WOW - Spring 2010

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www.globegazette.com/wow WOW SPRING 2010 ❖ 3

4 Young loveHelp your child have a happy, healthy relationship.

7 Protect your credit scoreMake sure you know how to play the game to earnthe right number.

9 You look fabulousThree lucky women trade their old clothes, old looksfor head-to-toe makeovers.

13 Stop winter weight gainWinter’s cold temperatures and snowy days are aripe enviroment for gaining weight. Here’s how toput the brakes on adding the pounds.

18 Food FightThree teams brought their best recipes to the WowWomen’s Expo Food Fight Competition.

25 All about romanceThe Midwest boasts many romantic destinationsfrom bed and breakfasts to historic landmarks.

30 Let the sunshine inVitamin D plays animportant role inkeeping your bodyhealthy.

32 4-year-oldshows giving spirit,compassionColumnist SethanneDeGabriele share herparenting experiences.

36 Take it outsideWinter months canmake exercise a chal-lenge, so we talked tolocal experts for ideasthat will cost you nextto nothing and stillgive you a great work-out.

39 What a character!Columnist Ann-MarieBerg discusses howchildren go throughmany phases, includ-ing pretending to befictional characters.

About Us

Contents

EDITORIAL and BUSINESS OFFICEWOW magazine

300 N. WashingtonP.O. Box 271

Mason City, IA 50402-0271800-421-0524

www.globegazette.com/wowPublisher: Howard Query

641-421-0507, [email protected]: Joe Buttweiler

641-421-0542, [email protected] Director: Greg Wilderman

641-421-0545, [email protected] Coordinator: Lynette Harrington

641-421-0586 [email protected] Editor: Karen Jacobs

641-421-0529, [email protected]

WOW is published four times a year by theGlobe Gazette.

Major sponsor Cover photo

GLOBEGAZETTE

9

25

413

36

18

Kara Hutchison, SaraPoppy and Jodi Hardy.Photo by BRYONHOULGRAVE

PPhhoottoo ccoouurrtteessyy ooff tthhee WWiissccoonnssiinn DDeeppaarrttmmeenntt ooff TToouurriissmm

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LLove can be a scary thing: it’s exhilarat-

ing, unsettling, moving and confusing, andthat’s when you are the one in love. Butsometimes even scarier for a parent ishearing or realizing that your child is in thethroes of l’amour.

Whether it’s your 25-year-old whothinks he’s found “the one” or your fifth-grader with her first big crush, parenting achild through the stages of a relationshipcan present challenges even more difficultthan managing a relationship yourself. Thekey is to build a connection with your sonor daughter that can help both of you stayhappy and safe.

“Kids rarely come home and ‘announce’they are in a relationship,” said PamelaErickson, a health educator with North

Iowa Community Action Organization.“Parents need to be aware of who theirchildren are seeing and know all of theparents of those friends.”

It’s important to start with a casual con-versation about your child’s friends and letyour child and his friends know that you’reinterested in who they’re seeing and whatexpections you have of them, Ericksonsaid.

The best thing you can do is to serve asan example for your child. “You should notbe involved in relationships that are abu-sive emotionally or physically,” she said.

Key components in a relationship likehonesty, trust and respect, as well as howlove is expressed, can and should be modeled in your home.


“Start talking with your children about relationshipsas soon as they are old enoughto have any kind of relationship — not justromantic ones.”

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“Things that you’ve taught them will helpthem with relationships outside of the family,”said Dr. Dan Courtney, chief clinical psycholo-gist with Mental Health Center of North Iowa.

When it comes to talking to your child aboutrelationships, Erickson said, it’s never too soon.“Start talking with your children about relation-ships as soon as they are old enough to haveany kind of relationship — not just romanticones,” she said.

If your child begins a romantic relationship,Courtney said, it’s important to convey that youtrust them. “Respect them, be attuned to theirfeelings, but let them know that you expect tobe kept informed, that you won’t worry somuch if you are informed.”

Early conversations also need to include adiscussion of sex. “Parents need to begin to talkabout safer sexual practices as early as the childcan understand what sex is,” Erickson said.“And they need to stress that the only safe sexis no sex. Anything else is just ‘safer.’ ”

The idea of a singular “birds and the bees”talk is a dangerous plan of action; Erickson saidit’s important tomake it anongoing discus-sion. Whenmoments arisewhere sexbecomes a logi-cal topic, suchas during a tele-vision programor movie, takean opportunityto talk to yourchild about yourfamily’s valuesystem and howyou feel aboutsafer sexualpractices. “Itbecomes aneasy discussionif it’s not a bigdeal, just a nat-ural conversa-tion,” Ericksonsaid.

If you learn that your son or daughter hasbecome sexually active, the most importantthing, although perhaps the most difficult, is tohave a conversation without overreacting.

“Parents also need to understand that once ayoung person has become sexually active, it israre for them to be abstinent after that time,”Erickson said. “You cannot ‘order’ them to stophaving sex. It is then your responsibility as aparent to help protect them. Educate yourselfwith regard to sexually transmitted infectionsand birth control methods. Then, as soon aspossible, be sure to get them to a clinic wherethese things will be discussed at length withthe young person just before they receive theirbirth control.”

The staff of NICAO’s Family Planning Programhas resources to help both you and your son ordaughter, and there are programs available forthe uninsured. To schedule an appointment,call 800-657-5856.

Whether you’re discussing sex or evenexpressing your unease about a person yourchild is spending time with, Courtney said it is

best to be firmbut calm. “Bedirect and say,‘these are myconcerns, it ismy job to followthrough,’ ” hesaid. “If you feelyou have to putdown some lim-its, you have tobe pretty clearabout whatthose are. Yourconcerns areimportant; don’trush to judg-ment. Let yourchild addressyour worries. Besomeone who isthrowing outconcerns. Besomeone who ishonest.”

6 ❖ WOW SPRING 2010

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WOW SPRING 2010 ❖ 7

protect yourcredit score

Make sure you kknnooww hhooww ttoo ppllaayy thegame to earn the right score

Text by JESSICA ABELS

fFor even the most money-savvy women, the nuances

of understanding a credit score can be a tricky game toplay. You’re aiming for an 800, but anything above 710or 720 is safe.

And since your credit score can affect everything fromgetting loans to getting insurance to getting a job, it’scritical to score big. According to local experts, followthis playbook for credit score success.

DO pay your bills on time. It’s the most important fac-tor in determining your credit score, said John Sherrick,CEO of Mercy-City-Lehigh Family Credit Union. “Thelonger you pay your minimum balance on time for eachcredit card or loan that you have, the higher your creditscore will be,” he said. Paying on time, accounts for 35percent of your credit score, he adds.

DON’T charge too much. This seems likea no-brainer, but how much is too much?“It’s a good idea not to charge more than35 percent of the limit on each of yourcredit cards,” Sherrick said. “The differencebetween your total credit limit and totalamount owed is the next most importantfactor in your credit score, making up 30percent of the total. The less credit you useout of the amount you have available, thebetter you will look to the credit bureaus.”

DO check your limits to make sure yourlender did not lower your available credit.“Just because you have a high availablecredit line does not mean you have to useit or lower it,” said Kathye Gaines, branchmanager at Consumer Credit CounselingServices in Mason City. In fact, you shouldavoid asking lenders to lower your limit,she adds.

DON’T close or cancel a credit card justbecause you are not using it. “The lengthof your credit history accounts for 15 per-cent of your credit score,” said Sherrick.“For this reason, canceling credit cards canhurt your credit score. If you don’t want touse a card any more, cutting it up withoutcanceling the account will result in a bettercredit score. However, if you’re beingcharged a monthly or annual fee to keepthe account open, canceling may be thebetter option.”

DO check your credit report annually.The federal government set up www.annu-alcreditreport.com so that consumers cancheck their scores every 12 months, Sher-rick said. For a small fee you can see yourscore from the three creditreporting agencies: Tran-sunion, Equifax and Exper-ian. You should also exam-ine the report for mistakes,and if you find one disputeit, said Gaines. “Creditbureaus and lenders makemistakes just like everyoneelse,” she said.

