The Green Edition - April 2016

8th Anniversary Edition • April 2016 • FREE

Greater Kalamazoo April is Wine Month

Faces In Healthcare

The

Edition

Essential • Entertaining • Enlightening WomensLifeStyleKazoo.com

Hay Bale Gardening

ARE YOU

CONSIDERING SURGERY? If so, here is an easier way to do it.

OB-GYN PC is a leader in minimally invasive surgeries for women.

We offer the most current options for this type of surgery and our doctors are experienced in doing da Vinci surgery procedures. da Vinci surgery offers these benefits:

✓ Shorter hospital stay ✓ Less pain ✓ Faster recovery ✓ Quicker return to normal activities

✓ Lower risk of wound infection,

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Left to Right: Dr. Rebekah Sharp Dr. Marcia Johnson Dr. Joseph Riethman Dr. Carly Davis

Call us for an appointment to talk with one of our doctors.

Front row: Rebecca Kundan, FNP-BC Joseph Riethman, MD, FACOG Patti Zull, CNM, FNP-BC Rebekah Sharp, MD, FACOG Back row: Brittany Post, WHNP-BC Carter Lomax, MD, FACOG Carly Davis, MD, FACOG Marcia Johnson, MD, FACOG Wendy, Bauer, MD, FACOG Brandi Boone, CNM, WHNP-BC

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April 2016

OB-GYN P.C. 269.345.6197 2854 S 11th St Kalamazoo, MI 49009 www.obgynpc.com WomensLifeStyleKazoo.com

“The day of the crash, I broke my pelvis in multiple places, herniated three discs, broke four ribs — for every kind of bone in my body, it felt like I broke at least one of them. For the first couple days, the doctors were concerned I wouldn’t make it. Then they said there was a good chance I might not walk again. Or even be able to feed myself. I needed to have extensive surgeries, and it took close to a dozen specialists, but I am able to walk and care for myself again and do just about everything I could before. I’ve done really, really well, and I honestly believe it’s because everybody at Bronson was so careful and worked so well together.”

Rachel, Kalamazoo, Michigan

To watch Rachel’s story and learn more about the region’s only Level I Trauma Center, visit bronsonpositivity.com/trauma.

Greater Kalamazoo BRO160014_Rachel_CTA_WomensLifestyle 1

April 2016

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FROMTHEPUBLISHER A very warm welcome to our new readers! Every year at the Expo, lots of women become fans of the magazine and we couldn’t be happier to have you join us!

April is the time of year when Mother Nature begins to renew the world around us as glimpses of glorious green and new life abound. It’s also a great time for us to focus on going green and re-purposing. After all, we women are often the primary caretakers of our own environments and, just like Mother Nature; we need to do everything possible to protect what’s ours. You can start by using one of the ideas from the “10 Different Way to Recycle This Magazine” article on page 42.

Just be sure you don’t recycle this magazine before you’ve read “10 Things to Do In April”. You’re also going to want to check out some of our amazing recipes (Cod with Melted Tomatoes or Stuffed Breakfast Portobello Mushrooms) and try some of the “Natural Skin Options” on page 16.

Speaking of things that are brand new, you are personally invited to our 1st Women’s LifeStyle Spring Fever Event on April 19th 6 – 8 at Chico’s in Crossroads Mall! Light snacks and beverages will be served. There will be prizes and more! You won’t want to miss this fun evening.

Most of all, please take a moment to enjoy the fact that our cold Michigan winter is over and pause to savor the freshness of springtime!

Warmly,

Darlene Publisher

Marci Beck-Heinzman R.N. B.S. Over 10 Years Experience

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April 2016

“Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises.” ~ Pedtro Caleron de la Barca

“Anything else you're interested in is not going to happen if you can't breathe the air and drink the water. Don't sit this one out.

Do something.” ~ Carl Sagan

“The frog does not drink up the pond in which it lives.” ~Chinese Proverb

“The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction.” ~ Rachel Carson

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The People Who Make It Happen...

Publisher: Darlene Mohr-Clifford dclifford@wlskazoo.com Editor & Events Manager: Michelle Morgan mmorgan@wlskazoo.com Contributing Writers: Sandy Derby Andrew Domino Kelly Duggan Heidi McCrary Erica Shier Sales Manager: Ruth Ann Dibert radibert@wlskazoo.com Account Executive: Brenda Murphy bmurphy@wlskazoo.com Meagan Kahler mkahler@wlskazoo.com Layout & Design: Jennifer Chartier jchartier@wlskazoo.com Photography: K. Redmond Photography www.facebook.com/kredmondphotography Administrative: Patty Clifford pclifford@wlskazoo.com Contact Us: 269-350-5227 Sales Info: 269-271-1032

By Mail: Greater Kalamazoo Women’s LifeStyle P. O. Box 2284, Portage, MI 49081-2284

By Email: info@wlskazoo.com editor@wlskazoo.com sales@wlskazoo.com Website: www.womenslifestylekazoo.com

April 2016 LIFE

6 10 Things to do in April 8 Reopening the Ex File 30 Make Thyme for the Garden 35 9 Tips for Small Business Recycling 40 Conquer the Closets

HEALTH & BEAUTY

16 Natural Skincare Options 38 Squeaky Clean: 10 Natural Remedies for the Home

LEARN

Faces in Healthcar e

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34 Alternative Gardening 42 10 Ways to Recycle This Magazine 46 Reader’s Lounge

LOOK WHO’S TALKING

18 Robyn Hesling- Business Owner & Animal Enthusiast

COMMUNITY NEWS & HAPPENINGS 10 Spring Fever Event 14 Kalamazoo Strong 22 Spring Break Staycation 43 Here’s What Happened 44 Calendar

FOOD & DRINK

12 Cooking with Olive Oil Day Boat Cod with Melted Tomatoes Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Sweet Peppers Vegetable Frittata with Roasted Asparagus

and Tomatoes 20 April is Michigan Wine Month 32 Low-Carb Deliciousness Waldorf Chicken Salad in Lettuce Cups Quick Tomato Salsa Luscious Lemon Squares Stuffed Breakfast Portobello Mushroom 36 Sweet and Sassy Chopped Thai Salad

Greater Kalamazoo

April 2016

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THINGS TO DO IN This spring, recapture the child inside you. Remember how it felt to be young and worry free? Playful fun leads to positive energy, which is something we all desire.

by Peaches McCahill

Go to the park.

Swing on the swings. I love the feeling of getting higher and higher in the air.

Read a favorite children’s book. My favorites include The Giving Tree, or any one of the classic Dr. Seuss books.

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Blow some bubbles. See who can make the biggest one.

1 Play music and dance.

It’s a terrific stress reliever.

Register for an adult summer camp.

There are plenty of options, and most of them sound like such fun.

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Get excited about the little things.

Children have a way of being happy and spontaneous while savoring life’s simple pleasures.

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Play a classic game. Two of my all-time favorites are Candyland and Uno.

Dress-Up. My son, Michael was a huge hit in 4-year-old pre-school.

All the girls would wait for him to get in the classroom and watch him immediately start donning the hula skirt or the tutu always with a fancy hat and a vest. Joie de vivre is contagious!

April 2016

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In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.

– Margaret Atwood Watch a G-rated comedy/movie. My personal favorites are Lady and the Tramp and Polyanna.

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Do something silly. Put your hands in the air like you just don’t care!

About the Author Peaches McCahill is founder and president of The McCahill Group, a leading provider of health, wellness, beauty and talent solutions, and owner of M Power Studio. She has a passion to inspire others with simplistic lifestyle suggestions.

WomensLifeStyleKazoo.com

GIVE ‘EM A STORY TO SNAPCHAT. Join us for a day to celebrate all things DOG and help support the Kalamazoo Humane Society while enjoying a tail-wagging good time!

Mathy 7

FOUR LEGGED FUN RAISER!

Help the KHS continue to offer aide and assistance to local pet owners and animals in need. Join us by registering to walk and collect donations from friends, family, coworkers & neighbors.

Prizes awarded for Top Collectors!

May 7, 2016 Prairie View Park inVicksburg

Bishop Construction

9am to 2pm

PRESENTS

FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT! • Ultimate Air Dogs • America’s Best Frisbee Dogs • Crazy Contests • Pet Photos

• Skyhoundz Hyperflite Disc Competition • Dog Obstacle Course • Children’s Activities • Raffles & Bake Sale • Merchandise & Apparel

Co-Sponsored By KazooHumane.org/Dogwalk Greater Kalamazoo

April 2016

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Ex File Reopening the

by Kerry Hart, LLMFT

T

his hot topic brought to you by popular demand can often turn into the question: should you be friends with an ex? This subject triggers emotions and both ethical and moral questions.

The question may get confusing when there are multiple answers; people tend to have an opinion based on their own personal experiences from which they learned, suffered or grew.

Regardless of your current stance on reopening the ex file, it’s important to remember that all past relationships ended for a reason. Let’s examine this reoccurring concern of handling exes properly from all angles.

Is anyone hurting?

There is a school of thought that suggests staying friends with an ex is not a good idea. This belief is due to bad breakups in which someone got left with hurt feelings. That disturbed individual may be holding onto hope that the couple will eventually get back together, should they stick out a friendship long enough. Consider which mindset you have in this scenario; are you still feeling hurt by the breakup? If not, and you’d like a friendship with your ex, examine if the other party’s feelings are aching. Often enough, break ups occur to prevent the couple from hurting one another, and to encourage a friendship could increase the opportunities to hurt each other even more, perhaps without realizing the damage caused.

When positive terms are necessary.

There are some that would argue it is a good idea to stay on good terms with an ex. Perhaps they know too much personal information about the other, or it’s difficult to stomach the thought of negative feelings toward one another. Whatever the reasoning, it can be a good idea to stay on good terms with an ex if interaction with them is required moving forward. You do not want to find yourself at a networking luncheon or a friend’s birthday party and have a disgruntled ex screaming at you from a corner that you still have their favorite t-shirt. Getting to a positive place with your ex, where you can see each other in public and share pleasantries, is ideal for these types of situations.

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Figuring out why you might want to continue a relationship with someone you used to be romantically involved with can be half the battle.”

Ask yourself why.

After weighing the pros and cons of keeping an ex around and the question still lingers, ask why you’d like to pursue a friendship with your ex. Do you feel guilty for ending the relationship? Do you feel guilt for something you did during the relationship and desire to make it up to this person by continuing the relationship as a friendship? Figuring out why you might want to continue a relationship with someone you used to be romantically involved with can be half the battle.

Set a game plan.

If pursuing a friendship is a no-brainer for your situation, establish a game plan for the friendship. I encourage you to examine what you might have meant to each other during the romantic portion of your relationship. Was your relationship a passing fling, or did you find yourself in a long-term relationship with lingering negativity? Setting boundaries and knowing what is appropriate behavior within the friendship is critical to moving forward. For example, being friends means supporting people as they begin new relationships. If your ex comes to you with a stressful situation they are facing in their current relationship, would you be able to give objective advice? Will you feel the sting of rejection as they discuss and describe this person they have willingly entered into a relationship with after your separation? Rather than looking at your end game with this friendship, examine if your heart can handle the journey, and ensure it can by establishing boundaries.

Setting boundaries and knowing what is appropriate behavior within the friendship is critical to moving forward.”

April 2016

Considering new commitments.

Another obstacle you face when reopening the ex-file is what will your current or future significant other think of your friendship with your ex? While you may have moved on from the relationship aspect with your ex, there is no guarantee that your new significant other will be comfortable with this friendship continuing.

As you move forward with a partner you want to commit to, you may have to make sacrifices to keep them happy. At some point, you may have to ask yourself if holding on to this old relationship is worth losing a new one that might succeed.

The desire to keep contact with an ex can point to other emotions and experiences that need to be processed.

Examining the why behind your desire to keep this person in your life will become paramount to your healing process. Perhaps you have not fully healed from the breakup; whether you are the dumper or the dumpee the pain can be very real. If you are not currently experiencing any pain, try to be sensitive toward the pain your ex might feel. Giving both partners time to heal and move forward with their lives is essential to progress regardless if a future friendship is desired.

Kerry Hart, LLMFT is a couple and family therapist in private practice. She is located in both East Lansing and Grand Rapids. www.kerryhartcounseling.com

WomensLifeStyleKazoo.com

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Who Made Print and the Web Rivals?

People love Allrecipes.com. The website has a reach of close to 30 million people. Yet at the end of 2013, Allrecipes launched distribution of a printed magazine.

With all of this online success, what’s the point of going into print? What does Allrecipes know?

The company did the research and found readers love both the digital side and printed side of the business. Quite simply, print still holds a profitable opportunity for the business.

Food product advertising is one of the strongest advertising categories in print these days. Despite the shift to online advertising and the attention given to social media, print advertising brings attention to products and services.

Internet and print marketing aren’t rivals. They are opportunities.

Online marketing reaches for people who are already looking for your products and services. Print marketing comes to you.

Allrecipes expanded and grew by going into print. Have you asked lately what print can do to expand your business?

1116 W Centre Avenue ☎ 323-9333 PortagePrinting.com

Greater Kalamazoo

WMU Fraternity “Freezin’ for a Reason” to Raise Funds for Habitat for Humanity Alpha Tau Omega Camps Out on Western’s Campus February 16-18 Members of WMU's Alpha Tau Omega (ATΩ) fraternity camped out for 48 consecutive hours to raise funds for Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity on February 16-18. The weather forecast called for highs in the 30s, lows in the teens, and snow showers. The ATΩ brothers raised $5,415 and were motivated they knew they would be “freezin’ for a reason.” Great job!

April 2016

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Summer Fashion Show

Spring Fever Event

You're Invited!

T

Tuesday April 19 6 - 8pm

th

Shop & Save!

Event Discounts • Fashion Show Private Raffle for $25 Gift Certificate Combine the gift certificate with the store specials and start a whole new summer wardrobe! Light Hor d’ourves & beverages.

Please RSVP to: info@wlskazoo.com or 269.350.5227 Sponsored by Women’s LifeStyle of Kalamazoo

Crossroads Mall 6650 S Westnedge Ave. #128 Portage MI 49024 10

April 2016

by Meagan Kahler

he 2016 Women’s Lifestyle Expo was full of all things girly from chiropractic massages, belly dancing, hair straightening, and free cookie ice cream bars…but a girl’s day out is not complete unless FASHION is involved! Chico’s, a casual chic clothing store found locally in the Crossroads Mall, drew a crowd to the stage on Saturday for their spring line fashion show. The women in the audience awed at the tastefully colorful outfits for warmer weather. Kellie Miller, store manager of our local Chico’s, drew the audience in by describing each outfit down to the stitch as local working women in the area strutted down the runway.

