Here’s what’s trending from our current wedding registries.
1. Juliska: Le Pavier charger 13.5”d $68. Quotiden dinner plate 11”d $34. Firenze marbleized salad plate in cappuccino 9”d $36.
2. Vietri: Bellezza Celadon charger 13”d $17; dinner plate 11.25”d $40; pasta/soup bowl 9.75”d $38; mug 4.25”h $39. Holly Stuart Designs placemats in latte and saxon green 15”d $34. Made in the USA.
3. Vietri: Lastra white dinner plate 12”d $38; salad plate 8.75”d $32; small handled bowl 5”d x 2.5”h $50.
4. Juliska: Country Estate dinner plate in delft blue 9”d $38; Firenze marbleized charger in delft blue 14”d $68. Holly Stuart Designs placemats in persimmon and Chinese blue 15”d $34. Made in the USA.
Most of us true New Englanders enjoy all four seasons, but if you are like me, you’re a beach bum at heart. I especially look forward to getting off the treadmill and running outdoors! I wish all of us some enjoyable, and restful summer days this season.
Those of you who have driven with me know that I love a clean car, especially during the summer months. So when I discovered that SIMONIZ was a local brand I couldn’t resist learning more about their 100-year-old history. Amazing what goes on in our very own backyards, and we don’t even realize it!
Consider this your invitation to join WEST HARTFORD MAGAZINE – the Media Sponsor – for these exciting upcoming events in May: Join us at THE NEW CHILDREN’S MUSEUM’S four brand new exhibits just in time for your summer fun (on Trout Brook Drive). Most notably, some friends of West Hartford Magazine have helped make the BUTTERFLY exhibit come to life, literally. Special thanks to Monarch Jewelers-featuring Caro74 diamonds, Jeff Hodges Landscape Design and Flower Power for supporting the efforts of the museum! (The Butterfly Exhibit is also sponsored by the Vernon C. & Florence E. Roosa Foundation).
Remember to attend the Hill-Stead Museum’s Sunken Garden Poetry Festival, celebrating 21 years this summer. We hope you enjoyed receiving their playbill as an outsert in Palette.
A shout-out to Bridgette, once again, as she continues to thrill our readers with her eye on Fashion (see Pages 39-45). Photographer Cheyney has out done herself with a local spin on “Mad Men.”
Please consider joining our Subscription Club (see Page 27) so we can guarantee delivery to your home or office and you won’t miss a single issue. Worth noting that if you JOIN the CLUB you get lots of perks like a FREE tickets to events.
Your next issue of WEST HARTFORD MAGAZINE will be in your home just as we start our school year so get ready for our Fall Issue along with a Special Fashion Event!
Thomas P. Hickey II Publisher tomh@westhartfordmagazine.com
of the Hickeys
Shevon and Tom Hickey
14th Annual Mayor’s Ball
The 14th annual Mayor’s Ball was a tremendous success! The atmosphere under the grand tent on the Town Hall green was one of lighthearted fun. The Ball was a black tie affair and benefited two West Hartford non-profits; HopeWorks and Playhouse on Park. There was an “Old Hollywood” theme this year, complete with a signature drink. Max Catering provided the food which included passed appetizers, a surf and turf sit down dinner with filet mignon and sea bass, and individual cheese cakes for dessert.
The Who’s Who of West Hartford were all in attendance, and danced the night away to the music of Eight to The Bar. Additional entertainment was provided by the UCONN Ball Room Dance Team, Conard’s B Sharp, and Hall High’s Jazz Combo.
The live auction item of an African Safari was so popular, two were sold raising over $7000 for that prize alone!