DON’T panic if you’re struggling to makepayments. If you make a late payment, askyour lender to waive the late fee or erasethe late payment on your credit report.Avoid consolidating cards and do not starttransferring balances to new accounts.“Pay off your debt instead of moving itaround,” said Gaines. “If you are havingtrouble making payments, talk to yourcreditor. There is always light at the end ofthe tunnel.”


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You lookfabulous!

Three women experienced a day of pamper-ing during the WOW Women’s Expo Feb. 6 atSouthbridge Mall. Jodi Hardy and twin sistersSara Poppy and Kara Hutchison, all of MasonCity, spent the day enjoying free head-to-toemakeovers that included getting their hair cutand colored, having their makeup done andpicking out new outfits.

Salon services were provided by Head Quar-ters on First, Inc., and Designs on the Plaza,both of Mason City, and Sculpture of Osage.Clothing was provided by Moorman Clothiers ofMason City and Sculpture.

The makeovers began with individual consul-tations with each of the women to find outtheir challenges and concerns. The womenwere told which haircuts worked best with theirface shapes as well as what types of clothingwould look good on their frames. At the end ofthe day, Hardy, Poppy and Hutchison revealedtheir new looks to the crowd that included theirfriends and family.

While the three women were being pam-pered, hundreds of people visited the mall toshop, eat and check out more than 35exhibitors and four seminars, which coveredspring makeup tips, hypnosis, self defense andthe first-ever Food Fight Competition wherethree local teams competed to prepare the bestmeal in 40 minutes.

The expo was sponsored by the GlobeGazette while the Food Fight competition wassponsored by the Globe Gazette, Hy-Vee ofMason City, McCloskey Appliance of Mason Cityand Clear Lake Bank & Trust.

Three lucky women trade their oldclothes, old looks for head-to-toemakeovers

You can watch video and a slideshow ofthe makeovers and the WOW Expoonline at www.globegazette.com/wow

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Text by MARY GRAHAMPhotographed by BRYON HOULGRAVE

Jodi Hardy, Kara Hutchison and Sara Poppy.

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Sara Poppy of Mason City gave her twin sister, Kara Hutchison, a unique birthday present this year. The twinscelebrated their 35th birthday on Jan. 31 and completed the milestone celebration with free makeovers fortwo, thanks to the Globe Gazette WOW Women’s Expo.

“We watch makeover shows on TV all the time and I figured this might be something fun to do together,”explained Sara, who applied for the makeover for herself and her sister. “I was very excited to find out that bothof us were chosen.”

Kara adds, “It makes it even better that I can experience this with Sara.”In her application for the makeover, Sara wrote, “I want this makeover for my twin because she is always

pampering my three children but never herself.”The twins were set up across the mall and saw each other only a few times throughout the day. When they

finally saw each other at the end of the day, they stared at each other and laughed.The twins’ parents also came to see the transformation.“The girls usually don’t put much makeup on,” said their mother, Eileen Hutchison. “They’ve always been

close so it’s nice to see them experience this together, too.”Sara and Kara are the youngest in the family of six daughters and two sons. In fact, Eileen shared that she

found out she was expecting twins just two days before they were born.While Kara and Sara are not identical, they do look a lot alike with long brown hair and brown eyes.The twins shared that they’ve never colored their hair, so they were pretty excited to see the results and won-

dered if they would look like each other.The team from Designs on the Plaza did Sara’s hair and also arched her eyebrows.“We darkened the base color to make her eyes pop and also added beige highlights,” explained co-owner

Sara Poppy, 35, Mason CityMother of 3Hair, makeup: Designs on the Plaza in Mason CityClothing: Sculpture in Osage

Hairstylist Amber Demaray colorsSara Poppy's hair during the 2010WOW Women's Expo at SouthbridgeMall in Mason City; Makeup stylistBrandis Turnbull applies makeup toPoppy (above right); HairstylistMaddie Brown cuts Poppy's hair.Sarah’s new clothes (top) camefrom Sculpture.


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Kara Hutchison, 35, Mason CityFinance Coordinator at First United Methodist ChurchHair, makeup and clothing: Sculpture Hair and Fashion in Osage

Amber Demaray. “She was theperfect model because she wasgame for anything.”

Sara was excited for a change,saying that she’s had the same“long, straight hair since thirdgrade.”

Sara’s finished look included asleek bob cut.

For Sara’s outfit, the staff atSculpture Hair and Fashion inOsage chose a denim jean by Wornand a black top by Nally and Millie.

Sara was most excited to seethe reactions of her kids— Kylie, 4,Kaden 2, Peyton 1 — as well ashusband, David. Unfortunatelythe big reveal came during thekids’ naptime so they had to waituntil later to see their mom’stransformation.

Sara hopes this makeover

prompts her to put on makeupevery day, not just for special occa-sions, which “my husband willappreciate,” she said with a laugh.

Kara, finance coordinator at FirstUnited Methodist Church, wasexcited to be pampered for the day.

Sculpture did Kara’s hair, make-up and clothing. The team addedhighlighting and lowlighting fordepth and brightness. WhileSara’s hair is turned out darker,Kara’s hair featured several layersand highlights.

Kara’s outfit from Sculptureincluded a multi-color scoopnecktop by Cubism and straight-cutdenim jeans by Worn.

Hutchison said she enjoyed theday and is happy with her newlook, but the best part was shar-ing the experience with her sister.

Hairstylist ErikaGentz of Sculp-ture Hair andFashion inOsage colorsand cuts KaraHutchison’shair.

Sculpture’smakeup stylistHeidi Millerapplies Hutchi-son’s makeup.

Kara’s clothing(far left) alsocame fromSculpture.

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Jodi Hardy, 29, Mason CityMother of fourHair, makeup: Head Quarters on First, Inc. in Mason CityClothing: Moorman Clothiers in Mason City wWhile flipping through the Globe Gazette Shopper, Jodi Hardy noticed an ad

announcing the WOW Women’s Expo and decided to apply for the chance to win afree makeover. After receiving the phone call announcing that she was one of thewinners, Hardy could hardly believe her luck.

“I’ve never won anything in my life,” she said with a laugh. “I feel very fortunate forthis experience and am very thankful for all the people involved to make this hap-pen.”

Hardy is a stay-at-home mother of four — all of whom are under the age of 6. Inaddition to keeping up with her children — Jarin 6, Peyton, 5, Raina 2, and Rowan, 7months — Hardy also helps out her husband, Kevin, with the family business, CuttingEdge Tree Services, as well as takes care of several rental properties.

She said she has looked the same for the past decade and was ready for achange. While Hardy has always had long hair, she trusted the professionals com-pletely.

The staff at Head Quarters on First, Inc., did her hair, using a new coloring tech-nique called honeycomb highlights that add depth. Hardy’s cut accents the color andis versatile enough to be worn casually or dressed up, according to owner JanThilges. Hardy also enjoyed a Bioelements facial, a spa pedicure, gel nail polish andfinished with Mirabella makeup.

Cally Peterson of Moorman Clothiers in Mason City helped Hardy pick out a newoutfit. Together they chose great-fitting jeans by Worn and paired them with a super-stylish black sweater by Cartise. They completed the outfit with a necklace by TreChic.

“This outfit is a simple yet put-together look,” said Peterson.During the reveal at the Expo, Hardy’s older kids each came to the stage to give

her a chocolate rose.Five-year-old Peyton squealed with delight upon seeing her mommy all dressed

up. “I love her hair and her clothes and her necklace. I just love her!”Head Quarters on 1st, Inc. hair stylist Sue Owen applies color to JodiHardy's hair;

w


Winter not only brings along cold andshorter days but for many of us it alsobrings along a few extra pounds.

According to certified personal trainerRandy Nielsen of Mason City, the shorterdays, cold weather and overall gloomyfeel of winter promote a less-activelifestyle. Often we fail to adjust our calo-rie intake during this more sedate timeand we turn to food more often becauseit may lift our spirits, if only for a briefmoment.