The models included: myself, Carla Noe-Emig (Photo Joy Studio), Jo McDaid (Nurse & ASEA Representative), Katharine Hermsen (Jaqua Realtor), Kathy Fowler (Artist & Chico’s Style Expert), Laura Bradley (2nd Grade Teacher), Linda Crawford (Specialty Cake Baker), Shannon Murray (Retired Teacher) and as Kellie would say “the best sister ever”. That is another wonderful thing about Chico’s and this particular fashion show; it showed that local women of all shapes, sizes, and lifestyles can look amazing in Chico’s upcoming line. Chico’s spring line includes peek-a-boo shoulder tops, their “So Slimming” pant, much wanted fringe, and spring denim. Their peek-a-boo shoulder tops are super comfortable and built for all body types since the tops are made from an elastic material. Chico’s “So Slimming” pants are made from a similar material which also makes them flattering for all body types.

Let’s be honest…everyone needs a pair of cute slimming pants with an

elastic like feel to them. Their jeans are also very comfortable so at Chico’s you can cut out constriction all together.

Altogether, their spring line is a must have and by the sounds of fashion show attendees…many other women would agree!

If you missed the Chico’s Fashion Show at the Women’s Lifestyle Expo do not fret! Women’s Lifestyle Magazine of Greater Kalamazoo is sponsoring a Spring Fever Event at Chico’s on April 19th from 6-9 p.m. This event will be held at the Chico’s in The Crossroads Mall to promote their upcoming summer line! There will be event discounts, a private raffle for a $25 gift card to the store, great friends and conversations…and of course, another fashion show! So if you missed it last time come watch women in our local community strut their stuff in Chico’s summer line. You do not want to miss Kathy Fowlers entertaining display on the runway and fun personality! It is going to be a great way to spend your Tuesday night.

Chico’s also has other events coming up as well such as their “Hello Spring” event March 21st-27th where you will receive 25% off of all full priced merchandise and now through March 27th receive a $20 reward card towards the store for every $100 dollars spent at Chico’s. Do not miss all these opportunities to update your spring and summer wardrobe. You all deserve to look and feel fabulous in these upcoming seasons!

Meagan Kahler is a Style Blogger and fashionista located in Kalamazoo. Along with being an expert on all things fashion she is also a wife and mother.

WomensLifeStyleKazoo.com

Events Calendar April 2016

Borgess Events Bariatric Surgery Seminar For those considering bariatric surgery.

Borgess Medical Center, Lawrence Education Center Wednesday, April 13, 6 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, April 19, 10 a.m. to Noon Free. Registration required. Call (269) 226.6863 to register or visit bariatrics.borgess.com to watch our online bariatric seminar.

Breastfeeding A lactation consultant will address the benefits of breastfeeding, share practical techniques, discuss breastfeeding after returning to work and more.

Borgess Medical Center, Lawrence Education Center Tuesday, April 19, 6 to 8:30 p.m. $23/couple. Registration required. Please call (269) 226.8135 or (800) 828.8135 or visit wellness.borgess.com to register.

For a complete list and further information about what Borgess has to offer, please visit wellness.borgess.com. Want the latest classes, events and health screenings sent directly to your inbox? You can also sign up for the Borgess Bulletin e-newsletter there, as well.

Borgess Health & Fitness Center Home School Swim Offered for students who are home schooled, this class includes 45 minutes of swim instruction and 10 minutes of free swim time.

For ages 6-14.

Borgess Health & Fitness Center Wednesdays, April 13-May 18, 3 to 3:55 p.m. $40. Registration required. Call (269) 226.8135 or (800) 828.8135 or visit wellness.borgess.com to register Borgess Run for the Health of It! Registration is now open for the 37th annual Borgess Run for the Health of It and the Kalamazoo Marathon. Events run for three days and offer something for everyone of any fitness ability. Sign up now and make it memorable!

Borgess Health & Fitness Center Friday through Sunday, May 6-8, times vary per event

Elizabeth Forest, CMT • Traditional Massage Therapy • Oncology Massage • Member AMTA & S4OM

For appointments, call

To register or to learn more about the events, the course, or volunteer and spectator opportunities visit borgessrun.com.

For a complete list and further information about classes at Borgess Health & Fitness Center, visit fitness.borgess.com.

Choose massage for detoxing, realigning and recharging. Relaxing, nurturing and healthy. Package pricing & gift certificates available.

(269) 615-0860

www.elizabethforestwellness.com

Greater Kalamazoo

A member of Ascension®

April 2016

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Cooking with Olive Oil

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Sweet Peppers Makes 6-8 servings

courtesy Family Features and AboutOliveOil.org.

Day Boat Cod with Melted Tomatoes and Shaved Fennel and Orange Salad Makes 4 servings

Olive oil Salt and pepper, to taste

4 cod filets (6 ounces each) Olive oil melted tomatoes (see recipe) Orange, fennel and olive oil salad (see recipe)

4 lemons, cut into eighths Heat oven to 400 F. Heat medium sized saute pan on high.

Add olive oil and heat. Salt and pepper cod. Add cod to hot oil and sear very hard on one side, until fish is golden brown and crisp.

Transfer cod to baking sheet that has been brushed with olive oil. Place cod in oven until it starts to flake, about 12 minutes. Remove cod from oven and keep warm.

Using spoon, portion olive oil melted tomatoes onto four large dinner plates.

Allow some flavored oil to puddle on plate. Carefully transfer cod on top of warm tomatoes.

Then top cod with orange, fennel and olive oil salad. Squeeze lemon wedge over entire plate.

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April 2016

Olive Oil Melted Tomatoes

8 large Roma tomatoes, peeled, seeded and cut in half Salt and pepper, to taste

6 basil leaves, shredded

3 tablespoons parsley, chopped

1 lemon, zested

6 large garlic cloves, peeled and sliced thin Extra-virgin olive oil

2 pounds Brussels sprouts, bottoms trimmed, cut in half and outside leaves removed

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

6 medium garlic cloves, chopped

3 tablespoons basil, chopped

2 tablespoons Italian parsley, chopped Salt and pepper, to taste

2 red sweet peppers, large diced

2 yellow sweet peppers, large diced

1 cup balsamic vinegar, reduced to light syrup Heat oven to 375 F. Combine brussels sprouts with all ingredients except peppers and balsamic syrup. Toss brussels sprout mixture and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Transfer mixture to sheet pan and roast in oven for 15 minutes. Stir sweet peppers into mixture and roast 5-10 minutes more.

Remove from oven and place on serving platter. Drizzle with balsamic syrup and serve immediately.

Heat oven to 325 F. Place tomatoes in 9-inch cake pan and season to taste with salt and pepper. Scatter herbs, lemon zest and garlic on top of tomatoes.

Drizzle tomatoes with extra-virgin olive oil, which should come up about threequarters of the way on tomatoes.

Cover with foil and bake until tomatoes are tender, approximately 40 minutes.

Orange, Shaved Fennel and Olive Oil Salad 1/2 large fennel bulb, sliced thin on mandolin

2 medium oranges, rind and seeds removed, cut into slices 1/2 medium lemon, juice only

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon parsley, chopped Salt and pepper, to taste Combine all ingredients and gently toss just before garnishing cod.

WomensLifeStyleKazoo.com

Reinvent your home. Life.

Vegetable Frittata with Roasted Asparagus and Tomatoes Makes 6 servings

6 large eggs

1 tablespoon water

2 tablespoons Parmesan Reggiano, grated, plus additional for garnish

1 teaspoon garlic, minced

2 teaspoons shallots, small diced

1 cup russet potatoes, peeled, small diced, boiled until tender, drained and chilled

1 roasted red pepper, peeled, deseeded and diced

1 tablespoon parsley, chopped

1 tablespoon basil, chopped

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 cup cremini mushrooms, sliced Salt and pepper, to taste 1/4 cup fontina cheese Lemon, basil and garlic roasted asparagus (see recipe) Roasted tomatoes (see recipe) Beat eggs with water, then beat Parmesan into egg mixture and reserve.

Combine garlic, shallots, potato, pepper, parsley and basil, and set aside.

Heat extra-virgin olive oil in 12-inch non-stick saute pan over high heat.

Add mushrooms and sauté until they start to brown. Reduce heat to medium and add reserved vegetable mixture.

Sauté for about 1 1/2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add additional olive oil, if needed, then add reserved egg mixture to hot saute pan.

Cook 2-3 minutes until egg cooks and sets on bottom. Transfer sauté pan to broiler and broil until light and fluffy, and almost totally set, about 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle fontina cheese on top

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of frittata and place back under broiler until melted, about 2-3 minutes.

Remove to cutting board and cut into six triangle servings. Place one serving in center of plate. Garnish each portion with four stalks of Lemon, Basil and Garlic Roasted Asparagus and two wedges of Roasted Tomato. Sprinkle each portion with Parmesan.

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Lemon, Basil and Garlic Roasted Asparagus

3 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley leaves, finely sliced

1 lemon, zested

1 large garlic clove, minced 24 large asparagus stalks (snap bottoms of individual stalks) 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil Salt and pepper, to taste

Medicine Tree COMPOUNDING PHARMACY

Heat oven to 400 F. Combine parsley, lemon zest and garlic. Set aside.

Place asparagus on sheet pan in one layer and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Roast 15-20 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley mixture and place back in oven for 3-5 minutes.

Roasted Tomatoes

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

6 large Roma tomatoes, quartered

3 fresh thyme leaves 1/2 garlic clove, minced Sugar, to taste Salt and pepper, to taste Heat oven to 400 F. Combine all ingredients in bowl and tran­sfer to sheet pan lined with baking paper.

Roast for about 20 minutes, or until done.

Extra virgin olive oil is the most flavorful olive oil. Extra virgin or virgin olive oils offer additional health benefits because they retain an abundance of vitamins and polyphenols that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

Greater Kalamazoo

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April 2016

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We Are Kalamazoo ...Kalamazoo Strong

by Andrew Domino

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hose slogans started appearing throughout southwest Michigan and online in the days after the tragic shooting of February 20. Friends and neighbors starting raising money, following news reports and lending their support to the families of the victims of the overnight attack. So far, they’ve raised some $75,000.

“There’s an immediate need and a long-term need,” said Clovis Bordeaux, marketer for the Battle Creek Community Foundation, one of the organizations coordinating the fund-raising effort. The BCCF is joined by the Battle Creek United Way and their counterparts in Kalamazoo. Their website is www.helpnowfund.org.

Still more donations are expected throughout March; Daniels said the K-Wings will continue to auction off jerseys at other games.

Several sites hosted candlelight vigils in the nights after the shooting, and businesses from restaurants to car dealerships offers help as well.

“We raised a sizable chunk of money in a short amount of time,” Bordeaux said. “It shows how much our community can come together.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP Donations can be mailed to: Help Now! Battle Creek Community Foundation 32 W. Michigan, Ste. 1 Battle Creek, MI 49017 www.bccfoundation.org/HelpNow A $10 donation can also be made by texting "Support Now" to 20222.

Abigail’s Fight For Survival: www.gofundme.com/exqv3qyc Victims Of The Kalamazoo Shootings: www.gofundme.com/5kq98ac4 Local resources for those in need of crisis counseling include:

He said the money is going first to the families and the victims Gryphon Place (Kalamazoo): who survived — 14-year-old 381-HELP (269 381-4357) or Abigail Kopf, and 25-yearwww.gryphon.org old Tiana Carruthers. After Summit Pointe (Battle Creek): that, funds are intended for 800 649-3777 for outpatient counseling, longer physical and mental 800 632-5449 for suicide prevention, rehabilitation. One hundred or www.summitpointe.com percent of the donations are being directed to the families of the victims. An advisory board created by the BCCF and its partners is determining where the money is going, according to a press release by the Foundation.

“We want to make sure the families of the victims are not missing a paycheck, and we want to plan for the future of their families,” he said.

There has also been some discussion of longer-term treatment for the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek communities, like anti-violence programs and strengthening local safety services, though for now the focus in on the victims and their families.

Bordeaux said there’s no end date in sight for fund-raising; the BCCF expects to continue to gather donations, and will send all of them out to the families.

You can see more of

Kalamazoo and Battle Creek residents started pages on fundraising website GoFundMe.com almost immediately, raising thousands in just a few days. A GoFundMe page for the youngest victim, 14-year-old Abigail Kopf, reached its $50,000 target in about two weeks.

“It’s a tragedy that knew no socioeconomic (class), no color,” he said.

“We’re able to make something good come out of it.”

Messages came along with money: contributors offered their thoughts and prayers on GoFundMe, Facebook, and news station websites.

Bordeaux counted about 220 individual donors since the first contributions were made. Those separate fundraisers were combined with donations from Kellogg Company and other contributions by the BCCF and other groups.

That’s before the Kalamazoo Wings joined in.

The K-Wings and Toledo Walleye played a hockey game the night after the shooting, February 21, in Ohio. The Walleye held a raffle for jerseys worn during the game, raising about $10,000, all donated to the families of the victims. Just days later, on March 5, the K-Wings hosted the Utah Grizzlies at Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo, raising about $23,000. $2 from each ticket sold for the game, 50 percent of T-shirt sales, $1,000 from concessions and the proceeds of a silent auction of merchandise from the K-Wings and other hockey teams — it all went to the cause, said Toni Daniels, director of sales for the Kalamazoo Wings.

“

Andrew Domino’s writing at www. dominowriting.com

We want to make sure the families of the victims are not missing a paycheck, and we want to plan for the future of their families”

“It was our first game after the incident,” Daniels said. “It felt important to honor the victims and their families.”

March 5 was also the second Kids Paint the Ice game of the season, where young fans were able to decorate the ice before the game with phrases like “We love our city,” and “We are Kalamazoo.” The team dedicated a row of seats to the victims in a ceremony before the Grizzlies game.

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April 2016

WomensLifeStyleKazoo.com

Khanh Q. Nguyen, DO Corporate Medical Officer

Michigan’s leading vein care team welcomes Dr. Adria Ford Joseph Marogil, MD and Laura Kelsey, MD

Zayed Meadows Director of Vascular Technicians

Dr. Adria Ford, DO

This team makes this problem go away.

Period Dr. Joeseph Marogil, MD

Laura Kelsey, MD

Center for Vein Restoration (CVR) is nationally recognized American Osteopathic Board of Surgery Association, she has also served as staff general surgeon at Kosciusko as the leader in the treatment of vein disease and Community Hospital and Chief of Surgery with Three varicose veins. Our team of physicians is excited to Rivers Health. welcome Dr. Adria Ford to CVR. Dr. Ford earned her medical degree from Michigan State University College of No hospital. No stitches. No downtime Osteopathic Medicine in 2004 and completed a general CVR’s physician and clinical team is dedicated to relieving pain, treatingisthe vascular cause of severeas legthe leader in th surgery internship and residency at MetroCenter Health in for Veinleg Restoration nationally recognized wounds, eliminating unsightly veins. We workand with clinical team Grand Rapids, Michigan. A member of the American treatment of vein disease and and varicose veins.

