhile.

“My favorite part is at the end, the comments, the aftermath — ‘This is the best day of my life’ — I hear that so much and I just think that is so awesome,” she says. “I’m not all that fun, I’m not all that great, but for me to stand there and talk and give them vital information about outdoors and natural resources, and that they can take that in and retain it, that makes me feel like I’m doing my job.”

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features / jewelry

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com

Becky Foster and Morgan Dollar create jewelry as Red Fern Studio in Jackson.

HEAVY METAL

Mother and daughter have joined forces to make personalized jewelry at Red Fern Studio

By Logan Young

Morgan Dollar and her mother, Becky Foster, have been making jewelry for many years, but recently collaborated to operate Red Fern Studio, an Etsy shop featuring handcrafted metal bracelets and stud earrings.

Dollar opened the Red Fern Studio Etsy shop in May 2015. An etched copper fern pendant Dollar had created before opening the business

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inspired the studio’s name, and she says to her, the necklace symbolized a recommitment to her passion for jewelry making. That symbolism resonated when she pulled a book from her bookshelf that she hadn’t looked at in quite some time and found a pressed red fern leaf in its pages. She took it as a sign and continued with the name for her business.

At the same time, Foster also was running her own jewelry business on Etsy.

“I was determined and I had tried several times in the past to start my own jewelry business, but I could just never get motivated enough to make it full time,” Dollar says. “But I was determined this time, so I opened my Etsy shop and my mom had her own Etsy shop, so we were kind of doing it independently and mine just really took off.”

What started as a renewed hobby quickly became a flourishing business.

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“I just kind of hit a home run with personalized bracelets, especially for bridesmaids,” Dollar says.

As the business grew and orders started coming in, Dollar says she needed Foster’s help to keep up with all the orders. And since Foster is a school bus driver in Jackson and is off during the summer, she’s been working full time in the studio since summer break began.

“It just got to the point where we decided she needed to work with Red Fern Studio full time,” Dollar says. “We both just needed to join forces there instead of doing our own thing independently.”

Dollar’s husband, Bay Dollar, also began working at the studio to help keep up with the shop’s sales, which have amassed to more than 1,300 transactions since it opened.

Foster has more than a decade’s worth of experience in jewelry making, which originally began when she made jewelry years ago to match the clothing she sold in her tanning salon and clothing store in Jackson.

She took some time off from making jewelry and started up again around 10 or 12 years ago, but says she always has been creative and good with her hands.

“I’ve just always been a person that had to be doing something with my hands all the time,” she says. “I’ve always been big into crafts, making different things, and I’ve gone from crocheting to drawing to making wooden products, and I’ve tried a lot of different crafts, but [jewelry making] is the one that I enjoyed the most, too, so we kind of had the same interest.”

Like her mother, Dollar is passionate about crafting unique items and making original, longlasting, one-of-a-kind pieces.

“I think I just love the idea of wearing your art, your little creations,” Dollar says.

Although Red Fern Studio mainly works as an online shop, the studio does have a location on East Jackson Boulevard in Jackson, and they will take custom orders by phone or on site. With Dollar living in Cape Girardeau and Foster in Perryville, Missouri, Jackson seemed like a manageable meeting point.

“Honestly, we just found this place and it was perfect,” Dollar says. “We were open to Cape or Jackson, but it was just kind of an easier middle ground to meet.”

The shop typically isn’t open to the public, but is the main workshop for creating and packaging the jewelry for shipment.

To create the personalized bracelets, the shop’s best-selling items, Dollar and Foster use mainly sterling silver, brass and copper, and impress premade metal stamps one at a time by hand to achieve the buyer’s desired message.

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“

I personally love metal, anything with metal, just manipulating it in different ways, because it’s so permanent by the time you’re done with it, and it can last forever.

”

“None of them look the same, obviously, and they’re not always perfect, but that kind of plays into the handmade feel of it,” Dollar says.

Dollar and Foster like working with metal because it is durable and has a everlasting feel.

“I personally love metal, anything with metal, just manipulating it in different ways, because it’s so permanent by the time you’re done with it, and it can last forever,” Dollar says.

“There’s just so many things you can do with metal, and you can create it your way,” Foster says.

Jewelry from the studio has been shipped all over the world, with past shipments going to places throughout the United States, France, England, Switzerland, Canada and other places.

“It’s really neat just knowing that our jewelry is all over the world now,” Foster says.

The women agree independence is the best part of having their own business, especially because of the versatility of scheduling their own hours and working in a creative setting.

“Just the ability to create your own lifestyle … and just freedom with your time, with the direction that you take the business,” Dollar says. “If something’s not working we can always change directions, we can just kind of mold this business to fit our lifestyles.”

Red Fern Studio can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/theredfernstudio/ and on Instagram as @redfernstudio. Find their Etsy shop at redfernstudio.etsy.com. Alongside Red Fern Studio, Dollar and Foster also enjoy making original pieces like necklaces, which they sell at area craft shows and on special order.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com

Red Fern Studio in Jackson.

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Join us for these free events: Nature Center at Night: Outside the Box Aug. 11, 5 to 8 p.m.

Nature Art: Bird Adventures Aug. 11, 6 to 8 p.m. *ages 16 and up

Summer is flying by...

Call to schedule today (573)243-5200

...don’t forget to schedule your children for a dental exam and cleaning.

Archer y Basics Aug. 12, 6 to 7 p.m. *ages 12 and up Floatin’ on the River Aug. 12 & 13 *experienced paddlers only Feeding Frenzy Aug. 18, 1 to 2 p.m. ee Buzz About Pollinators Aug. 27, 9 a.m. to noon International Vulture Awareness Day Sep. 3, 1 to 3 p.m.

Call us today to set up an appointment.

3100 East Jackson Blvd. • Jackson, MO 63755 (Across from Jackson Wal-Mart)

573-243-5200 • www.myjacksondental.com

Now

acceptiNg

New campers

Nature Center at Night: ee Grand ‘Ole Opossum Sep. 8, 5 to 8 p.m.

Some of these events require registration.

Call (573)290-5218 to register.

Find more information at mdc.mo.gov/CapeNatureCenter.

A whole new experience for your dog One mile past roundabout on Rt. W

(573) 803-1311 • deercreekdoggie.com 20

Flourish | fall 2016

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Q & A / style & beauty

The Beauty Counter How to contour like a pro

By Anne Hudson

I think by now it’s safe to say unless you’ve been living the past half-decade under a rock, chances are you are well aware of a makeup technique we ladies and gentlemen like to call “contouring.” In the past year alone, contouring has taken on a life of its own. Sephora could probably dedicate a whole other store to nothing but contouring and highlighting products. I even had a client’s grandmother ask me to make her cheekbones look like Kim Kardashian’s.

But while we are busy overloading our phones and tablets with Instagram filters to give us that “beat face” look after applying an overwhelming amount of bronzer, and binge-watching YouTube tutorials from the latest up-and-coming self-proclaimed makeup guru, I think it’s important to understand the images (and by images, I mean selfies) we see on Instagram, Twitter or Snapchat are more than likely filtered half a dozen times, and the user probably spent a good 30 minutes in front of the camera before picking one image to filter and upload with the hashtag #fiveminutemakeup or #sunkissedglow.

Everyone wants those perfectly sculpted cheekbones and noses that look so straight and slender it’ll make you question whether they’re actually able to breathe through it. It’s actually a great concept. With the right brush, some darker makeup and proper blending, you can transform yourself into someone completely unlike yourself. But before you decide to become the next YouTube guru, it’s important to understand the common mistakes when trying this technique.

The first and most common mistake people make when contouring is using a bronzer. A bronzer should be avoided as a contouring option because it simply is too warm. The purpose of using a bronzer and contouring your face are actually two completely different ideas. We use bronzers to achieve a sun-kissed glow because they are a warm-toned color. In contrast, the point of contouring is to create a shadow effect, which is what helps recede (or minimize) parts of our face that we don’t

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want people to focus on. To create a shadow, we want to look toward cool-toned colors, such as browns with a gray undertone. It’s also important to steer clear of bronzers with shimmer or glitter, as this will only highlight the areas you want minimized or recessed.

The second mistake is using a formula that is too dark. You should not use any contouring product that is more than one and a half to two shades darker than your own skin. If you use contouring products that are much darker than your complexion, you risk the contour appearing too harsh, especially in photographs.

Another common issue picking up whatever brush you have easy access to and using it.

Contouring is about creating an angle as much as it is creating the shadow. You want to look at your face and choose the appropriate brush for the part of your face you want to contour. A general rule of thumb is that you use a medium-size angled brush that is not densely packed in the brush. The more dense your brush hairs, the more product you will pick up and dispense on your face. This will just create more work for you, because you’ll have to blend more to get rid of any harshness.

You also want to pay attention to what you are contouring. While a medium-size brush may be useful for many areas on your face, contouring your nose, underneath your lip and the eye area will require something smaller and a less angled. This is one of those “less is more” lessons I feel we really could benefit from. We, myself included, can be heavyhanded basically in everything in life, so why would applying makeup be any different, right? However, it is important that we learn to build the application. It’s easier to build up the application than try to reduce it.