According to Dr. Teresa Mock, medicaldirector of the Mercy Weight Manage-ment Clinic in Mason City, and registerednurse Darla Smith, humans needed thesechanges — an increased appetite anddecreased energy levels — to survive thewinters of the past. However, the con-veniences of today no longer support thisnotion. Here are a few tips to help withfighting off that winter weight gain:

1. Educate YourselfNielsen said that the most important

thing you can do for your health is toeducate yourself. Know why winterweight gain is an issue and learn whatyou can do about it. Talk to a personaltrainer or even your doctor. Understand-ing what is going on will help you tomake better choices. You don’t want tofollow a fad diet. You want to be able tomake new lifetime choices.

2. Be Mindful of Your EatingIn the winter, we often find ourselves

at home more and munching aimlesslyout of boredom. Tammy Bryant, healthpromotion and education service manag-er for the Cerro Gordo County Depart-ment of Public Health, said that beingaware of what you are eating and whyyou are eating is a major step. Read abook or jog on the treadmill instead ofmunching during a snowbound day. Justwalking in place will keep you occupiedand burn calories.

Kelli Huinker, wellness coordinator forthe Cerro Gordo County Department ofPublic Health, adds to not let one day ofmindless eating lead to five days. Jumpright back on to your schedule and beaware of what you consume.

3. Eat a Sensible Balanced DietMock said that a sensible balanced

diet is key to keeping the weight off. Asensible diet low in fat and carbohy-

drates should be followed year-round.Nielsen suggests eating a diet high infruits and vegetables. He said if you startwith the sugary items, you will just wantmore sugary items. Especially watch theliquid calories — skip the sodas andjuices and opt for flavored water. Bryantsuggests a diet high in fiber and proteinbecause it will help you to feel fullerlonger. Huinker said that this kind of adiet is good for your muscles, which youneed to burn more calories.

4. Eat Better CaloriesIn the winter, we are more sedentary

so we burn fewer calories. However, con-suming fewer calories is not the solutionhere. According to Bryant and Huinker,we need those calories for nutrition andfuel. To maintain your weight in the win-ter you want to eat better calories, notfewer. You could eat two apples in placeof that one cookie. Keeping the sweets tomoderation is key because that is wherethe calories can add up.

5. Keep Healthy Food in the HouseSince we often find ourselves stuck in

the house more in the winter, keepinghealthy snacks on hand is key. Don’thave the high-calorie and high simplecarbohydrate snacks around, suggests.Mock. To get a child more interested inhealthier snacks, keep serving them,Nielsen said, as eventually children willtry the food and probably like it. Teachingthe family a new way of snacking willhelp everyone in the long run.

6. Enjoy Outdoor Winter SportsThere are many outdoor winter sports

to be enjoyed. Mock suggests trying crosscountry skiing, ice skating, sledding,downhill skiing or snowboarding afterconsulting your doctor to make sure youare healthy enough to do these things.

Nielsen said that the most importantthing is to have fun. He even said asnowball fight or building a snowmancan burn away those calories. The naturetrails can be gorgeous in the winter,Bryant said. Fresh air is good for the bodyand a wonderful mood booster.

The sunshine is an instant spirit lifter,too. Huinker just reminds us to stayhydrated. You may not sweat as muchdoing winter sports but it is still veryimportant to rehydrate as you are burn-ing plenty of calories and losing fluids.

stop winterweight gainWinter’s cold temperatures and snowy

days aarree aa rriippee eennvviirroonnmmeenntt for gaining weight

Text by LISA BOHACHPhotographed by BRYON HOULGRAVE


7. Include Exercise in Daily LivingNielsen suggests trying to include exercise in your

daily living. Take the stairs instead of the elevator.Park farther from the store. Make challenges foryourself every day. Bryant suggests walking the mallor even a retail store. Instead of going directly forthat gallon of milk, make yourself walk the wholestore first. Mock said to make exercise a priority.“Thirty minutes a day will go a long way toward notadding the extra pounds,” she said.

8. Include Weight Training in the Exercise RoutineWeight training is an important component of any

exercise routine. Muscles burn calories, and the moremuscle mass you have the more calories you burn.

Women often shy away from weight training forfear of looking bulky. Nielsen said that this is reallyof no concern as women are not genetically select-ed to bulk up. Strength training helps speed up themetabolism, which will cause the body to burnmore calories, shedding fat and showing off a tonedbody.

According to Nielsen, we lose about half a poundof muscle each year after the age of 25, which thenleads to a slower metabolism and weight gain. Apersonal trainer can show you a proper strength-training workout for your body.

9. Just MoveIt is important to move your body in the winter

instead of curling up and hibernating as many of uswould like to do. Huinker suggests walking or jog-ging in place while watching your favorite televisionprograms. The Wii Fit system is also a great way toget moving and get the whole family involved.

Mock suggests using the winter time and extraindoor time to simply complete household activitiesthat you have been putting off. Have you beenmeaning to clean up the attic or basement? Now is

the time to get it done and burn some calorieswhile hauling around those boxes.

10. Create a ScheduleNielsen, Bryant and Huinker all agree that getting

and keeping a schedule is important. Just becauseyou overeat one day does not mean you shouldstarve yourself the next. Jump right back into yourschedule. Have a regular exercise schedule, too. Findout what times for exercise work for you and writethem into your planner like regularly kept appoint-ments. With the cold and darkness, it is very easy tonot go to the gym or to bundle up in your blanketand not move for the rest of the evening. Creating aregular schedule will even help to fight off thoseurges to hibernate as your body will have moreenergy.

11. Don’t ProcrastinateProcrastination can sometimes be our biggest

enemy and the biggest reason we gain weight in thewinter. Keep up or start an exercise plan now. Thelonger you wait, the more you will gain and have tolose later, Bryant said. Don’t wait until someone’swedding or until that trip where you’ll have to get ina swimsuit. You must choose to be active andchoose to eat right now.

12. Get Support of Family and FriendsOur biggest obstacles to our success in weight

loss or simply weight maintenance can be our fami-ly and friends. So get them involved with you,Huinker said. Partner with a buddy for a regular mallwalk or gym visit. Keep each other on track. Reportto each other if you slipped up and need someencouragement. Let your spouse know your goalsand invite them to join you. Involve your children inmoving more. You will be teaching them a lessonthat will stay with them for the rest of their lives.


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Do as many repetitions asyou can without stopping.


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the plie squatWHAT IT WORKS:

Legs, buttocksHOW TO DO IT1. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, toes

turned out, holding a weight in your hands (option-al).

2. Lower yourself into a squat position, keepingyour back straight and making sure your kneesdon’t extend past your toes.

Do as many repetitions as you can without stop-ping.

the seated pulldownWHAT IT WORKS:

chest, back, triceps, bicepsHOW TO DO IT1. Sit on a dual pulley

machine, grasping the barshoulder-width apart.

2. Pull down the bar toyour chest, keeping elbowsin.


the incline pushupWHAT IT WORKS:

chest, back, triceps, biceps

HOW TO DO IT1. Get into a pushup position with your hands on a

bench. 2. Keeping your body straight, lower your chest to

the bench. Do as many repetitions as you can withoutstopping.


the wall pushupWHAT IT WORKS:

chest, back, triceps, bicepsHOW TO DO IT1. Stand arm-width away from a wall, hands flat on the wall, chest

level. 2. Slowly lower yourself into the wall, keeping your back flat.Do as many repetitions as you can without stopping.

the abdominalcrunch

WHAT IT WORKS: Abdomi-nals

HOW TO DO IT1. Sit in an abdominal

crunch machine with yourback against the seat, hold-ing the handles.

2. Lean forward, usingyour abdominals to pull youforward, not your hands.


the flat crunchWHAT IT WORKS:

Abdominals

HOW TO DO IT1. Lay on the floor with

your knees bent and yourhands next to your sides,head off the ground.

2. Keeping your chin offyour chest and back on thefloor, curl up, contractingyour abdominals.


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the biceps curlWHAT IT WORKS: BicepsHOW TO DO IT1. Stand tall with one

dumbbell in each hand,palms forward, elbows atyour waist and shouldersrelaxed.

