September 30, 2008

Yesterday, nearly two weeks after Hurrican Ike blew through Cincinnati,all the debris that we had cleaned up from the downed tree limbs and piled up by the curb was picked up by the hardworking crews in my hometown. With neighbors on both sides of our home losing big trees, the debris pile was considerable. Now I finally can see grass, although it’s brown grass, again.

I’ve promised myself that I wouldn’t be caught without some emergency essentials the next time a big surprise from Mother Nature affects us. Although I always keep flashlights, emergency blankets, food and water in the car and home, I wasn’t quite as prepared for a long term event as I had thought. So I researched a couple of disaster prepardness websites, including the American Red Cross, ( www.redcross.org ) to learn just what to keep on hand. (more…)

More Homeowners using Wood to Warm Their Homes

By Gary Sullivan

This fall and winter energy costs will continue to rise and more homeowners will turn to burning wood to help heat their homes. Whether you are using a fireplace or a wood stove it is important to know more about wood.

Know Your Wood

Oak, apple and walnut are hard, heavy woods and produce the most heat. Maples and elm are medium hard and will burn more rapidly and produce less heat, and are not a problem to stoves or chimneys.  Soft woods like pine and spruce should not be used in home heating. (more…)

The Personal Choices Faced, Decisions Made Along the Way

By Peg Ashbrock

 It’s breast cancer.

Three of the scariest words you can hear from a loved one or friend, words that forever change a life. Two local women heard those words this year; only one is a survivor. Last year it was estimated that 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed in the United States. With more early detection, more early treatment, more research there is hope. Billions of dollars are now being directed at critical research and treatment programs. Their goal? A cure. As National Breast Cancer Awareness Month begins, make the time to learn and make time to make a difference.

Living Your Life

In October 2003, 43-year-old Sandy Lawall, a spunky professional landscaper, received a letter from her radiologist that her annual breast exam was normal. However, days later after performing a monthly self breast exam she knew when she felt a lump that something was far from normal. (more…)

 Hormones in our 30s,40s, 50s +

By Bruce Worrell, M.D.

You may be under the misconception that we don’t need to worry about our hormones until the hot flashes and night sweats start. That thinking couldn’t be further from the truth.

As the chemical messengers for our bodies, hormones regulate virtually every key function of your body, from brain activity to cell metabolism to reproduction.  Hormonal balance is our body’s natural, healthy state. But chronic hormonal imbalance creates a host of problems — not just your symptoms, but also a weakened immune system, accelerated aging, and an increased risk of disease. Hormones are powerful and constantly changing as we age. (more…)

Calm Down and Reduce Your Stress

By Melissa Davis Haller

You’ve heard it before: Relax. Take deep, cleansing breathes. Think happy thoughts. You’ll reduce stress and improve your health.

Ummm. Sure.

With a job, bills, children, and a house that requires managing, doing nothing but breathing for an hour just doesn’t seem productive.

But experts in the practice of guided imagery swear by this practice as a way to calm down and reduce the harmful effects of stress.  It’s often used to prepare patients for surgery or fight illness. But it can work for anyone. (more…)

What You and Your Child Need to Know

By Peg Ashbrock

You have all the right equipment for your child’s sports this fall- the ball, the shoes, the protective gear. But even the best trained kids with great ability won’t compete well if you don’t give them the right start. They need food, and drink. But just how much and when?

Rev Up Their Engine

44 million American kids are playing competitive youth sports. Between practices and games, they are more than meeting the 60 minutes of exercise a day that’s recommended by health experts. “We encourage activity, or sports, that combine an aerobic activity as well as strength and flexibility,” explained Anne Marie Kemer, R.D.,L.D. The Children’s Hospital Medical Center dietician explained the importance of kids being active.  “Active kids lower the risk of obesity and chronic disease, reduce feelings of depression and anxiety, and promote confidence and self esteem as well as a sense of accomplishment.” (more…)

Mat Pilates Exercises with the ring

Adductor squeeze with ring

Lie on your right side on the mat. Legs are slightly in front of your body, With the hips stacked. Place the ring above your ankles, with legs externally rotated. Right elbow is under your shoulder and left hand on the mat by your ribcage. Exhale – squeeze into the ring; tighten your abs, inner thighs and gluteals. Inhale – release a little. Exhale and squeeze, holding it for 3-2-1. Repeat 8 -10 times.

Start with the following, before doing exercise 2.

1. Spinal elongation: Lie on your back and lengthen through the left arm and left leg, then the right arm and right leg. Extend the legs out of the hip and lengthen the waist as you stretch. This is your neutral spine or neutral alignment.
2. Forced exhalation (FE): with the hand placed on the ribcage, breath in. On the exhale, force the air out through pursed lips or by making the “ha” sound  (as if you are steaming up a mirror).  As you blow the air out against resistance, contract the abdominals and close the ribcage. This helps to enhance the contraction of the deep abdominals. Use this type of breathing during the exercises to deepen your ab contraction. (more…)

Breakfast on the Go

By Peg Ashbrock

Are manic mornings the norm at your house? Everyone going in separate directions, things being forgotten, and no one with a smile on their face while they run out the door towards the day ahead?