Sonia Plumb, Herb Emanuelson, Shellie Giroux, and Luke Giroux
Julianne Roth, Frank Day, Shawn Meehan, and Dorothy Shugrue
Dave Addis, Tracy Barrett Flater, Ramona Skhrj, Darlene Ponist Zoller and Tibor Zoller
Kerry Warren and Melanie Warren
Lucy and Jonathan Harris
Silvia Winn and Larah Winn
Golden Thread Gallery
Paint the Grounds
Wine Tasting & Art Auction
The Golden Thread Gallery, a new non-profit in West Hartford recently hosted Paint the Grounds, a wine tasting and art auction. The evening was a resounding success, with over a hundred guests and twenty-seven artists participating and forty-nine pieces of artwork exhibited, of which 34 were auctioned. West Side Wines provided wine tasting with live music by Tony Davis and Sam Moffet.
The Golden Thread, Inc. was established in 2013 with the mission of connecting the human spirit through the arts. Located at Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road, the gallery has created a beautiful and professional gallery space and established new and exciting ways to support artists.
The gallery’s first exhibit, Stillness, will take place on Saturday, September 14th, at 7:00 p.m. For more information, follow them on Facebook and www. goldenthreadgallery.org
Right: Wine Tasting by Ertan Sener from West Side Wines in West Har tford Center
Far Right: Fr. Terry Kristofak and Karen and Charley Herbert.
Ar tist Bro Michael Moran with Paula DaSilva.
Guest Terri Zyskowski
Jazz musicians Tony Davis on guitar and Nick Haggerty on bass.
High definition photography by Ellen Fox and Patty Swanson.
GeTTING
WHAT DO “The Simpsons”, the “Match Game”, “The Price is Right” and the movie “Arthur” all have in common? Simoniz car cleaning products. That’s right, they each have mentioned Simonizing cars or have given away Simoniz products as prizes to contestants. As a matter of fact, the name ‘Simoniz’ has become so engrained in today’s pop culture, that it has become a symbol of creating something clean and shiny. Remember in the movie, “A Christmas Story” when the
products across the nation.”
SIMoNIzeD...
Your car never looked so good!
A WEST HARTFORD FAMILY-OWNED COMPANY STILL GOING STRONG 100 YEARS LATER!
by Lisa Lelas photography courtesy of Simoniz
dad receives a can of Simoniz original car wax as his gift? More recently, Joe Perry of Aerosmith joked on late night television talk shows that they needed to send band member, Steven Tyler to re-hab because he needed to get ‘simonized’ to get squeaky clean!
In 1911, the Simoniz company was started by a man named George Simon who kept it as a family run business for many years. After changing a few corporate hands, the company was purchased by a Connecticut businessman in the 1980’s who brought the company back to its original family-run status. The very same original products are manufactured and distributed right here. Fast forward to 2012 when the Simoniz Garage popped up on Park Road had no idea there were so many local connections to an international, 100-year-old company.
Recently celebrating its one year anniversary, this is a state of the art facility but nostalgic, nonetheless. Thomas Palancia, the detail operations and training manager, says that since it is the newest division of the Simoniz company, “we wanted to keep it connected to its roots, since it’s been such a well known brand for over 100 years! Simoniz is the oldest auto-cleaning brand in the country and one of the largest manufacturers of those
And don’t let the word ‘garage’ fool you. The Simoniz Garage is so much more than a car cleaning facility. While it does have a full detailing shop, complete with WiFi, TV, air conditioning and free coffee while you wait, they also feature a 1964 Cadillac available to shuttle customers around town to run their errands or do shopping until their car is ready. In addition, they have fully trained master detail technicians that can handle everything a car needs. They even run training webcasts from the facility. “It’s like a surgical room”, laughs Palencia, “or a teaching hospital, whereby we train people, automotive retailers and more, how to best detail cars and use our products.”
And teaching comes naturally for Palencia. He has a teaching background in business management and High School English. He has been with the company for eight years and has been running the detail division and training component of the company for the past five years.
On a nostalgic note, the Simoniz Garage also can be compared to a ‘Simoniz museum’. Throughout the facility are old photos, historical signage from the early years of the Simoniz company and
of course, some of the earliest Simoniz car care products with original labels.