2. Keeping elbows closeto your body and yourwrists straight, curl yourhands to your shoulders.Lower to starting position.

Do as many repetitionsas you can without stop-ping.

the triceps pressWHAT IT WORKS:

TricepsHOW TO DO IT1. Stand tall with one

dumbbell in your handsbehind your head, palmsfacing the ceiling, elbowsnear your head and shoul-ders relaxed.

2. Keeping elbows closeto your body, lift the weightover your head. Lower tostarting position.


the shoulder pressWHAT IT WORKS:

ShouldersHOW TO DO IT1. Sit on a bench, hold-

ing a dumbbell in eachhand with dumbbells nextto your head, arms at a 90-degree angle.

2. Slowly raise thedumbbells overhead untilarms are straight.


I


It was a packed center court at Southbridge Mall, Mason City when ArlinBeemer claimed victory in the first annual WOW Women’s Expo Food Fight.

Beemer’s Ancho Chili Rubbed Pork Medallion, Steamed Broccoli withLemon and Parmesan Cheese, and Orzo Pasta Blended with Apples, Cranber-ries, Pine Nuts and Maple Syrup beat out two other teams.

The event featured three two-person teams competing for a $100 Hy-Veegift card and a local charity, which will receive a full page, black and white adin the Globe Gazette courtesy of Hy-Vee.

Teams were supplied a prescribed list of ingredients: 5 pounds of pork ten-derloin, three heads of broccoli, five Pink Lady apples and an 8-ounce box oforzo pasta. They had to create recipes using all of the ingredients, could useadditional ingredients they provided in the recipes. The teams were given 40minutes to prepare and plate the food for judging.

Globe Gazette Publisher Howard Query hosted the event with enough flair,panache and humor worthy of any celebrity award-show host.

Gary Reynolds of Mason City and assistant Tracy Kading, manager of Hy-Vee

FoodFight!

Cooking competitiontakes centerstage during

WOW Women’sExpo

Text by RHONDA REGANPhotographed by BRYON HOULGRAVE

You can watch video and a slideshow of Food Fight atthe WOW Expo online at www.globegazette.com/wow.

VIDEO

ONLINE ATGLOBEGAZETTE.COM


East in Mason City, represented Hy-Vee. They werecooking for United Way.

Reynolds volunteered because he has a passion forcooking and watching the Food Network.

Chef Arlin Beemer, chef at the Mason City CountryClub and sous chef Brenda Mills, also of the CountryClub, were sponsored by McCloskey Appliance. Theyrepresented Opportunity Village in Clear Lake.

Beemer accepted the challenge because he lovescompeting and cooking. “What a great way to combinetwo things I love,” he said.

They developed their recipe through trial and error,throwing ingredients together to see what flavorsworked well with the required ingredients.

The third team, a joint sponsor venture betweenEdgar Financial Group and Clear Lake Bank and Trust,selected Robin Edgar, president of Edgar FinancialGroup in Mason City, and sous chef Amber Theobold ofClear Lake Bank and Trust. They were cooking for YMCAPartners For Youth and Charlie Brown Child Care.

Edgar and Theobold jumped at the chance to com-pete to showcase their spirit and creativity in makinghealthy, colorful and easy dishes for other busy mothers.

Edgar and Theobold developed their recipes byquerying family and friends. They wanted somethingthat could be done in 30 minutes using ingredientsfound in the home and something with some color anda little bit of kick.

“We focused on a dish that is family oriented,” Edgar said.

As the clock struck noon, Query gave the go-aheadand within seconds all three stations were a flurry ofactivity. Theobold of Team Edgar/CLBT sliced appleswhile Edgar browned pieces of pork.

Hy-Vee’s Reynolds created the seasoned rub for thepork; Beemer of McCloskey browned pine nuts.

The scents that wafted from McCloskey’s stationwere a mixture of spice and lemon. Hy-Vee’s stationproduced a southwesterly scent of barbecue. On theopposite end of center court the Edgar/CLBT stationsmelled faintly of white wine and steamed broccoli.

Reynolds created quite a stir when he pulled out amini-blow torch to caramelize the sugar and cinnamonthat covered the apples. He was quickly forgiven whenthe scent of caramel apples floated above the crowd.Forty minutes later the Hy-Vee team was plating theirfood for presentation to the judges. McCloskey fol-lowed with their dishes 10 minutes after Hy-Vee;Edgar/CLBT was the final team to present.

Then came judgment time and Arlin Beemer andBrinda Mills were crowned champions.

All judges agreed that each team had one entréethat was better than the others.

Lindgren said that to him there were three distinctflavors — each one had something on each plate thatmade it unique. Burnett thought that all of the foodwas very good and he enjoyed all of the different fla-vors. Gabrielson was impressed with how well the foodwas prepared and seasoned.

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Gary Reynolds, representing Hy-Vee,prepares plates of food for the judges.


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Orzo Pasta with Apples, Cranberries, PineNuts and Maple Syrup

— Arlin Beemer and Brinda Mills, competing forMcCloskey Appliance

2 tablespoons olive oil2 cups orzo pasta4 cups chicken stock½ cup chopped parsley1½ tablespoons rosemary1 tsp. thyme1 diced apple1 cup dried cranberriesHeat oil in pot and sauté orzo until slightly

browned, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add stock, choppedparsley, rosemary, thyme and bring to boil. Reduceheat to simmer and cook covered, stirring occasionallyuntil orzo is just tender, about 10 minutes.

When orzo is cooked remove from heat and toss inapples and cranberries and dressing. Serve immediate-ly or serve cold.

Dressing for orzo¼ cup apple cider vinegar2 tablespoons maple syrup1 tsp. salt½ tsp. white pepper2 tablespoons olive oilMix all ingredients in bowl until well blended.

Steamed Broccoli with Lemon and ParmesanCheese

— Arlin Beemer and Brinda Mills, competing forMcCloskey Appliance

3 heads of broccoli2 tablespoons olive oil4 garlic cloves, sliced thin½ tsp. salt1½ tsp. black pepper2 tsp. lemon zest2 tablespoons lemon juice1/3 cup shredded fresh Parmesan cheeseHeat oil in pan and add sliced gar-

lic and sauté for about 1 minute.Add broccoli and toss to coat, add ½ cup of water, cover and steamuntil broccoli is tender, about 5 to 7minutes. Remove from heat, addremaining ingredients and toss.Served at once.

Ancho Chili Rubbed PorkMedallion

— Arlin Beemer and Brinda Mills,competing for McCloskey Appliance

5 pounds pork tenderloin2 tablespoons unsalted butter2 tablespoons Ancho chili season-

ing1 tsp. ground cumin½ tsp. ground black pepper2 tablespoons flour½ tablespoon salt¼ tsp sugar2 tablespoons chopped shallots1 tablespoon chopped fresh garlic2 tablespoons chopped roasted bell pepper¼ cup white wine

1 cup chicken stock½ cup gourmet whipping creamSalt and pepper to tasteMix flour, Ancho peppers, salt and sugar. Remove

silver skin from pork tenderloin and cut in to medal-lions about ½ inch think. Dredge pork in dry mixture.

Heat sauté pan, add butter. As soon as butter hasmelted add pork and sauté 2 to 3 minutes on each

side. Remove pork. Add shallots and garlic to pan andsauté for about 1 minute until garlic just starts tobrown. Deglaze pan with white wine, add stock andcream and bring sauce to boil. Reduce heat and returnpork to pan to finish cooking, about 3 minutes or untildone. Plate pork and reduce sauce by half, adjust sea-soning.


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Broccoli, Orzo Salad,Served in Corn Husk Canoe

— Gary Reynolds and Tracy Kading, com-peting for Hy-Vee

16-ounce box Barilla Orzo2 spears fresh broccoli, steamed or

caramelized, chopped16-ounce bag Grand Selections Premium

Super Sweet Cut Corn — RoastedRoast sweet corn in an oven on a sheet

pan at 350 degrees, occasionally turning,until roasted (should be done well inadvance).

1 cup sundried tomatoes, sliced2 tablespoons infused oil2 tablespoons cilantro, choppedsea salt, to tasteCorn husk — soak in water for 10 minutes.

