Join us Monday, August 6th for a 20 minute walk around The Beach and a Wellness Discussion to follow.

Day Trippin’
By: Stacey N. Dunaway

So here it is, almost the end of summer and you’re running out of time to take a much needed family vacation. Well, there’s no need to book a flight. Day trips are a great way to explore our region without the hassle of airports and rental cars.

Out of Africa
The Wilds, a large wildlife conservation center, is home to more than 25 species of wildlife from Africa, Asia and North America. Located in Cumberland, OH (southeast of Zanesville), guided day and sunset tours are offered May - October and range from $13 - $60. Visit www.thewilds.org or call 740.638.5030 for more information. (more…)

Empty nester… now what?
By: Amy Whisenhunt

The graduation parties are over. The kids are packed and out the door and you realize you have just become an “empty nester.” You and your spouse have dedicated your lives to being parents. However if the children are your only connecting point, their leaving can cause a “disconnect” in the marriage. Hope is not lost. Your lives are getting ready to evolve again and this is the time to reconnect with your spouse so you may start the next chapter. (more…)

Handcrafted children’s items, custom embroidery

Cathleen Hollenkamp
Loveland
cthkamp@fuse.net
www.cicibebestore.com

“My grandmother taught me to sew when I was very young. She was a talented seamstress and known throughout Cincinnati as the ‘Doll Lady’ for her business of restoring antique dolls. I wanted to continue her legacy, but my passion was moved more towards sewing rather than dolls.

“The design ideas come from my children and other moms telling me things they wish they had or what would be cute. People are always giving me ideas – I can’t keep up with them all!

“The most enjoyable aspect is the creativity and the delight in seeing the client’s face when they open up the item and see the design or name.”

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What’s Your Style?
By: Kelly Clark

Does your home’s décor have a particular style, or are you still trying to define it? If you know what you like but are unsure what specifically characterizes your favorite style, here are some guidelines for making successful selections and pulling together a few of today’s popular styles. (more…)

How to contract the right contractor
By: Gary Sullivan

If your kitchen needs remodeling or you want to add onto your home, how do you pick the right contractor for the job? The best place to find a good contractor is by asking family and friends for a reference. Who did they use for their home improvement projects? Or, if you know a building inspector, ask them. They know the contractors that meet code inspections and who finish their projects on time. You can also check with building supply companies for a good reference. (more…)

How the hunger scale can keep you slim and satisfied
By: Katherine Wight

Food and math seem to have an inescapable partnership. From nutrition labels to computing daily calorie quotas - quantifying the food we consume is a national obsession. We use scales for weighing, calculations for converting and different point systems to try and make sense of it all. And now we have a different number set to ponder. A tool used by diet gurus to teach patients the appropriate time to eat by rating their hunger: The hunger scale. (more…)

Remedies for allergy relief
By: Dr. Gretchen Dyer and Amy Livingston MSHN, CNC

Is it hard to enjoy picnics and family outings when grass, pollen or other allergens are preventing you from participating in outdoor fun? You could be one of nearly 35 million people who visit doctors each year complaining of facial pain, a cough, headache, stuffy nose and/or itchy eyes. If this is you, why not try one of these natural remedies: (more…)

What can you and our schools do?
By: Katherine Wight

Childhood obesity is creeping closer to epidemic proportions. More and more kids are being diagnosed with adult diseases such as high blood pressure and type II diabetes. The American Heart Association has partnered with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation in order to stop the nationwide increase of childhood obesity and empower kids to make healthy lifestyle choices. (more…)

Heat up the summer with a sassy cocktail
By: Leigh Russo

Before you mix up another martini this summer, take your taste buds on a trip south of the border. Latin cocktails are becoming wildly popular in restaurants and backyard barbecues, thanks in no small part to the Cuban influence of rum. In its earliest days, rum was considered a medicinal on the sugar plantations. Now, with the addition of various fruit punches and a paper umbrella, we use it to get the party started! (more…)

5 exercises performed with a ball for fitness anytime, anywhere.

By: Greet France, certified Spinning and Pilates instructor.

Waist whittler
Works abs and hips

A1.Lie on your right side, rest your head in your right hand and stabilize yourself with your left hand planted on the floor and in front of your chest. Keep your chest open, hips are stacked. A2.Inhale and engage your abs, then squeeze into ball and raise both legs about 12 inches off the floor as you exhale. Hold for a count of 4, then lower them just above the floor. Inhale and raise again on the exhale. Do this 8 to 10 reps and repeat on the left side.

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How a 38-year-old mother of two stays on top of her game.
Interview with Holly McPeak, Professional volleyball player, 17 years on AVP tour.

q. How do you protect your skin, hair and eyes from the sun, sand and wind?

I use keratasse hair sunscreen when I head out in the sun. I also wear a visor, sunglasses and sunscreen at all times.

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Make sure your furry friends are taken care of with a pet trust
By: Patty K. Scott, Senior VP and Managing Director First Financial Bank Wealth Resource Group

If you’re worried about what might happen to your beloved pet after your death, it’s possible to create a pet trust to provide for the continuing care and well-being of a particular animal or animals. (more…)

Fashions for women headed back to school

Building a versatile wardrobe starts with great basics, especially if you are returning to college this fall. Staple wardrobe items can include: (more…)

What we wouldn’t do for Fido
By: Melissa Davis Haller

Like many Mason homeowners, Tina Brandner has two “kids.” She takes them to the park a couple times a week, to the doctor regularly, and they pose for the professional portraits decorating the walls of Brandner’s home. (more…)

Before Sending Their Child Off to College…
By: Annie Sullivan

Don’t hover
You have heard the term “helicopter parent,” the mom or dad that calls daily on top of those lengthy e-mails filled with questions or suggestions for their child’s latest problem. Though your concern is very much appreciated, college is a time to learn independence. If a problem is more than your child can handle, most will seek the advice of a parent. As for the small problems that may arise, such as the power being out in the dorm for a couple of hours, don’t worry. Your child will manage to relocate somewhere else without your guidance. (more…)

Party on!
By: Stacey N. Dunaway

By now most of us have accepted that we aren’t Martha Stewart. But just because we can’t throw the “perfect” party, doesn’t mean we can’t throw a great party! All you need is a fun theme, a big imagination and directions to the nearest party store. (more…)

Get peddling on the Loveland Bike Trail
By: Martin Schickel

If you are looking for a great way to spend a sunny afternoon, look no further. Biking along the Loveland Bike Trail is a fun and healthy outing that can be tailored to suit the busiest moms or the most adventurous senior citizens. Here is an outline of a simple ride that can be undertaken by anyone. (more…)

How one woman strives to make a difference
By: Staci Giordullo

Her smile is always welcoming, even with the futures of 5,700 students weighing constantly on her mind. As Superintendent of the Sycamore Community School District, Adrienne James, Ed.D. is responsible not only for the immense student population, but also managing a $70 million budget while overseeing a staff of nearly 800. Her caring nature is evident as she looks forward to making an impact on a larger scale within the education system. The dream she harbors for each student is one of success and her unrelenting determination will certainly drive those around her to make that dream a reality. (more…)

From corporate America to the halls of academia
By: Staci Giordullo

Honestly, how many of us can say we love our jobs? Whether it is as a stay-at-home mom (a.k.a. domestic engineer) or a full-time businesswoman, we have all fantasized of our dream job. But that’s where the fantasy usually ends – for most. For others, they take the plunge and move from one career to another in search of making a difference in their lives. Here are just two of many stories about Tri-state women who discovered their destiny was in the world of education. (more…)