For those who remember, Simoniz was also known for its 1950’s era pin-up calendars. “I actually brought the pin-up calendar back to the company,” says Palencia. “We shot the vintage looking calendar at the garage last year and we have them for sale here and on our website.”
Palencia, aside from running the detail operations of the company and facilitating teaching webinars, also still develops new products for Simoniz.
The Simoniz Company, still a family owned local company, now has five different classifications of products they develop and market. Their janitorial professional cleaning products are marketed to school systems, hospitals and prisons across the
country. Their ‘GlassCoat’ warranty division is part of their specialty marketing service, offered by most new car dealers. The retail division of do-it-yourself products are sold at stores such as Target and Autozone. And then, of course, there is the car wash and detail division of the company.
“Simoniz offers hundreds of products through our retail market every year while we are always developing new products to match any changes to the needs of the market,” adds Palancia.
Simoniz shares a few best tips for car care:
• Never wash your car with a rag which can trap dirt and scratch the paint. Instead, use synthetic lamb’s wool or a clean car wash sponge to get the job done safely.
• Never use dish detergents to wash your car, as they can strip essential protectants from the finish.
• Always dry your car to minimize spotting. Dry the body first, then the windows, followed by the door jams and wheels. This will make your car look great and get rid of any missed areas.
• Washing your wheels last will allow them to cool and lets you use the car wash water from the body wash step to clean the wheels.
• Using Simoniz One-Step Polish will make your car shine and give it that just-waxed look and shine.
• Try waxing your wheels. Waxing will make them easier to clean and helps control the build-up of brake dust that can ruin the finish.
• Vacuum your carpets regularly to get rid of sand, as it can act like a knife and ‘cut’ the nylon fibers, leading to premature wear of the carpet.
The Simoniz Garage is located at 283 Park Road. For more information: www.TheSimonizGarage.com.
Interestingly, the company originally set out to design a state of the art yet nostalgic facility for their training videos and webinars used around the world, but as Palancia smiles, “the design was so cool looking, we knew we just had to open up this facility to the public!” n
Thomas Palancia, the detail operations and training manager at Simoniz.
The Simoniz Garage on Park Road, West Har tford.
The Brilliance of Louis Comfort Tiffany
Painter and Craftsman
Through September 29, 2013
at the New Britain Museum of American Art
Support provided by: The David T. Langrock Foundation and The Edward C. & Ann T. Roberts Foundation
courtesy of the Nassau County Museum of Art, detail
courtesy of the Tiffany & Co. Archives
Town Around
BlumShapiro Volunteers Ser ve as Junior Achievement Teachers: BlumShapiro Senior Consultant, David Hale, foreground, and BlumShapiro Par tner, Andrew Lattimer, background, teach Webster Hill School students financial life skills at a recent JA In A Day, a program using Junior Achievement curricula. For six years, including four consecutive years at Webster Hill, BlumShapiro volunteers have taught hundreds of West Har tford elementar y school students about work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy
This year, 17 BlumShapiro volunteers taught more than 200 students in 10 classes in grades 3-5 at Webster Hill School. Photo courtesy of BlumShapiro
This year ’s 11th annual West Har tford’s Cookin’ Event to benefit West Har tford Public Schools. Photos by Mathieu Jean Photography
The Jolly Beggars performed for the par ty-goers at First Church of Christ Congregational’s 300th bir thday bash in May Photo by Allison Southworth
Darin Reisler, owner and head instructor at Plus One Defense Systems, cuts the grand opening ribbon at the celebration of his new facility on Tolles Street in West Hartford His school has just over 400 students and can be found on facebook and teamplusone com
Inset: Cake lovingly decorated by Carol Murdock, Classic Cakes. Photos by J. Taylor.
