Today's Woman October 2019

THE

JOB ISSUE

• cool office spaces • Stand out in the job market • New business owners OCTOBER 2019

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contents OCTOBER 2019

spotlight

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32 WORK WARDROBE

Speaking out and looking good

33 LEGAL ADVICE

What if the loveshack crashes?

34 TRAVEL

A solo adventure

36 LIVING BEAUTIFULLY The soil is the soul

38 CURRENT OBSESSIONS

She knows events, music, and where to get that special cocktail

40 27 THINGS Happenings, news and tidbits that caught Today’s Woman’s eye this month

48 FOND OF LOUISVILLE Start baking

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features

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46

8 Job Section:

46 Our Cover Girl:

Decisions (p. 10) • Make Some Changes in Your Situation (p. 18) • Are You Blending In or Standing Out? (p. 20) • Be Distinct In the Job Market (p. 22) • Perks! (p. 26)

51 Today’s Family

• Sleep, Baby, Sleep (p. 52) • Hello, Mom? I hate college and I want to come home! (p. 56) • When You Can’t Live Alone (p. 58) • Assisted Living Directory (p. 61) • Family Walks Help Bring Out ‘The Talks’ (p. 64)

The Journey Toward a Colorful Career

• Making Career

32 Cancer Supplement Inserted after p. 32

Traveling Buckets of Bloom

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OCT. 2019 | VOL. 29 | NO. 11

October 2019 Today’s Woman Manifesto

TODAY'S WOMAN MAGAZINE info@todaysmedianow.com | TodaysWomanNow.com @TodaysWomanNow Todays Woman magazine

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY Looking for the opportunity to inform, inspire, and encourage all women in the Louisville metro area and beyond.

EXPERIENCE 1991 to Present • Interviewed more than 10,000 local women to learn about their bravery, their creativity, their persistence, their barriers, and their success.

• L earned from multiple women entrepreneurs who have succeeded at all types of businesses.

•R ecognized and honored women in this community through Most Admired Woman and Way to Go Woman! for sixteen years.

•P ublished 334 monthly magazines with more than 16,700,000 issues distributed throughout the Kentuckiana area over the last 27 years.

INVOLVEMENT Highly involved in the community, with more than 45 organizations to help more individuals succeed.

AVAILABLE We can come to you via subscription (TodaysWomanNow.com/Subscribe), available at various locations throughout the area, or online at TodaysWomanNow.com.

ON THE COVER: We headed to Norton Commons to meet up with Lauren Stanfield and her beloved flower-filled vintage Volkswagon truck she has named Matilda. She has created her dream job that you can read more about on page 46.

Photo by Melissa Donald

PUBLISHER Cathy S. Zion publisher@todaysmedianow.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Anita Oldham editor@todaysmedianow.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR Tiffany White tiffany@todaysmedianow.com CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Lucy M. Pritchett EDITORIAL DIRECTOR April Allman april@todaysmedianow.com DESIGN DIRECTOR Jill Cobb jill@todaysmedianow.com PHOTO DIRECTOR/PHOTOGRAPHER Melissa Donald melissa@todaysmedianow.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jillian Jones jillian@todaysmedianow.com CAMPAIGN MANAGER Jessica Alyea jessica@todaysmedianow.com OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Scheri Stewart Mullins scheri@todaysmedianow.com BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Rachel Reeves rachel@todaysmedianow.com SENIOR MEDIA CONSULTANTS Susan Allen susan@todaysmedianow.com Teri Hickerson teri@todaysmedianow.com MEDIA CONSULTANTS Bailey Crush bailey@todaysmedianow.com Jennifer Phillips jennifer@todaysmedianow.com Pasqual Ross-Gathright pasqual@todaysmedianow.com CIRCULATION MANAGER W. Earl Zion INTERNS Emily Elliotte Quinn Fitzgerald Aimee Jones Today’s Woman is published monthly by: Zion Publications, LLC 9780 Ormsby Station Road, Suite 1400 Louisville, KY 40223 Phone: 502.327.8855 TodaysWomanNow.com TodaysMediaNow.com The opinions expressed herein are exclusively those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the position of the publisher. Today’s Woman magazine does not endorse or guarantee any advertiser’s product or service. Copyright 2019

by Zion Publications LLC, all rights reserved.

Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited without permission from Zion Publications LLC.

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THE JOURNEY TOWARD A COLORFUL CAREER No matter where you are in your career, there is much to be learned from other women and how they handled their careers. Four of them offer advice from their own job journey.

Today’s Woman also sought out those whose job it is to help others find jobs and asked the questions that will hopefully help you connect with the right employer.

In Our Job Section, read about: • Women who work in all different ways, page 10 • The benefits of using a job recruiter, page 18 • How to get hired, page 22 • Companies who are offering benefits to entice employees, page 26

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Leslie Clark, owner of Brix Wine Bar & Bistro, says she enjoys the unpredictability of the restaurant business.

(Read her story on page 16.)

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MAKING CAREER DECISIONS

By Carrie Vittitoe Photos by Erika Doll

A sense of halting uncertainty often strikes young women when they hear someone say, “Do whatever you want to do professionally; it is all open to you.”

A range of choices can be both exciting and mind-boggling.

How do you choose? What if you make the wrong choice?

The way people work has changed dramatically over the past three decades with many women becoming more entrepreneurial or working “gigs” in order to have flexibility. Listening to other women’s experiences can be one of the best ways to realize that there are many different ways to work and that your choices can change over time.

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Staying With The Same Company through all the seasons At one time, employees worked for the same company for their entire professional lives; where they began is where they ended. There has been a trend in recent years, however, to work for a company for only a couple years and then move on in an effort to climb the professional ladder.

Some women, like Tracey Johnson at Brown-Forman Corp., have been with the same company for many years but have changed positions within the firm in order to learn new skills and thrive.

Tracey began her career in banking in Louisville but realized that she didn’t want to spend her life in finance, so she applied to business school. While getting her MBA at the University of Michigan, Tracey says, “My eyes were opened to marketing jobs and opportunities. That’s when I decided that I loved working on different brands.”

She spent time at Johnson & Johnson, KFC, and Sara Lee Foods in different parts of the country, but eventually made her way back to Louisville due to her husband’s job move. Tracey set her sights on Brown-Forman and made a concentrated effort to get hired: “Once I started doing my research I said, ‘This is the place I really want to work.’”

In her 15 years at Brown-Forman, Tracey has developed a wide range of skills from working in different positions. She first worked in digital marketing and then moved into multicultural marketing across a number of brands. She is now the U.S. Director on Woodford Reserve bourbon.

Longevity with one company brings with it the benefit of long-term relationships with colleagues, but it also has the potential to feel stodgy. “You have to balance both of those by keeping things fresh, whether that’s looking at different opportunities, working on different brands or projects outside of your main job, or even with [volunteer] organizations outside of the company,” Tracey says. Brown-Forman is one of many companies that has resource or “affinity” groups, which are meant to foster diversity within the company and provide learning and leadership opportunities to employees.

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Tracey Johnson has expanded her level of skills throughout her employment at Brown-Forman.

Just because Tracey has been with Brown-Forman long-term doesn’t mean she hasn’t grown, changed, or taken risks. “If there is something you think, ‘I kinda might be interested in that,’ that’s something worth pursuing,” she says. “The job that I’m in right now was that kind of opportunity. This role became available, and I thought, ‘Man, I would really love that,’ but the job I was in I really liked as well, and I hadn’t been in it a year.” She struggled with whether or not to apply for the position (which is a risk in itself), but eventually decided to go for it.

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A successful career has many colors As Market Director/Executive Director at Chase Private Client and Chase Investments, Sherry Carrico has an unusual working situation: she covers a market from Bowling Green to Louisville and includes Owensboro and Southern Indiana. This range means that while her home base is Owensboro, she spends weeks at a time in Louisville in order to support her financial advisor colleagues.

Sherry began her journey at Brescia College in Owensboro, where she was initially a computer science major but quickly changed her mind because she didn’t love it. “I excelled at it but detested it,” she says. She switched to accounting/ finance, but it was her part-time job as a bank teller that was the career clincher. “I loved engaging with clients. I got bit by the retail bank bug,” she says.

Through the years, she was asked to take on different roles within the company, where she has been since 1993. Those roles, and the travel they involved, required her to be flexible and have the support of her family. “The commitment my family made to this arrangement was key,” she says. When Sherry’s daughter was an infant, her mother asked to be her caretaker, which allowed both Sherry and her husband to travel for their jobs. Sherry credits her colleagues with being another important part of her career puzzle: “The other factor is the people that I work with who appreciate and value our professional relationships. I have a tremendous firm who is very supportive of work-life balance,” she says.

Sherry Carrico’s job requires her to travel between different cities but she hasn’t had to sacrifice work-life balance.

In order to make her professional life run smoothly, Sherry has found that communication is essential. “I’ve found that being upfront about the challenges is extremely helpful,” she says. She has to stay focused and extremely well organized.

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Melissa Frazier says achieving success in your career starts with setting long-term goals.

Choose the color you love the most, even if others don’t love it Leslie Clark worked at Brix Wine Bar & Bistro for 8 years before she bought it five years ago. But she didn’t intend for this to be her profession. She majored in justice administration at the University of Louisville but didn’t really know where she wanted to go professionally. “I started to work in restaurants as a way to supplement my income while I went to school,” she says. “I always loved it and found a passion for it.” While some of her coworkers longed to get out of college and the restaurant business for 9-to-5 employment, Leslie thought, “Oh my god, this is great! Why would you want to leave?”

Over time, Leslie realized she enjoyed relationship-building with both clientele and colleagues. “My work is definitely my social outlet,” she says. She also really enjoys the uncertainty of restaurant work, not knowing what is going to happen from one night to the next.