We’ve all had those mad-dash mornings when eating a healthy breakfast is the last thing on our mind. We’ve also heard nutritionists telling us that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Studies show eating breakfast increases your metabolic burn rate, makes you feel full longer, and keeps you from eating as much at night.  “After last eating dinner the night before, your body goes on a 10-hour fast until breakfast, so eating breakfast gives your brain the fuel it needs to stay mentally alert,” explained Chrisy O’Connor, RD,LD and owner of Personal Newtrition. “It’s like a fire; you have to keep throwing logs on it to make it work.” (more…)

Coupon Savvy Shoppers Save Big $$$

By Peg Ashbrock

Coupon clipping is back in style. With soaring fuel prices and rampant inflation we’re all looking at ways to cut corners. At the grocery food prices have already risen over 6% so far this year with no end in sight. So why not look for ways to save?

More than 86% of U.S. consumers use coupons; shoppers last year saved $2.6 billion just by using coupons, with the average coupon user saving about 11% on their grocery bill.

Where to Find Coupons

Coupons have been around since 1894 when Asa Candler, the druggist who bought the formula for Cola-Cola, began giving out handwritten tickets for a free glass of his new fountain drink. They became a staple in American households during the Depression in the 1930s, and as supermarkets sprouted across the country the coupon tradition continued. (more…)

Cincinnati Area Bed and Breakfast Inns Welcome Travelers

By Melissa Haller

Earlier this year, Linda Diller and her husband took off on a renewing and romantic getaway for Valentine’s Day, but they skipped the stress of traveling. Well, unless you count the mile they drove from their Cincinnati home to Six Acres Bed and Breakfast in nearby College Hill.

There, the couple relaxed all weekend while Six Acres owner Kristen Kitchen set up massages, served fresh fritters and fruit, and offered up some friendly conversation. “It was totally fun and awesome,” Diller remembers fondly. “Six Acres is a historic site, and it’s lovely.” (more…)

The Hills of Brown County

By Peg Ashbrock

Just two and a half hours from Cincinnati in south central Indiana, is one of the most scenic areas in the Midwest. The hills of Brown County Indiana come alive especially in the fall; the charming arts community of Nashville welcomes you to the perfect spot for a weekend adventure.

Indiana’s Most Visited Park

The area is home to one of Indiana’s most visited park, Brown County State Park, as well as the Hoosier National Forest, and Yellowwood State Forest making it the perfect destination for fall. Millions of Midwest families visit the area each year; camping, hiking, riding horseback and enjoying the natural beauty of the rolling hills of southern Indiana. October is the most visited time of the year. (more…)

Easy updates create a fresh look

By Eva Grippa

As we leave the steamy days of summer behind for the cooler days of fall, it may be the time to update your home’s look. While major (and expensive) improvements like redoing your kitchen or finishing your basement, might be at the top of the list, sometimes it’s the small changes that can make the difference. Good news: freshening up your home’s look can be done easily and on a budget.

If you got it, flaunt it

It’s often easy to focus on what you don’t have. That gorgeous Pottery Barn sectional sofa  would be just perfect in your living room, but its price might not be so wonderful. Instead, rethink the layout of the pieces that you already own.

According to professional re-arranger Victoria Bernardini of More Than Meets the Eye, “there are all kinds of things that you can do on a shoe string budget. You can be creative and frugal.”

Bernardini said to start by removing the clutter and rethinking traffic patterns and furniture arrangements. Consider pulling furniture away from the walls to make the space more conversation-friendly or move the oversized desk to an upstairs bedroom and replace it with the smaller table from the foyer. Rearranging is a simple and cost-effective way to freshen up your home’s look.

Draped in fabric

New drapery is a great way to create a subtle change in your home, and with formal and fussy window treatments on the outs right now, it’s easier than ever. Purple and gray are great colors for fall and a basic straight panel is both classic and practical.

Karen Berlekamp, manager of Boone Fabrics, said that building a cornice board and covering it with your choice of fabric is one of the most basic and cost-saving ways to spruce up a room.

She also recommends getting creative. “Even some ready-made window treatments are an easy fix. You could hang them using a dowel rod then glue something great on the end to spruce it up. Glue on Hot Wheels cars and you’ve got a great option for a kid’s room. You can be as creative as your mind can handle.”

Keep it simple

Track lighting and halogen bulbs are simple fixes that can create a major difference in a room at a minimum cost. Well-placed lighting can emphasize furniture and design elements, transforming the look of the room.