West Hartford residents and Junior League of Hartford volunteers gather at the League’s Annual Meeting in May at the Pond House From left to right: Roza Kogan, Kristen Fritz, Megan Carannante, Julie Krug, Incoming JLH President Nancy Woodward, Former JLH President Sarah Thrall, Molly Towne, Nancy LaPerla, and Lindsey Meehan Photo courtesy of Cheyney Barrieau Photography
Congratulations Amanda Tremblay & Daniel Mitchell
photography by ToDD FAIRCHILD .shutterbugct.com
Amanda and Danny have been high school sweethearts since junior year at Northwest Catholic. After graduation, the couple both attended different colleges in the Worcester, MA area. Danny proposed to Amanda at their longtime favorite picnic spot in Worcester, with a beautiful ring from LaPerla Jewelers.
The bride is the daughter of Tom and Kathy Tremblay, of West Hartford. She is a graduate of Clark University in Worcester and presently works as a substitute teacher and para-professional with Kelly Services.
The groom is the son of Stephen and Victoria Mitchell, originally from West Hartford, now living in enfield. He graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a bachelors and masters degree. He is employed as a computer scientist at MITRe Corporation.
Their wedding took place at St. Timothy Church in West Hartford. The bride’s parents were married in the same church 33 years prior. The reception was held at the Wadsworth Mansion in Middletown.
Amanda and Danny thought it would be nice to honor all the married guests at the wedding so they asked everyone to send in their own wedding photos and the couple set them all in vintage frames and placed them all around the mansion. After a honeymoon in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, the couple now lives in Dracut, MA. n
Visit westhartfordmagazine.com for more WeDDINGS.
Above: The Bride & Groom, Amanda and Danny Mitchell
Right: Bride with flower girls, Kaitl and Jessica Mitch
flower Kaitlyn Mitchell.
Far Left: L-R: Allison Lawton (maid of honor), Amanda (bride), Erica Maddox and Jen Smith
Left: Amanda and her parents, Tom and Kathy Tremblay
“ The Club ” Members
Honorary Club Members
In Memory of Betty Ann Ambrosi In Memory of Judith Gengras McDonough
Gold Club
In Memory of George & Jean Brigham In Memory of John & Joan Hickey In Memory of Joseph Sweeney
Charter Club
Lee and Angela DeFelippi, Monarch Jewelers
Friend Club
Phil Bonee
Joan B. Brigham
David Brown Associates
Carl & Amy Cianci
Business Friend
Kevin & Katherine Conway
Susan and Ned Dunn
Plus Hall
John & Tracey Heslin
Mary & ed Kycia
Rick & Kathy Liftig
Mercy Community Health, Inc.
Governor Dannel & Cathy Malloy
Jim & Fran McNally
Pompanoosuc Mills
Robert & Kathleen Spencer
Tom & Kerry Spignesi
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J.J. Tillinghast entertainment
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Jeffrey & Nicole Whitlock
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Travel Tips
• People have been traveling to Cuba for many years, through the “back door ”, via the Bahamas, Mexico and Canada.
• Today, the “people to people” movement allows licensed vendors to set up tours that allow Americans to travel legally to Cuba.
New Ways to Visit Cuba Legally
byLydia Brown
In order to understand the importance of Obama’s lifting the travel ban to Cuba, we need to go back to 1960 when the U.S. government imposed an economic and financial embargo against Cuba (two years after the Batista regime was deposed by the Cuban Revolution). It was finally enacted in February of 1952 when Cuba nationalized the property of American citizens. It was titled the “Cuban Democracy Act” and its sole purpose was to maintain sanctions on Cuba as long as the Cuban government continued to refuse to move toward “democratization and greater respect for human rights.”
People have been traveling to Cuba for
many years, through the “back door”, if you will, via the Bahamas, Mexico and Canada. It entailed taking two flights. One from U.S.A. to a foreign destination and then from there to Cuba with no “stamps” put in U.S. citizen passports. The embargo did not allow Americans to spend money in Cuba so they had to be sure they did not show an entry stamp on their passports.