Our physicians most insurance companies to get Osteopathic Association and board-certified through the are dedicated to relieving leg pain, treating theprocedures vascular covered. cause of severe le wounds, and eliminating unsightly veins. And with nearly all procedures covere by insurance, we offer more treatment options than most other vein clinics

Dr. Laura Kelsey, Medical Director

Connecticut, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, W

(800) FIX-LEGS / (800) 349-5347 / www.centerforvein.com

(800) FIX-LEGS / (800) 349-5347 / www.centerforvein.com Conveniently located in Grand Rapids, Portage and Lansing Conveniently located in Grand Rapids and Portage

Greater Kalamazoo

April 2016

15

Natural Skincare

Options

by Ashley Petroskey photography by Two Eagles Marcus

Ingredients used in the glowing-skin smoothie

N

ow is an excellent time to begin spring cleaning and preparing for the sunshine months ahead. Among these preparations should be personal refreshment and rejuvenation, which includes ridding old, expired products and replacing them with new versions.

There is a lot of research showing harmful ingredients in skincare products. Several DIY ideas allow you to step away from the products that have harsh ingredients and try a more natural approach. Below are natural alternatives to the common beauty routine to help you look fresh and radiant for the new season.

Fresh Smoothie For Glowing Skin

Smoothies filled with healthy, natural ingredients assist the body in fighting bacteria and also provide antioxidants that create glowing skin. The following recipe includes lemon and celery for detoxifying, an apple for anti-inflammatory properties, ginger as an antiseptic and digestion aid, and cucumber and greens for added silica for strong hair, nails and skin. Here is a quick recipe for an on-the-go woman:

1 cup of fresh Kale 1/2 cup of peeled and cut cucumbers 1/2 cup of chopped celery 3/4 inch of peeled, fresh ginger 1/2 cut apple 1/2 cup water Juice from half a lemon Blend and enjoy! For a creamier smoothie, use a milk substitute such as coconut milk or almond milk instead of water.

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April 2016

Body Moisturizer

The best at-home body moisturizer is coconut oil.

Coconut oil is known to have anti-aging properties, rich protein to aid rejuvenation, vitamin-E for healthy skin growth and repair, and saturated fats for moisture retainment and toning. It’s best used immediately after a shower or bath while pores are open.

Body Scrub

It’s important to use a more gentle scrub on the face (see next recipe) and a more exfoliating scrub for the body. Many people come out of the winter months with dry elbows, knees and hands. The following is an ideal scrub to restore lost moisture and elasticity.

Coconut oil moisturizer

1/2 cup of Epsom salts 2/3 cups of heated coconut oil or olive oil

1 teaspoons of vanilla extract (or essential oils if a different scent is preferred) Mix ingredients together and allow to cool. Store in a sealed glass container for future use.

WomensLifeStyleKazoo.com

Facial Scrub

With spring here, it’s important to exfoliate the skin and body to slough off the dead skin of winter and reveal new healthy skin for the season ahead. Use this at-home facial exfoliator to aid with skin renewal as needed. The yogurt will aid in dissolving dead skin cells, the lemon provides astringent properties to aid with blemishes, the caffeine in the coffee will reduce skin swelling, and the coconut oil seals the face with healthy moisture.

1/4 cup of regular Greek yogurt 1/2 tablespoons coffee grounds 1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1/2 tablespoon melted coconut oil

Mix ingredients together. Apply generously to face using a circular motion and let set for 15 minutes or until dry. Rinse with warm water.

Acne Treatment

Apple cider vinegar does wonders for the face. If you have a pesky pimple that won’t go away, try using apple cider vinegar directly on the blemish and wait for several hours (before bed is an ideal application time). Apple cider vinegar can be drying, so it is best to use a light moisturizer (such as coconut oil) after.

Also, be prepared for the scent, as it smells of vinegar but wears off with time.

Take spring cleaning to a new level, all the way down to your beauty regimen. It’s likely that many of these ingredients are in your pantry or fridge, so hopefully this gives you an opportunity to clean the fridge and pamper yourself all in the same afternoon. Springcleaning never felt (or looked) so good!

Body scrub Facial scrub

Acne treatment

Ashley is a marketing professional and worked as a makeup artist in NYC and southwest Michigan. She started a cosmetics line which celebrates the idea that all women start as a Blank Canvas.

Find BC Cosmetics on Facebook.

5160 West Main, Kalamazoo • (269) 342-4360

Greater Kalamazoo

April 2016

17

Look Who’s

TALKING

F

or Robyn Hesling, running a business that helps both people and animals is in her blood.

Her grandfather, Harry Shallop, was one of the original founders of Pet Supplies Plus in 1988.

Her parents, Mike and Sue Horn, opened the Portage location in 1995 when she was just 15 years old. She has lived and breathed this business for most of her life and for her there was no other choice but to follow in her family’s footsteps. She brings this innate passion for the family business with her each day as General Manager and Owner of four Pet Supplies Plus locations in Kalamazoo, Portage, Battle Creek and Goshen, Indiana.

Robyn was born and raised in Houghton Lake and has two sisters, Brooke and Lindsay.

She attended Michigan State University where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. Her focus is training her staff to really connect with their customers and treat them like the neighbors they are. She wants all of her employees to find out what their communities need to make life better for themselves and their pets. Robyn recognizes how important pets are to people and acknowledges that pets really can change lives. It’s this belief that gives her such a passion for the work she does.

Robyn says “Watching our team members have an engaging conversation with someone and seeing them solve their problem is so exciting for me. I can’t be everywhere all the time so having people who really care about their jobs and the people they are helping means everything to me.”

It’s attitudes like this that make all the difference between local businesses and big box stores.

Robyn’s commitment to her community shows in the care she and her employees give to their community.

Robyn Hesling Business Owner & Animal Enthusiast

When asked what inspires her, Robyn replied “I’m inspired by those with a lot of integrity. People who work hard, understand their purpose and are honest with their intentions.” This philosophy drives how she runs her business and treats her employees and customers.

Naturally introverted, Robyn finds that her work gives her confidence. In that environment, many would be surprised that Robyn considers herself shy.

Family is of the utmost importance to Robyn, so when she’s not working, she spends most of her time with

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April 2016

her husband, Bob and their three children Avery, Justin and Tessa. They love to play games, watch movies and go to restaurants. Robyn is keenly aware that her children are growing up way too fast and tries hard to find a good work/home balance so that she doesn’t miss their childhoods.

Robyn is also passionate about educating people about those with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Her youngest daughter was diagnosed with Autism at the age of two and she thinks a lot of people misunderstand what it

means for someone to be “autistic”. Trying to remove some of the stigma around that diagnosis is important to her.

In the little free time that a busy career and growing family affords, Robyn is attempting to fill in some holes in her literary background. She ruefully admits that she is reading “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger for the first time. “It’s a book I probably should have ready years ago” she admits “but never did so better late the never!”

WomensLifeStyleKazoo.com

A Beautiful Lawn doesn’t happen by itself.

Aeration • Lawn Renovations • New Lawns Mowing • Fertilizing/Weed Control • Moles Landscaping • Spring and Fall Cleanup

JOURNEY TO A

HEALTHIER YOU

Bronson Women’s Health & Wellness Fair Saturday, April 23 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WMU Fetzer Center, Kalamazoo

269-349-4594

• Women’s health seminars All About the Foot and Ankle Robert Gorman III, MD, and Rick Tiller, DPM Taking Control of Incontinence Edward Itawi, MD, and Donna Pennington, NP What You Need to Know About Varicose Veins Wade Kang, MD Healthy Choices When Dining Out Diane Delhey, MS, RD • Sports or fitness-related injury evaluation • Fitness classes – introduction to tai chi and yoga • Mobility assessment – Sarah Onderline, BA, NSCA-CSCS, Bronson Athletic Club • Exhibitor Area with over 20 vendors – for some shopping therapy Attend this FREE event to learn the importance of exercise, weight management, diet and taking care of your body. To register, go to bronsonhealth.com/classes or call (269) 341-7723.

MAKE YOUR MOTHER PROUD. MAKE

MAKE YOUR Help moms in need this Mother’s Day. YOUR MOTHER MOTHER PROUD. Your donation to Movers for Moms® helps mothers in need to create a better life for themselves and Collections their families. th runs May 6 Donations will be given to moms staying at thetill YMCA Kalamazoo Domestic Violence and Violence Against Women and Kalamazoo Gospel Mission Women’s Shelter.

PROUD.

Help moms in need this Mother’s Day.

Drop off donations at your local Please send donations personal products, Your donation to Moversoffor Moms hygiene helps mothers in need TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® towels, and childcare products. to createlinens, a better life for themselves and their families. ®

*Call us today if you are a business or organization interested in being will a drop location Donations beoffgiven to moms staying at the YMCA

Kalamazoo Domestic Violence and Violence Against Women Help moms in need this Mother’s Day. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and Kalamazoo Gospel Mission Women’s Shelter. ®

Kalamazoo/Battle Creek

Your donation to Movers for Moms® helps in needat your local Dropmothers off donations 269.488.6683 to create a better life for themselves and their families. twomenandatruckkalamazoo.com TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Each franchise is individually owned and operated.

Donations theif YMCA U.S. DOT No. 1003748will be given to moms staying *Call at us today you are a business or organization interested in being a drop off location Kalamazoo Domestic Violence and Violence Against Women TWOShelter.

MEN AND A TRUCK® and Kalamazoo Gospel Mission Women’s

Kalamazoo/Battle Creek

Greater Kalamazoo

269.488.6683 April 2016 Drop off donations at your local twomenandatruckkalamazoo.com TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Each franchise is individually owned and operated.

U.S. DOT No. 1003748

*Call us today if you are a business or organization interested in being a drop off location

19

April is Michigan

Wine Month

by Roz Mayberry

T

he first Europeans to reach the shores of North America around the year 1000 were the Norsemen, who dubbed it “Vinland” because of all the grape vines they found there. Six hundred some years later, in the second half of the 17th century, the earliest French explorers noticed that lush tangle of wild grape vines climbing the trees of our virgin forests as they sailed up the Detroit River. They did what any good Frenchmen would do; they stepped out onto our Michigan shore and very quickly turned the abundance of wild grapes into barrels of wine to stash on their ships. By the mid-1800s, Michigan settlers were cultivating grapes and producing wine to sell. Such were the humble beginnings of a wine industry that now brings $300 million worth of business to the state.

Those early years, the ups and downs that characterize our wine history during the years from 1900 to the mid-1980s (the vineyard blights, the Temperance movement, the Great Depression) and Michigan wine’s rise to fame since then are masterfully recounted in a great read, The History of Michigan Wines by Lorri Hathaway and Sharon Keggereis.

In a way Michigan is a surprising climate for growing and producing fines wines. It certainly seems to bear no resemblance at all to warm and sunny California, Spain, or Provence. Thanks to big lake to our west, we are blessed with an excellent grape climate here, even with the harsh winters. The surrounding great lakes cool the lakeshore and the vineyards in the summer, which extends the growing season by a month. It warms the lakeshore in the winter, provides our vines with a protective layer of snow and keeps the buds from popping too early in spring, thus avoiding damage from frost.

The grape varieties that do best in Michigan find their roots in the cooler climates of their ancestral homes in Europe: in Germany, the Northern growing regions of France and in mountainous areas nestled against the Alpine areas of northern Italy. Among the notable whites of Michigan, we find Riesling, gewürztraminer, pinot blanc and pinot grigio; and among the reds, pinot noir and cabernet Franc. Michigan is also known for its sweeter red and white blends, often made from blends of those wine grapes and hybrid grapes, crosses of indigenous American grapes like concord and Niagara with French wine grapes. The native grapes provide the toughness to withstand our extreme climates, the European wine varieties to impart the interest and variety of winey flavors. Some notable hybrids to seek out are seyval blanc, traminette, vignoles, vidal an g hi ic M blanc, chambourcin, and chancellor. Currently, Michigan in 5 o.

N is winemakers are exploring new hybrid reds in other cold . .S U e th climate regions of the world to plant in Michigan. grape

for production!

Michigan is now the 5th largest grape growing state; most of the 13, 850 acres planted to Concord grapes for Welch’s juice. Over the past decade its wine grape vineyards have doubled.

Michigan’s 119 commercial wineries bottle more than 2.3 million gallons of wine each year, making us 10th in wine production.

That success is due in large part to The Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council, founded by the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) in 1985 and dedicated to the promotion of Michigan wines and to the education of passionate grape growers and winemakers who understood the potential of Michigan as a wine producing region and took the risks of growing grapes in our often fickle climate. April is the month to salute the Michigan State University extension programs and faculty dedicated to improving the vineyard and winemaking practices. It is the month to salute the restaurants that pour Michigan wines, the retailers that make Michigan wines available to us customers, and to the Michiganders who drink Michigan wine.

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April 2016

WomensLifeStyleKazoo.com

Celebrate Michigan Wine Month Go to a local restaurant that features Michigan wines and Michigan grown products.

Visit a Michigan winery and come home with memories.

Catch up with your wine shop or grocery wine department Wine Steward and try a new Michigan wine every week.

Compare a Michigan pinot grigio to one from California and one from Italy.

Join Vintage Michigan to receive a lifetime of Michigan wine savings.

Get a copy of The History of Michigan Wine: 150 Years of Winemaking Along the Great Lakes or From the Vine: Exploring Michigan Wineries.

Attend a Winery Michigan Wine Celebration: Art Along the Pioneer Wine Trail April 9-10, 2016, all day www.pioneerwinetrail.com/wineries Spring Sip and Savor at the Wineries of Leelanau Peninsula April 30 (11 am – 6 p.m.) and May 1, 2016 (12 – 5 p.m.) www.lpwines.com

Michigan Wine Pairings For an aperitif, try a sparkling produced by the Traditional Champagne Method, like L. Mawby’s NV Tradition or Blanc de Noirs, with simple buttery, salty fresh popcorn. Or a chilled dry rosé, like Marland Cabernet Franc Rosé with a platter of cheese, olives, dried sausages and spiced nuts.

The wineries all over Michigan are destinations for out-of-state tourists as well as for Michigan natives. More than 2 million tourists visit Michigan wineries each year.”

St. Julian’s Cock of the Walk

L. Mawby’s NV Tradition

For pasta in a rich red sauce or venison stew, you will want an off-dry, hearty red, like St. Julian’s Cock of the Walk.

Try Chateau Grand Traverse Dry Riesling with pan broiled Michigan trout and grilled asparagus.

Try Boathouse Vineyards Dry Dock Riesling with Chinese take-out, grilled veggies, or salty Gouda cheese; or Boathouse Northern Lights Sweet Riesling with Asian cuisines, baked ham or roast pork with apples.

Sushi lovers can add to their food adventure with a Michigan Gruner Veltliner like Chateau Grand Traverse Laika or an elegant wine such as Left Foot Charley’s Pinot Blanc.

Pair an Indian curry or your holiday turkey and all the fixings with Tabor Hill Gewurztraminer.

A crisp and refreshing, medium dry white like Black Star Farms Arcturos Pinot Grigio is just the thing to serve chilled with a light and creamy seafood pasta; or put Bowers Harbor Pinot Grigio with pesto pasta.

Michigan red blends often include hybrid grapes and like their California counterparts tend to be fruity and semi-dry or even sweet, perfect for pairing with hearty, spice food, like pulled pork, barbecued ribs, or chili. Try Shady Lane Coop de Rouge.