Her enjoyment of her work doesn’t mean she hasn’t faced challenges. She sometimes wishes she had taken an accounting or bookkeeping class in college. “Learning the hows and whys of all the numbers is difficult,” she says. Another challenge has also been accepting the sheer responsibility that comes with being a business owner. “It’s not just about me anymore. I employ 10 employees who have families. It’s a different amount of pressure,” she says.

One of the most important things that Leslie did while figuring out what would make her happy in a profession is to surround herself with people who had like goals and would support her. “Surround yourself with people who support you, open doors for you, and turn lightbulbs on. You don’t want to surround yourself with people who say, ‘Don’t you think you should be doing [something else]?’ she says, especially if you are able to support yourself in whatever career endeavor gives you joy.

SEE HER PHOTO ON PAGE 10.

Make Plans to Be Sitting in the Best Spot Melissa Fraser is a CPA, executive coach and entrepreneur, who owns her own company, Breakout Business. She not only helps guide other women but has had to take her own advice as a professional and mother of four children.

She says one of the biggest mistakes people make is expecting a company to give them a career path rather than the individual making their long-term goals, stating them plainly to the employer, and asking how to get there. “Goals point our behaviors and habits in a good direction. Once you achieve goals, they’re over; it’s really about the journey, but if the journey doesn’t have any direction, you can go all over the place,” Melissa says.

Melissa strongly advises women to make a one-page life plan that includes spiritual, health, family, and professional/school goals. This plan should include the goal, the time frame for accomplishing the goal, and the names of people who can help. By limiting the plan to one page only, it keeps the focus clear and prevents the planner from feeling overwhelmed by all there is to do.

“As far as picking what they want to do, I advise them to think about something they can do for hours and skip meals and not even have to go to the bathroom.

This is work that doesn’t feel like work,” she says.

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THE JOB ISSUE

Make some changes in your situation

By Megan S. Willman

E

leanor Roosevelt once delivered a simple and empowering message: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” When it comes to career advancement, do we women inadvertently get in our own way?

Laura Hall, founder and career counselor at Career Compass Global, offers a few specific tips to help women address some of the circumstances that may keep us from reaching our goals.

CREATE THE WORKPLACE CULTURE YOU SEEK This may seem counterintuitive at first, but you can begin by championing someone else’s accomplishments. Helping to create a work environment that supports the achievements and hard work of others on the team only stands to benefit everyone in the long-run. Don’t be afraid to bring positive energy to the office by touting others when they deserve it.

TALK TO YOUR SUPERVISOR ABOUT YOUR SHORT- AND LONGTERM GOALS Every employee should have a job description, a career development/performance plan, and periodic evaluations.

These tools can be used to guide you toward reaching your goals.

• Engage in open and frequent dialogue with your supervisor about your current work and your long-term goals. If you seek a promotion in the company one day, share that desire with your boss and ask what you might need to do to reach that goal.

• Read your current job description. If it does not reflect the job you actually do, there is no way to measure your success. Discuss changes with your supervisor.

• Review these professional development aspects when you meet for evaluation. They are tangible evidence of success in your current role as well as validation for your promotion goals.

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SET YOUR GOALS AND KEEP TRACK OF YOUR PROGRESS It’s easy to get caught up in day-to-day responsibilities and not focus on professional development. In doing so, we sell ourselves short.

• Take the time to maintain a list of what you’ve done — trainings, certifications, goals accomplished.

• Ask yourself what skills you need to acquire in order to stay on top of your game. Sign up for opportunities to develop those skills.

• Join professional organizations related to your field of work. Get to know what’s happening outside of your office. You’ll not only show initiative for learning but will bring fresh ideas to your work.

FIND AN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER Select a friend, mentor, or career counselor to guide you toward your goals. “I have a friend who also owns her own business, in a totally different field, and we meet monthly,” Laura says. “This is the time we talk about our vision, the bigger picture, and we give each other assignments to do before we meet again. We hold each other accountable for our progress.” Consider who this person might be for you.

A career counselor, like Laura, can guide you not only toward a new position but can help you attain the goals you’ve set for the role you currently hold. “Women are not always comfortable championing themselves. I help them see it’s not just about self-promotion,” Laura says.

T ake the time to maintain a list of what you’ve done — trainings, certifications, goals accomplished.

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THE JOB ISSUE

Are you blending in or standing out?

By Aleta B. Gorter

Q&A with a job recruiter

W

Photo by Melissa Donald

ith the Louisville job market continuing to grow, employers are searching for ways to find qualified candidates. A company may look to outsource its recruiting needs to a recruiting agency.

Patricia Turner, senior executive recruiter at HR Affiliates, has been doing external and internal recruiting for more than 20 years and is in her third year at HR Affiliates. Patricia shares what it takes to match qualified candidates with ideal employers.

WHAT IS THE GREATEST CHALLENGE COMPANIES FACE IN FILLING THEIR POSITIONS? “They are having trouble finding qualified candidates for all job levels. They need a process to filter out the pipeline of resumes and sources. Job search engines will not typically find qualified candidates. This means candidates are being passed over due to the lack of time companies have to go through all of the candidates. Our agency meets with the companies and defines the key points they are looking for in a candidate.

There is no charge to place a candidate.”

WHAT DO JOB SEEKERS NEED TO FOCUS ON TO BECOME A QUALIFIED CANDIDATE? “Make sure to read the job descriptions to ensure you meet the minimum requirements, then adjust your resume to speak to that specific job. Use key words and key points to make it pop. Everything is automated now with systems, so keywords are essential. Candidates can no longer have one resume. They need to have two to three resumes that are constantly being catered to each position they are applying for. Also, make sure to give details of previous job duties that pertain to the position you are applying for.”

ARE AGENCIES NECESSARY WHEN JOB SEARCH ENGINES MAKE APPLYING FOR A JOB AS EASY AS ONE-CLICK? “When we call candidates in, we take the time to get to know them. Most candidates lack interview skills. They may have bad posture, inappropriate interviewing attire, or are not good at speaking highly of themselves. It is important that candidates research the potential employer, too. Companies love hearing about themselves. We are able to coach candidates on these things so they go into the interview as a marketable candidate. At the same time, agencies need to be honest with clients so they can build a relationship of trust.

Many job seekers get frustrated with some agencies because there is no follow-up. The communication has to be open between the agency and candidates.”

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST TRENDS IN THE GREATER LOUISVILLE AREA FOR STAFFING NEEDS? “The production industry. Companies can’t keep employees due to the lack of competitive wages. Most of the production companies only pay $10-11 an hour, not a livable wage. So, employees are having to work two jobs while looking for

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Patricia Turner helps companies find qualified employees.

another company that pays $14 an hour or pays medical.

Employees need medical insurance. Other industries that really have a need are administrative, healthcare (nurses and aides, in particular), accounting, finance, and corporate candidates.”

IS THERE A POPULATION THAT NEEDS MORE WORKFORCE FOCUS? “Individuals who are incarcerated are my passion project.

Elizabethtown has a work release program that needs to be implemented here in Louisville. Companies in Kentucky can actually get tax benefits for hiring those with an imperfect background. I was able to successfully get programs started through vocational organizations such as Seven Counties.

There are enough businesses in Louisville to market candidates to.”

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THE JOB ISSUE

be distinct in the job market

By Bobbe Ann Crouch

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ierce competition in today’s job market can make landing a new position an overwhelming process. Once upon a time, great job opportunities were sought in the classified ad section of the local newspaper and followed up with a personal telephone call. Today access to information about job opportunities is available to virtually anyone via the internet. Potential employers usually are not interested in speaking with you unless they’ve vetted you first. The number of online job search sites such as Indeed and Careerbuilder.com is vast, and most allow for uploading a resume and cover letter, but even so, it’s possible yours will never be seen.

This means that in today’s employment market, a successful candidate needs to develop strategies to make herself more visible to potential employers. What do you do when you want to make yourself stand out from the crowd of other job seekers?

You’ve already reflected and analyzed your strengths and you’ve imagined

what your dream job might be. At this point a professional career counselor might be enlisted to guide you in the best possible direction. Career counselors are degreed professionals, trained in assisting and implementing career/life decisions and plans. They will work with you on every level, from job search assistance, resume

“

A successful candidate needs to develop strategies to make herself more visible.” writing, interview coaching, job offer assessment, and even salary negotiation. Laura Hall, founder of Career Compass Global, says, “My clients require only three to four sessions on average. I would say Louisville’s basic rate is $100 per hour, however there are places such as Jewish Family and Career Center that charge

less using a sliding scale.”

The person who decides to use her own job-hunting resources understands that companies actively use social media for candidate searches. LinkedIn is a social networking site built specifically for business networking and employment. Creating a powerful profile can be an excellent tool.

However, if you want to stand out in search results, it’s important to learn how to use the site to its highest potential. Prior to finding her new position with ADT as client services manager, Karen Yount says, “I had to learn that when you submit your resume to any site, including LinkedIn, most companies have a program that looks for keywords. If it doesn’t see those words, you probably won’t get a call. You have to know how to include the right ones on your resume. Also on LinkedIn, there is a way for the site to identify you as a job seeker. This let me know I was being seen by potential employers because the site would send me notifications.”

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THE JOB ISSUE << PAGE 22 Before applying for jobs on LinkedIn (or any online job portal), it’s important to proofread. “I had my resume looked over professionally before I posted it,” says Mackenzie Portwood, newly hired PNC bank development associate.

“There are lots of people who look at resumes as a side hustle, so with a quick LinkedIn search, I found someone. It isn’t mandatory, but I feel like the extra effort doesn’t go unnoticed.”

Following the social media accounts of companies you are interested in keeps you up to date with their latest news and events. Attend networking events, meetups, and seminars, and while you are at it, let everyone in your personal circle and beyond know that you are in the market for a new position.

Very often, networking among friends and family is what opens doors. Michael Nehs, co-owner of Periscope Post and Audio in Chicago says, “I had a guy befriend my wife at a [TV series] wrap party. He kept harassing me for months until I hired him just to shut him up.

He’s one of my best employees to date!”