Cut away 2 strips of husk then tie off eachend of the husk to form a canoe. Serve saladin the corn husk canoe.

Cook orzo according to directions on pack-age. Combine remaining ingredients withwarm orzo and serve.

Apple and Peach Salsa— Gary Reynolds and Tracy Kading, com-

peting for Hy-Vee2 apples, peeled and diced16-ounce bag V.I.P. Frozen Sliced Peaches,

diced2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped1 fresh jalapeno, seeded and diced1 tablespoon infused oil1, 8.25-ounce can Dole Crushed Pineap-

plePinch of sea saltCombine all ingredi-

ents in a large bowl. Thisrecipe allows for change.Add or omit ingredientsfor your favorite taste.

Serve with pork.* All ingredients avail-

able at Hy-Vee

Warm Cranberry Vinaigrette Sauce— Gary Reynolds and Tracy Kading, competing

for Hy-Vee1, 16-ounce can Hy-Vee Whole Berry cranberry

sauce2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar2 tablespoons vegetable oil¼ cup dried cranberriesPinch of sea saltIn a medium sauce pan, mix all ingredients over

medium high heat and set aside. Thin to taste withwarm water or cranberry juice.

Serve with pork.* All ingredients sold at Hy-Vee

Glazed Carmel Apple with MascarponeWhipped Cream

— Gary Reynolds and Tracy Kading, competingfor Hy-Vee

2 apples, sliced ¼-inch thick (in circles)1/2 cup apple juice1/8 cup apple cider vinegarA pinch of cinnamondrizzle of honey1 packet raw sugar per apple sliceCaramelMascarpone Whipped Cream — add 4 ounces

Mascarpone Cheese with 16 ounces whippedcream

1 candied pecan per apple sliceIn medium pan combine apple juice with apple

vinegar and sauté sliced apple for approximately 5minutes. Remove apples and sprinkle with sugarand cinnamon. Use hand torch to caramelize. Driz-zle with honey, add a dollop of whipped cream,and finish with a drizzle of caramel. Enjoy!

* All ingredients are available at Hy-Vee

Infused Oil1 cup olive oil1 tablespoon crushed red

pepperMix ingredients and let sit

overnight. The infused oil getsbetter with time. Once you usethis, it will become a familyfavorite.

* All ingredients are availableat Hy-Vee


Pork Tenderloin— Gary Reynolds and Tracy Kading, competing for HyVeeHormel Pork Tenderloin, cut in serving size portions, approximately 1-inch

diagonal slices. Should get eight portions from one package3 tablespoons infused oil, dividedSpice rub — equal parts smoked paprika, garlic powder, cinnamon, chili pow-

der, Gus Greek seasoning

After cutting the pork tenderloin, coat the pork with 1 tablespoon infused oil,then season with spice rub. Set aside while heating your pan. Sear pork withremaining infused oil, then reduce heat and finish cooking to proper doneness.

* All ingredients available at Hy-Vee

How the food was judgedThe judges scored the food by assigning a number between 1 and 9, with

9 being the highest. The food was judged on four criteria: taste: flavorful,texture; appearance: presentation on the plate; creativity: ingenuity of useof ingredients; and preparation: easy enough for a regular person to make.


The judging panel was amixture of professionalcooks and regular guyswho love food. Greg Berry,the self-proclaimed least-qualified judge, currentlyis the news director forKIMT, Mason City. CharlieBurnett is the chief cookat Papa’s American Café,Mason City. Marc Gabriel-son is owner of We 3Catering in Belmond. Anda surprise judge, who wasmore surprised than mostas he was asked on thespot at the event, wasGary Lindgren, marketpresident of CommunityNational Bank in MasonCity.

The panelof judges

Clockwise, from top left:Gary Reynolds and Tracy

Kading prepare food duringthe 2010 WOW Women’s

Expo Food Fight at South-bridge Mall in Mason City.Arlin Beemer works on his

orzo recipe. Judges GregGarry and Charlie Burnett-

critique food. Vernell Alexan-der, Kendra Camper, 8, and

Kris Camper enjoy tastingthe food. Amber Theobald

(left) and Robin Edgar pre-pare plates for the judges.


Greek Orzo and Broccoli— Robin Edgar and Amber Theobald, Clear Lake

Bank & TrustServes 15

1 pound uncooked orzo pasta6 cups fresh broccoli florets1 cup pitted Greek calamata olives, sliced in half3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese6 tablespoons minced fresh basil1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds3 tablespoons olive oil1 tsp. crushed red pepper1 tsp. ground pepper1 tablespoon Greek seasoningFresh-squeezed lemon juice

In a large saucepan, cook pasta in boiling water for7 minutes. Add broccoli and cook 2-3 minutes longeror until pasta is tender; drain. Put in large bowl.

In a small nonstick skillet, saute almonds in oil forabout 1 minute. Stir in red pepper flakes and pepper;cook and stir 1 minute longer. Pour over pasta mixture;toss to coat. Stir in remaining ingredients: olives, fetacheese, Parmesan cheese, basil and Greek seasoning.Toss to coat.

Squeeze juice from 1/2 lemon over mixture andtoss.

Pork Tenderloin and Banker's Apples— Robin Edgar and Amber Theobald, Clear

Lake Bank & Trust5 pounds pork tenderloin1 tsp. lemon pepper1 lemon5 applesWhite wine (splash)1 1/4 cups apple juiceSaltCut pork tenderloin into one-inch medal-

lions. Lightly season with lemon pepper (1 tsp.is more than enough) Heat two skillets on highheat. Add a splash of white wine and burn off.

Sear pork tenderloin in skillet (1½ to 3 min-utes on each side at 140-150 degrees).

5. Peel and thinly slice five apples.6. Start cooking the apples in one skillet on

medium heat for 10 minutes. Add ¼ cup applejuice, juice from 1/2 of lemon and add a littlesalt. Reserve other half of lemon for serving atthe end.

7. After apples are done cook 1 cup applejuice over high heat for 5 minutes until it thick-ens into a glaze.

SERVING: Place 1/3 of apple compote onplate and place 2 pork medallions on top ofcompote. Drizzle apple glaze over everythingand finish off by squeezing other half of lemonover pork, apples and orzo.

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all aboutromance

The Midwest boastsmany rroommaannttiiccddeessttiinnaattiioonnss from bedand breakfasts tohistoric landmarks


Text by MARY GRAHAM

wWhen you think of romance, the Mid-west might not be the first place thatcomes to mind. But the Midwest doesboast quite a few romantic destinationsfrom bed and breakfasts to historiclandmarks to restaurants and parks.Here are a few ideas of romantic placesto visit in the Midwest.

BellevueBellevue literally means “beautiful

view,” and it’s easy to see why. Locatedjust under 3½ hours away, the city sitson the banks of the Mississippi Riverwhere couples can stroll along the river-front or enjoy the many festivals andoutdoor concerts that take place everyyear. Plan to stay at the Potter’s Mill Bedand Breakfast that is lodged in Iowa’soldest grist mill from 1843 or at theMont Rest, an historic inn overlooking

the Mississippi River.

DecorahWhether you’re looking for a quiet

spot, a romantic dinner for two or stun-ning hiking trails, Decorah is full of funand interesting places. Dunning’s Springis a scenic park with a 200-foot water-fall, hiking, mountain biking and cross-country ski trails as well as picnic tablesand grills. Plan to stay at the restoredturn-of-the-century hotel, Hotel Win-neshiek.

DubuqueDubuque boasts several bed and

breakfasts like the Hancock House, theSolon Langworthy House or ClarkManor. Visit the Park Farm Winery nes-tled along the rolling hills and trees,

(Clockwise, fromtop left) OsthoffResort in Door Coun-ty, Wis., the SkywayDrive-In Theater inDoor County, Wis.,downtown Galena,Ill., and a treatmentroom at the SundaraInn and Spa in theWisconsin Dells.

On Page 25: TheSundara Villa masterbedroom at the Sun-dara Inn and Spa inthe Wisconsin Dells.