Greater Kalamazoo

Serve one of Michigan’s fuller bodied-dry red blends like Shady Lane Franc ‘n’ Franc or Fenn Valley Meritage or Burgdorf Winery’s Finlay’s Reserve with grilled lamb or beef.

Serve a chilled bottle of Black Star Farms Late Harvest Riesling with a creamy blue cheese a little drizzle of honey and slices of fresh ripe pear.

For dessert, pair Fenn Valley 42 Ice Wine NV with a simple cheesecake, Burgdorf’s Red Raspberry with chocolate, or St. Julian’s Sweet Nancie Sparkling Traminette.

St. Julian’s Sweet Nancie Sparkling Traminette.

Over the last several years, Michigan wines have been gaining much deserved national and even international acclaim. Michigan wines are taking gold medals and best of show awards from the Finger Lakes Competition in Upstate New York to the Jefferson Cup Invitational in Kansas to the San Francisco Chronicle. They are receiving the attention of bloggers, wine reviewers and critics around the country. The wineries all over Michigan are destinations for out-of-state tourists as well as for Michigan natives. More than 2 million tourists visit Michigan wineries each year. Small wonder! Our wineries and vineyards are beautiful, their tasting rooms welcoming.

Michigan’s economy benefits from wine tourism. One no longer has to travel to Napa or Sonoma for the winery experience. We have it right here in Michigan, from the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas to the even closer areas around Paw Paw and Fennville in southwest Michigan as well as areas in southeast Michigan. Over the past decade, the growing number of Michigan wineries has formed wine trails, consortiums of regional wineries that work together to provide visitors with the best possible experience. A quick click on the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry website will take you to any of Michigan’s Wineries or Wine Trails (visit www. michiganwines.com).

Precisely because of its cool climate, Michigan produces wines well suited to pairing with food. The sometimes bracing acidity of the drier whites provides a welcome accompaniment to a many different flavors and preparations; the sweeter whites prove to be good pairings with fusion cuisine. The lovely fruit of the Michigan’s aromatic Rieslings, their various levels of sweetness make them a chef’s favorite for pairing with a wide variety of dishes. You will also want to explore Michigan’s other wines.

Roz has been the wine consultant for D&W Fresh Markets for 17 years and teaches the wine courses at Baker College’s Culinary Institute. She’s a wine judge and a member of the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council.

April 2016

21

Spring Break Staycation

by Erica Shier

I

n a perfect world, every family would be able to head for warm beaches and fun, faraway places each Spring Break. Heaven knows that those of who have endured another Michigan winter deserve such a treat. Sadly, though, this is not the case for all of us. If you’re like me and are planning to spend this Spring Break in good ol’ West Michigan, you’re likely looking for local ideas that will simultaneously deliver fun and prevent World War 3 from breaking out between antsy siblings.

You’re in luck, because there are a whole host of great opportunities for family fun in the Kalamazoo area.

We’ve compiled a list to get you started!

4 The Air Zoo: Always a family favorite, the Air Zoo is once again offering Spring Break day camps. You can also just explore the grounds together, as the price of the admission gets you access to all of the Air Zoo's aircraft, permanent exhibits, rides, 4D theater experience, and fullmotion flight simulators. As a special bonus, kids under the age of four are free. Visit www.airzoo. org to plan your visit!

4 Caruso’s Candy and Soda Shop: Located in Dowagiac, this family-owned business has been around since 1922. Grab a sandwich, treat the kids to some homemade candy or enjoy an oldfashioned soda or float, all while enjoying the historic ambiance. www.carusoscandys.com.

4 Kalamazoo Valley Museum: In addition to its ongoing exhibits, the Kalamazoo Valley Museum is offering The Challenger Experience the week of Spring Break. It’s an opportunity to get a taste of what they offer in The Challenger Learning Center, including being seated in the spacecraft and experiencing a simulated emergency (not to mention cool glasses to wear). Seating is limited, so head to www.kvm.kvcc.edu to reserve your tickets!

4 Flick’s Family Film Festival: This perennial family favorite is back, with free movies for children under 12 and only $5 everyone else. Head to Celebration! Cinemas for an easy, inexpensive and fun outing for the whole family. Check your local listings at www.celebrationcinema.com for movies and times offered.

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April 2016

4 Frederick Meijer Gardens: If the weather is nice and a little time outside is in order, head up to Grand Rapids to visit Frederick Meijer Gardens.

From the annual Fred and Dorothy Fichter Butterflies are Blooming Exhibit to the beautiful children’s gardens, there is plenty to see and do for all ages. Visit their website for more information: www.meijergardens.org.

4 Jungle Joe’s Family Fun Center: If you need to get the kids out of the house, but outdoor activities aren’t a good option, head to Jungle Joe’s. They have plenty of climbing, bouncing, sliding and jumping fun for the kids, perfect for getting the wiggles out. Go to www.junglejoesffc.com for hours and prices (and don’t forget to bring socks!)

4 Historic Adventist Village: In Battle Creek, there is a fascinating three-block experience that includes authentically restored or replicated buildings and is both interactive and educational.

Tours are free, with donations welcomed. Visit www.adventistheritage.org to learn more.

4 The Alligator Sanctuary: If you have a reptile or animal lover in your home, a trip to The Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary in Athens offers a unique opportunity for fun and education. They can see rescued reptiles and amphibians up close and even hold one for an extra fee. Winter admission is $5.00 and runs through April 15. www. alligatorsanctuary.com.

4 The Chipman Preserve: Looking for a free option to get little feet moving? Try a hike on one of the easy to moderate trails offered at the The Chipman Preserve. Located in Galesburg, this is a wonderful option to enjoy the return of spring while helping our children understand the importance of preserving native habitats. Visit www.swmlc.org for more details.

This is just a small sampling of the wonderful opportunities available to us here in beautiful West Michigan. However you choose to spend your days during Spring Break, may you have many wonderful memories of time spent together!

Erica Shier is a married mother of four who loves reading, scrapbooking and thrift stores.

When she’s not driving her small pack of children around, she spends her time volunteering, writing and trying to keep on top of the laundry.

WomensLifeStyleKazoo.com

Faces in Healthcare This month, Women’s LifeStyle of Greater Kalamazoo introduces you to area specialists who complement West Michigan’s premier medical community. On the following pages, meet area medical specialists on a more personal level. Be sure to check out the medical advice each of them offers.

Donald Angel, DC

James Joseph, DO

Sirri Bearss, MSN, WHNP-BC

Rebecca Kundan, FNP-BC

John Beavers, DNP, NP-C

Stacy Majoras, DO, ATC

Brandi Boone, CNM, WHNP-BC Sarah Brady, LMSW, CLE

Steven Osterhout, DC, CCN Brittany Post, WHNP-BC

David Christ, MD

Many Shorter, RN, BC, Clinical Supervisor

Eduardo M. Crotte, MD

Jenny H. Wang, DO

Susan M Dennis, DDS

Patti Zull, CNM, FNP-BC

Sirri Bearss MSN, WHNP–BC

Borgess Women’s Health Sirri Bearss, MSN, WHNP–BC, is a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner who has recently joined Borgess Women’s Health in the Medical Specialties Building office at Borgess Medical Center. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Saint Paul’s College and attained her Master of Science in Nursing from Ohio State University. She is affiliated with the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health and the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology.

Sirri specializes in Women’s Health and often discusses very personal and sensitive information with her patients. She considers it a privilege to be able to provide this type of care and finds it very fulfilling when her patients are comfortable sharing their concerns with her.

Sirri recently moved to the Kalamazoo area with her husband and children so that her kids could be closer to their grandparents. She looks forward to taking advantage of the perfect blend of big city energy and small town feel that Kalamazoo has to offer. When she’s not working, Sirri likes to read, watch documentaries, travel, and go hiking with her husband and children.

NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

269.226.5927 1535 Gull Road, Ste 250 Kalamazoo, MI 49048 www.Borgess.com

Greater Kalamazoo

ADVICE: “Whether you are a teen, postmenopausal or anywhere in between, there are no “silly” or “strange” questions. Sometimes patients feel uncomfortable bringing up certain topics but I want them to know that when I ask if there is anything you would like to discuss, I mean anything. It helps me provide you with better care. If I don’t have the answer for you, I will help you find an answer.”

April 2016

23

Rebecca Kundan FNP-BC

OB-GYN, PC Rebecca Kundan is a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner at OB-GYN, P.C. She completed her undergraduate work at the Bronson School of Nursing at Western Michigan University, then went on to obtain her Master of Science in Nursing at Michigan State University.

Her specialty is women’s health, including mental health issues in women, sexual health, and partnering with women to improve their quality of life.

When she isn’t working, Rebecca enjoys spending time with her husband, attending live music events, rollerblading, spinning, cycling, yoga, and spending time on the water. She loves nature, especially the beautiful lakes of Michigan—in fact, the lakes and the sunsets are her favorite things about living in southwest Michigan.

NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

OB-GYN, P.C. is currently accepting new patients, and looks forward to helping more women in the greater Kalamazoo area with their women’s health-related issues, exams, and overall wellness.

269.345.6197 2854 S. 11th St. Kalamazoo, MI 49009 www.obgynpc.com

ADVICE: “Never be afraid to ask questions or bring up concerns to your health care provider. We are here to educate and empower you to make healthy life choices.”

Brandi Boone CNM, WHNP-BC OB-GYN, PC Brandi Boone is a Certified Nurse Midwife. Brandi received her Bachelor of Science in nursing from Grand Valley State University in 2002. Masters of Science in Midwifery and Post-masters certificate in Women’s Health from the University Of Cincinnati in 2010.

She has six years of experience working as a CNM/WHNP in the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek areas.

She specializes in normal pregnancy, labor and birth, contraception and family planning.

Brandi is a member of both the American College of Nurse Midwives and Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health.

NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

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April 2016

Born and raised in the Grand Rapids area, she currently lives in the Richland area with her husband and three children. In her free time she enjoys gardening, running, yoga, camping and just spending time with her family and friends.

269.345.6197 2854 S. 11th St. Kalamazoo, MI 49009 www.obgynpc.com

ADVICE: “Making healthy lifestyle choices is the cornerstone to good health. A great healthcare provider educates and empowers women to be health advocates for themselves.”

WomensLifeStyleKazoo.com

Brittany Post WHNP-BC OB-GYN, PC Brittany Post is a Board Certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner.

She is a graduate of Calvin College School of Nursing and completed her Masters of Science in Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, majoring as a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner.

Brittany specializes in women’s wellness, with a focus on helping women become the healthiest version of themselves. She enjoys working with women of all ages, as this allows her to address a wide array of health issues and concerns. She has a strong history of working in breast health, having worked with a breast surgeon for 2 years.

Brittany enjoys helping women with their contraceptive needs and exploring options that will work best for each individual woman. She is trained in IUD and Nexplanon insertions. Brittany is also able to perform other diagnostic tests like vulvar biopsy, sonohysterogram, and endometrial biopsy.

Away from the office Brittany enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She enjoys time spent outdoors, water related activities, reading and watching movies.

NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

269.345.6197 2854 S. 11th St. Kalamazoo, MI 49009 www.obgynpc.com

ADVICE: “Find a healthcare provider with whom you can become a team. Play an active role in your health. Healthcare with a team approach is very advantageous.”

Patti Zull CNM, FNP-BC OB-GYN, PC Patti Zull is a Certified Nurse Midwife, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Licensed Professional Counselor. She received her midwifery education from Frontier School of Nurse Midwifery, Hyden, Kentucky; a master’s in nursing from Case Western Reserve; family nurse practitioner certification from Michigan State University; and a master’s in counseling from Western Michigan University.

In addition to being passionate about women’s health, Patti worked with returning combat veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan at the Battle Creek Department of Veterans Affairs. She is passionate about educating providers and society about the medical and emotional needs of our veterans.

Patti was born, raised and continues to live in Battle Creek. She has two daughters. Patti enjoys travel, golf, reading and music.

NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

OB-GYN, P.C. is currently accepting new patients, and looks forward to helping more women in the greater Kalamazoo area with their women’s health-related issues, exams, and overall wellness.

269.345.6197 2854 S. 11th St. Kalamazoo, MI 49009 www.obgynpc.com

Greater Kalamazoo

ADVICE: “Health care is a team effort between you and your provider.”

April 2016

25

Physical Medicine, Natural Medicine, Medical Weight Loss, Functional Medicine & Chiropractic

EXCITING NEW APPROACH TO HEALTH & WELLNESS IS HERE! Vitality Healthcare previously known as The Center for Natural Healing & Nutrition is now accepting new patients! Founder, Dr. Steven Osterhout states that “new and exciting healing opportunities are here!”

Our practice offers a cutting edge approach to medicine in Southwest Michigan! We utilize the most effective technologies and diagnostic tools available. Our approach of integrating conventional medicine with the most advanced natural therapies allows us to target the underlying causes of poor health. This functional medicine approach treats the whole body as a system, instead of only focusing on symptoms. Our dedicated teams of physicians, nutritionists and therapists have extensive training and experience. Board Certifications, post-doctoral education, continual research focused on integrative, functional and nutritional medicine to serve all of your healthcare needs.

Dr. Steven Osterhout Dr. John Beavers DC, CCN DNP, NP-C

Dr. James Joseph Dr. Donald Angel DO DC

Sarah Brady LMSW, CLE

Our current services available include: Medical & Natural Weight Loss Programs, Physical Medicine, Functional Medicine, Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy, Chiropractic, Physical Therapy, Massage Therapy, Food Allergy Testing and Neutralization, Detoxification Protocols and much more.

The Vitality philosophy is to educate, empower and create the opportunity to restore health for those who are ready for change. Dr. O and his team maintain that every person has his or her own unique factors, predispositions, bioaccumulations and stressors. In his integrated practice, these and many more are identified. This creates a healing opportunity and lifestyle of empowerment A dynamic speaker and educator, Dr. Osterhout is a member of the Foundation for Wellness Professionals and offers Health Solution Seminars FREE to the public. The next two seminars are Thursday, April 14th and 28th at 7:15pm in our Portage location. Additionally, if you are in search of a speaker for your next event, Dr. O is the perfect choice. For further information on our services and seminars unique to this area, please contact us at 269.323.4473. Come meet the Vitality team and we’ll help you achieve your wellness goals!

269.323.4473 5717 Oakland Drive, Suite A Portage, MI 49024 www.DrOchiro.com 26

April 2016

NOW ACCEPT ING NEW PATIEN TS

WomensLifeStyleKazoo.com

Stacy Majoras DO, ATC

Bronson Sports Medicine Specialists Dr. Stacy Majoras’ passion for sports medicine is more than simply medicine; sports and outdoor activities are a huge part of her and her family’s lives. She is an avid runner and enjoys training for and running half marathons with her husband. As an athlete herself, Dr. Majoras knows how important it is to recover after an injury in order to remain in good health.

When a patient comes to her with musculoskeletal problems, Dr. Majoras knows that getting back to everyday activities is the ultimate goal, and she makes it her top priority.