Recovery Specialist at Equian, Christie O’ Brien was living in Florida when she knew she wanted to move back to Louisville. She put her intentions out to her friends through her social media accounts. “It was literally the day before I was leaving to come to Louisville to search for jobs that I was called for an interview because one of my friends had submitted my resume at his workplace,” Christie says. “I have been here now for six months, and I’ve learned that this company likes to recruit friends of friends. Any time there is a job opening, we all post it on social media.”

“After you’ve secured your first interview, the most important thing you can do to stand out is to be prepared,” Mackenzie says. “I familiarized myself with the company, the industry, and who I would be speaking with. I prepared myself with good questions to ask as well as answers to what I thought they might ask. I think the way you prepare is what will really set you apart from the competition once you’re there.”

“

I have been here now for six months, and I’ve learned that this company likes to recruit friends of friends.”

– Christie O’ Brien

How to shine in an interview A Louisville mega corporation vice president (who must remain anonymous because of company policy) offers these interview suggestions:

• C ONFIDENCE: This may be the main quality, someone who is

confident with the conversation. It doesn’t mean that they are an expert in the material, and they certainly don’t have all the answers, but they are confident in themselves. Take note — don’t confuse confidence with ego. Nobody wants to hire somebody who always thinks they are the smartest person in the room.

• ENERGY: Nothing is worse in an interview than somebody who is

quiet and timid with low energy. The interviewer then has to work extra hard to keep the conversation moving. It may not be a positive working relationship if the initial meeting lacks energy.

• HUMOR: Handled appropriately, humor is always a great contributor to the interview. Done well, it can cause the candidate being interviewed to be remembered later on.

• AUTHENTIC and HUMBLE: These are two traits that are so important.

If somebody perceives that a candidate is not bringing their true selves to the interview, it leaves many questions about who the real person would be.

• NICELY PUT TOGETHER: Someone who cares about their appearance is going to exhibit pride in their work, as well. Note: a complete fashionista may be off-putting to the person conducting the interview, but modestly put together is refreshing.

• ACCOUNTABLE: In the end, the interviewer will be attempting

to ascertain if the candidate will be somebody to be trusted to be committed to the job. This may be hard to determine in the interview, however, the above qualities will be used to piece this together.

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PERKS!

By Allie Martin Photos by Marge Royston

With an unemployment rate the lowest it has been since the 1960s, companies are competing for talent in unique and innovative ways. We talked to executives from three Kentucky-based companies to find out some of the tactics they are using to attract and retain employees.

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m Appriss, a Louisville-based company, has designed several areas within their offices — a cafeteria, a salon, a gym, a health center, a game room, and gathering/working spaces such as this one pictured here — to create more productive working environments as well as attract new talent to their growing company.

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Training and Community Involvement Game rooms with video games and ping pong tables offer a way for Appriss employees to get a break and connect with others.

Paige Reh, human resources director at Strategic Communications, says that it is crucial to have appealing benefits for candidates. “We are constantly recruiting, because the job hiring market is competitive. We have really noticed in the last two or three years with the unemployment rate being so low, that it is hard to find and retain talent. Our good people have opportunities, and we have to compete with the large companies out there.”

Strategic Communications has 40 employees and holds closely the value of education and an opencommunication culture. Started 25 years ago by CEO Kathy Mills and her husband, Rick, it has been focused on unique benefits for several years. A few employee benefits include a dog-friendly office, providing employees with a gym and pool membership, and the extra incentive of giveaways and gift cards for those who take on wellness challenges through the Humana Wellness 365 program. The company’s culture calendar includes a monthly social activity, but it makes sure to include furry friends. When there is ice cream for humans, there is dog-friendly ice cream, too.

Fun and Healthcare On Site With 450 Louisville-based employees, 950 company-wide, Appriss CEO Mike Davis says, “People come to work for Appriss for three reasons: they support the mission of our work, which is providing knowledge for good, keeping people safe, eliminating fraud, fighting drug addiction, etc.; they know we are on the leading edge of technology; and we have created an environment that promotes work/life balance.”

He explains that the company does not track employee vacation or sick days, only requiring them to accomplish their job goals. In addition to providing a great benefits package, it offers an on-site doctor’s office and pharmacy available for employees and their families. Promoting that work/life balance, Mike says adding areas like a game room, with ping pong tables and video games; an on-site cafeteria; and a haircut service available within the office allows employees to remain on the company grounds without having to spend time commuting to lunch or a hair appointment.

Mike credits the growth of this type of environment to the employee’s efforts to get behind it. “We’ve always had a culture of taking care of employees and being concerned about the health of our employees.

Twenty-five years ago, Appriss was a startup with just a few employees, but in recent years we have really tried to emphasize that focus, and our employees have gotten behind celebrating those benefits and this environment. We frequently have some type of social event or celebration of success where we can join together as a family.”

That open-communication comes into play when doing an employee’s annual review. It is more of a conversation that allows the employee to request training in the areas they are interested in.

“We get to learn about a position they may want to pursue one day and be able to help them achieve that goal. This allows us to take a customized approach for the individual, instead of a one-size-fits-all plan,” Paige says.

With a partnership built with Jefferson County Public Schools, the company is able to work with students through the school year and hire interns from that group who could eventually become fulltime employees. Paige feels it is important to build a relationship with your local community, and that’s why its employees support numerous nonprofit causes locally. This includes taking up school supply donations and getting out of the office and volunteering onsite as a group at the Salvation Army distribution center during the holidays.

Paige explains that the success of a company lies in how it treats its employees. “People, managers, business owners, etc., are afraid to train or develop their talent, because they are afraid the person may leave them. What if you don’t train them and they stay? Invest in your people while you have them.

Position them for success wherever their journey takes them. Ultimately your organization is going to benefit, especially because you are training your people to be empowered employees. Operating a company with this mentality will lead to great success.”

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Mission Based Fahe, a Berea-based organization on a mission to eliminate persistent poverty in Appalachia, has 61 employees. The organization’s efforts have had a substantial financial impact in the Appalachia area. Norma Edwards, vice president of human resources, says the biggest focus of Fahe leadership was to keep the “oldfashioned” benefits alive and well, which is why the company pays 100 percent of all employee health, dental, and vision premiums, along with short- and long-term disability. “We also offer flexible schedules, an option to work from home, and community service hours, as our younger workforce has requested these perks.”

Norma sees this philosophy as a result of the work the employees do. “It’s ingrained in our culture, because our mission is to take care of the people in the communities we serve. We have to first take care of our staff to empower them to serve our members and our communities. Our leadership live it, model it, and encourage everyone to do the same.”

Education for employees will come from various sources. Norma explains the company is proud to have great partners that allow it to achieve this. “Almost every position we have is unique and requires specific training.

The education may come from a vendor on a specific software or program, a business partner with a similar position, a senior staff member on the team, or from other non-profit organizations,” she says.

An organization since 1980, Fahe uses a variety of methods to advertise job openings including job boards and LinkedIn, but also relies on community partners that will share the information throughout the country. Having an environment that is focused on serving and empowering, Norma says they look for that type of person to be a good culture-fit within the organization, “Our hope is to appeal to others who have a servant’s heart and desire to be part of our great mission.”

Bright open area with natural light offers a good space to work, as well as a lake with benches to take away stress.

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Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Woman / October 2019

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WORK WARDROBE

Speaking Out and Looking Good

By Marie Bradby Photos by Erika Doll

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ittle did Cara Silletto know that singing Motown songs in her family band at age 7 would help prepare her for a career as a professional speaker on workforce solutions, especially employee retention.

“For me the professional speaker world is the perfect blend of performance and business,” says Cara, president and chief retention officer for her workforce development firm, Crescendo Strategies. "So, I was able to use my performance background and my MBA in a blended way to help businesses see the workforce differently.”

Cara started her career as an event planner, managing conferences and trade shows. After earning her MBA from the University of Louisville Entrepreneur Program in 2012, she started Crescendo Strategies. Cara, 38, does about 40 speaking engagements a year around the country.

Her company handles up to 100 engagements a year, providing keynote speakers and handson training workshops for corporations and associations such as UPS, Humana, Vistage, Cintas, Berkshire Hathaway, the American Health Care Association, and the National Precast Concrete Association. After she got started, Cara says, “Everyone was asking me about millennials," a generation that tends to change jobs often.

“In 2015, we expanded our brand and programming to include reducing unnecessary turnover,” she says. “We saw that coming out of the recession, businesses were finding it harder and harder to keep talent. The generational differences in the workforce were a piece of that puzzle."

With this focus, Cara wrote a book, Staying Power: Why Your Employees Leave and How to Keep them Longer. “We tell companies all the time, you will get the most bang for your buck when you spend your money on leadership development.

Ineffective managers and supervisors are the number one reason people quit. It’s not about pay."

For Cara, who is married and has a 5-year-old son, work-life balance is all about “money, time, and fun. I have friends who are making more money, but I get to spend time with my son. I’m home nights and weekends.”

Cara describes her work wardrobe style as: “Low maintenance professional.”

"Ineffective managers and supervisors are the number one reason people quit. It’s not about pay."

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HERE IS A LOOK IN HER CLOSET: • Brand. My company brand color is purple, so a ton of my wardrobe has some or all purple. I also have a purple streak in my hair. My go-to outfit is black pants and a purple top.

• Style. I try to mirror my client's dress style and go one notch above that. If they tell me everyone will be in business casual, I will wear business. If everyone is in jeans, I will wear business casual.

• Accessories. I always take a lot of jewelry to accommodate the microphone situation. Sometimes I’m given a lapel mic to pin on my shirt, so I can’t wear a large necklace. With an over-the-ear mic, I can’t wear big earrings.

• Dresses. I am wearing more dresses now. I have very pale legs, and I used to be self conscious about that, but now I don’t care.

• Shopping. I get my dresses from Dillard’s, and I love TJ Maxx.

I don’t shop online. I love Tahari and Kasper. I also love Alex and Ani bracelets.