Today, the “people to people” movement allows licensed vendors to set up tours that allow Americans to travel legally to Cuba. The tours must have a full schedule of educational exchange activities that will result in meaningful interaction between travelers and individuals in Cuba. The trips can range from a long weekend in Havana to more than a week on the island, usually including
• If you have never tasted a traditional Cuban dish of “chicken stuffed with rice and beans” you are in for a treat. Authentic Cuban cuisines should not be missed.
visits to historic sites like Old Havana or for the longer itineraries a visit to Cienfuegos, a picturesque city in the South.
Demand for these tours are strong and many tour operators already have long wait lists. After all, the “forbidden” has always intrigued us and we have been waiting for nearly 50 years to get the opportunity to visit Cuba.
Stepping into Old Havana “ La Hababa Vieja” is like stepping back in time. It’s a virtual time machine. Plaza de Armas (oldest square in Havana) has the oldest neo-classic building in Havana, the El Templete. Casa de la Obra Pia’s notable curvaceous baroque portico was carved in Cadiz in 1686. Today it is home to an 18th century furniture museum and the Covento de Santa Clara (a
photography courtesy of
L YDIA B ROWN
pre-baroque nunnery with rammed-earth walls and a beautiful cloister) which are just a few of the sites within a short walking distance of the square. It’s like time stood still here and someone just replaced the battery.
Museums such as the Muse Nacional de Bellas Artes (National Museum of Fine Arts) re-opened in 2001 after having been closed for 5 years. The art is divided into two buildings: The Cuban Art collection and the International Art collection…..the main attraction here is not the art but the building itself. Magnificent.
If you have never tasted a traditional Cuban dish of “chicken stuffed with rice and beans” you are in for a treat. Authentic Cuban cuisines should not be missed. I would try the La Cocina de Lilliam or La Esperanza….fine Cuban cuisine.
What ‘s a trip to Cuba without a visit to a real Cuban bar! Check out one of Hemingway’s haunts, La Bodeguita del Medio (not really frequented by locals but a great photo op!). You can even tour the city in a 50’s Classic car or listen to the Cuban music and dance at a cabaret or club. The primo club is the Tropicana Cabaret where
the finest groups perform. It’s an outdoor theatre that seats 800 and is packed on the weekends or you can try the Copa Room at the Hotel Riviera to see real Cuban musical groups perform. Music abounds in this country – it’s a real love affair.
Let us not forget Americans’ favorite pasttime… baseball. The Cubans have an obsession with this sport. You can visit the Cuban ballpark during Serie Nacional de Beisbol, October to April. The Cubans have two teams: Sierie Nacional Metropolitanos
and Industriales (or Los Azules, the Blues). If you visit Parque Central on the edge of Old Havana you can witness an unofficial game and see how seriously Cubans take this sport!
While Cuba is beautiful and interesting and I have had many requests from clients to book Cuba, the price of the tours can be a deterrent. The official packages are not inexpensive and do not include the airfare!. A 3 night package in Havana starts at $2,095.00 per person based on double occupancy and up to an 11 night tour for $4,295.00 per person double occupancy. So, suffice it to say, you have to be serious about seeing Cuba! If you are looking for a beach weekend, you better stick with the Caribbean!
For information on People to People travel to Cuba please contact me at lbrown@sanditz.com n
Lydia Brown
lbrown@sanditz.com
Sanditz American Express Travel West Har tford ( 860 ) 523-5224
Old Chevrolet in front of colorful buildings in Havana. Thousands of these cars are still in use in Cuba and they have become an iconic view of the cuban cities.
Womenomics
The Global Trend of Empowering Women and Finance
by Filomena M. Soyster, and Paula Healey CFA
Today, women around the world are increasingly influencing financial decisions that directly impact the communities in which they live, work and contribute. Women control $20 trillion in spending globally and studies show they devote more of their earned income to food, education and health care for their children and their families than men do. Additionally, studies from the World Economic Forum show a strong correlation between an increase in gender equality and an increase in per capita gross domestic product. With this in mind, “womenomics” is the idea that the collective economic power of women is the driving force behind several global trends.
women will drive an incremental $5 trillion in overall spending. Those purchases each represent a product that is being sold by a company – and selling those products ultimately determines that company’s success or failure.