As a team member of Bronson Sports Medicine Specialists, Dr. Majoras treats patients for a variety of needs including degenerative diseases, sports injuries, congenital disorders and trauma. She is fellowship trained and specializes in primary care sports medicine. Additionally, she has a certificate of added qualifications in sports medicine and is a certified athletic trainer. Dr. Majoras’ unique background in athletic training and sports medicine allows her to treat patients with a broad scope of conditions.

NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

Dr. Majoras received her medical degree from Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in Pomona, California. She completed her residency at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center and her Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic.

855.618.2676 315 Turwill Lane Kalamazoo, MI 49006

ADVICE: “Doctors are here to help our patients. Having a strong relationship is very important for the success of our treatments. Whether you are a young athlete or a seasoned veteran, we are here to help you with your sports-related injuries.”

David Christ MD

Bronson Orthopedic & Joint Specialists Orthopedic surgeon, David Christ, MD, loves to help people. If patients get to the point where they just can’t walk, can’t function, can’t work, he loves to help give them their life back.

Kalamazoo hasn’t always been home for Dr. Christ, but when it came time to do his residency he decided Kalamazoo was a good fit. While completing his residency, he met his wife and they both really enjoyed southwest Michigan, ultimately deciding to raise their family here. Dr. Christ’s children share the same passion for healthcare and helping others as he does. All three of their children are pursuing careers in healthcare fields. Dr. Christ feels a special connection with Kalamazoo and the community as a whole, including his commitment to the orthopedic residency and medical education program. He enjoys bike riding, water sports, downhill skiing, golf and many other outdoor activities.

Dr. Christ specializes in joint replacement and treatment of arthritic conditions of the hip and knee.

Having practiced for more than 30 years in orthopedic surgery, he brings a wealth of experience to the Bronson Orthopedic & Joint Specialists team. Dr. Christ is very grateful, and uniquely qualified, to perform anterior hip replacement surgery. This approach to hip replacement helps restore mobility, relieve pain and enable patients to return to an active, healthy lifestyle.

NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

Dr. Christ received his medical degree from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Michigan State University Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies.

855.618.2676 601 John St, Ste M-424 Kalamazoo MI 49007

Greater Kalamazoo

ADVICE:” Each patient is unique and different, and therefore needs treatment and advice catered to his or her own lifestyle and/or situation. I view a very important part of my role as a physician to be first and foremost a teacher. I help each patient choose a treatment method which is most appropriate for them. I like to think we treat people, not X-rays, in our practice, and believe my philosophy of patient care is shared by all of our orthopedic surgery staff at Bronson.”

April 2016

27

Dr. Jenny H. Wang D.O.

Advanced Radiology Services Dr. Jenny H.Wang, D.O., has recently joined Advanced Radiology Services after two years of experience as Diagnostic Radiologist/Director of Women’s Imaging for Mercy Radiology Group in Toledo, OH. She attended Wellesley College for her MA- BA in Chemistry and French and Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, CA for her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.

She completed her radiology training at Michigan State University and did her Diagnostic Radiology Residency at the McLaren-Oakland Medical Center. She also completed a Women’s Imaging Fellowship in the Henry Ford Health System.

Dr. Wang is a member of the American Osteopathic College of Radiology, the American Osteopathic Association and the American College of Radiology. She is also part of the Society of Breast Imaging, the Radiological Society of North America, the American Medical Association and the Michigan Osteopathic Association.

Dr. Wang fell in love with Michigan during her time at Michigan State University and is thrilled to be a part of the Kalamazoo community. When she’s not helping women take care of their health, she loves to travel.

NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

269.341.6789 524 S. Park Street Kalamazoo, MI 49007 www.advancedrad.com

ADVICE: “Screening mammography really does save lives. I encourage all women to initiate a conversation with their physicians regarding routine screening for breast cancer.”

Eduardo M. Crotte MD

Advanced Radiology Services Eduardo M. Crotte, MD, has been with Advanced Radiology Services for over 25 years and specializes in Breast Imaging and Intervention. He pursued his undergraduate degree at the University of Toledo and earned his medical degree at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He did some additional training at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Washington DC. Dr. Crotte was the Chief Radiology Resident at Wayne State University during his tenure there and is a proud member of the Society of Breast Imaging and the Radiological Society of North America. Dr. Crotte is certified by the American Board of Radiology.

Dr. Crotte is happily married to Eugenie and is the proud father of three children, Charlotte, Benjamin and Andre. When he’s not hard at work helping women take of their health, he enjoys traveling and soccer.

NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS 28

April 2016

269.341.6789 524 S. Park Street Kalamazoo, MI 49007 www.advancedrad.com

ADVICE: “Breast imaging today is a sophisticated multimodality specialty including ultrasound, tomosynthesis, MRI and biopsy techniques. However, screening mammography remains the proven cornerstone of breast cancer diagnosis demonstrating both early detection and decreased mortality rates when yearly screening is initiated at age 40.”

WomensLifeStyleKazoo.com

Susan M. Dennis D.D.S.

Susan M. Dennis Dr. Susan Dennis was born and raised in Hancock, Michigan located in the beautiful Upper Peninsula. She attained her undergraduate degrees in Biology and Medical Technology from Michigan Technological University.

Dr. Dennis then earned her Doctorate Degree in Dentistry from the University of Michigan. There she received the Vedder Society of Crown and Bridge Prosthodontics award for Number One outstanding achievement as a senior dental student for Crown and Bridge.

Dr. Dennis is certified in Implant Restoration, Invisalign and Cosmetic Orthodontics, Ultra-thin Cosmetic Veneers, Cosmetic Dentures, CEREC Same-Day Crowns and Laser Treatments. It brings her great satisfaction to use her skills and training to help her patients. “The biggest achievements in our practice happen when I am able to give a patient the smile of their dreams,” says Dr. Dennis. Also important to her is when a patient reports that their headaches are gone and they are able to go off pain medication. She has helped hundreds of patients get relief from their headaches and urges those suffering to come in for an examination. Most headaches have a dental bite component causing them.

NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

Dr. Dennis has been happily married to her husband, Jim Murray, for thirty-five years. Together, they have three wonderful sons and daughters-in-laws and three adorable grandchildren. They chose to live in Southwest Michigan thirty-five years ago, when they fell in love with this family-oriented community. They especially enjoy all that Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo College offer this area in the form of vitality, arts, sporting events and contemporary, diverse leadership. In her time off, Dr. Dennis spends time with her family and enjoys running, weight training and dancing. She is also passionate about cooking, healthy living and nutrition.

269.216.7106 8150 Moorsbridge Rd Portage, MI 49024 MyDrDennis.com

ADVICE: “Today, we have many options for creating a beautiful, youthful, natural-looking smile. Find out what choices you have and pick the ones that make sense to you. Even small changes will make a wonderful difference. You deserve the smile of your dreams the smile you have always wanted.”

Mandy Shorter

RN, BC, Clinical Supervisor Absolute Home Care and Medical Staffing Mandy Shorter is passionate about the field of gerontology and using her many years of experience and skills to aid elderly clients in “living your life at home”. Board certified as a Geriatric Nurse Specialist, she has over 20 years’ experience in long term care and skilled nursing where she held the positions of Medicare Certified Rehab Unit Nurse Manager and Director of Nursing.

Mandy has served two 4-year terms as a Content Expert Panelist for the American Nurses Credentialing Center in Silver Springs, MD. In this role she prepared the national board certification exam for nurses to become board certified geriatric nurse specialists. This experience has enabled her to develop many diverse collegial relationships with nurses from all over the United States.

Born in Wiltshire, England where her father was stationed in the USAF, Mandy moved to Ohio and then to Michigan for her father’s work. She is a graduate of Portage Northern High School and KVCC where she earned her associate’s degree in nursing. Her first RN nursing job was at the VA in Battle Creek where she met her then husband and father of her four daughters. Her daughters have blessed her with five delightful grandchildren with one more on the way!

NOW ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Mandy enjoys college football and basketball (go Green!), March Madness, K-Wings hockey, K-Growlers baseball, spending time with family and friends, and traveling and reading.

269.324.8080 8080 Moorsbridge Rd Portage, MI 49024 absolutehomecare.info

Greater Kalamazoo

ADVICE: “It is advantageous for everyone, from teens to geriatrics, to have I.C.E (In Case of Emergency) information readily available in the event of an emergency. You can put your chosen contact in your phone under ICE, have a copy of your I.C.E. contact, Dr, advanced directives and insurance information in an envelope in the glove compartment of your car, and in an easily accessible location in your home.”

April 2016

29

MAKE

Thyme

FOR THE GARDEN

by Rick Vuyst

H

erbs pamper us as gifts from the garden. We all know that the garden is good for the mind, body and spirit when we need to unplug. It is “sage” advice to take “thyme” for yourself, and growing herbs is a fantastic way to emerge into the natural world.

Herbs are easy to grow with good soil and sunshine.

Perfectly suited for containers, they can be grown anywhere, even if your space is small. I also recommend incorporating herbs into the landscape with your other plants and flowers. A dash of lavender,

nepeta, thyme or oregano can spice up any landscape with color, interest and aroma.

“Basil” instinct tells us that herbs in our life provide heaps of benefit. Your garden should give back to you, and herbs do that in a big way. Aside from their obvious “scent”-uous nature, herbs can help both our recipes and health. Use them for soaks and teas, aromatherapy and steams, oils and perfumes, elixirs and medicine, rubs and skin care, treats and colorful garnish; herbs, like the garden, benefit the mind, body and spirit.

Living urban? Try container gardening using this modern, squarefoot design.

Start with a lightweight growing mix and a large container. Pick a sunny spot and you will be in your ele-“mint.” No need for lots of fertilizer; overwatering and over-fertilizing weakens the plants and diminishes the oils in their aromatic foliage.

Remember that herbs are a collaborative species, often making excellent companions with vegetable plants. I don’t have scientific proof, but I can tell you I am convinced that tomatoes off the vine taste better when basil grows nearby. Below are a few more of my favorite herb suggestions for the garden.

Basil is uplifting and energizing. Tastes wonderful in a variety of recipes.

Borage is easy to grow, a good companion with a cucumber-like aroma.

Chamomile is soothing with a sweet apple fragrance.

Hops has an incredible visual impact in the landscape.

Lavender sprouts beautiful flowers and supports healing and rest.

Lemon Balm has a pleasant aroma and encourages rest and cleansing.

Mint is stimulating and cleansing (and invasive, so grow only in a container).

Parsley should be planted as a healthy, refreshing edger or border.

Rosemary emits a strong pine-like fragrance. Perfect as a late season herb.

Sage has a rich and earthy aroma with appealing foliage.

Thyme is beautifully decorative, stimulating and collaborative.

Oregano gives a little spice of life, works as a great groundcover or a container edge.

Nepeta (Catmint) has a pungent aroma and long lasting bloom.

It is ‘sage’ advice to take ‘thyme’ for yourself, and growing herbs is a fantastic way to emerge into the natural world.”

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April 2016

WomensLifeStyleKazoo.com

do you know an older adult who could benefit from a professional day services program?

When you’re here. [so are we] You want a bank that can help you realize your dreams. A bank where mortgage decisions are made locally by people who live and work in our community. At Mercantile we’re far more than a competitive rate. We’re a bank that understands where you’re going in life.

help us spread the word

Laugh, talk, sing, reminisce. An environment

of friendship and healing, a place that immediately feels like home. Compassionate individualized care from a professional, experienced staff.

Seeing is believing!

Adult Day Services here for life a program of Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan

take a tour: 269.345.0273 oaklandcentre.org

Mercantile Bank. We are where you are. mercbank.com

G et the S m i l e o f Yo ur Dream s ...E as i l y an d Comf o r t abl y INVISALIGN SPECIAL EVENT ONE DAY ONLY Tuesday, April 26, 2016 - 3:00 - 6:00 PM Dr. Susan M. Dennis will be providing FREE consultations to answer your questions about Invisalign treatment, the clear way to straighten teeth. If you have wondered if Invisalign treatment is right for you, make an appointment for this special event.

• YOUR CHOICE: $400 OFF or FREE iPad Mini • Includes all x-rays, models & retainers • Complimentary whitening with Invisalign treatment • Financing Available - Payments as low as $123 • Enter to WIN a Fitbit Alta Space is limited to the first 10 appointments. Call 269.2160.7106 today to schedule your appointment. Visit us at MyDrDennis.com * Invisalign Special Event and associated promotions are hosted and sponsored by Dr. Susan M. Dennis / and not by Align Technology, Inc.

Dr. Susan M. D e n n i s

8 1 5 0 M o o rsb r i dge R oad S ui t e A P o rta g e , MI 49024 2 6 9. 216. 7106 M yD rDenni s . c om i n fo @m yd rdenni s . c om

Greater Kalamazoo

269.216.7106 April 2016

31

Low-carb C

elebrity chef and registered dietitian Diane Henderiks offers three simple ways to help you make sure you are eating the right foods: •

Eliminate sugary drinks, like soda, as they don’t offer any nutritional value.

• Identify ways to reduce the amount of food you eat, as we all tend to eat more than we need to.

• Most importantly, limit the amount of carbohydrates you eat. This means trying to reduce the amounts of pastas, breads and sugars you are consuming and focus on eating more fiber-rich vegetables, healthy fats and optimal protein.

Delicious­ness

“It’s easy to transform your favorite meals into healthy, low-carb meals that are rich in flavors and will satisfy you,” Henderiks said.

Henderiks has transformed some of her favorite meals into low-carb delicious­ness for each meal of the day, including dessert, because you can still enjoy your favorite sweets and all of their great flavors with a few twists that make them healthier.

Waldorf Chicken Salad in Lettuce Cups Makes 2 servings

1/4 cup Greek yogurt 1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

1 teaspoon dried thyme Pinch of salt Freshly ground black pepper

2 cups cooked, skinless chicken breast, coarsely chopped

1 rib of celery, diced 1/4 English cucumber, diced 1/4 apple, washed, peeled and diced 1/2 cup toasted, chopped walnuts

4 large Boston lettuce leaves, rinsed and patted dry

1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese In medium mixing bowl, whisk together yogurt, mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, thyme, salt and pepper. Fold in chicken, celery, cucumber, apple and walnuts.

courtesy Family Features and Atkins.com

Luscious Lemon Squares Makes 16 bars

For the crust: 1/2 cup almond or hazelnut meal 1/2 cup coconut flour 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon pinch of salt

1 tablespoon natural sugar replacement

3 tablespoons melted butter

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

For the filling: 1/4 cup coconut flour

2 tablespoons natural sugar replacement

4 large eggs 1/2 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice Heat oven to 350 F. Line 8x8-inch baking dish with parchment paper.

To make crust, combine almond meal, coconut flour, cinnamon, salt and sweetener in large bowl. Add melted

butter and vanilla extract. Combine all ingre­dients together and press dough evenly into bottom of baking dish.

Bake for 10 minutes, until lightly golden around edges. Remove from oven and set aside.