Another go-to are my Rothys flat shoes. They are perfect for airport travel, and for when you are done wearing your high heels after an event. They fit you like a sock, they are so comfortable. They are very expensive, and made out of plastic bottles.

I have never paid for a pair of Rothys; I ask for them for birthday and Christmas presents.

What if the Loveshack Crashes?

By A. Holland Houston

SITUATION: When you live together as partners without marriage, what legal issues should you be considering? Are contracts necessary?

ANSWER: Marriage might not end up being a couple’s cup of tea, but when the tea kettle boils over into divorce, there is an entire menu devoted solely to divorce laws and remedies to guide them. Not so with cohabitation.

For example, they fail to draft deeds to include the partner who paid the mortgage and believed he/she had ownership. Equally troublesome is when both partners contributed equally to a mortgage, but is only in the one partner’s name who could qualify for the loan. When the partner whose name is not on the mortgage stops paying and moves out, the remaining partner is nonetheless obligated on the mortgage.

Regardless of relationship status, most couples avoid talking about the hard things: money earned, whose it is and how to spend it, what to do in case of illness, a lack of income to meet demands, debt, and whether or how to pay it down, and death. It is precisely those issues that require even clearer communication when couples live together without the legal benefit of marriage, which at the time of a break-up, is really the benefit of divorce law.

Kentucky and Indiana are not common law marriage states, a surprise to many couples who have lived together for multiple years only to learn that their arrangement isn’t magically covered by marriage and its concomitant property laws when they choose to call it quits.

The old saying goes if you don’t want somebody to know something, don’t write it down. That couldn’t be any less true to protect yourself when you are not the marrying kind.

A. Holland Houston is a local family court lawyer and a mediator with more than 20 years of experience.

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A SOLO ADVENTURE HEADING NORTH LIKE A VIKING TO THE ORKNEY ISLANDS

By Megan M. Seckman, photos submitted

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t was a 2014 National Geographic cover story that planted the seed of travelling to Scotland’s Orkney Islands, but perhaps the longing was something more primitive, tied inexplicably to Wendy Sirchio’s ancestral roots.

What else would make a solo trip to the remote northeastern Scottish isles (notably cold and rainy and filled with old stuff) appealing?

The National Geographic feature that Wendy couldn’t shake detailed the Neolithic history of Scotland’s northmost landmass, presenting photographs of the prolific and profoundly preserved 5,000-year-old burial and ritual sites. Wendy had once believed that Stonehenge was the only place to see such relics, until her eyes and heart were opened to the Orkneys. “I said I must go there,” Wendy says while pulling out postcards of each UNESCO World Heritage site from a file folder dedicated to her recent trip. The Orkneys consist of about 25 miles of low-lying landscape peppered with five Bronze-era sites built by Norsemen. Surrounding the bowl-shaped setting are the Lochs of Harray and Stenness, an isthmus that houses nesting gulls and puffins, and an amphitheater of hills.

The lush farmland attracted Vikings and northern explorers for thousands of years, and the relics they left behind attract visitors like Wendy who travel the world to see them firsthand.

Among them is Maeshowe, the most well-preserved chambered tomb in northwest Europe. The circular mound was constructed well before powered tools and machinery could move giant boulders or excavate the earth. Inside lies a sophisticated labyrinth of stones etched with Viking graffiti and designed to celebrate the winter solstice.

Another site, the Stones of Stenness, houses the oldest known stone henge (vertical stone pillars that jut from the landscape in oftentimes circular patterns). The Ness of Brodgar is the region’s most complex dwelling site for Neolithic religious or political leaders.

The walled community spans, according to Wendy, four ball fields. Skara Brae, on

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the other hand, gives visitors insight into the daily lives of commoners during this time. Buried for centuries beneath sand, these preserved dwellings shed light on interesting household items: stone fish tanks, beds, and dressers.

Wendy advises to plan ahead if interested in an excursion to the Orkney Islands. She had one month to plan her trip and was barely able to find a rental car. In addition, Wendy recommends purchasing the region’s cultural pass that allows entrance into all the UNESCO sites. Besides the historical sites, The Orkneys are also home to several Scottish whiskey distilleries and offer an abundance of fresh seafood.

The Orkney Islands are not for everyone, but if you are looking for a quiet adventure ripe with history, beauty, and simplicity, this Scottish secret may be for you. “I felt comfortable traveling, even driving on the opposite side of the road, alone. There are not many places in the world where I could comfortably pick up hitchhikers.” In the Orkneys, peace, safety, and solace are preserved just like the ancient settlements that reside there. A secret northern oasis free from the disturbances of life well below its longitude.

WHERE TO STAY: • The Shore in Kirkwall • The Royal Hotel in Stromnessw WHAT TO PACK: • Rain gear • Hiking boots • A backpack HOW TO GET THERE: • Fly directly into Kirkwall or fly to Glasgow or Edinburgh and rent a car

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THE SOIL IS THE SOUL

By Megan M. Seckman Photo by Melissa Donald

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hen Joy Fitgerald, 72, agreed to meet me at a lavish Simpsonville farmhouse, complete with a motorized iron gate, circular driveway, outdoor pool and kitchen, firepits, a pristine pond, and a bucolic horse barn, she immediately shooed away the fanfare. “This is not my house,” she said before shaking my hand. “[My house] is beyond simplicity.”

Joy’s idea of living beautifully doesn’t center on mixing textiles, lighting, or bringing the outdoors in. In fact, her idea of Living Beautifully doesn’t much involve a physical structure at all.

Instead, Joy believes in stepping out into nature. The earthly structure of a home, after all, pales in comparison to the awe of nature.

Joy, clad in Wrangler jeans and a denim vest, a scarf fastened like a bolo-tie around her neck, says she feels most at home when her cowboy boots are walking along a creek bed at one of Jefferson County’s parks or deep inside the tree canopy of the forest where the healing effects of nature abound. To Joy, “the soil is the soul.” It is where we connect with our true selves.

Joy’s background as a biologist has guided her down this earthen path — first as a child on her parents’ Ohio

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farm and later as a restoration ecologist, where Joy was typically the only woman in the classroom (or field or job site). As a restoration ecologist, Joy traveled the country’s “sacrificed lands” — lands adversely affected by mining or dumping where not a single blade of grass could grow. It was her team’s job to transform the land and to restore life to the uninhabitable.

"Animals remind us of miracles, of the beginning of life; they bring joy. We sit in a park or on a farm, and as my clients are experiencing this profound connection with nature — when I see that they have the glitter in their eyes again — then they talk and I listen..."

— Joy Fitzgerald After retirement, Joy launched a new business, Natural Connections, where she applied the same principles of regenerating the flora and fauna to the human spirit. Joy specializes in helping female clients who are experiencing various forms of grief, depression, or PTSD heal themselves through nature immersion therapy. “We live in a consumerist culture where you throw

away that which you don’t love. This discarding and lack of connection to place, to the soil, to even natural sunlight, is not healthy for the body, mind, or spirit,” Joy says while quoting several studies about the healthful benefits of nature including blood pressure reduction, lowering rates of disease, depression, and anxiety.

“I present my clients, who have lost their love of life, with something safe and tactile like a puppy, a kitty, a foal, or a baby chick or goat. Animals remind us of miracles, of the beginning of life; they bring joy. We sit in a park or on a farm, and as my clients are experiencing this profound connection with nature — when I see that they have the glitter in their eyes again — then they talk and I listen,” Joy explains.

Her experiential therapies involve more than baby animals. She also takes groups on adventure experiences where women learn to split wood, kayak, or start a fire. Through these sense-based experiences, women are able to release buried anger, harness their repressed power, become “captains of their own ships,” and heal. “When people live in and connect with the body, they change.

There is a deeper awareness of self and a release of tension,” Joy says

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HER CURRENT OBSESSIONS: SHE KNOWS EVENTS, MUSIC, AND WHERE TO GET THAT SPECIAL COCKTAIL

By Lucy M. Pritchett Photos by Patti Hartog

What better way to get to know Today’s Woman than through her Current Obsessions? This month we meet a woman who is obsessed with music, dinner parties, and two special palm trees.

Tyra Twist Amrein started out as a boutique event stylist with her company Twisted Events. That role morphed into becoming a booking agent for musicians, which she says is a combination of both enterprises. She now calls her company Twisted Entertainment. “I can help choose the theme, create the vibe, and translate your style into a moment in your life. Any special moment you want to create but don't know how, I can translate for you. I make the improbable real. Since most events require music, I became involved more and more with the music scene in Louisville. About a year ago, it just made sense to start representing, promoting, and booking events for local and regional musicians.” Her dream job? “To have been Prince’s tour manager in 1983.”

HER CURRENT OBSESSIONS: MUSIC AND MUSICIANS In high school I was in a punk rock band called Happy Cadavers. I was 16 years old. I had a mohawk.

I would steal my stepmom's red leather pants, sneak out of the house, and go perform with the band.

I would sneak back in the house and go to school the next day. Music has long been a part of my life.

Through my Twisted Events business I met and became friends with a lot of musicians. I became a booker of musicians without really being a booker.

Until now. I have a roster of about 30 clients. I eat, live, and breathe music, musicians, and bands. I continue to support and cultivate musicians yearround.

HEMP EXTRACT INFUSED FACE MASK My husband Jeff is a serial entrepreneur. His latest business, Extract Wellness, sells CBD oil products.

I am his guinea pig for some of the products. The latest one is the Hemp Extract Infused Face Mask.

I leave it on for half an hour and it's like a mini facelift. It takes away any puffiness or inflammation or hormonal acne. It also moisturizes and shrinks pores. It's so soothing.

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MY BACKYARD WONDERLAND I don't put a lot of stock and value in things, but I do put value in creating moments. I surround myself with things that create joyful moments, and my backyard is one of them.

I designed it to feel like a high-end resort. It’s an oasis where I hold private social events. I have two windmill palm trees that give me so much joy. The pool has a slide, and the area is shared with copper sculptures — a turtle, frog, heron, and flamingos.