Blending, which goes right along with the type of brush you choose, is such a huge part of contouring that it baffles me when I see people with a harsh contour line, usually around the cheekbone or temple area. It is so important to blend, blend, blend, almost to the point where it looks like the contour is gone. If it is gone, it’s OK because you can apply more if you need to — it’s when you place the contour on your face and forget to blend that it becomes an

About Anne

Anne Hudson, a self-taught makeup artist, has had a passion for makeup since she was old enough to know what powder was. She could write a book about red lipstick, but for now, she’s offering her best tips in Flourish magazine. Have a question for Anne? Send it to rgautschy@semissourian.com, and you might find the answer in a future issue of Flourish.

issue. When you are blending, you want to do it in two different motions. Start with backand-forth motions to ensure the product has been applied completely and evenly on the area you are contouring. Then blend in small, circular motions. If you use a beauty blender or sponge, pat the sponge with a medium to light pressure in a swooping motion, so while you are blending the product into your skin, you’re also removing any excess product.

Another issue I’ve found with contouring is we forget we’ve already put on foundation, and now we’re about to throw another layer of makeup on top of that. Or, vice versa, we’ll contour our face, then cover it up by applying a second layer of foundation. There are definitely areas of our face that need foundation, and I do feel like applying some Continued on page 41

fall 2016 | Flourish 21

style & beauty / fashion

TAKE THE REINS

FALL FASHION IS HERE

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fall 2016 | Flourish 23

Photo gallery 24

Flourish | fall 2016

View more fashion photos at semissourian.com/flourish

On Claire, page 22: Long white cotton dress, navy embroidered kimono, beaded stretch bracelets, long pendant necklace, brown leather sandals and elongated hoop earrings, all from Philanthropy in Cape Girardeau.

On Claire, at left: Entro cream and sage paisley dress and blue hoop earrings from Brickwood Boutique in Cape Girardeau; various Bold Elements bracelets and Mixit medallion necklace from JCPenney.

On Claire, bottom right: Purple lace top, gray camisole, Silver boyfriend mid-skinny jeans and layered necklaces, all from Maurices in Cape Girardeau; riding boots and helmet borrowed from Fox Run Stables.

On Terra, pages 26 & 27: Sea Gypsy romper from Stash in Cape Girardeau; Mixit beaded medallion necklace and Arizona Orlando woven ankle booties, both from JCPenney.

On Terra, page 26, top right: Blue lace sleeveless top with keyhole from Stash; Liz Claiborne shorts with cream and navy stripes, gray HollyWould blazer and A.N.A. Rose faux-suede peep-toe booties, all from JCPenney.

On Leslie, pages 28 and 29: Gimmicks top with lace and faux suede, RWH distressed denim jacket, Flying Monkey low-rise cropped skinny jeans, BKE earrings and Corral Vintage cognac embossed booties, all available at The Buckle in Cape Girardeau.

On Leslie, page 29, bottom: Blue and red plaid dress from Philanthropy; Decree faux suede vest in camel color from JCPenney.

Photography: Laura Simon Stylist: Brandon Whitaker Models: Terra Bennett, Claire Rankin and Leslie Shain Hair: Tabitha Mueller and Carrie McClard of Belladona Salon and Spa Makeup: Alicia Baugh and Stefani Ralls of Belladona Salon and Spa Shot on location at Fox Run Stables in Cape Girardeau

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fall 2016 | Flourish 27

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fall 2016 | Flourish 29

style & beauty / fashion

Fashion blogger Sam Smith dishes on her favorite places to shop, and how to be an “original” Interview by Robyn Gautschy

A PASSION FOR FASHION LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com

Fashion blogger and stylist Sam Smith poses for a photo inside Brickood Boutique at the Indie House in Cape Girardeau.

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At 17 years old, Sam Smith of Cobden, Illinois, has a sweet disposition, a wise outlook on life, and big plans for her future.

A lifelong lover of clothes, she created a fashion blog for a high school assignment, but has continued to share her thoughts on style, shopping and life in general at originalsamsmith.com. She spent her summer working at Philanthropy in Cape Girardeau and is headed to Lindenwood University this fall. Her greatest goal? To own her own shop someday.

“The positive response I have gotten from readers and store owners has definitely been very encouraging, and I hope I can continue to share my clothes and experiences,” she says. “Original Sam Smith has been such an exciting journey and I pray that it continues to grow and that I can hopefully inspire others with what I’m doing.”

Read on for more about Sam’s fashion inspiration, and how she’s stayed true to herself: Flourish: OK, let’s start with some background on you: Where did you grow up and go to school? You’re going to college this fall, right?

Sam Smith: I grew up and went to high school in Cobden, Illinois, and am going to study business at Lindenwood University in the fall.

Flourish: How did you get interested in fashion? What do you love about it?

Smith: I’ve always loved clothes. I can remember when I was little, I would take forever to get ready for anything and my mom would say, “It’s not a fashion show, let’s go.” It’s always been a way for me to express myself. I went to a very small high school where clothes and fashion are not very prevalent. Everyone was always talking

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trends work for us right here in Southeast Missouri?

Smith: Right now and into the fall I’m thinking a lot of ’90s trends will be coming back.

I’ve been seeing choker necklaces, plaid, graphic tees and boyfriend jeans. I love this because these items are super comfortable and will be easy to style. I love to tie flannels around my waist and buy my graphic tees a size up so I can achieve a loser fit.

about sports or other things that I was never very interested in. Fashion was, and still is, a way I can be different and do something I love.

Flourish: When and how did you start your blog? How does it work, and what do you hope your readers take away from it?

Smith: Over the past few years, as social media has become so prevalent, I’ve been noticing “influencers” or “bloggers” all over the place giving the illusion that their job is real-life dress-up! I began reading a few different blogs and watching YouTube videos, and I thought it was something I might want to do, but putting myself out there on the internet was kind of intimidating, so it was something I put on the back burner.

Fast-forward to my senior year of high school, I am in a business class called “CEO,” and the majority of our second semester grade is starting a business. Owning my own store is a dream of mine, but I didn’t think that was a realistic option in high school, so I started bouncing back to the blog idea. After I decided blogging was what I wanted to do, I spent January to March researching what I needed to do to make a blog successful, and then I spent the month of March (with the help of my dad) designing the actual site. On April 1, I launched Original Sam Smith. Initially I thought I would do it for the class, maybe keep pursuing it if it worked out, but if not, whatever. Well, on my very first day I got over 950 page views, something I did not expect at all! It was definitely very encouraging!

As the majority of my current audience is local, I have been teaming up with local stores to showcase some of their items. This has probably been my favorite part. I have made so many contacts and friends and learned a lot about what goes into owning a store (which is great, because that is a long-term goal of mine)!

I hope I can inspire my readers to do what they love, no matter what others think. I never really fit in while I was growing up, but now I realize fitting in doesn’t really matter. It sounds cliché, but I really want people to love themselves and be independent and confident in who they are.

It’s not about the clothes; it is about how people feel about themselves.

Flourish: You’re also popular on social media. Tell us about your pages and your “fans.”

Smith: Social media is really fun for me, and usually a place where I draw inspiration from.

Instagram is my personal favorite, but I have also been connecting on Facebook. It’s kind of strange to think of my followers as “fans,”

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LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com

Fashion blogger and stylist Sam Smith poses for a photo inside Brickood Boutique at the Indie House in Cape Girardeau.

but I would say most of them are high school or college girls on Instagram, and a variety of age and style ranges on Facebook. I’ve gotten so many positive comments on social media, so it’s been a really awesome platform to connect and find out what my readers are loving or what they want to see.

Flourish: Where do you get your style inspiration?

Smith: I draw a lot of inspiration from celebrity styles and TV shows, and I also watch a lot of YouTube videos and read other blogs.

I will notice the clothes on a TV show or Instagram picture before I will pay attention to the dialogue or read the caption.

Flourish: What are your favorite places to shop, and why?

Smith: Since launching the blog, I’ve gotten super into local stores and boutiques. I honestly didn’t realize how many trendy stores were in this area. They all have different styles and I think the quality is usually higher. I also love that most of them have a limited amount of a certain product, so I feel like I am getting something that not everyone else has. In Cape I love Stash, Philanthropy, Brickwood, Annie Em’s at Home and Bloom Studio and Gifts. In Southern Illinois, I love Eccentrics, Perfectly Posh, Love of Family and Home and WLB Style. When I’m shopping at the mall, I am a sucker for a good sale. Lately I’ve been finding cute stuff at American Eagle, Old Navy and PacSun. I also find that Macy’s usually has really cute workout apparel. And, I’ve been trying out thrifting, too.

I’ve found some Tommy Hilfiger and Levi jeans at Goodwill that I’ve distressed and love.

Flourish: What trends can we look forward to this fall? Any tips on how to make those

Flourish: Your blog slogan is “For the girl choosing to be original in a world where it is easier to blend in.” Why did you choose that as your focus? And, what is your advice for pulling that off in life or in fashion? It’s tough!

Smith: I was bullied pretty bad when I was in elementary school, so I had to learn at a pretty young age what it felt like to be the outcast and how to respond to hatefulness. When you go to a small school, there is not a lot of diversity in interests and, in my case, I was pretty outcasted for not fitting the model. Both of my parents really supported me in what I loved — cheer and clothes — which were the two things I was picked on the most for. Because I didn’t have a ton of friends at school, I had to learn to be confident in who I was as a person. This was a hard lesson to learn when I was 10 years old. I can remember wondering why people didn’t like me or what I could do to change, and my mom just telling me to be kind and to try and forgive.