Of course, there’s nothing like a fresh floral arrangement or a new coat of paint to update your home. There are plenty of simple options that will take your style to a whole new level.

Transforming School Lunches

By Peg Ashbrock

Roasted Lemon-Sage Tilapia.  Moroccan Meatballs with Vegetable Couscous. Tamarind Barbecue Chicken. This is not the cafeteria food you had at school growing up. Mac and cheese and fried fish sandwiches, or chicken nuggets and fries. That was the school lunch of the 80s.  Today’s lunch ladies have transformed the school lunch line, and guess what, the kids (and teachers) love it.

“It was time for a change,” said Jan Alford, food service director at The Seven Hills School. “We had gotten in a rut and we knew it was time to lighten up the menu.” Four years ago the school board brought in well-known local Chef Jimmy Gerhardi to work with Jan and the cafeteria staff to overhaul the kitchen with the goal of eliminating fat, and improving nutrition. It worked so well they won a national award from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, The Golden Carrot, for their great-tasting, healthy lunches. (more…)

31 Ways to Celebrate October

By Stacey N. Dunaway

Preparing for Halloween doesn’t have to be scary; it can be a scream. Here are tips for every day in October so you and your family will never run out of ways to celebrate All Hallow’s Eve all month long.

1 –Blockbuster movies like Ironman and Joker usually lead costume trends. Get the list of top costumes for 2008 at www.costumzee.com.

2 – Rent a movie classic like Texas Chainsaw Massacre or the family-friendly Hocus Pocus.

3 – Tell a spooky tale. Get some ideas at www.halloweenghoststories.com (more…)

A Glimpse Inside the Training Kitchens at the Midwest Culinary Institute

By Peg Ashbrock

Cooking is big business.

According to the National Restaurant Association, the restaurant industry is projected to reach $558 billion in sales this year. The rise of cooking shows on television networks and the popularity of celebrity chefs have made the culinary field hotter than ever. So just how do you get the training to be a professional in the industry? It all starts at culinary school, and guess what, one of the hidden gems in the profession is located right here in Cincinnati. (more…)

Three Chefs Use Passion and Artistry to Feed Cincinnati Their Way

By Peg Ashbrock

 Meg Galvin, Rhonda Clark, Kat Kessler

Mixing a blend of cultures, science, and artistry the culinary world is one of the fastest growing industries worldwide. Food in all its forms is a chef’s passion. Each of the three chefs you’ll meet has used the culinary industry to find their own routes to a career they love. They all took very divergent career paths, both to Cincinnati, and to their new careers. Meet Chefs Meg Galvin, Rhonda Clark, and Kat Kessler –three chefs passionate about Cincinnati, and passionate about food. (more…)

September 16, 2008

Hello friends,

What a wild and crazy couple of days, wasn’t it? When the remnants of Hurrican Ike blew through here Sunday afternoon, I was tucked up by a window enjoying an hour or two of indulgent reading and watching the wildness outside. While the storm did quite a bit of damage throughout the city and lives were lost, you just have to step back and respect Mother Nature a bit more when she tells you, once again, just who’s in charge of things.

Most of the city still is without power, although here at the magazine things are fine. How did  you spend the hours without power? (more…)

September 12, 2008

Hi Friends,

Between listening to the rain on the roof here at work and sneaking peaks at the updates on Hurrican Ike on www.cnn.com I’m having a hard time focusing on writing that one last story for our fall issue. Writing is just such a fickle skill; one time the words flow out in a rapid stream, the next time it’s edit city. Today they are apparently stuck in my brain somewhere. A nap usually helps solve that problem; but the magazine doesn’t have a budget yet for a couch in my office.

But with Hurrican Ike heading for Texas,meterologists are predicting that here in Cincinnati we’ll feel the fallout as well with a weekend of rainy days. I’m okay with that. I like a rainy day at home. A day on the couch watching movies or reading a great mystery or biography is okay with me. I’ll get domestic, bake something, and perhaps work on that long-planned project to organize the bookcase of movies and dvds. Or maybe I won’t. See sunny days just make you feel like you have to be doing something, preferably outside. Rainy days? Not so much; it’s okay to be lazy and not accomplish anything. (more…)

September 4, 2008

Hi Friends,

Well it’s started; as I write this there are 61 days to the US Presidential election on November 4, 2008 and as the Republican National Convention wraps up the media feeding frenzy begins in earnest. I’m already burned out watching all the television ads, and listening to the talk radio pundants. And the rumour mill is going strong; it seems like every day you get a new email with “facts” about one candidate or another. That’s why I bookmarked www.snopes.com to find out whether the purported facts are true or false. And it may just be my preference , but I’d like to not know so much about all the candidates children. They did not choose to be in the spotlight, but there they are. I’d like to let them be kids. Growing up as residents of the White House. Can you imagine that as a 10 -year-old? (more…)