THEMED DINNER PARTIES Four times a year I hold themed dinner parties for five couples. I fix and serve a five-course meal that includes wine pairings. I also prepare a signature cocktail.

YOUNIQUE MOODSTRUCK EPIC 4D MASCARA I don't really wear much makeup — maybe a little powder and mascara. I have tried every mascara from Chanel to Maybelline. This Younique mascara is the most amazing product. It makes me look like I'm wearing false eyelashes.

It's crazy how much I love this.

BISTRO BLUSH COCKTAIL I love finding a well-made cocktail. Just like in cooking, a great bartender can create a balance between sweet and bitter.

My favorite cocktail is the Bistro Blush at Anoosh Bistro.

It’s a combination of Hangar One Rose Vodka, lemon juice, pomegranate liqueur, St. Germain liqueur, and Aperol. The bartender shakes it with ice, pours in a martini glass, and floats a single rose petal on top. It smells and tastes so posh.

It's like a little present.

MOJO THUNDER This is my big find. Mojo Thunder is an indie rock band out of Lexington. Believe me, they are going to be the next big band out of Kentucky. The lead singer Sean Sullivan graduated from Youth Performing Arts School. Sean knows the value of a performance, and the members are performers and outstanding musicians. They are like lightning in a bottle right now.

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27 THINGS (Why 27? Because we are 27 years old!)

Happenings, news, and tidbits that caught Today’s Woman’s eye this month

By Anita Oldham

Do you have

The Soft Eye Joy Fitgerald says being immersed in nature helps us see life as a circle, not a line, and gives us a sense of connection. Here is a little more from Megan Seckman, the writer for our Living Beautiful article on page 36.

After our chat, Joy guided me to where she most feels in love with life — the dusty horse barn.

“I want you to stare into the horse’s eyes. Horses are the epitome of the feminine. They are the model for modern women: they have grand power but hold a soft eye. In modern society women are taught to hold a predatory eye, especially in business, to assert ourselves, but horses harness power while keeping a gentle, peaceful eye — an eye that invites you to make

one 3-5

eye contact.”

DRINK TO A SOBER OCTOBER

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The Kentucky Distillers Association is working to bring the idea that not all cocktails have to contain alcohol. So during Mocktober (October 14-20) you can find many restaurants and distilleries committing to creating a signature mocktail — find all the details at themocktailproject.com.

October 2019 / TodaysWomanNow.com

WHERE CAN YOU FIND TODAY’S WOMAN? FIND US — go to TodaysWomanNow.com to find a list. (Effective Oct. 1, Kroger is no longer allowing free community publications in their stores but many other community partners are distributing Today’s Woman.)

SUBSCRIBE — for only $18/year, you can subscribe on TodaysWomanNow.com to have the magazine delivered to you. Go to TodaysWomanNow.com/subscribe.

READ ONLINE — TodaysWomanNow.com/magazine.

6. Don’t forget that we post original content on Instagram — and we have a big giveaway on there this month! @TodaysWomanNow

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27 THINGS

Stop & See the Art

15. This is a mixed media show that features both photography and weaving that addresses concerns about Southern womanhood, femininity, and the evolution of blackness.

Find work by many area photographers during the Louisville Photo Biennial, through November 10.

For the most up to date events please refer to our website louisvillephotobiennial.com.

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7 21C: Zanele Muholi, Massa and Minah 8 Ivy Tech Harrison Arts Gallery: Debe Hennessy, Soon to be Clothed in Summer Green 9 Galleries at Georgetown College: Isabelle LaRocca, Suspiro 10 Bellarmine McGrath Gallery: Ashley Johnson, Make Yourself Safe 11 Brick Street Studio: KImara Wilhite, Untitled 12 JCTC Krantz Gallery: Lisa Mercer, Antelope Canyon 13 St. Paul’s Kent Mansion Gallery: Kevin Rose Schultz, The Edwardian 14 Swan Street Studio: Tatiana Rathke, Self Portrait

16 HER PACKING SECRET Cara Silletto flies at least 40 times a year, so she has a secret for packing wrinklefree professional clothing. “A great secret for packing is the packing cube. They compress the clothes so you can fit more in your suitcase. Your clothes look exactly the same when they come out of the cube.”

Read more about her on page 32.

Photo by Erika Doll

l I have to fit 20 books, two nights of clothing, shoes, a reception dress, makeup, and hair tools in a carry-on.

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27 THINGS

A MONTH OF BRAVERY:

CANCER FIGHTERS 17. A FITTING PLACE TO BE

Get a complimentary bra fitting at the Fit for the Cure event hosted by the Dillard’s lingerie department at Green Tree Mall, Clarksville on October 24, 10am-8pm. The purpose of the event is not only to support breast cancer research but to “empower women to feel more beautiful by understanding the importance of wearing the right sized bra,” says Cathy Miller, the lingerie business manager and a certified fitter at Dillard’s in Clarksville. — Aimee Jones

– 18 – For every fitting, Walocal will donate $2 in your name, with no purchase required, to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

19. TWISTED GOOD PINK FASHION SHOW

Today’s Woman joined with Oxmoor Center and Twisted Pink to take our Pink Woman photo shoot and host a fashion show fundraiser to fight metastatic breast cancer on Give for Good Day, September 12. You can help at TwistedPink.org.

20. HAIR AGAIN

Heidi Fuller works with cancer survivors all year by giving these women hair and love during their cancer fight. Meet some of the women and learn about their bravery in the Cancer Supplement after page 32.

27. THE ALL NEW

TodaysTransitionsNow.com 21

Fall Fun

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for October!

through Participate in our Sponsored Events OCTOBER 18 Girl Scouts: Tough Cookie Awards, gskentuckiana.org OCTOBER 18 Pink Prom, thepinkprom.com OCTOBER 22 100 Wise Women featuring Victoria Russel of Papa Johns, leadershiplouisville.com OCTOBER 23 Norton Go Confidently, The Three Key Habits of Good Forgivers OCTOBER 24 Chocolate Dreams, elderserveinc.org OCTOBER 26 American Lung Association, Regards to Broadway, BOFAbash.org

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You can find a full listing of all area care communities/health services complete with services and photos for communities.

If you are a caregiver and need to find caregiving help, go to TodaysTransitionsNow.com.

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Woman / October 2019

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Traveling Buckets of Blooms

By Gioia Patton Photo by Melissa Donald

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fter spotting a social media post about a flowerfilled Volkswagon bus just minutes away from arriving outside the Blue Dog Bakery, this writer grabbed her notepad before dashing out of her house and up the street to check out this traveling floral business in person. The vivacious 31-year-old Lauren Stanfield interacts with her customers to sell her carefully curated blooms from her restored vintage canvas-topped Volkswagon truck under the business name Fleur and Frond.

Lauren’s concept of a roaming floral business will be competing with more established local businesses.

However, competition is nothing new to Lauren, who was raised on a Quarter Horse farm and competed all over the United States. “After many years of hard work, sacrifice, and dedication, I’m honored to say I am a twotime World Champion.” This high achiever graduated as valedictorian in high school and then earned a business degree at the University of Cincinnati.

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OTHER NEW BUSINESS OWNERS Wild, a Louisville-based micro-accelerator and organization, is currently in its second season of helping female entrepreneurs gain momentum for their companies. Meet the seven women selected for this year’s 2019 program.

The Today’s Woman Arts Insider had a question-answer session with this new entrepreneur.

WHERE ARE YOU FROM? I actually grew up in Cincinnati and moved here in 2016 for my husband Nate’s construction sales career, though we are both proud to call Louisville home. The city is filled with southern hospitality that you can’t find any place else.

Photos by Taylor Cochran

Amanda Dougherty: The New Blak Amanda is the founder and creative director of The New Blak, a sustainable and ethical clothing brand that empowers women through their wardrobes. All of the clothing is designed, cut, and sewn in the design studio and each piece is made and approved by women.

IS THIS YOUR FIRST BUSINESS? I have always dreamed about owning my own business, as I grew up with parents who owned a small business. The entrepreneurial work ethic was a lifestyle that I grew up learning from my family.

The business plan for Fleur & Frond started many years ago with the desire to follow my dreams. I am the sole owner of Fleur & Frond and run the daily operations of the business.

September Morgan: Bluegrass Baby Co. Founded in 2017, Bluegrass Baby Co. has helped new and expecting parents feel more confident and less overwhelmed with all that comes with welcoming a new baby through postpartum support, newborn care, and pediatric sleep coaching services. September and her team believe that providing parents the support they need can change the world.

WHEN DID THE BUSINESS OPEN? The grand opening of Fleur & Frond was on June 2, 2019. The company has been in stages of development for many years. It took quite a bit of time to find the perfect truck. Furthermore, I spent countless hours working to perfect all the fine details that create the special experience for our customers. (Lauren explained that the search for her perfect Volkswagon bus took several years and found this one in California, and did the entire deal online.)

Prior to Fleur & Frond, I worked in the investment industry as a financial advisor and retirement specialist, holding many licenses and certifications. In my free time, I would work with flowers/ greenery designing unusual arrangements.

Jessica Bledsoe: EventFuel Co-founder and CEO, Jessica runs the ins and outs of her web-based application, EventFuel, which seeks to revolutionize the way you manage events by turning your Google Calendar into a personalized database. Jessica is also a co-founder of the local technology company, RCN Technologies.

With the truck, I am able to move around the city to reach those that share the same love and passion for flowers. I am inspired to share my love for flowers in a special fashion to the community.

The more unique flowers and greenery can create one-of-a-kind arrangements that express the creativity and love behind them.

As Fleur & Frond grows, we will be creating additional services that incorporate the flower truck with our love for gorgeous blooms.