It wasn’t until I got to high school and made real friends that I realized she was right, and it just does not matter what people think. I’m definitely not saying it’s easy to accept criticism or hate, but when you can be confident in who you are as a person, things are a lot easier. I wanted to dedicate my site to other girls dealing with similar struggles and trying to stay true to themselves as well.

Flourish: What’s next for you? Any fun projects or jobs coming up?

Smith: I am working with another blogger/ store owner to style pieces for different ages.

This is especially exciting because we both agree there is a misconception that once you reach a certain age, you can’t wear cute things.

This is going to be a way for us both to connect with a larger audience and show that you can style items to make them comfortable and chic for a variety of age ranges. Also, I am in the researching phases of a formal newsletter. I want to be able to connect with the people who come back every post. I am hoping to include exclusive content and showcase some of my favorite posts.

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style & beauty / jewelry

Street Style

Dominique Pratt makes jewelry with class and beauty

By Sheila McKinley

Meeting local designers and artists is one of my absolute favorite things to do. The amount of talent and sheer brilliance in Southeast Missouri is definitely something to spread the word about.

Recently I had the pleasure of being introduced to Dominique Pratt. She is the owner and designer of Classy Mama Designs, a collection of hand-stamped jewelry. Also a fashionista, Dominique expresses herself through her stylish wardrobe. I’ve included a photo of Dominique in front of her Poplar Bluff, Missouri, home doing classic and boho chic in a navy button-down blouse, summertime white trousers and a very cool paisley print jacket. I asked her a few questions about her jewelry collection to share with Flourish readers.

Q: Why did you start Classy Mama?

A: I have always loved creating and designing jewelry. As a stay-at-home mama, I had dreams of one day starting my own business and to have something that was my own. I knew I was ready to use my creative talent, take a bold step of faith and finally start making my dream a reality. My interest in jewelry making grew as I started taking online classes and researching the art of hand stamping. My new business venture quickly turned into my new passion!

Q: What is the inspiration behind your collection?

A: To me, the most special pieces of jewelry I own have a special memory or moment handstamped on it so I can wear close to my heart daily. My inspiration for my brand is to give women a special moment forever stamped on jewelry that they can keep close to them forever. Whether it’s a life-changing phrase, unforgettable date, coordinates of a location or a name of someone they love, I can help keep that moment in time close to their heart.

Q: Where did the name originate from?

A: I think a lot of women can relate to why

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I chose this name. Two of the most important things to me are being a mama and feeling classy. I want women to have meaningful jewelry that when they slip it on, they feel classy and beautiful and they can wear it every day! I think every woman wants to feel like that, whether a she’s grocery shopping, out with the girls or out on the town.

Dominique Pratt poses for a photo in front of her Poplar Bluff, Missouri, home. (submitted photo)

Q: What materials do you use and why?

A: When women invest in jewelry, they want it to last. I use only precious metals that will not flake off or turn colors and that can be worn by women with allergies to certain metals. I have recently added natural gemstones to my designs. I love jewelry that is natural, rustic, yet elegant. It is very important to me to create high-quality jewelry that will last for years and is at an attainable price.

Q: Your styles are so trendy! What are your favorite clothing or jewelry brands that you find interesting and fashion-forward?

A: I am such a huge supporter of shopping local and supporting powerful women who are living their dreams. I am always inspired by the fashion-forward designs of Haberdash Soul Co., Shabby Apple, Bask Designs and Kendra Scott.

Q: How can we find your jewelry?

A: All of my personalized designs can be ordered atClassyMamaDesigns.com. For any questions, you can email ClassyMamaDesigns@ gmail.com and you can follow me on Instagram for upcoming designs and promotions: @ ClassyMamaDesigns -------------

About Sheila

Sheila McKinley is an independent fashion consultant working exclusively with luxury women’s golf wear line Ladyb New York.

After living in New York City for the better end of 10 years, she has come back home to Missouri to do one of the things she does best: talk fashion.

Dominique Pratt makes jewelry under the name “Classy Mama Designs.” (submitted photo)

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pets / living

Paws & Effect

Skills, knowledge and respect needed in dog training

By Stacy Busch-Heisserer

It’s back-to-school time again! As the long days of summer creep away and our routines are re-established, have you noticed the family dog acting out a bit more?

Dogs like routine, and when we upset that routine, behavior issues can develop. That tends to happen most when there are changes in the dog’s home environment.

Back to school is one of those times. Fido had his kids with him all summer, playing and having fun. His favorite people were home with him. Then one day, everyone is back to the grind, with school all week and sports on the weekends. It’s hard for some dogs to cope. They act out. They tear up carpets and bedding. They chew on furniture. They do things they haven’t done since they were puppies.

HOW DID DOG TRAINING COME ABOUT? There isn’t much information about formal dog training before World War I. Dogs lived on farms and in yards; they protected families and livestock. They pulled carts and kept rodents to a minimum. They learned their place as they went along, and they did it happily. During the war, people began needing dogs in new ways, which brought about a type of fast-approach dog training that only certain types of dogs could withstand.

After the war, many of the military dog trainers were discharged from the service. At the same time, people began to transition from farms to factories, which left dogs at home with no jobs. Many owners found their dogs acting out, which led them to have their dogs trained by former military trainers and others who had learned these training methods.

TYPES OF TRAINING METHODS The traditional method of training during World War I and World War II was dominance training. The military used force to train dogs and ensure they followed commands. Dominance trainers use corrections such as yanking on a

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About Stacy

Stacy Busch-Heisserer is the owner of Busch Pet Products and Deer Creek Doggie Day Camp in Cape Girardeau. She is a lifelong animal lover who has four cats and four dogs.

leash to get a distracted dog’s attention, a pinch (or prong-style) collar, or even a shock collar to keep the dog in check.

Dominance training still is a popular training method, due in part to Cesar Millan.

Dominance draws many of its principles from information gathered on studies done on wolf packs. Some argue that wolves and dogs are vastly different and any information gained by studying wolves isn’t applicable to domesticated dogs. Many opponents of this method point to studies showing that wolf packs are more like families and do not have an “alpha” individual at all.

Dominance training is only successful for the one person in the household who is strong enough or intimidating enough to control the dog. Very often that is the male of the home.

This training method has come under scrutiny in the past few years because the result often is that a dog’s true behavior is suppressed and the dog has a more submissive personality, since it lives to avoid corrections. The dog literally has to figure out, through trial and error, what he must do to not be punished.

Another method that many veterinarians and

animal behaviorists use is the scientific training method. This involves trainers working with the dog instead of commanding the dog. Rewards are given when the dog performs adequately and taken away for unwanted behaviors. For example, a dog may jump to grab a ball that will be thrown, but the trainer holds the ball in a way that it’s clear the dog will not get it. When the desired behavior is achieved (no jumping, for example), the dog is given the ball. That way, force and correction are not needed. The trainer is giving the dog time to figure out the proper behavior.

Positive reinforcement training is where the dog is never reprimanded and only ever rewarded for his or her actions. Unwanted behaviors are simply ignored. Clicker training would fall into this category, as no negative reinforcement is applied. Positive reinforcement is good thing, but it’s possible the dog will never understand which behaviors are to be avoided.

Many proponents believe the spirit of the dog will remain intact with positive reinforcement training.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE A GOOD TRAINER? It’s up to you to decide how to train your dog.

In general, a healthy medium between positive reinforcement and scientific training is best.

Your dog is a family member, not just a piece of property. Ask yourself what you want your dog to learn.

It pays to do your research on dog trainers.

Ask others who have been to classes or oneon-one sessions. If you send your dog away to a trainer, check out that person’s qualifications and reviews from other customers. Don’t hesitate to ask for referrals. A trainer needs to have the skills, knowledge and a healthy respect for animal behavior to provide training and guidance to your dog. A trainer should be respectful of the animal and understand what makes each one tick. Keeping your dog busy and engaged also goes without saying.

Good luck!

fall 2016 | Flourish 33

living / canning

Rennie and Marge Phillips pose for a photo with their tomato plants inside one of their greenhouses in Scott City.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com

CAN DO!

Learn to can and enjoy the bounty of your garden all year long

By Lindsay Jones

When Marge Phillips first learned to can fresh produce, she was somewhere between 10 and 12 years old. Her family was a large one, and preserving fresh fruits and vegetables was a given.

“That’s just what my parents did,” she says.

Now, 50 years later, she is still canning things like fresh dill pickles, homemade salsa, green beans, and grapes for making grape juice — anything that can be canned and not frozen, although she freezes vegetable such as corn, too.

“We try different things,” she says.

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LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com

Marge Phillips with a selection of cucumbers she has canned from her garden.

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Marge’s husband, Rennie, a gardening columnist for The Southeast Missourian, grows all sorts of vegetables and fruits on their property in Scott City.

So when Marge is not at work, she helps Rennie harvest the fruits of his labor and preserve and store some items, while getting the rest ready for sale at area farmers markets. The surplus often is too large for only two people.