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Take in the Dunnings Springs Waterfall (top) orenjoy a winter bike ride in Decorah or a perfor-mance at the Guthrie Theater is Minneapolis. Inthe summer, enjoy a warm day at WhitefishDunes State Park in Door County, Wis. (left).

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which is especially nice during the fall. Couples couldalso go skiing at Sundown Mountain. Dine at PepperSprout, one of the most romantic restaurants inDubuque. Pepper Sprout offers unique appetizers,seafood, beef, lamb, veal and poultry as well as thearea’s largest wine selections.

Lanesboro, Minn.More than 60 miles of paved bike paths are calling

you for a day full of fitness and fun in the beautifulbluff country. The trails along the Root River are greatfor walks or romantic picnics. You could also rent acanoe or kayak and float down the river or sign up foran Amish tour. Dine at the Riverside on the Root, over-looking the Root River and bike trail or the VintageRestaurant.

Stillwater, Minn.This quaint town is located just 2½ hours away.

Plan to take a dinner cruise on a beautiful paddle-wheel riverboat along the St. Croix River. Drink, dine ordance while quietly gliding up the river. Stillwater’scentury-old Queen Annes and Italianate mansions,once home to well-to-do lumber barons and mer-chants, now house antique shops, rare book storesand bed and breakfasts. Plan to stay at the WilliamSauntry Mansion or the Ann Bean Mansion.

MinneapolisMinneapolis is full of historic neighborhoods, parks

and lakes, and offers a vibrant theater and art scene. Amust-do walk is the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail, atwo-mile path accessible from downtown Minneapoliswith scenic views of the falls and the Mississippi River.Lake Calhoun is a great place to bike, in-line skate,canoe or just stroll around the lakefront. Explore Nicollet Island, an attractive 1800s-era village, in ahorse-drawn carriage. During the winter, couples canlace up some blades and take to the ice at The Depot,a renovated train depot now complete with a skatingrink, indoor water park and two hotels. The GrandHotel also offers luxury lodging.

Galena, Ill.This quaint town is full of places for a romantic

escape just over three hours away. Stay at the EagleRidge Resort, the Aldrich Guest House or the StoneyCreek Inn. This cozy town is renowned for its excellentcraft and antique shops. Dine at the Backstreet Steakand Chophouse that’s located one block off of thebusy historic section. Backstreet Steak and Chophousehas a casual atmosphere and is a popular prime steakhouse in the tri-state area.

Couples can enjoya ride with Mayberry’s

Carriages in DoorCounty, Wis.

Enjoy a day of skiing atSundown Mountain inDubuque.

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UticaStarved Rock near Utica is one of the most

beautiful parks in Illinois, located just 28 milessouthwest of Chicago. Hike up the rocky bluffsand past waterfalls for great views of the IllinoisRiver or wander through the little town of Utica.You will find great nightlife, romantic hotels, inti-mate dining venues and secluded retreats. VisitStarved Rock in the winter to see bald eagles,frozen waterfalls and ice climbers. Stay at theStarved Rock Lodge that offers a hotel, cabins inthe woods, an indoor pool/hot tub/sauna, arestaurant and bar.

ChicagoChicago features many world-class attractions

such as the Art Institute, Navy Pier, Adler Planetari-um and the Museum of Science and Industry. NavyPier is a great spot to enjoy the Chicago Lakefrontviews and breeze. You can round out the day withdinner at any one of many nearby restaurants, andthere’s an evening fireworks display during the

summer months. Couples can take a downtownand lakefront tour of some of the best Chicagosights on a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride.Enjoy a drink at the Signature Lounge on the 96thfloor of the John Hancock Center, which is espe-cially romantic at sunset. Or, go ice skating (forfree) at Millennium Park Ice Rink.

Wisconsin DellsThe Sundara Inn and Spa has been voted in the

top 10 in the country. With just 26 suites, the spais very private and since no children are allowedon the premises you can enjoy a romantic get-away. While at the inn, dine at the Fields at theWilderness, which is a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspiredrestaurant featuring great steaks.

Door CountyEnjoy a sunset carriage ride, rent a tandem bicy-

cle and explore the trails at one of there stateparks, or treat your loved one to a night at a classicdrive-in movie theater at Door County. You can

also take a tour of the many wineries in the area orgrab an ice cream cone at one of several ice creamshops. Enjoy a romantic beach while walking handin hand at Whitefish Dunes State Park.

Elkhart LakeThe AAA Four Diamond Osthoff Resort resem-

bles a grand summer hotel with its lake views andOld World charm. Originally opened in 1886, thisresort is located in the quaint town of Elkhart Lakeand offers the best of both worlds: plenty of activi-ties if you want to keep busy or hideaways forrespite, including a spa and secluded areas tostroll along the lake. Sunbathe at the resort’s 500-foot beach or take a canoe or kayak out on thelake, which is especially tranquil at sunset. Theresort hosts morning and sunset cruises and lightsbonfires along the lakefront at night. Walk into thetown of Elkhart Lake to window shop. Meanderalong the 25-mile guided driving route throughWisconsin’s tree-dense Kettle Moraine State Park,which is spectacular in the fall.

Enjoy a romanticvacation by visitingSimon Creek Vineyard& Winery in DoorCounty, Wis.

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let the sunshine in

Vitamin D ppllaayyss aann iimmppoorrttaanntt role in keeping your body healthy

Text by ANNETTE SNYDER

IIs vitamin D the newest miracle worker? One

might think so. Vitamin D has been linked to mus-cle strength, fighting multiple sclerosis, fightingcolon cancer and more. Vitamin D is more hormonethan vitamin. It sends signals to different parts ofthe body, telling them to do certain jobs. The mostwell-known “job” is that of “telling” the intestines topull in calcium as we digest food. Without vitaminD, calcium doesn’t do much good.

The current recommendation for vitamin D forhealthy adults is 400 International Units, or IU, perday. However, many new studies say we needmuch more than that. According to the newest fig-ures, we may actually need 2,000-4,000 IU per dayto maintain more useful levels in our blood. Therehave been few problems with toxicity (too much) atthese levels. The amount we aim for right now isjust enough to prevent a deficiency (too little),rather than the best amount for us.

We’re finding out many new things. Studies havelinked vitamin D to lower risk of falls in the elderly.In one study, there was a 49 percent lower chanceof falls between women taking just calcium vs. cal-cium with vitamin D. Fracture (bone break) riskgoes down 33 percent while taking higher amountsvitamin D. Breast cancer risk decreases with more


vitamin D. Higher intakes of vitamin D are linked tolower prostate and colon cancer risk. The amount ofpeople diagnosed with multiple sclerosis is muchhigher in northern states than southern states. Why?There is much less sunlight and vitamin D produc-tion north of a line stretching from northern Califor-nia to Kansas to Virginia. Sunlight exposure is muchless above this line. States in the South report less multiple sclerosis.One study even linked higher blood levels of vita-min D and lower chance of getting the flu. Bloodpressure rates go down 20 percent with higherintakes of vitamin D.

To be fair, some of these studies need to bebacked by further research. The interesting thingabout taking more vitamin D is what ends up in theblood. Apparently, the amount we would have inour blood from an intake of 2,000-4,000 IU per dayis much less than a lifeguard’s level at the end ofthe summer. The lifeguard has much more sunexposure (which helps the body make vitamin D inthe skin) — and they are not toxic. Farm workers intropical areas of the world have even higher levels,without problems.

Who’s at risk for low vitamin D levels? Any of usnorthern-dwellers during the winter months, theelderly, those with naturally dark skin, those whoslather on sunscreen constantly and those who arehome-bound or in a nursing facility. Our vitamin Dlevels drop 40 percent during the winter months.Lotion with an SPF of 8 will block out 95 percent ofthe required sun needed to make vitamin D in ourskin. SPF 15 blocks out 99 percent.

Aside from our bodies making vitamin D in theskin, there are food sources. However, naturalsources of vitamin D are not plentiful in most peo-ple’s diets. Salmon, cod liver oil and egg yolks arenatural sources. Vitamin D is added to milk, makingit the best food source for most people. Even so, toget in 2000 IU of vitamin D per day from milk alonerequires an intake of 160 ounces (20 cups) of milk.