WHAT SKILLS DO YOU POSSESS THAT YOU BELIEVE WILL HELP YOUR BUSINESS GROW? If you ask those that know me, I am a passionate and determined individual who follows my heart and has faith. I do believe the creativity and the experience Fleur & Frond provides with the truck along with all the fine details are noticed and valued by customers. In addition, I hope all the hard work, dedication, persistence, and always trying to go above and beyond for my customers will help Fleur & Frond flourish. Lastly, I have the love and support from my husband, family, and friends that I could not live without.

HOW MUCH ARE YOU WORKING? With the business still being new, I work seven days a week.

Most days I put in a 12-hour day, but it is not uncommon on certain days to work upwards of 16 hours. I try to have one admin day to re-group, work on business items, reach out to upcoming events, work on new features of Fleur & Frond, etc. The rest of the week, I strive to have the truck out in the city to provide the flowers and the experience to those we love.

Photo by Calvin Cochran

WHAT’S BEHIND THE IDEA?

Angela Demaree: Pinpoint Pharma Dr. Angela Demaree, DVM, co-founder and COO of Pinpoint Pharma is working to create the future of pharmacy.

Pinpoint Pharma is a healthcare company dedicated to delivering customized medicine for pets on demand. To ensure the quality of the medicine, Angela uses a state-of-the-art, high-speed, high-precision, substrateagnostic printing system that verifies dosing in real-time.

Brittney Ridge and Hayley Smith: Bluegrass Bunkhouse Brittney and Hayley are co-founders of Bluegrass Bunkhouse — Louisville’s premier modern hostel and solution to the demands and desires of sociallyconscious young professionals and travelers. They work with the local community to provide visitors with an inclusive and immersive opportunity to maximize their Louisville experience.

Sarah Gardiner: Nanny Goat Bookstore Nanny Goat is an independent bookstore specializing in new, used, and local works. With the launch of the new publishing house, Sarah hopes to give voice to underrepresented writers while turning her bookstore into a literary hub for Louisville.

Today’s Woman / October 2019

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Fond of Louisville:

START BAKING Story and photos by Madeleine Dee

The crisp feel in the air brings us back into the kitchen for baking. The smell, the warmth, and the taste of carb comfort can be found in these recipes.

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PERFECT PUMPKIN MUFFINS

This recipe is festive, easy, reliable, and impossibly delicious. Best of all, there's very little fat — the moisture comes from unsweetened applesauce — so it's not as sinful as it seems.

This is a recipe you'll want to hang onto forever.

INGREDIENTS: • 2 large eggs, room temperature • 1 small (15 oz.) can pumpkin • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce • 2 tbsp. vegetable oil • 1 tsp. vanilla extract • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour • 2 tsp. baking powder • 1 tsp. baking soda • 1 tsp. salt • 1 cup granulated sugar • 2 tsp. ground cinnamon • 1 tsp. ground/grated nutmeg • 1 1/2 cups semisweet (dark) chocolate chips, a few pushed aside to sprinkle over the top INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Heat your oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, applesauce, pumpkin, vegetable oil, and vanilla.

3. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Whisk just until combined. Do not over mix.

4. Gently fold in the chocolate chips, then layer paper cups into a muffin tin, scoop the batter into each cup, top with a few chocolate chips, and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean of batter (it will be chocolatey).

5. Remove the muffins to a cooling rack and allow to rest for a few minutes before enjoying. Fantastic warm or room temperature, especially with a steaming cup of cinnamon tea.

VARIATIONS: If you don't like chocolate with pumpkin, you can skip the chocolate completely and simply make pumpkin bread. Even better, you could stir in 1 1/2 cups of whatever you like. For example: 1 cup cinnamon chips and 1/2 cup pecans. It's a fun and easy recipe — enjoy playing with it!

Madeleine Dee (AKA The Seasoned Cynic) is the resident chef of Logan Street Market and the owner of Fond, Fond Originals, and Bold Bird Productions.

You can watch her show, Easy Elegance, on YouTube.

Subscribe to her website for recipes, stories, and videos: TheSeasonedCynic.com.

CHOCOLATE DREAM COOKIES

Anyone who’s met me is aware of my love for chocolate. I have a deep, dark obsession with it that’s genuinely insatiable. I eat chocolate every day, so you can trust me when I say that these delicious cookies are a chocoholic’s dream.

The result of comparing recipes from some of the world’s most trusted culinary experts and doing a little experimenting in my tiny kitchen, they are chewy, rich, and not too sweet. Absolute perfection. Best of all, you can get into the spirit of Halloween by cutting out bats or cauldrons instead of circles!

INGREDIENTS: • 2 sticks (8 oz.) unsalted butter, softened • 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar • 2 large eggs, room temperature • 1 tsp. vanilla extract • 1 tsp. salt • 2/3 cup Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa powder • 1/2 tsp. baking powder • 3 cups all-purpose flour INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Heat oven to 350*F. 2. Cream the butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt until smooth, then mix in the eggs.

3. Add the cocoa powder and baking powder.

4. Incorporate the flour gradually (cup by cup), scraping down the sides of the bowl between additions.

5. Flour a large surface (counter or table) and scrape the dough out onto it. Sprinkle some extra flour over the dough, then use a rolling pin to roll it out to an even thickness. Use cookie cutters to punch out shapes and gently transfer them to a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.

6. Bake for up to 15 minutes based on the thickness of your cookies. You’ll know they’re done when they have a matte finish (no longer glossy or wet looking).

7. Allow to cool before eating. I hear your impatience, but they really do taste better when they’re not hot. I know. Calm down.

Once they’re cool, you can make them into sandwiches with jam, peanut butter, caramel, or ice cream. You can’t do that if you don’t wait. Enjoy.

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OCTOBER 2019

By Megan Seckman Photos by Melissa Donald

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SLEEP, BABY, SLEEP Avoid those unhealthy ‘sleep crutches’ so that your children — and you — can have a restful night.

aggie Moore had a loving marriage, the perfect pregnancy, and an easy delivery. Motherhood, she assumed, would be a joyous and magical experience — the climax to a perfect story. And then her son was born, and he would not sleep. Like, ever. She and her husband would take turns rocking and swinging and bouncing and swaddling and driving desperately around town in an attempt to get their prodigal son to rest. After four months of this exhausting dance, with both parents sleep deprived and Maggie in the depths of postpartum depression, Maggie said it was enough.

“My husband and I had been sleeping in shifts. The lack of sleep was making my depression worse, and I knew I had to do something,” Maggie explains. She sought the help of a sleep consultant, but came up empty handed. There were none available in the Kentuckiana area. At 16 weeks, Maggie hired an international sleep consultant over the internet. And within three days following her sleep-training protocol, her son was sleeping through the night. Soon, her depression became manageable, her marriage returned to normal, and she began to gain confidence in her ability to parent.

Maggie was so inspired by this lifechanging experience that she decided to enroll in The Family Sleep Institute’s sleep consultant certification program to help other desperate families get their lives back. Her business Moore Sleep now offers sleep consultations via phone, internet, or in person to families of new children or multiples.

“Sleep is important for good family dynamics,” Dr. Christina (Christy) Lane of Growing Kids Pediatrics, says.

“When you are sleep deprived, you are practically drunk: you are forgetful, irritable, unhealthy, and make poor decisions. How do you expect to discipline or parent effectively in that state? We need to be thinking parents, not reactionary ones — and you can’t do that unless you are sleeping.”

Dr. Lane firmly believes in establishing healthy sleep hygiene in infancy so that the entire family can function properly. That means that your infant is in their own bed sleeping six to seven hours a night by 8 weeks old so that you can sleep, too. “Children are a PAGE 54 >>

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Lack of sleep led Maggie Moore to seek a sleep consultant for their then-newborn son Max. Now Maggie helps other parents find answers to their children’s sleep problems.

<< PAGE 52 healthy addition to the family, not the center of it,” Dr. Lane says.

Maggie says that most parents fall into unhealthy “sleep crutches” like rocking or feeding (or swinging or driving or co-sleeping) their babies to sleep. Her advice for new mothers is to “sleep train” your infant by establishing strict schedules. First, stick to a bedtime ritual of soothing lights and sounds, a bath, or song.

Then, choose a method to sleep training: cry-it-out, pick-up-putdown, or the chair method.

If you allow your child to cry-it-out, your child will learn to self-soothe and put themselves to sleep in about three to five nights.

If the stress of a wailing infant is intolerable, try more gentle methods like the “pick-up-put-down” or “chair” methods. In the first, parents stop, wait, and listen until their child is upset, then they pick up to soothe. Once the child is soothed but still awake, then they put down (and repeat). This method requires patience, but will eventually train the child to sleep on their own.

In the chair method, the parent pulls a chair into the child’s room and avoids eye-contact and too much touch while the child is learning to gain confidence to sleep alone. The idea is the child will learn to selfsoothe but knows the parent is near.

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Every few nights, the parent pulls the chair further away from the crib until the chair is out of sight in the hallway.

This method takes several weeks to establish a routine, but is effective in sleep training older children who might have developed some attachment habits.

Maggie also recommends 12 hours of sleep for toddlers and to be clear

What About the BIG KIDS? Dr. Christy Lane says that healthy sleep is also crucial in adolescence. An adolescent’s circadian rhythm is not set-up for school — their bodies want to wake around 9am and sleep around 11pm — and rely on at least 10 hours of sleep per night. In order to help your teen get the sleep they need, ensure that screens are not involved in their bedtime routine.

“The blue lights of their screens stimulate the brain and they are addictive. The continuous alerts of their social media accounts will keep them from ever getting deep sleep.

I recommend no electronic devices in the room before bed, not even TV. Read a book, talk with your children, pray, if that is what you do, but try to be the last face they see before bed. You could be missing out on these incredible intimate moments if you allow screens to be the bedtime ritual.”

about your expectations. “Toddlers are going to make, what I call, curtain calls: Can I have a drink of water; can I have another story; can I have another book?

You have to anticipate their needs and state the expectations clearly — You will only get two books tonight and then you will have to go to sleep.”

For children who climb out of the bed, simply walk them back without any engagement. Maggie recommends tying a bell to your door or purchasing a toddler monitor if they are stealthy.