“Fifty quarts of this and 30 quarts of this — it just depends on what we decided to can,” she says.

Although Marge describes the process of canning different types of produce as hard work, it’s still satisfying to see the finished products on her table.

“Gardening and canning take a lot of time, which is probably why a lot of people don’t do it anymore,” she says.

But since Rennie is retired, he can devote the time, and even has elaborate methods for growing cucumbers and tomatoes.

“I help him in the evenings and on the weekends,” Marge says.

For anyone interested in learning to can food, Marge says it’s important to have at least one good book on the subject for when questions arise. It’s also advisable to take a course if one is available, she says.

“It’s a process of learning, but if you start out with the basics, you can expand your learning curve, try new things,” she says.

For newbies, Marge recommends using a pressure canner, which helps ensure foods are canned at the correct temperature.

It’s also important to use glass jars that are especially made for canning, as those that aren’t can break. Also, don’t try to use lids more than once — only the rings that help secure the lids to the jars can be reused.

Bethany Bachmann, a nutrition and health education specialist at the University of Missouri’s Extension office in Perryville, teaches classes on canning and answers questions whenever people call in with them.

She says the first thing any beginning canner should do is make sure he or she has a solid recipe, whether it’s for making jam or something else. Resources for tested recipes include the U.S. Department of Agriculture at usda.gov, the National Center for Home Food Preservation at nchfp.uga.edu and Missouri’s Extension website at extension.missouri.edu.

“Now, all the old recipes — granny’s methods — aren’t what they should be,” Bachmann says.

Newer canning recipes are designed to prevent foodborne pathogens or bacteria from causing sicknesses that might have occurred

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LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com

Rennie Phillips peels a cucumber to eat straight out of the garden.

when using techniques from earlier decades.

It’s also important to make sure the correct equipment is readily at hand, such as a pressure canner or water bath canner, a funnel, jars and lids, a tong for picking up hot jars, a tool for measuring the amount of head space (space between the food and the jar lid) and a magnetic wand, which helps remove sterilized canning lids from boiling water.

Once all of that is in place, it’s time to fire up the particular canner on hand.

If it’s a pressure canner, it will be able to reach temperatures up to 250 degrees, and if it’s a water bath canner, its maximum temperature is 215 degrees, she says.

From there, it’s a matter of following the procedures gleaned from a credible book, such as the “Ball Blue Book of Canning and Preserving Recipes,” or online resources like the ones mentioned above. If all else fails, Extension Service representatives like Bachmann can help answer questions and offer suggestions.

“With home preservation, you know exactly what’s going into the jars,” she says.

“

It’s a process of learning, but if you start out with the basics, you can expand your learning curve, try new things.

”

fall 2016 | Flourish 35

living / indoor plants

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com

Succulents at Sunny Hill Gardens and Florist in Cape Girardeau.

NO GREEN THUMB NEEDED

Air plants and succulents are fresh, lovely — and nearly impossible to kill

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Flourish | fall 2016

By Logan Young

In the words of Laurie Everett, owner of the Indie House and Annie Laurie’s Antiques in downtown Cape Girardeau, “plants are the new black.”

And in this day and age, having low-maintenance plants indoors can create a calming space, while also being functional for busy (or forgetful) plant owners.

“That’s, I think, maybe why they’re so popular right now ... the resurgence of indoor plants and finding ones that are easy to take care of,” Everett says.

Mother Earth, Everett’s business in the Indie House, is a “curated collection of all things bohemian,” including a wide array of hanging plants, floor plants and succulents available for purchase.

Melissa LaPlant of Sunny Hill Gardens and Florist in Cape Girardeau says she likes succulents because they are easy to manage and tough to kill.

“I think they’re a very unusual plant, and I think they’re easier to take care of because they pretty much thrive on

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neglect,” she says. “They do better the more you ignore them.”

With a growing season from April or May through October, succulents can be left outside until about October. Because succulents are tropical plants, they can’t handle the cold conditions of wintertime, especially in Missouri.

LaPlant says upon bringing succulents indoors, people should consider altering their watering schedule. Without as much sun and a more temperate atmosphere, the plants don’t need to be watered nearly as often.

“If you continue watering the way you’ve been watering them outside, then that’s a good possibility you could overwater, which would cause rot, and then there goes your plant,” she says.

She recommends watering the succulents once a week, maybe twice, while they’re outside. Once inside, the plants should be watered once every other week or even once a month, and they need to be placed in a container that drains well. She also suggests using cactus-specific fertilizers for any indoor succulents.

“It does depend on temperature and the amount of light they get,” she says.

There are many types of succulents with varying shapes of leaves, and colors ranging from deep purple to greens, blues, yellows and reds.

“All of them are a little bit different; it’s just a matter of finding which ones work best for you,” Everett says. “If you are really not a good plant person at all, one of the cactus family — some of them are called snake tails or mother-in-law’s tongue, rattlesnake tails — those are pretty simple to take care of.”

When it comes to hanging plants, LaPlant mentions ferns, ivy and wandering Jew, and Everett mentions burro’s tail and philodendrons as popular choices. Plants can be hung in decorative baskets or glass terrarium orbs, depending on the plant owner’s desired look.

LaPlant says tillandsia is an air plant that doesn’t need soil to survive, because it takes all necessary nutrients and water in through its leaves. The plant’s minimal root system is designed to anchor them to trees in the wild, which she says makes them perfect for hanging in glass terrariums or placing on a windowsill in the bathroom. Necessary care includes a slight misting of water maybe once or twice a week.

Style wise, Everett says she is seeing retro styling with macramé and other ’70s themes to add character and charm in the home.

“Some of the trends right now in decorating are throwback, 1970s-style plants. We’re seeing a lot of mother-in-law’s tongues, we’re seeing different cacti, succulents, all of those Aztec-type styles,” Everett says. “And styling them inside, you can use just about anything as a container for plants.”

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LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com

Let us help make your event Perfect

Succulents at Sunny Hill Gardens and Florist in Cape Girardeau.

“

I think they’re a very unusual plant, and I think they’re easier to take care of because they pretty much thrive on neglect. They do better the more you ignore them.

”

Everett also is seeing succulents, most notably houseleek or “hens and chicks,” styled in homes with stag horns and tree and bark pieces.

LaPlant and Everett believe succulents and air plants will continue to be a trend as people move in a healthier, more environmentally conscious direction.

“I think people are starting to go more toward the trend of living organically and having living things in the home, and I think, hopefully, we’re on a trend of healthier lifestyle, and having indoor plants also falls within that category. A lot of them clean the air and they just, they make you feel good,” Everett says.

Certain types of succulents can have health benefits, especially aloe vera plants, which can be used to treat burns and skin conditions and has various other uses.

“I think they will continue to be very popular. You do find them in a lot of designing … They just have a very interesting shape and look,” LaPlant says.

Mother Earth and Sunny Hill on North Kingshighway have a number of succulents, air plants and hanging plants available for purchase, along with decorative baskets, pots and hanging planters.

“Plants are in,” Everett says. “Plants are the new black.”

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age appropriate / moving

RETURN TO THE NEST

More adult children are moving back home with parents

By Lindsay Jones

In the 2006 movie “Failure to Launch,” the desperate parents of 35-year-old Tripp try everything they can to get him to move out of their family home, including hiring a beautiful woman, Paula, to help entice him out the door.

Yet Tripp (Matthew McConaughey) is perfectly happy with his living situation.

After all, he has a cool car, a nice job and plenty of female interest coming his way — not to mention being free from the burden of a mortgage and the other responsibilities faced by his friends.

Eventually, happily ever after is achieved when Tripp and Paula (Sarah Jessica Parker) ride off into the sunset.

But Tripp’s story, although Hollywood extreme, is being experienced by families all over the country.

That’s especially true for members of the Millennial generation, or those born in the early 1980s to around 2000.

A 2013 study by the Pew Research Center found that 36 percent of the nation’s 18- to 31-year-olds were living with their parents. About half of those 21.6 million young adults were college age. And, like the fictional Tripp, young men were 40 percent more likely to be living at home with mom and dad than their female counterparts.

Dr. David Yaskewich, director of the

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www.semissourian.com/flourishStock photo

Center for Economic and Business Research at Southeast Missouri State University, says the reason for the trend probably has its roots in the Great Recession, when jobs were scarce and economic turmoil was the word of the day.

Although conditions have improved since the recession ended in the summer of 2009, job pressure has remained an issue for many.

The primary reason so many young people are choosing to return to the nest, Yaskewich says, is directly related to their ability to find fulltime, good-paying jobs.

Without the financial independence of a decent, steady income, it’s often easier to get through the search where room and board cost little to nothing.

In that kind of scenario, living with others — aka, mom and dad — is the perfect opportunity to save for the down payment on a home, lower personal debt-to-income ratio and spread out living expenses.

That’s provided, of course, the family home is in an area with plentiful jobs, and expenses such as rent or utilities don’t fluctuate.

“The parents might live somewhere the jobs aren’t,” Yaskewich says.

In Missouri, for example, 60 percent of available jobs are centered in seven counties: St. Louis County, City of St. Louis (which is its own county), St. Charles, Jackson, Clay, Boone and Greene counties.

Jackson and Clay counties are in the Kansas City area, Boone is home to the University of Missouri, and Greene County is in the Springfield area.