With women making the majority of consumer purchasing decisions today,
rollment and college graduation. About 44 percent of women aged 18 to 24 were enrolled in degree-granting institutions in 2010, compared with just 38 percent of men in the same age group.
As a result, women today are not only far more educated than both their mothers and grandmothers, they are also surpassing their male counterparts across all levels of educational attainment.
“America’s economy today would be 25% smaller without the participation of women in the labor force.”
companies are taking note of women and their wallets as major stakeholders across the board.
Women now earn more than 57 percent of all bachelor’s, 60 percent of master’s and 51 percent of doctoral degrees, as well as from one-third to half of professional degrees — and in every case, these proportions are increasing.
In the U.S., women account for 73 percent of all consumer purchases, and globally, it is estimated that
Education, as a key driver of earnings potential, is one of the factors contributing to womenomics. Take a look at almost any college campus in the U.S. today, and odds are that you will see more young women than men. U.S. women surpass men in both college en-
This phenomenon is occurring outside of the U.S. and also on a global scale. In Europe, women have, on average, three more years of education than men and account for 55.4 percent of students enrolled in higher education. On top of that, more women are working in some traditionally male-
dominated sectors. Globally, educational gender gaps are steadily closing, especially in Latin America, the Caribbean and East Asia.
The wealth landscape for women is also changing quickly because higher academic achievement has raised individual income and spending power. In 1979, women in the U.S. earned just 62 percent of what men earned. In 2010, that figure increased to 81 percent. While there is still an earnings gap, the trend in education will help to close it. Education will pave the way for earnings equality while empowering women to make informed financial decisions.
Additionally, many women are overseeing family finances. This influence compounded with higher education levels and greater personal income, begins to shape the much larger picture of womenomics and has led to new trends in investing. Driven by increasing personal income as a result of higher education levels and an overall increase in the amount of women managing household finances, women are establishing themselves as economic leaders, trend-setters, and decision makers around the world. While there is still progress to be made – particularly in catching up to wage equality— women
are demonstrating vital economic influence at home and across the globe. n
Paula Healey CFA, Managing Director and Market Investment Director, U S Trust U S Trust, 29 South Main Street, West Hartford ( 860 ) 313-7000 www ustrust com
Trust
Bank of America, N A
subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation Bank of America, N A ,Member FDIC
Filomena M Soyster, Senior Vice President, Private Client Advisor, U S. Trust
mad men modern
Photography*: Cheyney Barrieau
Styling: Katrina Thrall
Hair and Make up: Tara Abate Biondi of Tara’s Beauty Studio
Models: Cameron S. and Emily S. of Maggie Inc.
*Photographed at Chetstone Studios, New Haven
On her: Peplum dress: Macy’s. On him: Shirt, bow tie, pants: Macy’s.
Decked Out.
on him: Suit and shoes: Macy’s, tie: DKNY on her: Dress: Macy’s, Jewelr y: INC. International, shoes: Steve Madden.
On him: Shir t, bow tie, pants: Macy’s.
Going Out with a Bang.
On him: Red gingham shir t: Macy’s, Sweater: H&M
On her: Dress: Steve Madden, necklace: Anthropologie, fur stole: Stylists own.
Bishops Corner near Marshalls WEST HARTFORD | 333 North Main Street
Bishops Corner near Marshalls | (860) 233.8890
MassageEnvy.com · Franchises Available · Convenient
Beauty
Wherever you Land
Looking and Feeling Beautiful on the Go!