“The most important component is to remain consistent. Each child is an individual, so if what you are doing is working, then keep doing it,” Maggie explains. She also stresses the importance of monitoring the wake periods (the time in between naps) and feeding schedules. When an infant is overtired, they have a harder time getting to sleep, so don’t forget to allow for multiple naps in infancy, and remember that it might not be necessary to feed your child every time you want them to sleep.

No matter your approach to bedtime, Maggie says it should remain positive.

Bed should never be negative. After all, the patterns you establish with healthy sleep hygiene in infancy will have life-long effects. (And a house that can sleep is always a happier one.)

Photo by Melissa Donald

3 HEALTHY HABITS FOR KIDS’ TEETH

Jenna Schulten, DMD, and owner of Dupont Pediatric Dentistry, advises a young patient on the basics of brushing.

PROMOTION | By Tiffany White

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eeping your children’s teeth strong and healthy is easy, if you are taking the right steps to prevent cavities. Jenna Schulten, DMD, and owner of Dupont Pediatric Dentistry, shares three ways for ensuring that you don’t increase your child’s chances of developing cavities and other dental health problems in the future.

• Start good dental hygiene habits early. “As soon as your child starts getting teeth, you need to brush them — especially at night.”

• Use fluoridated toothpaste. “You don’t need to use a lot of toothpaste. Children between the ages of 1 and 2 need a rice-sized amount of toothpaste, and children between the ages of 2 and 5 only need a pea-sized amount. Some parents are very hesitant about doing this, because they say the child can’t spit. But we are not going for bubbles. We just want [the toothpaste] to touch the teeth.”

• Be picky about what your child eats and drinks. “Hygiene is only 50 percent of it.

You have to manage your child’s diet.” Jenna says the acidity level inside our mouths must stay neutral for teeth to remain healthy. “When kids snack on food the whole day or sip on juice all day, it is more damaging to their teeth, because it makes the acidity level drop, which breaks down the enamel on their teeth.”

If you allow your child to eat candy, she says, it is best to brush immediately to prevent the candy from getting stuck in the grooves of the teeth. “Candy is not just sugary, it is sticky and stays on the teeth for a while. The longer it stays on the teeth, the more damage it is doing.”

3934 Dutchmans Lane | Louisville, KY 40207 502.897.0625 | dupontpediatricdentistry-louisville.com

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ast month you may have been among the millions of parents to drop your teen off for her first year away at college. You lugged in and unpacked the countless storage tubs full of necessities. You said goodbye and left. It was hard to leave, but you did so knowing that for your child, this is the next step to adulthood.

But then the calls and texts flood in.

“I hate it here. I hate my classes. I have no friends. I want to come home.” As a parent you find yourself in the tricky midst of trying to understand how to interpret and react to the signals your child is sending.

“Homesickness is very common,” says Dr. Aesha L. Uqdah of the University of Louisville Counseling Center. “Being in a new environment with new responsibilities trying to function as an independent adult can be overwhelming, but at this point the parent should be moving into being more of a consultant than a problem solver. It’s important to resist the urge to ‘fix’ things. Also, resist the urge to let them come home on the weekends, at least for the first few weeks.”

For Lisa Hinton, this wasn’t an easy task. Two weeks into freshman year, her daughter’s roommate left school, leaving her alone to fend for herself.

Lisa says, “In high school, Chelsea had a small, close-knit group of friends, but none of them went to this college. She always felt a little socially awkward, so things weren’t as easy for her as for my other two. She wasn’t one to reach out to make new friends, so I was worried. At least with a roommate, she would have someone to go out and explore with. I

couldn’t see her doing it on her own and yes, I did everything they told me not to!”

Dr. Uqdah continues, “Research shows that students who feel more connected to the university community are happier and more successful academically. (Because of this) the school plans a lot of social activities and opportunities for incoming freshmen in order for them to connect with others.

Students who go home on the weekends, (especially during the first few weeks), miss out on this and can end up feeling even more left out down the road.”

“I GUESS AS A PARENT YOU HAVE TO WALK THAT MINEFIELD OF TOUGH LOVE SOMETIMES.” “Even though all my friends and family told me not to,’’ Lisa says, “I talked to Chelsea every night to make sure she was OK. She was coming home every weekend, and I quickly realized it was making everything worse for her at school. Finally, there came a weekend where we were going out of town and Chelsea said she’d come home to watch the house. I told her no. She needed to stay put. It was hard, but I knew I had to do the tough love thing. I felt so bad, but I stopped all the calls and didn’t answer hers, either.”

Chelsea Hinton remembers this well. “Going to college, I anticipated this awesome new start. I thought I would have this great bond with my

roommate and everything would be good. When that didn’t work out, I guess I kept seeking a safe place and that was home. When my parents stopped answering my calls I kept wondering why they were mad at me. I guess as a parent you have to walk that minefield of tough love sometimes.

In hindsight I can see my mom wasn’t helping me letting me call all of the time because rather than focusing on where I was, I was fostering my need to be around them and safe.”

She continues, “Cold turkey definitely hurt, but it forced me to fill that void. I threw myself into my academics, and I tried to join a lot of study groups. It took my mind off of home and the isolation I felt. Pretty soon, I felt better.”

Dr. Uqdah says, “To the freshman who doesn’t have another student to attend social activities with, I would say to just go anyway. The easiest thing to do during Welcome Week is to just show up. There are a lot of outdoor social activities and many of them have free food, games, and lots of opportunities to meet people. They are set up to be welcoming for you. If that’s not your thing, look into joining some of the registered university groups. The University of Louisville has over 500.

“Another important point,” says Dr. Uqdah, “parents should give themselves some grace. They are adjusting as well. This is a new stage of life, and they may have feelings of ambivalence. Some may need to readjust and make a conscious effort to focus on themselves rather than their child.”

HELLO, MOM? I HATE COLLEGE AND I WANT TO COME HOME!

By Bobbe Ann Crouch Photo by Melissa Donald

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With all the excitement of starting something new, Chelsea Hinton and her mother Lisa didn’t expect Chelsea’s rocky start to college life.

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When You

Can’t Live Alone

By Carrie Vittitoe Photos by Patti Hartog

There are few things harder than realizing that someone you love probably shouldn’t live independently, especially if that someone you love is yourself. It may feel like a defeat to leave your home and accept help from others, even if that help ultimately means a better quality of life.

For many people, what they want from an assisted living community isn’t bells and whistles or nonstop activities. They want it to feel comfortable; they want it to feel like home. Beehive Homes, Creekside on Bardstown, and Twinbrook are three assisted living communities that offer their residents small size, warmth, and an intimacy they won’t find in larger settings.

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our experts “To keep it small, quaint, and homey is what we love about Beehive.”

AIMEE BOSCO General Manager Beehive Homes BEEHIVE HOMES includes two Louisville locations in Lyndon (8401 LaGrange Road) and Smyrna (8800 Smyrna Parkway).

It began in 1987 and focuses on smaller facilities designed to resemble residential homes.

“We focus on the ‘whole person’ so our residents live the highest quality of life possible for as long as possible.”

KELLY KING Sales and Marketing Director Creekside on Bardstown CREEKSIDE ON BARDSTOWN is located at 3535 Bardstown Road.

Its approach is tailored to an individual’s cognitive abilities and strengths.

“We support residents as they need.

It’s all of our staff’s job to support residents; we jump right in, and residents can still live an independent life.”

ADRIENNE MADDEN Client Services Coordinator Twinbrook

TWINBROOK ASSISTED LIVING has been family-owned for more than 35 years. It is locally operated and located in the heart of the Highlands, Hikes Point, and St. Matthews at 3525 Ephraim McDowell Drive.

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<< PAGE 58

Assisted living provides a variety of services to seniors. Some seniors simply need someone to remind them to take their medications. Others may need help with the activities of daily living, such as bathing or dressing. Some seniors may not have family nearby and reach a point where they want to have other people around “just in case” something happens to them.

Virtually all assisted living communities offer similar services to residents, such as three meals a day, medication reminders, companionship, and social activities. Each community, however, has a unique feel that will appeal to different seniors depending on their personalities and interests.

SIZE MATTERS Not everyone wants to live in a large community. Many seniors like being able to easily navigate a building without the worry of getting lost.

Beehive Homes are known for their small size; the local franchises have 14, 15, and 18 rooms. “We have a super family-like setting,” says General Manager Aimee Bosco. “Due to us being a smaller facility, we are able to work more hands-on with the residents.” Aimee says Beehive is like a really large ranch-style home. The living room, kitchen, and dining room are open and inviting as soon as guests walk in the front door. It is intentionally designed to feel like a home, which means individual rooms do not have microwaves or refrigerators. “We encourage the residents to partake in the daily activities,” Aimee says.

Creekside on Bardstown is also on one-level so residents are in close proximity to common areas and the dining room, as well as the on-site beauty salon. “[Residents’] adjustment to the community is quick because it’s smaller and more intimate,” says Sales and Marketing PAGE 61>>

Thriving Residents The daughter of a Beehive resident has been thrilled with her mom’s successful adjustment to the community, which she attributes to the activeness and care at Beehive Homes. “I believe Beehive staff has helped my mom improve her overall physical and mental health this year. And that is saying a lot for a 90-year-old woman,” she says.

Bee Hive residents Alda Harris, Justin Andriot, Evelyn Hornbeck, James Callihan, June Clez, Jim Mills, and Lucille Anderson with General Manager Aimee Bosco.

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Director Kelly King. Refrigerators and microwaves are in the 20 assisted living apartments, which give residents the flexibility of eating breakfast on their own but joining friends for lunch and dinner in the dining room if they choose.

Twinbrook is slightly larger with 60 apartments spaced out between two floors and all have either a patio or balcony. The building was remodeled five years ago in an update which included the Some seniors simply removal of bathtubs and the installation of walk-in need someone to showers. Microwaves and refrigerators are in remind them to take each apartment.

their medications.