What to do? Get in food sources when possibleand get outside in the spring and summer, and sup-plement your vitamin D in the winter. Make sureyour vitamin D source (usually in pill form) providesat least 800-1000 IU. Concerned about skin cancer?All we need is 10-20 minutes of unprotected expo-sure 2-3 times per week. After that, slather on allthe lotion you desire.

Get (and stay) healthy. Do make sure to checkwith your health care provider first before startingto take more vitamin D as it may not be appropriatefor some health conditions. Otherwise, soak up ahealthy amount of sunshine, enjoy some salmon(or milk or eggs ...) and get yourself a good sourceof daily D.

AAnnnneettttee SSnnyyddeerr iiss aa rreeggiisstteerreedd ddiieettiicciiaann wwhhoo wwoorrkkss iinn CCllaarriioonn..


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4-year-old shows givingspirit, compassion

As the mother of an only child, I often worry about how to bestteach my son, Drew, about sharing and showing kindness to others.

Drew is a fantastic little boy — I promise I’m not just saying thatsince I’m his mom — but it’s hard to understand having to share whenhe lives in a family where he stands at the center of all our worlds. Butone weekend following the tragic earthquake in Haiti, my fears of rais-ing a selfish little boy who didn’t know any better were erased.

My husband, Bryan, and I watched the horror in Haiti unfold withthe rest of the world. As we tried to explain the disaster to Drew ina way appropriate and understandable for a 4-year-old, his faceturned serious and his brow furrowed over his eyes. “Are the kids inHaiti sad and scared, Mommy?” was the only question he had. Wetold him that yes, the children of Haiti were probably very sad andscared and we wanted to make sure to include Haiti in our prayers.Then Drew shrugged and turned back to the train track he wasbuilding to overtake the entire first floor of our house.

Bryan and I figured we had gotten through to Drew that some-thing very sad had happened, but we didn’t think he understoodbeyond that. Hey, he was 4; what could we expect, right?

This thought was exactly the reason why I was dumbfoundedwhen he approached me the next day with the same serious expres-sion on his face. Drew, not one to mince words, cut straight to the

chase. “Mommy, I want to help the Haiti kids. How do I help?” At first, I was at a loss for words. Finally, I suggested that the chil-

dren suffering from the earthquake might need clothes and shoessince they lost everything. Without a moment’s hesitation, Drewsaid, “I have that stuff, and a lot is too small for me ‘cuz I’m 4!”

Together, we figured out that we could put the materials in bags.We spent the entire afternoon going through Drew’s old clothes,shoes, books and toys. In the end, we had nearly 10 large bags fullof those items ready to help the children in Haiti.

After we were done, Drew said with enthusiasm, “Look at allthose bags! Let’s take them to Haiti right now!” I explained to himthat Haiti was a long way away and we would give them to otherpeople who would make sure they got to the children who neededthem most. Although a bit disappointed with my answer, Drew saidhe understood and went back to playing with his trains.

Bryan and I talked about Drew that night, as we often do, andcouldn’t believe how our little boy had taken to heart the need ofchildren in Haiti and become determined to find a way to helpthem. It was at that moment I knew I didn’t have to worry about myonly child never learning how to share and help others. In fact, Iended up learning that lesson from him.

SSeetthhaannnnee DDeeGGaabbrriieellee iiss aa ffrreeee--llaannccee wwrriitteerr wwhhoo lliivveess iinn MMaassoonn CCiittyy wwiitthh hheerr hhuussbbaanndd aann ssoonn..

By SETHANNE DEGABRIELE


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Text by RHONDA REGAN


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Emergency: Face needs refresheningQuick Fix: Cold water“Just splash cold

water on yourface. The coldwater helps totighten pores,”said IreneRichards, instructorat La James Col-lege, Mason City.

Emergency: Lip careQuick Fix: Petroleum

JellyChapped lips or no lip

gloss or lip balm? Try petro-leum jelly. “An over-the-counter product such asVaseline helps to moisturizethe lips while giving yourlips a nice shine,” saidRichards.

Emergency: Angry PimpleQuick Fix: toothpaste/antibiotic cream mixture

Using a mixture of toothpasteand an antibiotic cream such as

Neosporin, an unexpected pimplecan be a thing of the past within aday. According to Bridgett Soland,esthetician and massage therapist at

Salon 220 in Mason City, the unusualmixture is her quick fix. “The toothpaste

dries out the pimple and the antibioticcream helps with the healing.”Another option is to conceal it with make-

up. Richards provides this tip: “Don’t pick at it,instead cover it with make-up and use prod-

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Emergency: EyelinerQuick Fix: Eye shadow

“Be sure to use adarker color, suchas brown or mid-night blue. Usingthe tip of your eye-shadow applicator,run it along underyour bottom eye-lashes and brushalong your uppereyelashes” saidJohanna Kotsopou-los, Lancombe

counter manager for Younkers in Mason City.

Emergency: Under eye smudgesQuick Fix: Loose powderSoland suggests applying

loose powder underyour eyes as it willbrighten the areaand eliminate someof the smudges.“Putting loose pow-der under your eyesalso helps to clear away excess eye shadowthat had flaked off the brush when applyingyour eye shadow.”

Emergency: Winter pallorQuick Fix: Shimmery highlighter

“To combat winter paleness, apply asheer, shimmery, highlighter, to thebridge of your nose, forehead andchin areas. Possibly something thatis translucent. Doing this will giveyou a light spring/summer, glowy,sun-kissed look. Another option isto apply some at the corners of theeyes. It will give you a refreshed,

more-awake look.”

Emergency: Going flat permQuick Fix: Hair-shaping products“If your perm is starting to lose some

bounce, try using style aids, such as gelsor mousse. Something that is flexiblebut will keep hold in the hair a little bitlonger,” said Richards.

Emergency: Unsightly nails/cuticlesQuick Fix: Wash the dishes!If you are in need of a manicure

but are short on time, wash thedishes. Richards recommends thisbecause your nails and cuticles willbe soft after soaking in the soapywater, which is a good time to pushback the cuticle and file your nails.“Washing dishes provides almost thesame procedure as a professionalmanicure — you’re softening yournails, preparing them to be shaped. Also, be sure touse your thumb nail to push the cuticle back if youdon’t have manicure tools.”

Emergency: Stubborn lipstickQuick Fix: Eye Make-up removerKotsopoulos said that when you

have a stubborn lipstick stain thatwon’t come off without rubbing yourlips off, you can dab a little bit of eyemake-up remover on a Q-tip and rubalong your lips to remove the lipstickstain. “Be sure to wash off theremover with soap and water after-wards.”

Emergency: Puffy eyesQuick Fix: Prepara-

tion HIf a cool compress

or cucumbers are notreadily handy to dimin-ish those puffy eyes, trysome Preparation H. Accordingto Diane Arndt, co-owner and stylist atReflections, Mason City, using the ointmentwill decrease the puffiness around your eyes. “Dabgently, using your ring finger, on the puffy area. Besure to not get in your eye and washointment away after 15 minutes” saidArndt.

Emergency: Droopy eyesQuick Fix: Minimal use mascaraStayed out too late the night before

and it’s apparent in your eyes? Tryapplying mascara to upper lashes onlyas it makes your eyes appear brighter.Arndt suggests this because “If you onlyput mascara on the upper lashes thenthe attention is drawn away from thelower lashes because there’s nothingdark by the circles under your eyes.”


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Text by RHONDA REGAN

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Exercising during the wintermonths can be a struggle — snowy,wintry, sub-zero temperature daysdon’t exactly entice a person to getinto a cold vehicle and trek to thegym. If that’s your story and you’resticking to it then try exercising inyour own back yard. Local fitnessexperts provide activities that youcan do without needing extra orexpensive equipment.

Walking — “Walking is a prettysimple exercise that doesn’t take alot of equipment. Just be sure to getbundled up,” said Jeff Brandow, cer-tified personal trainer in Mason City.“Tromping through the snow getsthe heart rate up and the snow addsextra resistance that works the legmuscles.”