by Tammy Kroll
These are amazing times. Technology allows us opportunities to work, shop, run errands, from the comfort of our homes. With online conferencing, virtual malls and even on-line grocery shopping, we don’t even have to leave our home! A welcome respite from constantly checking our look in the mirror as we rush out the door. We can do it all from home…until we begin to let ourselves ‘go’. You know… no make-up (your being ‘natural’), P.J.s until noon (and beyond), the ‘messy’ bun (passé), and slightly atrophied after having only lifted coffee cups! And God forbid you get comfortable enough to saunter out to the mailbox in your robe! Settled in that groove, what if your home business, your boss, or other life circumstances dictate you leave your feathered nest to travel? Would your pale face panic at the thought? Here are some tips to ease the transition: In The Nest
My recommendation…sleep in! Or at least let the light of the day wake you. A jarring alarm does nothing for health and can even shock your system. Instead, waken to the musical chirps of our feathered friends. Getting to bed early sets your body’s clock naturally. Naps are also good for your looks. Invest in a comfortable sleep mask to keep out natural light. 20 minutes is all that is needed to look and feel refreshed
Do not live on coffee alone. Coffee is dehydrating. Rather, start
with an energy fueled breakfast like an organic, veggie laden omelet and green tea which is preferable for beautiful skin and weight control. Break for lunch! Hopefully you have lost the flannels and dressed for success at this point and can meet a friend or client for some sushi (rich in skin loving Omega 3’s). Staying connected with others is vital to remain in good health.
Working from home gives you many beautifying opportunities that those of the traditional working world aren’t allowed. Before a round of client phone calling, comb a 30 minute deep conditioning treatment thru your hair. Conference call? Slather on an exfoliating facial mask or use an at home teeth bleaching kit. Video call? Then maybe a detoxifying foot soak to slough off dead skin and get ready for the beach. Or, for your own fun, apply a self-tanner just before and see who notices your change in color. Self-tanners give a natural looking glow without aging damage from the sun. Use one without mineral oil that absorbs into skin without streaking. Cover entire areas, avoiding dry spots. Exfoliating first ensures an even application.
Break from work, errands, and on-line shopping to try some healthy yoga or a new dance fitness game. Circle the block on your bike or take a quick walk. Hit a few whiffle golf balls in the back yard. Even 30 min. daily can make a difference in how you look and feel, again, adding glow to our skin. Many of us work from home for the flexibility so take advantage of that and have some healthy fun.
Tammy’s
Beauty Tips
• We can do it all from home…until we begin to let ourselves ‘go’.
• Working from home gives you many beautifying opportunities that those of the traditional working world aren’t allowed. Many of us work from home for the flexibility so take advantage of that and have some healthy fun.
• Eat well and take your vitamins before you travel to keep energy up.
In Flight (Traveling)
Bring that mask to catch up on beauty sleep. Whether it’s daytime or your seat mates are reading, the mask will keep you drifting in dreamland. Neck pillows are great to avoid ‘cricks’ and the blow up ones pack well. Your favorite pashmina
can double as a blanket.
Drink plenty of water before you take flight. Remember, water is not allowed into the airport terminals. Once through, buy yourself some bottled water. It’s needed to fight the dry effects of inflight air. Pour a few drops in your hand and pat all over face and arms to stay refreshed. Purchase a mini skin spritzer with a refreshing citrus or relaxing lavender scent. Just be sure the ounces meet inflight guidelines.
It’s also important to keep skin moisturized. Most skincare lines offer sample sizes perfect for traveling. Contact your skincare provider for samples of favorite products and pop them in your travel kit for a little skin refreshment. Pat some all over your face soon after you’ve used your skin spritzer. Make sure your travel kit contains a lip moisturizer or gloss, preferably with SPF20 or more and reapply often while in flight. Keep the rest of your makeup simple. Forgo the foundation and shadows opting for powdered bronzer instead, lightly brushing on cheekbones, forehead and chin. Clear eyebrow gel vs. mascara defines
and keeps lashes moisturized avoiding smudges during sleep.
Gone are the glory days of balanced meals on even long flights. Eat well and take your vitamins before you travel to keep energy up. Peanuts, served on most flights, offer a good source of protein (the honey roasted ones may contain wheat and should be avoided if you are gluten sensitive). When asked for a drink, order orange juice with immunity boosting vitamin C or tomato juice both loaded with skin enhancing anti-oxidants. Order them without ice to get the most benefit. Order more water. Again, avoid coffee. Carry protein bars to avoid starchy, sugar-laden snacks that sap energy.