While some former students might live close enough to commute to those places, others might live out in more rural areas, or places with little opportunity for new members of the workforce.

“In some areas, there might be entry level jobs that pay well and (in others) those that don’t pay well,” Yaskewich says.

That’s especially true depending on what field of study someone pursued, as well as the geography involved.

Another twist is that sometimes people with more college debt are actually more likely to live on their own, because the debt might reflect more time spent earning higher degrees that qualify them for jobs with bigger salaries. And bigger salaries mean a quicker path out of debt.

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Is your nest getting a little crowded?

When adult children return to the nest, the situation can be fraught with tension and plain old discomfort if not handled correctly.

Jan Ward, a counselor and professor of counseling at Southeast Missouri State University, has some suggestions for making the best of it: • Communication is key. Before the adult child moves back in, have a formal meeting to set expectations about things like guests, household chores and living expenses.

• It might even be good to sign a contract based on whatever decisions are reached and to continue meeting at regular intervals.

“They could do that even if there isn’t an issue,” Ward says.

• To avoid resentment or ambiguity down the road, it’s best if the adult child has a set goal for when to move out.

• Don’t set a curfew or give advice without being asked.

• Don’t cook meals for the adult child. That can set him or her up for taking you for granted or becoming too dependent, Ward says.

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573-334-9250 • www.semofair.com fall 2016 | Flourish 39

age appropriate / safety

PLAYING IT SAFE

Getting to know fellow parents is important for kids’ safety

By Lindsay Jones

Sometimes, letting children out into the world can be difficult for parents, especially in the case of younger kids.

After all, it’s hard not to wonder if children are safe or making the right decisions while in the care of their friends’ legal guardians.

Shannon Anderson, a counselor at Tender Hearts Child Therapy Center in Cape Girardeau and a regular Flourish columnist, says the best way to avoid that kind of angst is to make sure you know all you can about the people whose

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homes your child might be visiting for things like play dates and sleepovers.

“You just have to get to know the person ahead of time,” he says.

If your son or daughter comes home from school one day asking to visit a new friend’s house, it’s best to hit the pause button so you can do a little a recon first.

Anderson suggests having a meet-and-greet with the new friend’s mom or dad before saying yes to any requests. That can mean asking the parent or parents to coffee in an effort to get to know them, or having the other child over

to your own home first. Or you can set up the initial play date in a public place such as a park, just to see how all the dynamics play out.

Does the other parent show up on time? How is he or she around her son or daughter? How does he or she act around you and your child? Is the new friend rude or prone to lying?

All of these are red flags that might make you want to think twice about allowing your child to associate with the other family.

If you decide a new friendship probably isn’t going to be productive, the best way to get around it is through tactful avoidance.

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Continued from page 21

THE BEAUTY COUNTER

Stock photo

“Be polite, but just be ‘busy,’” Anderson says.

Jan Ward, a counselor at Great Oak Counseling in Cape Girardeau and a counseling professor at Southeast Missouri State University, says your kids themselves can be a good source of information when you’re vetting other parents.

So can parents you’ve known a lot longer.

“Ask your child what they know about the other parents,” Ward says. “Ask other parents that you know and trust about them. Observe them in public, if possible.”

One big question to ask is if your kids know of any weapons in the other family’s home.

“Do they have guns in their house? If so, how are they secured?” Ward says. “Make sure children know to leave a home if they see a gun.”

Although you might not want to seem overzealous or uncool in your children’s eyes, safety is paramount.

When a friendship is toxic or potentially

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unsafe, the best way to disengage from it is not to forbid your child to interact with the other child.

“Forbidding them to associate with another child will make the relationship more attractive to them,” Ward says.

That’s especially true for older kids or teens, who are more likely to rebel than younger children, Anderson says.

“You kind of have to rely on your child to pick the right friends,” he says.

That means parenting them in such a way that, when presented with temptation, they will make the right decision about where — and with whom — they choose to spend time.

“With teens, it’s more about having an open, honest discussion. You want them to feel like they have more say so,” he says. “The more forceful you are about it, the more likely they are to go around behind you.”

foundation helps make the contouring liquids, creams and powders apply more flawlessly, but it’s still a lot of makeup. Limit how much foundation you apply to your skin, and only apply it in areas that are crucial to having it. Let the contour be the focus and then use a highlight to emphasize the facial features you want to showcase.

The last mistake involves lighting.

The lighting you surround yourself in while doing your makeup can determine the overall appearance once you’ve completed your application.

Avoid soft, yellow lighting, as it makes skin look sallow. This lighting also is dark, so we think if we can’t see the our makeup in that lighting, then certainly we haven’t applied enough, so we apply more. Then when we’re done and we approve how we look in that lighting, we go outside or move into different lighting, and the result can be disastrous. We leave the room thinking we look like Mimi Rodgers, but then step in front of a mirror in more natural light and all we think of is Mimi from “The Drew Carey Show.” Ideally, what you want is natural lighting. We can’t always do our makeup outside in natural sunlight, but if you have a window that brings in a lot of natural light, or a room that is brightly lit from the outside, that would be an ideal area to apply your makeup. If that’s not an option, err on the side of caution and keep it light-handed. As I mentioned earlier, you can always apply more where and if needed.

Contouring can be a great technique to have in your arsenal.

It can change your overall physical appearance, either slightly or drastically. However, it’s important to consider some of the do’s and dont’s when contouring. The most important thing is to have fun doing it. If it doesn’t work the first time, keep trying. Change the application to fit what works best for you.

fall 2016 | Flourish 41

age appropriate / parenting

Parents: Are you guilty of arguing in front of your kids?

(Part 1)

By Shannon Anderson

Parental conflict, whether parents are still in a relationship or not, can have a huge effect on children’s well-being. Children in parental conflict situations often have emotional, behavioral and even physical symptoms that are directly related to mom and dad arguing. And while arguments in any relationship are bound to happen at one time or another, the more they occur in front of children and the more intense they are can directly affect the level of impact on our children.

Since I specialize in child and family counseling, unfortunately I see this damage frequently, and I repeatedly hear firsthand accounts from children living in these stressful family situations. No matter how long I do this or how many children’s stories I hear, the emotional pain expressed in their voices still touches me every time.

One common theme I notice is that parents rarely grasp the extent of the damage caused by arguing and relationship conflict. While I’m sure most parents are well-intentioned, believe me when I say your children hear and sense much more than you realize. I’ve heard, “But the kids didn’t hear us,” followed by a detailed, heartfelt story from the child, more times than I can count. Parental conflict is like any another relationship conflict. There is an unmistakable tension that even the most innocent child can perceive.

This is the first of a two-part series on parental conflict, how it affects children and ways to reduce the damage. In this part, I will cover the main effects this type of relationship conflict has on children. In the next issue, I’ll cover suggestions and guidelines for parents to reduce the damage as much as possible. Notice I said “reduce.” Any parental conflict can have a detrimental effect on

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children. The trick is to reduce the damage and try to ensure your children feel safe and secure.

So let’s get started. Below are some of the primary effects of parental conflict on children.

Parents often seek counseling due to behavioral changes and acting out behaviors.

Parental conflict does have a direct link to behavioral changes in many children. These behavioral changes can manifest themselves in many different ways, largely depending on the child and his or her personality. Some of the more common behavior changes caused by parental conflict are as follows: • Increased anger. This can be in terms of intensity, frequency and duration of the anger episode. Watch for changes in your child’s mood and frustration tolerance. These can manifest at home, school or any other environment.

• Increased aggressiveness or violence.

Children may become more aggressive toward siblings and parents in the home. Peer conflicts may result at school, where before the child got along with friends perfectly.

• Lack of emotional control. You may notice your child crying more easily or frequently.

Maybe he or she is now getting upset over what appears to be something very minor, which would not have caused any emotional response before. Children may appear edgy or overly sensitive when before they could handle emotional situations more calmly.

• Becoming more reserved. This is the opposite of acting out behavior. While some children act out, others “act in.” This refers to the child becoming more withdrawn and reserved.

A previously outgoing child may become quiet and refuse to interact with family and friends.

Signs include depressed mood, withdrawal and even physical symptoms. Stomach aches and headaches are examples of the physical symptoms that might occur.

About Shannon

Shannon Anderson is a licensed professional counselor and a national certified counselor and owner and clinical director of Tender Hearts Child Therapy Center in Cape Girardeau.

• Relationship problems. As you know, children look to their parents as role models.

It should be no surprise that parental conflict leads to the child developing many of the same relationship patterns witnessed between parental figures. Parents who argue frequently are modeling poor communication patterns for their children. This can result in problems with social skills, difficulty forming their own healthy relationships and decreased self-esteem.

• Trouble with focus. Children in families with a great deal of parental conflict may also seem distant and lack the ability to focus.

Attention skills may be limited. I’m sure you can relate to the challenges staying focused when much bigger, more pressing concerns are weighing on your mind. For example, how can you focus at work if you don’t have enough money in your bank account to make the next mortgage payment?

So there you have it: some of the most common negative effects parental conflict can have on children. In the next issue, I’ll cover tips for parents to reduce the negative effect of arguing and other parental conflict as much as possible. I’d love to hear your thoughts, and I welcome any questions or suggestions you’d like me to cover in the second part of this article! Just email me at shannona@ tenderheartschildtherapycenter.com.