To make filling, stir coconut flour and sweet­ener together. Whisk in eggs and lemon juice.Pour filling into crust and bake 10-15 minutes, until golden around edges. Let cool at room temperature then refrigerate a minimum of 2 hours before cutting into squares.

Place 2 lettuce leaves on each plate and spoon 1/4 of chicken salad into each cup.

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve.

Quick Tomato Salsa

1 tomato, cored and diced

1 tablespoon chopped onion

1 tablespoon chopped cilantro Sprinkle of ground cumin Sprinkle of garlic powder

1 lime wedge, juice only Salt and pepper, to taste

In mixing bowl, combine tomato, onion and cilantro. Season with cumin, garlic, lime juice, salt and pepper, to taste.

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April 2016

WomensLifeStyleKazoo.com

Stuffed Breakfast Portobello Mushroom Makes 2 servings

2 large Portobello mushroom caps

1 teaspoon olive oil 10 ounces (about 3 links) sweet Italian turkey sausage, removed from casing

1 cup chopped baby spinach 1/2 cup salsa (jarred or quick tomato salsa recipe)

2 eggs 1/2 avocado, peeled and thinly sliced 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

Heat oven to 400 F. Place mushrooms, smooth side up, on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake 10 minutes.

Remove from oven and place mushroom caps smooth side up on platter lined with paper towels to drain some of the water.

In medium frying pan, heat oil over medium heat. Brown sausage and break into small pieces with back of wooden spoon while cooking. Stir in spinach and salsa. Transfer mixture to bowl.

Carefully separate egg yolks then place whites in one bowl and yolks in two separate small bowls. Beat egg whites with fork.

On baking sheet lined with parch足 ment paper, place mushrooms smooth side down. Layer avocado slices in empty mushrooms. Add egg whites and cheddar cheese to sausage mixture and combine well. Divide mixture in half and stuff into Portobello caps on top of avocado.

For each mushroom, make well in center of sausage mixture large enough for egg yolk. Top with more cheese if desired. Bake 10 minutes and carefully pour yolk into each well. Bake until yolks are set, about 5 minutes.

Sprinkle with cilantro before serving.

6

Earn Your Degree in SUSTAINABLE BREWING For more information, visit

www.kvcc.edu/healthyliving

Greater Kalamazoo

April 2016

33

ALTERNATIVE

GARDENING

A

dd productive garden space and raise your planting bed with straw bale gardening.

This technique allows gardeners to create raised bed gardens on a patio, lawn or any area with poorly compacted soil. Straw bale gardening has been around for centuries, but thanks to Joel Karsten’s book Straw Bale Gardens it has gained new popularity.

All that is needed are a few straw bales, fertilizer, a bit of compost, and time for conditioning, planting and watering. Purchase straw bales made from alfalfa, wheat, oats, rye or other cereal grain that have fewer weed seeds than hay. Start a few weeks before the designated planting date.

BEGIN THE CONDITIONING PROCESS

Place the bales in their permanent location with the cut sides up and twine parallel to the ground. Once you start the conditioning process, the bales will be hefty and hard to move. When the bales are in place you are ready to begin the conditioning process; this is done to initiate the composting inside straw bales so they can support plant growth.

On day one, spread fertilizer over the top of the bale. Use a 1/2 cup of a complete garden fertilizer or three cups of organic fertilizer such as Milorganite.

Then thoroughly moisten the bale with water. The

organic fertilizers feed the microorganisms that help decompose the straw into a nutrient rich planting medium. Continue to soak the bale every day, and on days three and five, add more fertilizer at the same rate used on day one.

Days seven through nine use half the rate used on day one (1/4 cup of a complete garden fertilizer or 1 1/2 cups of organic fertilizer). Thoroughly water the bale each time.

On day 10, add one cup of 10-10-10 fertilizer (equal numbers of nitrogen, potash and phosphate) or three cups of organic fertilizer rich in phosphorous and potassium. This step completes the conditioning process.

PLANT AWAY

Bales treated with a complete fertilizer should be ready to plant. You may need to wait a few more days when using an organic fertilizer. The inside of the bale should be the temperature of warm bath water or cooler for planting. If it is hotter than this, wait for the bale to cool a bit before you plant.

Use a trowel to pry open a hole in the bale.

1. Place the plant in the hole and cover the roots with potting mix or compost.

by Melinda Meyers photo courtesy Melinda Meyers, LLC

Create a planting bed for seeds by covering

2. the bale with a one- to two-inch thick layer of

planting mix. Follow the planting directions on the back of the seed packet.

Regular watering is critical to success with this

3. method. Soaker hoses or drip irrigation make

this an easier task. You can also use gallon milk jugs with holes in the bottom or inverted twoliter soda bottles placed near the base of each plant to provide water where needed.

Give your straw bale garden a nutrient boost

4. about once a month or as needed throughout the growing season.

Follow these steps and you’ll be well on your way to growing a productive straw bale garden to enjoy throughout the season of sunshine!

Gardening expert Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening and the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything: Food Gardening For Everyone” DVD set and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio segments. www.melindamyers.com

Keep the bale in the open or secure in cages for a more polished look. Top left: Create a planting bed for seeds by covering the straw bale with one- to two-inches of planting mix. Left: Ensure the bale is thoroughly watered.

34

April 2016

WomensLifeStyleKazoo.com

9 FOR SMALL BUSINESS Tips courtesy Hazardous Waste Experts

Recycling

New Spring Arrivals 269.366.4325 LittleSproutBoutique.com

3009 Oakland Drive Kalamazoo 49008

We're located in Oakwood Plaza and specialize in wonderful gifts and clothing for children newborn to age seven.

ACUPUNCTURE DKJH?J?ED >;H8I

R

egardless of the type of business you own or work at, non-hazardous waste is an every day occurrence.

One of the simplest and most costefficient ways to achieve sustainability within the small business setting is often tragically overlooked: recycling.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, about 75 percent of solid waste thrown away is recyclable.

To thrive with small business recycling, the implantation of a basic, efficient collection and management plan is needed. It’s not a demanding undertaking; all you need is a little organization and strategy. Below is a list of tips to boost your success.

Make a business-wide commitment. It’s much more likely that your business will succeed if every member is committed. Top-level employees should set a strong example.

To start, take a simple visual inventory the materials your business throws away. Remember that steel, aluminum, glass, cardboard, paper, plastics, and colored plastic containers are all recyclable.

Perform a thorough waste paper audit. Knowing what is in your waste stream is essential in designing your collection and management program.

An audit will help you accomplish this by allowing you to determine what part of your waste is eligible for recycling, including the type, value and amount.

Choose the types of paper to collect. Once you’ve evaluated the

types of paper present in your waste stream and found out what kinds are accepted by local recycling programs, determine the types of paper you want collect. Focus on the higher value papers and those that make up the bulk of your waste paper stream.

Designate a recycling supervisor.

A reliable and dedicated recycling supervisor can be crucial to success.

Luckily, the time required to do the job well is minimal, and the brunt of it occurs in the beginning stages of the program. Once your program is established and operational, it should be mostly self-sustaining.

Provide employees with the necessary recycling containers.

Be sure to place containers in areas where paper is generated, such as near copying machines and printers.

Educate your employees. Institute a thorough educational campaign to prepare employees for participation.

Offer orientation sessions, distribute informational materials and explain the goals and methods you aim to enact.

Provide incentives. Rewarding employees for their efforts and successes makes it more likely that they will continue the same behaviors.

Practice good maintenance.

Monitor progress and be consistent.

If you discover a problem, deal with it promptly. Preparing and providing the necessary follow-up informational materials is an excellent way to work things out with employees.

Greater Kalamazoo

Melissa Toyoshima MTOM, Dipl. O.M., L.Ac.

269-753-5591 wiseacupuncture.com 5080 Lover’s Lane, Unit C, Portage

Some of the conditions acupuncture may help with: MEC;DÊI >;7BJ>0 PMS/Infertility/Menopause/Irregular Menses/Pregnancy/Weight Loss =? 9ED:?J?EDI0 IBS/Constipation/Diarrhea/Gastritis/Ulcers/ Irritable Bowel/Colitis F7?D0 Arthritis/Rheumatoid Arthritis/Lupus/ Trauma/Back/Neck/Shoulder/Knee/Sciatica C;DJ7B >;7BJ>0 Stress/Anxiety/Insomnia/Depression/PTSD EJ>;H0 Fatigue/Allergies/Headache/Migraine/ Hypertension/Smoking Cessation

Too Much To Do?

Personal Assistant & Concierge Service Services

• Shopping & Errands • House & Pet Sitting • Wait Service for Repairs/Deliveries • Downsizing/Move Assistance • Party & Special Event Planning

Mary Beth Esquibel Business Owner

269-720-7605 www.asinglerayofhope.com marybeth@asinglerayofhope.com

Affordable Help Is Available April 2016

35

SWEET & SASSY recipe and photography by Laurenda Bennet

S

alads are the perfect way to add veggies to your diet. In effort to not bore my palette with the same old salad day after day, I’ve been making a point to choose a different salad “theme” each week. This way, I can keep the fresh produce I need on hand, and use it before it spoils. This chopped Thai salad with peanut dressing has been in the rotation for several weeks now, and may be the salad I look forward to the most!

This salad tastes of fresh chopped veggies, fluffy rice, a salty peanut dressing and toasted almonds. Spice up your greens this month and add this salad to your rotation!

Chopped Thai Salad Makes 4 servings For the salad:

6 cups shredded cabbage/carrot mix

1 red pepper, julienned

4 green onions, julienned

1 cup cooked brown rice 1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted Chopped Thai Salad before tossing (above) and after (below).

For the dressing:

4 tablespoons natural peanut butter

6 tablespoons soy sauce

1 teaspoon sesame oil

2 teaspoons pure honey Dash cayenne pepper Salt to taste For the salad, add all ingredients to a large bowl and toss.

To toast almonds, add to a pan and sauté over medium heat until they begin to brown, about 6-7 minutes. Set aside to let cool prior to tossing. No oil is needed.

For the dressing, add all ingredients to a small bowl and whisk until combined. Pour dressing over salad and toss again until greens are completely coated.

Laurenda resides in Rockford with her husband Daniel and their two sons. Laurenda is a health food writer for LaurendaMarie.com and a West Michigan lifestyle and portrait photographer.

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April 2016

WomensLifeStyleKazoo.com

Kalamazoo Kitty.

by Meagan Kahler

S

ome may think that “going green” is expensive and hard. I get that!

Little do you know that some of you are already being resourceful and earth friendly every day by shopping at our local consignment shops. By shopping at these shops you are giving older furniture, clothing, etc., a new life!

How does this relate to going green you wonder? Three words: reduce, reuse, recycle! Kalamazoo Kitty, a local consignment shop that I recently visited, takes in furniture and some clothing with character to resell and give a second purpose.

My husband, daughter, and I recently moved to the area and are in need of a few small things for our new apartment so I was not surprised when I had to restrain myself from spending all of my money at Kalamazoo Kitty! The shop located at 4217 Portage Road was full of furniture. There was everything from coffee tables, dressers, tables, chairs, etc. Most of the furniture had a vintage finish as it had been repurposed and refurbished. There was something for everyone in the shop.

food. Tickets are available now at either of Kalamazoo Kitty’s locations. Tickets are $5.00 and come with your own personal shopping bag that will be MUCH needed for this spree! You can also buy tickets the day of the event at the gate and there will be free parking. Kitty is enthusiastic about this event not only because of all the neat items that will be found but also because our local shops will be coming together to build a community and promote one another. It will be a great day for Kalamazoo for many of reasons.

So now when you think of “going green” I hope you include our local consignment shops in the definition. It doesn’t have to be expensive or hard to find but instead can be an older item given a new life in your home! To find all of that and more check out Kalamazoo Kitty and the Kalamazoo Kitty Marketplace on May 01, 2016.

Meagan Kahler is a Style Blogger and fashionista located in Kalamazoo. Along with being an expert on all things fashion she is also a wife and mother.

I got chance to meet with the owner of the shop, Kitty Copeland, who was very kind and welcoming; as though Kalamazoo Kitty was her home away from home. She explained that locals will drop off things they no longer need, she will help them sell their item, and then split the final sale with them 50/50. She is very selective on what she takes in as she wants to sell quality items to her customers.

Kitty filled me in that she gets new items daily so she now has two locations, 4217 Portage Road and 6883 West Main, to hold all of the unique items she currently has for sale.

Excitingly, all of this fun resale shopping doesn’t stop when you walk out of Kalamazoo Kitty. She is hosting a large Flea Market, Kalamazoo Kitty Marketplace, on May 01, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Kalamazoo Speedway. Kitty described it as “a literal walk through Pinterest”. Who can pass that up? Not only will there be over 100 unique vendors selling vintage, salvage, boho, urban farmhouse, retro, industrial, furniture and décor but also live entertainment and

Greater Kalamazoo

7656 Ravine Rd. Kalamazoo

Tickets

5

$

00

Presale tickets available at both KalamazooKitty locations: 4217 Portage Rd & 6883 West Main

WE HAVE YOUR STYLE:

Vintage, Shabby Chic, Retro, Industrial Chic, Re-purposed BoHo, Farmhouse Style & Rescued Salvage Over 150 of your favorite vendors!

Food Trucks • Entertainment • Free Parking April 2016

37

Squeaky Clean: Basic, Natural Remedies for the Home

by Leannah Seese

efore pharmacies and grocery stores were easily accessible, people used nature to cure ailments, aid in cleaning and assist in beauty routines. However, over the years these natural ways have turned into old wives tales or been forgotten, and instead of looking in the garden or pantry, people head to store. Try revisiting the following ten natural practices by using alreadyprominent household items.

4.

Baking soda is a gentle exfoliator for our skin.

It’s an antiseptic and an anti-inflammatory. It can also help balance the natural pH of the skin. Mix a tablespoon of baking soda with water and apply to face. Rinse with cool water and moisturize after. It’s best not to use this more than once or twice a week.

Do the same for your hair to help strip it of oil and product buildup.

5.

Baking soda is also an amazing cleaner for around the house. Use this to scrub grease buildup, or for example, the gunk around a sink drain. Put a few tablespoons of baking soda down the drain, and then follow it by pouring white vinegar; the chemical reaction between the baking soda and vinegar helps clean buildup in the pipes. This also helps get rid of any odor that may be coming from the drain.

6.

Baking soda cleans and whitens your teeth.

Apply some to your toothpaste, or mix it with organic virgin coconut oil.

7.

For clean, whiter fingernails, mix baking soda with hydrogen peroxide and rub on the nail.

Nails can sometimes yellow because of a fungus or after wearing nail polish for a while; baking soda can clear that up.

Wear a shirt to bed. For children, apply the patch 2-3 hours before bed, and then remove. Adults can wear through the night, and mustard powder can be added to the paste to increase the effectiveness. Honey has a warming effect, so sweating is normal. One treatment should trigger relief, but the honey wrap remedy may be continued as long as necessary.

10.

8.

1.

Apple Cider Vinegar is an excellent toner for the skin. It’s best to use organic and unfiltered that still contains the “mother.” The mother contains the beneficial bacteria, enzymes, trace minerals and pectin.