Others may need help with the activities of daily living, such as bathing or dressing.

Some seniors may not have family nearby and reach a point where they want to have other people around “just in case” something happens to them.

STABLE AND FLEXIBLE A smaller sized assisted living community often means greater stability and flexibility. A community that feels like home to residents also feels like home to staff, so there is often less turnover. When the community’s administrators are close by, problems are solved quicker. Because of the smaller size of the community, the staff is able to give individual attention and companionship.

Caregivers at Beehive Homes often have the opportunity to do one-on-one activities with residents, which is especially nice for individuals who tend to keep to themselves. “We find out what interests the residents may have. For example, if a resident has a passion for art, then we try to incorporate something artistic into their daily activity,” Aimee says.

At Twinbrook, Owner Brad McCoy and Client Services Coordinator Adrienne Madden, along with other staff members, have been there for decades. All staff members regularly pitch in to do whatever needs to be done to make residents’ lives better, whether it is driving the bus, painting, serving meals, or doing dishes.

Having the owner on site means Twinbrook is supremely flexible. There is no need to call a corporate office for decisions to be made. “We work with people on when they’re moving in and when rent is going to start,” Brad says. “We can decide things quickly. We do what it takes to make people happy.” When she gives tours, Adrienne reinforces that Brad is available at all times. “The owner is right here, so if you have a question or a problem, it’s not like you have to go through a lot of hoops. He may be driving you to the grocery so you can just ask him then,” she says.

AFFORDABILITY Lush decor and luxury come with a steep price, and many seniors simply don’t have the resources. Those that do have the resources are often more frugal in nature; they have never lived lavishly and don’t feel comfortable in those surroundings.

“Unlike many other senior living communities, our monthly rates are all inclusive, which gives our families peace of mind knowing the rent rates will not fluctuate each month,” says Sales and Marketing Director Kelly King. Creekside’s monthly rates include everything from utilities and meals to assistance with all activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, hygiene, and medication reminders).

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Assisted Living Directory Assisted living offers minimal assistance in care, such as providing meals, helping with baths, and offering reminders to take medications. While some residents drive, scheduled transportation may be provided. Daily activities are organized, and there is around-theclock supervision. No health care is provided, and these facilities are not licensed, but certification is required.

Bee Hive Homes Lyndon: 18 units @ $4150/month Smyrna: 15 units @ $3500-$3900/month (502) 694-2956 beehivehomes.com Transportation available: free scheduled transportation Special services: Friendly home-like atmosphere. Home cooked meals, housekeeping/laundry/linen service, variety of activities, free cable TV. Caring and friendly staff. When it comes to care, small is huge! Call today for a tour.

Owner: Flip Flop Operations Payment Accepted: private, LTCi, VA

Creekside on Bardstown 3535 Bardstown Rd Louisville, KY 40218 (502) 919-7715 creeksideonbardstown.com

Number of units: 24 Cost per month: efficiency $3500 Transportation available: yes Special services: Transportation, linen service, housekeeping, compassionate caregivers, 3 meals with snacks, engaging activity programming and community events.

Owners: Elmington Senior Living Payment Accepted: private, LTCi, VA

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Submitted photo

Thriving residents

Wayne and Eileen Kotcamp take part in many of the activities offered to residents at Creekside on Bardstown.

Kathy Kotcamp says her parents, Wayne and Eileen Kotcamp, spent a lot of time watching television when they were in their own home, but when they moved to Creekside on Bardstown, their activity levels flourished.

“Our parents moved in almost a year ago, and we couldn’t be happier with our choice. They enjoy all the planned activities, art and cooking projects, music, entertainers, walks, exercises, and off-site excursions.” The Kotcamps spend their days interacting with caregivers and friends.

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Like Creekside, Beehive Homes are all-inclusive and do not have additional charges for levels of care. Prices begin at $3,500.

Twinbrook is focused on being friendly, homey, and, most importantly, affordable. “We have no admission fee and a $500 deposit to hold an apartment, which goes toward your first month’s rent,” Brad says.

NOT A CRUISE SHIP, BUT A HOME Beehive offers a variety of activities to residents, from potlucks to yoga to trips to see soccer games, but the most important thing is for residents to be able to do what they want since it is their home. While there are routines in place, residents are empowered to make choices about what they want to do or not do. If they feel like sitting on the porch drinking lemonade, that is what they do. “We are flexible in changing up the activities depending on how the resident feels that day,” Aimee says.

Twinbrook has been situated near Bowman Field and its surrounding neighborhoods for over 30 years so it is close to nearby shopping. For nearly two years, it has been the home of the Ursuline Sisters, while its motherhouse underwent extensive renovations. While Twinbrook is non-denominational, it now has a chapel and hosts Catholic mass six days a week. Seniors who have gotten used to going to mass regularly don’t have to give that up simply because they are moving into assisted living.

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There are activities to keep seniors socializing and involved at Creekside, including cooking classes, courtyard socials, and daily exercise opportunities. The community strives to meet the seven dimensions of wellness: physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, creative, social, and vocational.

Because Creekside is nestled in a neighborhood convenient to the Watterson Expressway and Highlands area with mature trees and homes surrounding it, it is a place where residents can just be. Creekside has beautifully landscaped grounds and courtyards where their residents can relax and enjoy time with family and friends. Also, they offer transportation to sporting events, cultural performances, restaurants, and shopping centers in addition to resident scheduled medical appointments. Residents frequently take day trips to fun Kentuckiana places of interest, such as the Louisville Mega Cavern and the state fair.

Pets are welcome at Creekside, and the community is in the process of adopting a pet from the local Humane Society to bring companionship to those residents who don’t have their own animals.

Assisted Living Directory Franciscan Health Care Center 3625 Fern Valley Rd Louisville, KY 40219 (502) 964-3381 franciscanhc.com

Number of units: 52 Cost per month: $2250-$4586 Special services: Compassionate, tenured staff; licensed RNs 24/7; chef-prepared meals; activities designed to nourish the mind, body and spirit; gated courtyard; salon; skilled nursing, short-term care, therapy services on-site.

Owner: Trilogy Health Services, LLC Payment Accepted: private, LTCi

Twinbrook Assisted Living 3525 Ephraim McDowell Dr Louisville, KY 40205 (502) 452-6330 twinbrookassistedliving.com

Thriving Residents Marc Halpern visited eight communities before he and his mother decided Twinbrook was the right fit for her. She had lived in a luxury assisted living community in Florida, and knew what she wanted from a community in Louisville. “The number one factor in the decision to choose Twinbrook for my mother was the staff. Unlike large corporate-owned facilities, Twinbrook is family-owned, and the owners truly care and do much of the work themselves,” Marc says.

Client Services Coordinator Adrienne Madden and Owner Brad McCoy assist a resident getting on the Twinbrook transportation van.

Number of beds: 60 Cost per month: Studio $2750, 1 BR $3150 Transportation available: free Special services: Private apartments with emergency call cords, planned activities, medication reminders, assistance with bathing, dressing, grooming, three meals daily, transportation to shopping, charges for additional services may apply. Staff on duty 24 hours per day. Family owned and operated. Mass six days per week.

Owner: Bryan S McCoy, Inc. Payment Accepted: private, LTCi, AL ins., VA

Let Our Readers Know What Makes Your Facility Stand Out!

List your senior living facility in this space. Call 502.327.8855 to discover more about this opportunity.

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FAMILY WALKS HELP BRING OUT

By Tonilyn Hornung

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istening to my son yammer on about “TAKING WALKS school is a welcome relief. As we AND BEING OUT IN jump over cracks in the sidewalk, NATURE HELPS WITH my heart fills to bursting with each story THAT MIND/BODY about a lunchtime revelation or a recess CONNECTION.” reverie. My open-hearted kindergartner is open again — a far cry from the closed Jessica Sharpenstein off kid I was parenting a week ago. The Mindfulness Educator simple act of slowing down, being mindful, and walking together is changing him and changing us.

“At its core, mindfulness is taking a pause. It’s building a more constructive relationship with yourself from a place of non-judgment,” says Jessica Sharpenstein, mindfulness educator at Fairdale High School. I hadn’t intended on starting a mindfulness practice with my 5 year old, but in essence that’s what began happening with our after-school walks.

When my son started kindergarten, I was prepared for changes. My days went from having a little boy glued to my side chatting about whether or not Chewbacca loved cheese crackers to having a panting dog glued who was only by my side when I opened a box of cheese crackers. This was a big difference. I can only imagine what it was like for my kid.

His whole world expanded to include new faces, friends, and concepts. I was looking forward to hearing his heartfelt school stories, but those stories didn’t come easily.

An awkward silence began to take over my kid’s usual chatty personality. I was getting one word answers to questions regarding school, and the replies were filled with an irritation I’d never witnessed. My son had always been open with his feelings.

I wanted to find a way to keep our lines of communication open without forcing him to talk. That’s when I remembered our walks. As soon as my son took his first steps, he was going places — for him it was around the neighborhood. Early on, my family and I made walks an evening tradition. As he grew, the walks fell away and daily life took over.

“Taking walks and being out in nature helps with that mind/body connection,” Jessica says. This is why I thought I’d try walking again. That simple act produced an instant change. “Mindfulness creates a space to be able to tune into yourself,” Jessica says. The space we shaped during our first walk allowed him to talk about a kid in class who’d hurt his feelings. We talked through it, and I felt his heart become lighter. I’d found a tool that could help.

“There’s no right or wrong way to practice mindfulness.

Being in nature, coloring, journaling, reading, practicing gratitude — anything can be mindful,” Jessica says.

Slowing down and walking is bringing out the feelings in my kid. “Mindfulness helps develop compassion and empathy. When we start to have empathy and compassion for ourselves, we can also return that for others,” Jessica says.

I’m relieved that I found a way that helps my kid speak his heart, and I especially love that on our walks he still lets me hold his hand.

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‘THE TALKS’

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