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parenting / age appropriate

Turn, turn, turn

By Brooke Clubbs

“When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.” ~1 Corinthians 13:11 “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” ~Ecclesiastes 3:1 “ You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” ~C.S. Lewis The second morning after bringing our first child home from the hospital, I turned over and spotted a pair of flip-flops before I rolled out of bed. They had red and pink cherries on them and I had worn them often in my last, swollen days of pregnancy. In the throes of postpartum anxiety and depression, I looked at their cheerful pattern, the way they were haphazardly tossed under the vanity (probably from the day before I went into labor) and thought, “I can’t wear those anymore. They aren’t appropriate for a mother. I’m too grown up now to wear shoes like that.” I was barely 26.

As time went on and my hormones leveled out, my thoughts on what was childish and what wasn’t became less dramatic — and I certainly went back to wearing flip-flops.

However, there were certain parts of my life that definitely took a back seat to motherhood.

A year before that first baby was born, I had been in cap and gown, receiving my MFA in acting. Shortly after, I toured with a professional production of “A Christmas Carol.” I thought I would teach theater at the university level, but I ended up falling back on my speech and theater education degree, teaching communication studies and eventually going back to school for health communication.

Six years before that first baby was born, I had been returning from a semester in London.

I had become accustomed to finding my way around the city via public transportation, then

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navigating my way to other countries on the weekend or over spring break. The world had become smaller and bigger to me all at once. I promised myself I would return before I turned 30. But at 30, I had a 4-year-old and a 1-yearold and was satisfied with a long weekend with a good friend in this nation’s capital.

This year, I turned 40. My oldest daughter is about to be a ninth-grader (a freshman, but in Jackson, she is still at the junior high). My son is starting middle school. My baby, our youngest daughter, is going into second grade.

And some of the childish things I put aside seem to be coming around again.

I decided to audition for the River Campus Summer Arts Festival production of “Steel Magnolias.” I had been in a couple community theater productions since I became a mom, but this was my first time back auditioning for professional work. I was cast as Clairee. It made sense to be given the role of a 70-yearold (even though I had played the part of Shelby 19 years earlier) because no one else in the cast was older than 25.

My days were filled with scoring my script, memorizing lines and rehearsing. When dress rehearsals began, I realized I didn’t have to work as hard to find the age lines to draw in as I once did, but I loved it all. Oh, sure, I headed home in the evening when the party was just getting started for my castmates at 10 p.m., but I realized theater was still a part of me. It had been there all along, waiting to be given more to do than sing show tunes to crying babies, occasionally teach theater appreciation for the community college or improv a really great game of Monster High dolls. As I write this, we are preparing for the sixth and final show of the run.

Shortly after “Steel Magnolias” closes, I will head to Costa Rica with my oldest daughter.

When Eva came home from school with paperwork about an educational eco-tour two years ago, I told her she could go — if I could come, too. We have faithfully been making our payments and trying to learn Spanish (she’s doing a lot better than I am, since she took Spanish I last year). Despite becoming a teenager since we began planning this, Eva is still excited that we are going on the trip

About Brooke

Brooke is a wife to Bob and mother to three kids and two dogs. She runs (literally) around Jackson and teaches for Southeast Missouri State University’s Department of Communication Studies. She wrote this while wearing flip-flops. You can see more of her writing at brookehclubbs.wordpress. com.

together. We plan to visit a volcano, hot springs and rain forests, all while doing our best to communicate in a second language.

It will be thrilling and humbling.

I’m realizing it is easier to move from one season of life to the next if you are proactive about it. After I had Lily, I felt panicked — we had jobs, we had bought a house, we had all the kids we were planning to have.

What was next on the timeline? Was it all downhill from here?

But then I started turning to new-old things. The kids were outgrowing stroller rides and Mommy & Me Yoga, so I needed to move on, too. I had not run since before they were born, and I worried about the time it would take away from them. But it turned out we were all the better for my running.

Similarly, I have to be a little more brave to pursue theater and travel now than I did when I was younger, but I’m discovering my kids can flourish even if I am taking time away to dream new dreams.

They know, through every turn, they are always my best and greatest adventure.

fall 2016 | Flourish 43

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Vines 2 Wines excursions are the answer for a unique, tasteful, educational and fun alternative to a traditional office party, bridal shower or outing with friends. Whether you are looking for an exclusive group experience such as business team building, book club, dinner club or wine club, or want to be part of several planned excursions throughout the year, Vines 2 Wines offers a unique and fun experience like no other. Visit vines2wines.net or call (573) 579-9009 to book your trip today, or “like” Vines 2 Wines on Facebook and enter to win a free seat on a wine excursion.

Since 1971, the Chap Arnold Insurance Agency has been entrusted with providing insurance coverage in Southeast Missouri. We have several offices in the area, and many excellent insurance carriers who provide a wide range of services. From commercial to personal to life and health insurance, Chap Arnold is confident they have a product for you. For more information, call (800) 397-2427 or visit chaparnold. com. Chap Arnold has offices in Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Scott City and Sikeston, Missouri.

CryoSculpting CryoSculpting LLC uses the CoolSculpting procedure to freeze stubborn fat away without surgery.

CoolSculpting is the only FDAcleared, nonsurgical fat reduction treatment that uses controlled cooling to eliminate fat that resists all efforts through diet and exercise. The results are proven, noticeable and lasting, so you’ll look great from every angle. Visit CryoSculpting LLC at 1131 N. Kingshighway, Suite G in Cape Girardeau, or call (573) 803-4444.

Mary Kay Lash Intensity Mascara Magnify. Maximize. Multiply the look of your lashes with Lash Intensity Mascara by Mary Kay! With 200 percent more volume, it’s like adding the thickness of two lashes on to every one; plus, get 84 percent longer-lasting lashes! Equipped with a special double-impact brush, this mascara is designed to plump while combing through to lengthen the look of your lashes. The mineral-rich, high-impact pigment envelops each lash in a perfect shade of black. Learn more by contacting Jana Jateff at (573) 651-4103 or visiting marykay.com/jjateff.

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Mid America Rehab Physical & Sports Therapy With four Southeast Missouri clinics — Cape Girardeau, Perryville, Altenburg and Ste. Genevieve — Mid America Rehab provides top-quality physical and sports therapy, certified hand therapy, and rehabilitative and wellness services in a relaxed, inviting environment. The committed team at Mid America Rehab treats patients like family, and while each patient requires specialized therapy, Mid America’s goal is always the same: returning patients to optimal health quickly, effectively and compassionately. At Mid America Rehab, you can heal, and they can help. For more information, visit MidAmericaRehab.com or call (573) 339-5989.

Bug Zero Industry-leading techniques keep Bug Zero clients a step ahead of seasonal pests, stopping termites, mice, ants, spiders and insects before they can develop into a problem. One key to this preventive service is a focus on exterior details, targeting pests before they enter your home or business. Bug Zero also offers exterior mosquito suppression service for homes and businesses. For more information call (573) 803-7828; or go to bugzero.com.

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Leet EyeCare Leet EyeCare doctors and staff are trained with the latest technology to help you see and look your best. Our Optomap retinal health screening provides a thorough scan of the retina, which can lead to detection of glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration and cancer. Our optical technology allows us to deliver the most precise vision by taking special measurements and combining them with high-quality lenses. Our optical department includes both fashion-forward and budget-friendly frames, along with a variety of contact lenses. Visit us at 3230 Blattner Drive in Cape Girardeau, or call (573) 334-2020.

Kendra Scott earrings from C.P. McGinty We think the “Stephanie” earring from Kendra Scott’s fall collection is the perfect accessory for crisp fall weather! This collection invites you to look back at nature and discover a beauty all your own.

Come shop this beautiful line at C.P. McGinty Jewelers on Main Street in downtown Cape Girardeau to find your favorite look. Learn more at cpmcginty.com or by calling (573) 335-6347.

Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center We love the convenience of receiving text alerts for our favorite events at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center. Just text MDC Nature to GOV311 and never miss another nature program! For the complete schedule of programs, visit mdc. mo.gov/CapeNatureCenter. The only thing we love more than the texts is the price: Nature Center entrance is always free.

www.semissourian.com/flourish

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entrepreneur / Flourish Women’s Summit 2016

A REAL TREAT

Cupcake entrepreneur Gigi Butler will speak at Flourish Women’s Summit on Aug. 25 (Photo courtesy of Gigi’s Cupcakes)

Gigi Butler is founder of Gigi’s Cupcakes, based in Nashville, Tennessee.

fall 2016 | Flourish 47

Flourish Women’s Summit 2016 / entrepreneur Interview by Robyn Gautschy

Gigi Butler grew up in a family of entrepreneurs, and when she was 15, she started her own cleaning business. That entrepreneurial spirit led her to Nashville, Tennessee, where she pursued a music career and continued cleaning to pay the bills.

Today, she is founder and chief innovation officer of the wildly successful Gigi’s Cupcakes, which has more than 100 locations across the U.S. and is still growing.

But every road to success comes with its hurdles, and Butler can attest to the challenges of finding a niche and becoming a successful entrepreneur.

What kept her going? Her faith, her mentors and a passion for her work. “When you believe in your dream, not even failure can stop you,” she says.