Mark Vrba, head athletic trainer atNIACC also suggested walking buthe recommended hilly areas. “Hillyareas make you work harder and useyour muscles more,” he said.

Shoveling Snow — Snow shovel-ing is not an activity that any NorthIowan worth their salt loves to do,but it is great physical exercise. Vrbasaid “shoveling snow for about 30-45 minutes is a great workout. If it’snot a lot of snow, forget the blowerand grab the shovel. All that bendingand lifting is good for the cardiovas-cular system” he said.

Charles Green, fitness expert at

the YMCA in Mason City, cautionsagainst this activity for anyone withheart or blood pressure issues. “Donot participate in this activity if youhave heart problems or high bloodpressure as you can possibly dophysical harm to yourself,” Greensaid.

Sledding — an activity that thewhole family can enjoy and it burnscalories at the same time. “Carryingthe sled provides weight resistanceand walking uphill uses leg musclesand helps to burn calories. It’s agreat cardio-vascular workout,” saidVrba.

Snow activities — snowballfight/snowman-making/snow fortconstruction — activities that get theheart rate elevated. According toVrba, making a snowman providesweight resistance — pushing the ballaround as it increases and stacking iton top of another ball — and increas-es your cardiovascular rate. A snow-ball fight elevates the heart rate andalso provides weight resistance —creating the snowball and thenwhipping it at your opponent.“Building a fort is similar to shovel-ing snow as you’re digging tunnelsinto the snow,” Vrba said.

Other activities that requireequipment: cross-country skiing,snowshoeing, or ice skating are allactivities that increase cardiovascular


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fitness and boosts your energy. Brandow sug-gests that if you have a favorite indoor activityto find a way to do it outside. “What can youdo in weather like this? Move!”

Vrba mentions that people who exercisemore in the winter months have a 20-30 per-cent better chance of not getting a cold.

It’s important to not only get some outsideexercise but also to dress appropriately. Vrbasuggests dressing in thin layers, not thickclothing. The clothing closest to your skinshould be made of material that can wick themoisture away from your body.

“While you’re working out, if you get warmyou can peel off a layer, then during yourcooling-off period if you get cold you can putthe layers back on,” Vrba said. It’s also impor-tant to protect your skin during windy days.“The outermost layer of clothing should bewind resistant to help against wind chill. Itwill help reduce the body of cooling toomuch.”

Keeping your head warm is a must as youlose most of your body heat through yourhead. And don’t forget your feet. Green saidwear proper footwear for good traction soyou don’t slip on the ice or snow.

As you’re engaged in the activity bringalong your favorite liquid for hydration. “Keep-ing hydrated during any workout, whetherindoors or out is important because you losea lot of water through sweat and vapor,” saidVrba.


What a character!Children go through many phases in life, iinncclluuddiinngg

pprreetteennddiinngg ttoo bbee ffiiccttiioonnaall cchhaarraacctteerrss.

dDo you ever wonder how your kids ended up to

be such characters? You recall the days of princessgowns, fairytale castles and your daughter changingher name to Cinderella. Perhaps the Spidermanphase was partly to blame. You remember months ofwatching your son eat, sleep and live in costume,swooping from surface to surface via his pretendweb. How about the times you were under housearrest until the stormtroopers secured your property?

Most of us can recount our parenting yearsthrough various character phases. There were theBarbie and Batman years followed by Dora andSpongebob, evolving to Luke and Darth, Ariel, Han-nah Montana, the Mutant Ninjas. And who can forgetthe Transformers.

But what happens when your child’s interest seemsmore of an obsession? Should you worry if your sonwants to be renamed Harry or you daughter petitionsto move the family to Forks?

Younger kids becomeobsessed with their favorite car-toon, television or movie charac-ters faster but also more fleet-ingly than pre-teens and teens.Some obsessions can’t movequickly enough, of course, andanyone who has been torturedby repeated exposure to Bar-ney’s song knows what I mean.Though their beloved charactersmay seem far-fetched to anysane adult, the entertainment isusually innocent and the showsoften center around positivemessages for kids.

When it comes to pre-teensand tweens, though, entertainment gets a little more,well, entertaining and the idolized characters aren’talways great role models. And because kids at thisage are impressionable, their attachment to a charac-ter can go from interest to infatuation quickly andthe obsession can become compulsive.

If Bella seems more than a little star struck, haswatched her favorite move more than five times, col-lected the action figures, plastered her room inmovie paraphernalia and talks of nothing other thanher favorite character, you may need to get involved.The first step is to familiarize yourself with the mater-ial. Read the books or watch the movie so you knowexactly what your child is obsessed with, and also soyou can talk about it together. Use the opportunity to

discuss why Bella relates to her favorite character.This is a great way to explore her views on relation-ships, what type of personalities she thinks are cool,attractive, or alluring. Remember that during thetween and teen years kids are shaping their imagesand looking for groups or people with whom toidentify. Be instrumental in this process by pointingout what is real versus Hollywood and what ishealthy versus destructive.

Keep a balance. Set limits on how much time Harrycan spend reading, watching, or playing out his char-acter. Then, encourage participation in other activitiessuch as hanging out with friends doing somethingunrelated to the book or movie characters. Exposureto other entertainment will help reduce his obsession.

Don’t feed the frenzy. Bella may own the books, havewatched the movies more than a lot and have a TeamEdward T-shirt, but stop there. Resist purchasing every

poster, magazine, sweatshirt, pin,earring or video game out there.

Do not belittle your child’sobsession. Telling Harry thatmagic isn’t real and that he issilly for talking to the owl in thetree will not help. Instead, usethe opportunity to tell himabout your favorite charactergrowing up and what youenjoyed about the movie orshow which influenced you.Recounting how Danny Zukowas your hero may help lightenup his own emotional attach-ment to his character.

If Harry or Bella withdrawfrom friendships or activities

and elect to live in altered universes instead of reali-ty, then it’s time to get serious. Sometimes kids usefictional characters and situations to escape fromproblems with friends, at home, or at school. If this isthe case, then help your child by seeking help.

Kids have been drawn to fictional characters eversince “Once upon a Time.” Favorites come, and usu-ally favorites go. On the upside, kids are readingenthusiastically and parents should be happy to seeBella reach for a book rather than a video game. Butlike everything involving tweens and teens, balance,moderation and guidance are key components totheir successful character development.

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Dear Jessica,The Fair Housing

Law provides that it isunlawful for a landlordto indicate throughwritten rule anypreference, limitation,or discriminationbased on familialstatus. The rule that youdescribed is a restrainton the use of the apartment facilities bytenants’ children, which in turn discriminatesagainst tenants with children on the“preference” for adult-only households, inthat it affects tenant children, and thus,families with children, differently thanchildless households.

The last part of your question is the easiestto answer. By prohibiting tenants with smallchildren from occupying balcony apartmentsthe manager is engaging in the illegalpractice of steering. A landlord can notjustify steering families with children awayfrom housing by groundlessly claiming thatthe balcony apartment would be unsafe forresident children.

Dear Amy,I have three small children and I applied to

rent an apartment in a multi-level building.During my interview with the building manag-er, I was told they have a rule which bans chil-dren from playing or running around insidethe building area at anytimebecause of the disturbances toother tenants. The rule saysthat in the interests of safety Ican not occupy a second floorbalcony apartment because Ihave small children. Can theydo that?

- Jessica

If you have a question regarding your Fair Housing Rights in Cerro Gordo County

please contact

Mason CityHuman Rights Commission2nd Floor City Hall, 10 First St. N.W.

Mason City, IA 50401 or 641-421-3618www.masoncity.net/humanrights

LANDLORDS CAN NOT CREATE RULES WHICH DISCRIMINATE AGAINST FAMILIES


By ANN-MARIE BERG


Challenge Your Mind.

Focus Your Future.Future.

Change Your Life.

NIACC… Where You Want To GoGet started now.

422-4245 or 1-888-GO NIACC, ext. 4245

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WOW - Spring 2010