Start with one teaspoon of vinegar to 1/2 a teaspoon water. Use a cotton pad and apply to your face after cleansing it. Apple cider vinegar works great on your skin because it helps to balance the natural pH of your skin while killing bacteria and removing dirt and dead skin cells. It can even contribute to reducing the appearance of age spots and wrinkles.

2.

Apple cider vinegar is great for your hair as well by balancing the natural pH of your scalp and strands. It helps to seal the cuticle of the hair, which helps it to have the smooth, shiny look with optimal moisture. Apple cider vinegar can fight dandruff, help hydrate your hair and detangle it, and encourages hair growth.

3.

White vinegar is great for cleaning and laundry, due to its deodorizing and disinfecting properties.

Vinegar can be sprayed directly on a surface and then wiped down. Do not apply to a surface that has ammonia on it, as it could create toxic fumes. Pour a 1/4 cup into a load of wash to help with smells in dirty laundry.

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April 2016

Honey is naturally sweet and very nutritious for our digestive system, our skin and hair. Honey that is natural, local, and unfiltered is best. Once honey is filtered, and the bee pollen is removed, the nutritional value severely declines. Raw honey added to tea, or even just a spoonful of it, is great to help fight colds and to help with sore throats because it’s of its antibacterial and antifungal properties as well as being rich in antioxidants.

9.

“

Honey can also be used to help remove mucus from lungs by making a honey wrap. Local honey is better if outdoor allergies are an issue. The body builds antibodies toward the pollen that’s in the local honey, so the body doesn’t have as many problems with reactions to high pollen counts. Take about three tablespoons of raw honey, and mix with coconut flour until it’s no longer sticky to the touch. Add melted coconut oil to the mixture; add more coconut flour if necessary to achieve a paste consistency. Apply this paste to a gauze pad or cheese cloth and place on the center of the chest below the throat on the sternum and adhere with medical tape.

Egg whites are great for the face.

They can tighten pores and help remove black heads. Apply raw egg white to the face; allow it to dry, then remove it with warm water. Add honey to get added hydration and antioxidants to your skin, which is beneficial for oily skin because it helps tighten pores and remove excess oil. Because of the tightening aspects, it also contributes to reducing the formation of wrinkles.

Egg whites are great for the face. They can tighten pores and help remove black heads.”

These suggestions are only the basics when it comes to easy, natural and cheap remedies.

Before running to the store to pick up synthetic and chemical laden products that are usually harsh on our bodies and surfaces, see what natural ingredients are already in the home. For more recipes, research online to find uses for essential oils and other additives.

Leannah is the owner and founder of Green Gaia Essentials, LLC, a company that provides cruelty free, all-natural, organic health and beauty products.

GreenGaiaEssentials.com

WomensLifeStyleKazoo.com

Spring Sweets!

Music Instruction for All Ages & Abilities Study and learn in a positive and supportive atmosphere with professional, enthusiastic, experienced, university-trained teaching artists including Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Artists-in-Residence • Private instruction on strings, woodwinds, brass, piano, guitar, voice, theory and composition • Workshops and Masterclasses • Crescendo Fiddlers • Chamber Ensembles for strings, winds and voice • Crescendo Community Voices for teens and adults with mental and physical challenges • Music Together® classes for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers • Orff Studio group classes for ages 5 and up • Epic Broadway! musical theater camp starts in August Our mission is your musical growth and enjoyment!

Epic Center, Suite 12, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall information@crescendoacademy.com www.crescendoacademy.com 269/345-6664

Member

Daffodil Cakes

24.75 / Large (serves 12-16) 17.25 / Small (serves 6-8)

Sprinkle/Pearl Cupcakes 1.50 each Flower Cupcakes 2.50 each

Check out our new, beautiful lobby at our Portage location – A cozy relaxed dining area, plus an expanded service area with new cake-ordering counter!

Kalamazoo (west) 4426 West Main

Downtown Kalamazoo 527 Harrison

Portage 7083 S. Westnedge

(269) 343-8440 • mackenziesbakery.com

Go to: www.KomenMichigan.org/SWRace16 Let me help you learn more about what scientists and health professionals are calling the single, greatest discovery and breakthrough of our lifetime in health, anti-aging and athletic performance, endurance and recovery. If you ignore your health, it will go away. Have you had your molecules today?

WHEN YOU RACE FOR THE CURE®, EVERYONE WINS!

5.14.16 • 9 AM *NEW LOCATION* Jacque Jennings - Carter

Anti-Aging Specialist • Independent Associate • International Business Developer 269.352.4000 office 269.779.2900 mobile • Jacque@AdvancingLives.biz

Greater Kalamazoo

Homer Stryker Field Kalamazoo, MI

www.KomenMichigan.org • 269.341.4209 April 2016

39

CONQUER the

F

Closets

by Richelle Kimble

resh air is breezing its way through windows, the sun is warming the kitchen and shining in the living room, and the scent of renewal is ever-present. It’s spring, and everything appears open, fresh and full of life. You hum through the hallway, making way to the bedroom closet to change clothes for a porch cocktail before dinner. You grab the knob, twist the handle, and peer into the dark; everything is spring-ready except for your overflowing, unorganized and hysterical closet.

It’s time to organize!

Fortunately, sorting through the mess winter hibernation created and items hoarded year after year doesn’t have to be a solo job. Professional organizer Judy Warmington, co-founder of The Organizing Specialists along with Treva Berendes, began offering hands-on organizing in 1993.

Since, The Organizing Specialists has grown to a network of over 400 organizers in 31 states, all who are willing and ready to help raid your closet for springtime fortification.

Warmington kindly shared a heap of her closetcleaning secrets so you can get started on your own. If it appears to be unproductive in that nothing is getting tossed and organizing isn’t improving, she suggests contacting one of her professionals to aid the process. It’s time to liven even the darkest corners of the home so you feel brightened and encouraged by your surroundings.

WHY THE CLOSET?

You see this space every day. According to Warmington, it’s one of the most popular organizing requests her business receives. Why? Because we have a lot of them! Additionally, the closet is a fitting location for items to pile up due to neglect, attachment, and the simple fact that it is relatively unseen. Clothes, shoes, memorabilia, games and other objects are often stored, and those that were accidentally shoved to the back tend to remain unnoticed. It’s a vicious cycle that needs to be broken with tidiness.

THE BASICS

“The biggest problem with closets? There is too much stuff,” Warmington said. “There are frequently too many items there, so we have to purge!”

Purging is critical to eliminating clutter and making a closet more accessible. Warmington suggests: Be aware of the 20/80 rule. We put on 20 percent of our clothes 80 percent of the time.

This means plenty can be removed.

Recognize when you’re suffering from the “someday syndrome.” If you haven’t worn it in the past year, toss it.

Utilize the hanger-turning trick. Turn the hanger of or create a new pile with each clothing item as you wear it. At the end of a season, view your wearing patterns. This will help you sort through the “someday” thoughts.

40

April 2016

WomensLifeStyleKazoo.com

Rid items that don’t belong. If it’s a bedroom closet, keep only personal items and clothing in it. Put the kids’ toys in the toy closet, and the magazines in the recycling bin.

Sort items with four separate bags or boxes with the following labels: give away or sell, put away, throw away and store. While sorting, see where the item belongs if it doesn’t belong in the closet.

Keep a box under the bed or nearby for future castoffs. When filled, donate it or sell it.

Use plastic hangers. They separate better and will remain untangled (for the most part).

Designate a hanger color to each person in the household for easy identification.

Store items elsewhere seasonally if possible. Every new season as you’re replacing the clothes in your closet with new season items, sort through those things being removed and added to the space.

The biggest problem Warmington witnesses with clients is attachment. When an item brings back memories, has sentimental value or simply has been a part of your repertoire for extended time, it becomes difficult to separate from it. Warmington suggests getting in tune with the purging process by eliminating distractions and really connecting with the items as you sort through them. “Get in touch with what you’re feeling, and if it gives a negative vibe, get rid of it! It’s telling you something,” she said. If there are items you’re unsure about, place it in a separate box for a trial run. If it goes unmissed for weeks, then it may be time to separate with it.

INITIATE LONG-TERM ORGANIZATION

Closet spaces and shapes range dramatically, and often aren’t being used optimally. Warmington also suggests consulting a closet company, or a few, for multiple ideas. “It’s amazing how different companies will arrange the same space. Some are better than others, so get bids, estimates and designs from several companies,” she said.

If you’re uninterested in consulting a professional closet designer or builder, below are basic ideas courtesy of Warmington: If the closet has a lot of vertical space and is relatively narrow, expand shelving up and keep a stool nearby.

Utilize wall space. Hang belts or jewelry with knobs or nails for flat, undisruptive storage.

Judy Warmington, co-owner of The Organizing Specialists. Photo by Two Eagles Marcus.

Greater Kalamazoo

Maximize floor space by placing shelving, cubbies, baskets or bins under clothing racks.

Hang shoes on the inside of a door to create more floor space or available shelving.

As you’re going through this process, remember how freeing it will feel to remove clutter and unnecessary items from your life. Sometimes it’s a removed weight you didn’t even know existed! To learn more about The Organizing Specialists or to find an organizer near you, visit www.theorganizingspecalists.com.

“

Get in touch with what you’re feeling, and if it gives a negative vibe, get rid of it! It’s telling you something.”

April 2016

41

Recycle this Magazine 10 WAYS TO

O

nce this magazine is read from cover to cover (and all the delicious recipes are clipped out), its primary job to entertain and enlighten is complete. It’s often tossed in a recycling pile (thanks for being eco-friendly); but pity no more the magazine’s end-of-life trip to the bin.

Below are 10 unique ways to let the pages live a little longer!

1. Clean windows and mirrors.

Save your paper towel and utilize this classic glasscleaning method.

and sailor hats. If you have two copies, cut out faces and photos to make a card deck for the matching or memory game.

2. Create art. Try weaving, rolling, folding

7. Use as garden mulch. Lock in soil

3. Cushion packages. Wrap fragile

8. Compost. Given its carbon-rich

and gluing pages to create a basket, necklace, wall-décor piece, picture frame, coasters or paper mâché. Find a tutorial online!

storage boxes with pages to discourage breaking or fill an empty package to ensure safe mailing.

4. Wrap gifts. Love an article? Share it by wrapping it around your latest gift.

5. Make placemats. Fold, weave and

sew the paper together to create pop art inspired placemats. Modge Podge for a glossy look.

6. Create toys. Think classic entertainment

such as paper football, paper airplanes competitions

42

April 2016

moisture and deter weeds by lining plants with paper strips. Spread bark chips atop to keep the paper sighting subtle.

component, this paper is fantastic for balancing a compost pile. Tear it into strips or pieces for a faster breakdown.

9. Pot away. Fold and roll the paper around a

soup can to create small soil pots for nursery plants.

Remove from can and fill with soil and seed. Plant directly into ground when ready.

10. Donate it. Find out what organizations or establishments could use extra reading for their customers, employees or members.

O U KN O Y D W DI ?

The market value of all the recyclable metal, glass and plastic sent from Michigan households to Michigan landfills every year is $435 million.

(Michigan Recycling Coalition Report)

Michigan’s estimated recycling rate is only 15%, which means we trail most states in the entire U.S. We can do better! (courtesy Columbia University, 2012)

WomensLifeStyleKazoo.com

Thank You For Another Fabulous Expo!

Magazine & Expo

Greater Kalamazoo

April 2016

43

Calendar of Events

It’s easy to get listed in our Events Calendar. Our deadline is the 10th of the month prior to publication. Email us at: calendar@womenslifestylekazoo.com.

Please type Calendar in the subject line.

April 1 Art Hop Various Locations throughout Downtown Kalamazoo. 5 – 9 pm. Art Hop is a free event that features new art exhibits in a fun, casual atmosphere. Numerous galleries and businesses in the downtown area host a variety of artwork. Free. 269-3425059. www.kalamazooarts.com April 1 Lit Happy Hour Kazoo Books II. 5:30 – 7 pm. Join Joe Heywood and Libby Fischer Hellmann in celebrating their brand new releases with a literary Happy Hour: coffee, conversation and Joe & Libby on-hand to chat about their new books, take questions and mingle. Free. 269-553-6506.

Kazoobooks.com April 1 Art Show Reception & Open House Vicksburg District Library. 6:30 – 8 pm.

Friday Night at the Library: Art Show Reception and Open House featuring local artist Mary Marshall. Free. www. vicksburglibrary.org April 2 One Silent Voice: The Jeannine Singleton Story Kazoo Books II. 1 pm. Join Nicole & Robert for a reading, discussion and signing of their just published local bestseller.

One Silent Voice: The Jeannie Singleton Story details the investigation of the chilling unsolved murder that gripped and terrified Kalamazoo in 1955. Free. 269553-6506. kazoobooks.com

April 2 - 30 Willow Lake Gallery Willow Lake Club, Parkview Hills. 3707 Greenleaf Circle, Kalamazoo. 9 am – 6 pm daily. Reception April 14th from 6 – 8 pm. Chinese Brush Paintings by 6 local artists. Painting demonstration. Free. 269372-4444 April 3 Eddie Money State Theatre. 7:30 pm. Join us for rock music legend & natural performer EDDIE MONEY April 3rd at Kalamazoo State Theatre! Eddie Money is known for his top hits from the 70’s and 80’s and is recognized for having 16 of his hits in the top 20 charts. $20 and up. 269-345-6500. www.kazoostate.com April 5 Tax Clinic Vicksburg District Library. 10 am – 6 pm.

Free tax clinic. Call 211 for an appointment.

April 5 Retired School Personnel Gathering WMU Fetzer Center. 11:30 am. The Kalamazoo County Association of Retired School Personnel will meet.

Maryann191@aol.com April 8 Friday Teen Night Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. 6 – 8 pm. So much fun for art geeks -- we’ll check out the galleries, get our hands dirty, and share pizza and pop with friends at this monthly get together. Free. 269-349-7775. www. kiarts.org/events

April 2 All Ears Theater: All Ears Variety Review First Baptist Church. 6 pm. All Ears Theatre is proud to perform its first ever variety review show featuring comedy skits and musical numbers. Designed, directed and produced by Donald Ramlow. Free. 269-345-2195. www.kalamazooarts.org

April 8 Chamber Music at the Ladies’ Library Ladies’ Library Association Richmond Auditorium. 8 – 9:30 pm. Performers are the combined forces of the Arcadia Woodwind Quintet and the Ensemble Des Amis Trio. Free - $10 donation suggested.

269-344-3710. www.kalamazooladieslibrary.org

April 2 – 3 Spring into Wings Wings Event Center. 9 am – 4 pm. 18th Annual Art & Craft Show mostly artists and crafter’s from all over Michigan, metal, pottery, jewelry, wood working, hand quilting, bird feeders. With so many different unique idea’s and hand crafted crafts. Free. 269-349-1185.