Read on as Gigi shares her inspiring story — and why you should look for the Hunka Chunka Banana Love cupcakes during her visit to Cape Girardeau on Aug. 25.

Flourish: You’ve clearly had an entrepreneurial spirit from an early age, starting your first business when you were 15. Where did that spark, that idea, come from?

Gigi Butler: I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs. My dad was an entrepreneur and my aunts and great-aunts owned and operated bakeries. I started a cleaning business at age 15 so I could have flexibility. When I moved to Nashville in 1994 to pursue a country music career, I operated my small cleaning business during the day and would sing at the clubs downtown at night. I’ve always worked for myself and I don’t know any other way.

Flourish: What did you learn early on about running a business, and how has that helped you to this day?

Butler: Becoming a successful entrepreneur requires persistence — not only in your passion for your product or service, but also in following your dream. You can’t be afraid to fail, and you have to be comfortable being uncomfortable.

Flourish: You were told “no” many times before you finally got a “yes” to financing for your cupcake business. What made you keep going?

What is your advice to other women on staying confident and persistent, even when it seems we’re never going to get anywhere?

Butler: This was my dream; I truly believed in it and I was not going to fail. That is what kept me going. The best advice I can offer to other women is

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Photo courtesy of Gigi’s Cupcakes

Gigi’s Cupcakes is based in Nashville, Tennessee, and has more than 100 U.S. locations.

to not be afraid to fail and step out on faith. I have always trusted my gut.

The scariest moment in starting Gigi’s Cupcakes was when we first opened back in 2008. I cleaned three houses just to pay the plumber for the shop, and my contractor came in the store to deliver a $15,000 drywall bill that he had forgotten about. I had a total meltdown. I didn’t know if the business would survive before I even started it, but I just had to make it work. I continued with my cleaning business well after I had opened Gigi’s Cupcakes. It was only when I had 13 locations that I gave up the cleaning business. You have to find a way to make it work. There’s nothing wrong with hard work.

Nobody is going to hand it to you.

Flourish: So, why cupcakes? Why did you choose this business and what do you love about it?

Butler: Baking is in my blood. My entire family loved to cook and bake, so I grew up around it.

My Aunt Bennie owned a bakery and catering business, and I would spend summers with her.

I’d help her bake, cater events, and read her cake decorating books. I loved to bake and had a passion for it at an early age. I love to create a homemade experience that takes you back to a childhood or family memory.

I knew Gigi’s Cupcakes was the right decision only a few weeks after I had opened my bakery. A man walked into the store with the biggest smile on his face. He said, “It smells exactly like my grandmother’s house. I feel like I’m 6 again.” This was a revealing moment for me, as I knew I had created something special — a product that people

were passionate about and really wanted to buy.

Flourish: I’ve read that you have more than 100 locations now — that’s amazing! How did you “make it big,” and what is your advice to other women who dream of doing the same?

Butler: In 1994, I packed up and moved to Nashville with less than $500 in my pocket. I decided to pursue a country music career instead of going to college. During the day, I operated my small cleaning business and at night, I would sing at the bars and honky tonks near music row. In my early 30s, I realized my music career was unlikely to take off, so I decided to focus entirely on my cleaning business. A few years went by, and then my brother called me while I was cleaning a home and told me he had waited in line at a cupcake bakery in New York for hours. He said, “Your cupcakes are better than these. You should open up a bakery.” I looked at myself in the bathroom mirror and decided to go for it. I opened my first cupcake shop in February 2008 with only $33 left in my bank account. Now, eight years later and against the odds, Gigi’s Cupcakes has grown to be the largest cupcake franchise company in the nation. We opened our first international location in early 2015 in South Korea and hope to continue to expand in other countries.

Eight years ago, I never would’ve dreamed that Gigi’s Cupcakes would be where it is today. You have to step off the diving board and rely on your talent and faith. If you decide to go for it, you have to go for it with a mindset that you will not fail. You won’t know until you try.

www.semissourian.com/flourish

Flourish: You’ve taken a lot of big leaps in your life, from moving to Nashville to putting every last cent into starting the cupcake business. How did you push the fear and doubt aside and keep going?

Butler: When I started Gigi’s, my goal was to change the world one cupcake at a time. That is still true today. Staying true to this passion, I asked God every day for the guidance and direction to help me lead my company. Even when I hit a bump in the road, I believed in my dream and my purpose and I did not let my fear stop me from making it a reality.

Flourish: It sounds like faith is an important part of your foundation.

Could you share more about that?

Butler: Yes, my faith in God is the foundation of every aspect of my life. I think back on my days pursuing music and the beginning of Gigi’s Cupcakes, and I am thankful it all led me to where I am today. God was faithful to me then, and I know he will be faithful to me in the future. Whether it’s my personal life or my professional life, I try to operate with this in mind every day. I lean on my faith at all times.

Flourish: Our Aug. 25 Flourish Women’s Summit is coming up quickly!

Could you give us an idea of what you’ll be sharing with attendees? What do you hope women learn from hearing your story?

Butler: I am so excited to be in Cape Girardeau for the Women’s Summit! It is an honor to get to share my journey with others across the country. From my childhood to the failure of my music career to Gigi’s Cupcakes today, it is my hope that those who hear my story are inspired to chase after their own dreams and trust in their own abilities.

Flourish: Who is your role model or mentor, and why? Also, why is it important to have that kind of person in one’s life?

Butler: It’s very important to have a mentor in your life who you can rely on when times get hard. You cannot do it on your own. It is such a privilege to receive advice and wisdom from someone who has been where you’ve been. My mentor has been Debbi Fields of Mrs. Fields Cookies. She built a cookie empire with just a recipe and a dream. Just like any entrepreneur, she had to overcome obstacles, and she did so with positivity. In learning from her experiences, passion and kind heart, she has not only served as my mentor, but she has become a very close friend.

Flourish: What is your No. 1 piece of advice to other women in business?

Butler: The best advice I can offer to aspiring women in business is to not be afraid to fail. Everyone has scary moments — sometimes you fail and then you learn from your mistakes, but other times you succeed. When you believe in your dream, not even failure can stop you.

Flourish: What’s next for you and for your business?

Butler: In the next five years, we hope to reach 250 U.S. Gigi’s Cupcakes locations. I’m very excited about the growth of Gigi’s. Personally, it has always been a dream of mine to write a cookbook with all of my favorite recipes.

Different recipes bring me back to different times in my life. I would love to share these cherished recipes and memories with others.

Flourish: One last question: What’s your very favorite thing on the Gigi’s menu?

Butler: My favorite thing on the menu is the Hunka Chunka Banana Love.

Each one of our recipes has a story, and this one is very special to me. When I was in the cleaning business, I would bake a loaf of bread (Hunka Chunka Banana Love recipe) and wrap it up to give as Christmas gifts to my clients. Every time I serve that cupcake to a customer, I think about how far that recipe has come.

www.semissourian.com/flourish

Flourish Women’s Summit is Aug. 25 The Southeast Missourian and rustmedia, in conjunction with Flourish magazine, will host a Flourish Magazine Women’s Summit Thursday, Aug. 25, at the Osage Centre, 1625 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau.

The half-day event is open to the public and will provide area women the opportunity to hear from influential women in business, philanthropy, education, health care, government and the arts through lively, interactive sessions.

The day will begin with a light breakfast and feature breakout sessions with local speakers and panelists, followed by lunch and a keynote address from Gigi Butler, nationally acclaimed entrepreneur and the founder of Gigi’s Cupcakes. The day will end with a vendor expo and dessert reception.

“This fun and engaging event touches upon core issues facing women in all walks of life,” says Jon K. Rust, publisher of the Southeast Missourian and co-president of Rust Communications. “As a husband and father of three daughters, I’m excited that such an event is coming to Cape Girardeau, brought to you by a group of visionary sponsors and the Southeast Missourian.”

Breakout session topics include personal safety; philanthropy and faith; healthy living; and leadership and mentoring. Each attendee will choose two sessions to attend.

Presenters scheduled include the following: Carolyn Sandgren (Kempf ), owner of Elite Travel; Della Moore, investigator with the State Fire Marshal’s Office/Missouri Division of Fire Safety; Christa Hudson, dietitian and health educator at Saint Francis Medical Center; Erin Fluegge, professor in the Harrison College of Business at Southeast Missouri State University; Rep. Kathryn Swan, Missouri House of Representatives; Shari Stroup, co-founder and CEO of Room for One More; Cheryl Mothes, philanthropist and Edward Jones financial adviser; philanthropist Jennifer Gast; and Rekha Patterson, head women’s basketball coach at Southeast Missouri State University. Read more about our speakers in the next few pages.

Additionally, Gigi Butler of Gigi’s Cupcakes will share her story of trusting her abilities and finding success in her passion.

“We’re so thrilled to have Gigi Butler as the keynote speaker,” Rust says. “Her story is truly inspirational.”

Tickets are $50 per attendee and can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/flourish-magazinewomens-summit-tickets-26560807089.

For more information or sponsorship opportunities, contact Donna Denson at (573) 388-2751 or ddenson@semissourian.com.

fall 2016 | Flourish 49

Cape Chamber Women’s Network Join us for quarterly speaker series luncheons & other networking opportunities.

Strengthening the community by providing an environment for mentoring, professional development and leadership growth opportunities for women.

For more information, call Kim Voelker, at 573-335-3312.

Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce

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speakers / Flourish Women’s Summit 2016

CAROLYN SANDGREN (KEMPF)

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arolyn Sandgren (Kempf ) combined her love of travel and experience in the travel industry to open Elite Travel Inc. in Cape Girardeau in 1992. She has maintained a successful, profitable business by continuously reinventing herself, her business and her industry to stay ahead of the changing times. She and her team travel extensively so they can expertly recommend vacation destinations and accommodations they have experienced themselves.

Sandgren is committed to giving back the blessings she has received from owning her own business. She is involved in Compassion International, Feed My Starving Children, the United Way, Watkins Wildlife Center, Safe House for Women, the Salvation Army, several local church ministries, area chambers of commerce and much more.

www.semissourian.com/flourish

DR. ERIN RAE FLUEGGE

D

r. Erin Rae Fluegge is a professor in the Harrison College of Business at Southeast Missouri State University, where she teaches leadership, negotiation, organizational behavior and introduction to management courses.

She has a Ph.D. in business administration from the University of Florida and has published articles in many academic journals. She served as president of the North American Management Society, and her research interests include workplace fun, affect and emotions, job attitudes, communication and leadership.

Fluegge is involved in the Washington University Women’s Leadership Forum, the Power of Women Luncheon, Leadership Cape, Leadership Missouri, the Southeast Alumni Association, and was Mrs. Missouri America 2014. She is co-founder of the first collegiate chapter of Little Black Book: Women in Business, an organization whose mission is to connect, promote, inspire and support women as they help one another acquire the education, skills and resources necessary for business and personal growth. Recently honored with the Zonta Celebration Award, Erin loves to encourage others to push outside their comfort zone to seek unique opportunities and to learn new things.

CHRISTA HUDSON

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hrista Hudson received a Bachelor of Science in dietetics from Southeast Missouri State University in 2008 and a Master of Science in dietetics, specializing in nutrition education, from Eastern Illinois University in 2011. From there, she completed the dietetic internship at Passavant Area Hospital in Jacksonville, Illinois.

Hudson previously worked as a clinical dietitian at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Missouri, and currently is a dietitian and health educator at The Healthy Weigh, Saint Francis Medical Center’s weight loss clinic. She conducts weight loss and weight management classes, educating patients on behavior and lifestyle changes to lose weight and maintain weight loss.

Hudson launched a food and lifestyle blog, “No Beef on Bessie,” in 2015, and has made several KFVS12 appearances to educate the community on nutrition and healthy recipes.

She lives in Cape Girardeau with her husband, Dr. Seth Hudson.

fall 2016 | Flourish 51

Flourish Women’s Summit 2016 / speakers

CHERYL MOTHES

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heryl Mothes has been a financial adviser at Edward Jones in Jackson since 1999. She previously was an administrator at Saint Francis Medical Center and held various leadership and nursing positions in Kansas.

She has an MBA from Washington University, a Master’s of Nursing Administration from Wichita State University and a Bachelor of Nursing Science from Pittsburg State University.

Mothes has been married to Rick Hetzel for 15 years and has been a resident of Cape Girardeau County for 25 years.

She is involved in the Zonta Club of Cape Girardeau, the Saint Francis Foundation, the Safe House for Women, Humane Society of Southeast Missouri, the Southeast Missouri State University Foundation, GRACES of the United Way and Grace United Methodist Church.

She is the founder of MissionFest and Heartland 4 Haiti.

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DELLA MOORE

JENNIFER GAST

ella Moore recently became an investigator with the State Fire Marshal’s Office/Missouri Division of Fire Safety. She’s currently the only female investigator with the State Fire Marshal’s Office and serves in the Investigation and Explosive Enforcement Unit. She also serves on the Cape Girardeau/Bollinger County Major Case Squad.

Moore previously was a detective at the Bollinger County Sheriff ’s Office since February 2013 and had investigated her own cases since becoming a deputy in 2009. She was the only detective in Bollinger County and worked all major cases in the county.

Moore has made history by earning two prestigious awards, and being the first woman to receive each of them.

In May 2009, she received the award for emergency vehicle driving from the Southeast Missouri State University Class A Law Enforcement Academy Class. In July 2013, she was named Deputy of the Year by the Missouri Sheriff ’s Association.

Moore is a wife and mother and volunteers on the security team at her church, Connection Point Church in Jackson. She has been a Career Day speaker at Woodland High School in Marble Hill, Missouri, meeting with girls who dream of being detectives someday.

ennifer Gast attended Southeast Missouri State University and Ole Miss, graduating with a degree in forensic communication and English with an emphasis in compositional writing.

She attended law school at Saint Louis University, but ultimately decided to get her graduate degree in communication with an emphasis on interpersonal communication from Southwest Missouri State University. She has taught public speaking and interpersonal communication courses at the college level.

Gast runs Student Santas, a not-forprofit organization that provides clothes, shoes, bedding, food and toys to families who are struggling. Last year, Student Santas fed 300 people on Christmas Day. Gast is co-chair for the Cape Cancer Gala for Southeast Hospital, president of tje Cape County Area Medical Society Alliance, is on the Women’s Council for the Safe House for Women, and serves with Care to Learn, Backpacks for Friday and the Cape Evening Optimist Club.

She and her husband, Josh, live in Cape Girardeau with their three children.

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fall 2016 | Flourish 53

This is Randy and Jeanie.

Randy loves to fish.

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Jeanie and Randy love nature and the outdoors.

Jeanie and Randy support conservation and MDC.

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838 William St., In Cape • (573) 334 -3029

Jeanie and Randy volunteer at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center.

Be like Randy and Jeanie For information about how to be like Randy or Jeanie please call the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center 573.290.5218

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speakers / Flourish Women’s Summit 2016

REP. KATHY SWAN

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ep. Kathy Swan was elected in 2012 to represent District 147 in the Missouri House of Representatives. She is chair of the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee and a member of the Select Committee on Education, the Joint Committee on Education, the Select Committee on Budget and the Professional Registration and Licensing Committee. She is a former member of the Cape Girardeau Board of Education and the Cape Girardeau City Council.

With her varied background in business, nursing and education policy, she has sponsored and successfully passed legislation regarding early childhood education, elementary education, higher education, nursing practice and telecommunications.

Swan was instrumental in the formation of the Cape Girardeau Public School Foundation, the Cape College Center, United Way GRACES Women’s Leadership Team and the SEMO P-20 Education Council.

Swan is president of JCS Wireless, a family business started by her father in 1959. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Southeast Missouri State University and has worked in a variety of nursing areas.

www.semissourian.com/flourish

REKHA PATTERSON

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ekha Patterson is the head women’s basketball coach at Southeast Missouri State University. She is the first female head coach in the NCAA Division I era for Southeast and the fourth female head coach in the 40-year history of the program.

In her 2015 debut season as a head coach, Patterson led the Redhawks to an even 15-15 overall record and an 8-8 finish in Ohio Valley Conference play.

The Redhawks’ conference record finished tied for fifth in the OVC, earning them a spot in the 2016 OVC Tournament.

Southeast’s tournament appearance was its first since 2009. Patterson’s first season with Southeast was also the first winning campaign since the 2008-09 season.

Before coming to Southeast, Patterson spent 13 seasons in varying roles at programs that advanced to postseason play in 11 of 13 seasons. She has worked with teams that have reached two Final Fours, the Sweet 16 four times, and has been a part of seven Big 12 championships.

She has coached a National Player of the Year, two National Freshmen of the Year, four All-Americans, an Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and numerous all-conference performers.

SHARI STROUP

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hari Stroup is co-founder and CEO of Room for One More, a not-for-profit organization with a mission to bring adoptive families and children together through financial grant assistance. Room for One More also provides training conferences, support, encouragement and information to families interested in adoption, foster care and orphan support.

Stroup and her husband, Greg, have been married for 23 years and have six children. The Stroups know firsthand the challenges and joys of adoption, as they adopted their two youngest children, Joe and Ella, from Guatemala.

“Sometimes we live life with our eyes closed to the burdens and evils of the world, and then sometimes God opens our eyes to the heartbreak and loneliness,” Stroup says. “Once our eyes were opened, there was no turning back.”

fall 2016 | Flourish 55

FLOURISH

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Flourish magazine is printed four times a year. All contents © 2016 by the Southeast Missourian.

All rights reserved. Reproduction or use in whole or in part of the contents, without prior written permission of the publisher, is strictly prohibited.

Get Inspired at the

MAGAZINE

WOMEN’S SUMMIT A Leadership and Empowerment event

THURSDAY, AUG. 25 8AM to 2PM OSAGE CENTRE IN CAPE

Featured keynote speaker

GIGI BUTLER

• Networking Breakfast • Women’s Expo • Luncheon with Keynote Speaker: Gigi Butler, Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Gigi’s Cupcakes • Participate in breakout sessions with accomplished local women in business, philanthropy, education, healthcare, government & the arts

TICKETS 50 $

ON SALE NOW AT www.semissourian.com

For more information or sponsorship opportunities, contact Donna Denson at 573-388-2751 or ddenson@semissourian.com.