EagleTakeFlight.com

April 8 – 23 4000 Miles Parish Theatre. Call for times. After suffering a major loss while on a cross-country bike trip, 21 year-old Leo shows up at his Grandmother Vera’s West Village apartment. And that’s when the real journey begins. Recommended for patrons 16+. $12 - $25. 269-343-1313. www.kazoocivic.com

44

April 2016

April 9 Innovations in Paper Weaving Kalamazoo Book Arts Center. 10 am – 4 pm. Come explore book structures, lantern forms featuring “woven” hinges, and works that can hang on the wall or in a window as we bring paper weaving into new dimensions. Participants will leave the workshop with at least one flat paper weaving and a woven paper lantern. $110 plus $10 material fee. 269-373-4938.

April 9 Kalamazoo Wings Fan Appreciation Wings Event Center. 7 – 9:30 pm. The Kalamazoo Wings face off against the Toledo Walleye on their last home game of the season! For Fan Appreciation Night – brought to you by Big Brothers Big Sisters, there will be a John Deere Tractor giveaway. $10 and up. 269-743-6011. www.kwings.com April 9 Mozart Requiem Chenery Auditorium. Pre-concert lecture 7 pm, Concert 8 pm. Bach Festival Chorus and Arcato Chamber Ensemble, James Turner, conductor. $28/$22/$15 adult; $5 student. 269-337-7407. www.kalamazoobachfestival.org April 14 American Business Womens Association Beacon Club on Portage Road. 5:30 pm.

Join us for our April meeting. 269-3230468. Marilyn4038@att.net April 14 Spirit Series – Tequila Tasting Class Food Dance. 6 – 8 pm. Meet, chat and taste with Michigan distillers along with our Mixologists at this casual seated tasting. Learn about origins, processes and styles. Discover characteristics of great rum. $45. 269-382-1888. info@ fooddance.net April 16 12th Annual Spring Training Napier Avenue Campus. 9 am. Lake Michigan College is hosting its 12th annual Steven C. Silcox Spring Training 5K/10K Run and 5K Walk. Proceeds benefit the Lake Michigan College Flag Football Club. $20 early, $25 after April 4. 269-927-5101.

Lakemichigancollege.edu/race April 16 Kalamazoo’s Ultimate Indoor Garage Sale Kalamazoo County Expo Center, Main Expo. 9 am – 3 pm. Don’t miss Kalamazoo’s biggest indoor garage sale! Find everything you normally see at a garage sale but all under one roof. $2, children are free. 269-903-5820.

Moneys7714@sbcglobal.net

April 16 It’s In The Bag! Portage Senior Center. 9 am – 2 pm.

Treat yourself to something “new to you!”

Attend the It’s In The Bag Purse Sale to raise funds for the Portage Senior Center. www.friendspsc.org April 16 Spring Expo & Craft Show Kalamazoo County Expo Center, Expo South. 9 am – 4 pm. Join in for a great day of shopping unique crafters, artists and vendors from across Michigan. Free. 269903-5820. Moneys7714@sbcglobal.net April 16 Jazz & Blues Concert Series Mangia Pizza & Pasta, 3112 S. 9th St., Kazoo, 49009. 6:30 - 9:00 pm. Smooth Jazz artist Bryan Clarke Lubeck performing. $12. 269-731-5388. www.pattiflemingmusic.com April 17 Historical Home Tour The Benjamin Drake House. 2 – 4 pm.

Come see the restoration progress and get an update on the planned developments. See the history of our area that lives around us. Free. 269-271-2842.

April 19 Chico’s Spring Fever Event You’re Invited to shop and save! 6-8pm, Crossroads Mall, 6650 S Westnedge Ave #128, Portage. Event Discounts, Fashion Show and Private Raffle for $25 Gift Certificate. Combine the gift certificate with the store specials and start a whole new summer wardrobe! Light Hor d’ourves & beverages. info@wlskazoo. com or 269.350.5227. Sponsored by Women’s LifeStyle of Kalamazoo.

April 20 Sexual Assault & Advocacy Community Forum Binda Performing Arts Center in Battle Creek. 3 – 4 pm. Sexual Assault Services (SAS) invites the community to celebrate the organization’s 20th anniversary during a free event featuring keynote speaker Elizabeth Smart. 269-245-3925.

Bronsonhealth.com April 21 Tasting on the Town A fundraiser to support Hospital Hospitality House of Southwest Michigan.

6 - 9:00 pm at Rose Street Market in Kalamazoo. An evening of tasting great wines, enjoying delicious appetizers and delectable desserts. Tickets are $50 each.

Call 269-341-7811 or www.hhhkz.org.

April 21 – 23 Pinball at the Zoo Kalamazoo County Expo Center. Thur. 2 - 10 pm; Fri. 1 - 10 pm; Sat. 9 am - 6 pm.

Rediscover pinball at this fun event with games for sale and play, auction, tournaWomensLifeStyleKazoo.com

ments, parts and much more. $15 Adults, $8 Kids 5 – 13. 269-628-4628. www.pinballatthezoo.com April 23 Bronson Women’s Health & Wellness Fair Attend this FREE event 8 am – 1 pm all out taking care of your body, weight management, diet and exercise. Information seminars and lots of vendors. To register go to bronsonhealth.com/classes or call 269-341-7723 April 23 Ballet Arts Ensemble A mixed–repertory concert including excerpts from Swan Lake at the Chenery Auditorium, 2 pm & 7 pm Tickets available at Miller box office or <balletartsensemble.org> April 23 Earth Day Celebration Kalamazoo Nature Center. 9am-5pm. Visit the KNC for our Earth Day Celebration and enjoy FREE admission to KNC. Free.

269-381-1574. www.naturecenter.org April 23 The Color Run Arcadia Creek Festival Place. 10 – 10:30 am. New this year is a limited-edition participant kit, Tropicolor Zone™ on course, and an amped up finish festival featuring Rainbow Beach, music, dancing, photos, and more! $39.99 - $59.99. 269-3440795. www.thecolorrun.com April 23 Earth Day Festival Celery Flats. 11 am – 3 pm. This familyfriendly Earth Day festival is open to all and includes live music, exhibits, games and giveaways such as tree seedlings.

Numerous local vendors and organizations will be present. Free. 269-329-4512. www.portagemi.gov April 24 Go Ring-A Dem Bells First United Methodist Church, 212 S. Park St., Kalamazoo. 4 pm. Kalamazoo Community Chorale Spring Concert, GO RING-A DEM BELLS. Free will offering.

615-0167.

April 24 Paula Poundstone State Theatre. 7 pm. Boston Globe to write: “Poundstone can regale an audience for several hours with her distinctive brand of wry, intelligent and witty comedy.” Don’t miss out on this hilarious performance! $37.50. 269-345-6500.

April 26 – May 14 Gilmore International Keyboard Festival Various locations at various times. The Gilmore’s nearly 100 Festival events showcase some of the most notable and accomplished pianists and keyboard musicians in the world along with artists just emerging

on the international stage. 269-342-1166. www.thegilmore.org April 29 Café Murder Mystery Vicksburg District Library. 6 – 8 pm. Friday Night at the Library: Café Murder Mystery.

Tickets are $5 and must be purchased in advance. www.vicksburglibrary.org April 29 – May 1 K-Town Shakedown 2016 Wings Event Center. 10 am – 7 pm.

This Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) Recognized tournament will welcome teams and leagues from all around the world. 269271-2171. https://www.facebook.com/ events/1060530090632800/ April 29 – May 1 Rock and Mineral Show - Dinosaurs Kalamazoo County Expo Center. Fri. 4 – 8 pm, Sat. 10 am – 6 pm, Sun. 10 am – 5 pm. This year’s theme is Dinosaurs. Real and accurate cast replicas of dinosaur fossils will create educational experiences for students and the general public. $3, 12 and under free. 269-788-7634.

May 3 Dessert with Discussion: Climate Change in Michigan W.K. Kellogg Biological Station. 6 – 8 pm.

Dr. Andresen will be speaking on climate change and sharing his knowledge with the community. Before and after the talk, there will be chef-crafted locally sourced desserts available. Free. 269-671-2015. http://kbs.msu.edu May 5 11th Annual National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day Carnival Kalamazoo County Expo Center. 4 – 7 pm. It provides education regarding children’s mental health issues, the services available for youth and families in our community, and how best to access those services. Free. 269-553-7122. mhoutrow@kazoocmh.org May 5 Alton Brown’s Live: Eat Your Science Miller Auditorium. 7:30 pm. With “Eat Your Science,” fans can expect more comedy, talk show antics, multimedia presentations and music (yes, he sings) but Brown is adding a slew of fresh ingredients. 269387-2300. www.millerauditorium.com May 7th Dog Walk Four Legged Fun Raiser for the Kalamazoo Humane Society. Celebrate all things DOG! Join in by registering to walk & collect donations. Raffles & Bake Sale, Games Vendors & Great Food. Bring Pooch with you! Prairie Vie Park - Vicksburg More info: KazooHumane.org/Dogwalk

Greater Kalamazoo

Dreaming of Making a Difference?

If so come volunteer at the Kalamazoo Dream Center!

We have many different volunteer positions, such as:

4 Thrift Store Associate 4 Clothing Associate 4 Reception 4 Food Pantry Worker And many more!

Contact Erika Novar at: KalamazooDreamCenter@gmail.com if interested or want information on other ways to get involved!

HELP GIVE HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY TODAY! April 2016

45

Reader’s Lounge No Sweat: How the Simple Science of Motivation Can Bring You a Lifetime of Fitness

by Rachel Rayburn

Beauty Gone Wild: Herbal Recipes for Gorgeous Skin and Hair

by Michelle L. Segar

by Diane Kidman

If you’ve ever resolved to get fit or healthier and struggled to follow through with that goal, you are certainly not alone. Fear not, for this is not your average fitness book.

No more reading about how or why you should exercise, No Sweat is about the science of motivation. Behavioral expert Michelle Segar takes decades of research on exercise and motivation and distills it into four simple steps. It turns out that changing your body begins with changing your mind. Rather than adding another thing to your to-do list, Segar helps readers discover realistic ways to incorporate physical activity into busy lives and have fun doing it. (The activities we enjoy, we repeat. It’s not rocket science.) Filled with tips, techniques, worksheets, and real-life success stories, this book is both entertaining and empowering.

Finally, if you have considered making your beauty routine a little “greener,” look no further than Beauty Gone Wild by herbalist and local author Diane Kidman. In this volume (part of the Herbs Gone Wild series), Kidman encourages readers to cut out the chemicals and replace beauty products one at time with inexpensive natural alternatives. Including simple instructions for everything from hair care and color to deodorant and moisturizing cream, covering skin conditions from acne to wrinkles, you’re sure to find something to try. Many recipes require only a handful of ingredients that are likely already in your cupboards. These beauty products really may be good enough to eat!

APRIL

On Screen

The Boss April 8

Melissa McCarthy stars as Michelle Darnell, as a wealthy titan of industry who gets caught for insider trading and is sent to prison. After her release, she, with help of her assistant (Kristen Bell), attempts to rebrand herself by beginning a business leadership program for girls; however, not everyone is willing to forgive and forget. She and her rival weave through a series of hilarious battles, making this R-rated comedy one not to miss.

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April 2016

by David Postma

Pick of the Month: The Jungle Book April 15

Jon Favreau produces an anticipatory adaptation of The Jungle Book. The movie stars voices of Idris Elba, Bill Murray, Lupita Nyong’o and Scarlett Johansson. It tells the story of Mowgli raised in the jungle. Along the way, he meets quite a few characters that may or may not have his best interest at heart.

Favreau has shown himself to be is a master of story and pacing. This PGrated, suspenseful adventure film is a must see.

WomensLifeStyleKazoo.com

live. work. play.

BUSINESS SERVICES www.A1PrintingCopyCenter.com (269) 381-0093

MacKenzies’ Café & Bakery

ForensicFluids.com (269) 492-7700

Portage Center Plaza-165 W. Centre

www.HMScreening.com A Local Screening Service

Kalamazoo (2 Locations) & Portage Y’OPA Frozen Yogurt

MEDIA, MARKETING

LawtonRidgeWinery.com (269) 372-9463

& TECHNOLOGY Ad Shop, Etc.

Jeffmurphymediator.com (269) 375-3200

(269) 207-0103

HEALTH, BEAUTY & WELLNESS www.advantageprivatenursing.com (269) 324-1180

(269) 321-0612

www.GreatDealsMagazine.com

www.WMUK.org 102.1 FM WomensLifeStyleKazoo.com

www.FacesSkin.com (269) 447-2297

(269) 569-1647 RECREATION

NaturalHealthFoodCenter.com (269) 342-9459

Bella Terra Equine Adventure www.bellaterraacres.com

Sawall Health Foods sawallhf.com Westside Medical Pharmacy (269) 375-1700

Kalamazoo Nature Center naturecenter.org

NaturalHealthFoodCenter.com (269) 342-9459

Kalamazoo Wings Kwings.com

HOME SERVICES Jaqua Realtors – Audrey DeVault (269) 207-3411

RETAIL fb.com/DiscoveryShopKalamazoo

Loedeman's Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning

269-345-0661

loedeman.com

Kazoo Books

MigalaCarpetOne.com INSPIRATION TO INSTALLATION HOSPITALITY/ RESTAURANTS theAmplePantry.com (269) 375-8300 www.Chocola-Tea.com 7642 S. Westnedge Prtg.

Comensolis.com (269) 345-6755

www.GreatDealsMagazine.com (269) 321-0612

kazoobooks.com www.leesadventuresports.com 311 W. Kilgore, Kalamazoo

™

Neighborhood Cleaners Kalamazoo – Portage – Mattawan RomenceGardensonline.com

Kalamazoo’s local drug testing lab forensicfluids.com | 866.492.2517

9660 Shaver Rd. Por tage V & A Bootery

vashoesfit.com

SHOES THAT FIT YOUR LIFE

vabootery.com

K A L A M A Z O O • P O R T A G E • G R A N D R A P I D S • S T. J O S E P H

The Right Place for Hosting Your Event FetzerCenter.com

Vandenberg Furniture

HendersonCastle.com (269) 344-1827

VanderSalm’s Flower Shop & Garden

LawtonRidgeWinery.com (269) 372-9463

Wenke Greenhouses

Greater Kalamazoo

12000 N US 131 Hwy, Schoolcraft

(269) 342-0123

Corner of Sprinkle & Market - Comstock April 2016

47

Celebrating 80 Years!

America’s oldest family owned natural food store.

Amorino Gelato al Naturale from Paris

European Pastries

Italian Panini

Sawall Health Foods Market & Cafe

2965 Oakland Dr at Whites Rd Oakwood Plaza • Kalamazoo One mile north at exit 75 off I-94 Monday - Saturday 8am - 9pm Sunday 10am - 6pm

g n i Com ! n o o S APRIL SPECIAL

15% OFF All Some Sulfites FREE

Wines Exp. April 30, 2016.

Italian Brick-Fired Pizza

Register in store each month for an

80 Gift Card $

GIVEAWAY

Our Wine & Craft Beer Bar, Full Service Deli & Coffee Bar will be Opening Soon!!