Practice these simple steps and let your beauty take flight! n
Tammy Kroll is a District Manager with Arbonne Skin Care & a licensed Zumba instructor. Contact her: TammyKroll2@ yahoo.com .
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stop and smell
the Roses
Easy-Care For Every Garden this Summer
by Karla A. Dalley
As the song goes, “Summer time, and the living is easy....” But as gardeners know, summer does not always mean that the hard work in the garden is over. My favorite flowering plants are roses. But for years, I resisted growing roses because I am also an organic gardener and I refused to use any chemicals or fungicides in the garden. Happily, over the last two decades, breeders have developed lines of shrub or landscape roses that are so easy to care for that once they are established they literally need nothing…no additional water or fertilizer, and certainly no treatments with chemicals or fungicides.
I grow several of these patented roses and have had success with many. They really are as fool-proof as promised provided that they are given a good amount of sunlight and are not overcrowded. Without adequate sun, or in very overcrowded conditions, even the most fool-proof rose can develop black spot.
Even better, there’s really no need to “deadhead” or prune back these roses. In fact, by deadheading the durable Knockout® variety, you risk cutting off the next set of developing blooms! So sit back with a cold drink and learn about some of these easy to care for roses!
Probably the best selling series of roses to ever hit the market is also one of the best roses on the market. Even if you know nothing about roses and have never wanted to plant one, you’ve seen this rose because it is planted in all sorts of public spaces--gas stations, strip mall parking lots, highway medians--it’s almost inescapable. Its popularity doesn’t prevent it from being a great rose, however. I am talking about the series of roses sold under the trademark name Knockout®. This rose has deep green foliage and repeat blooms.
Often the shrub is in bloom all summer long. It’s everything it was promised to be.
The original Knockout® was developed by a man named Bill Radler. He sold the development rights to the Conard-Pyle company and 6 more roses with the Knockout® name have been developed. Most are either in the red or pink/hot pink range and are variations on that theme (single and double blooms) but there is also a yellow available, sold as Sunny Knockout®.
I have grown every rose in the Knockout® line. While some of my other shrub roses can be plagued by black spot and a pest of roses known as the rose sawfly larva (a little caterpillar-like creature too complicated for this article), my Knockout® roses are never troubled by anything. Even when an occasional Japanese beetle lands on them, the beetles soon move on!
I have planted some of the Knockout® roses in spots that have now become shaded and they still continue to grow (although they bloom far less than they used to), but they have not become disease ridden as another rose might have. I don’t water, even during droughts, and I don’t feed them.
Another line of roses that I highly recommend is the OsoEasy® Roses by Proven Winners. This is a growing line of landscape roses that comes in a wider variety of colors than any of the other offerings on the market. While Proven Winners advertises most of the roses as generally 1-2’ tall, mine have gotten easily 3’ tall…still a fairly dwarf size for a mature rose. Again, they are hardy, disease and pest resistant and drought tolerant and they do bloom all summer as well. Currently there are 13 roses in this series and I believe Proven
...breeders have developed lines of shrub or landscape roses that are so easy to care for…
Winners continues to add roses each year.
The final series of roses is sold under the brand name Drift® roses. These are the shortest roses, overall, of all the rose series; in fact they are sold as groundcover roses. This is my first year trying a Drift® rose. Like Knockout®, they too, come in 7 colors but their colors are softer colors of pink, apricot and rose. There is also a white, sold as Popcorn Drift.® Finally, there is a rose certification program from Texas A & M University. This differs from the above rose breeding programs because Texas A & M studies existing roses of all types for the same characteristics of drought tolerance, and pest and disease resistance. A rose that is certified as an EarthKind® cultivar is permitted to use limited fertilizer, pesticide and supplemental water, and will grow in all soil types from sandy to clay. A list of these roses can be found at the Texas A & M web site.
So, it’s now possible to grow roses and be kind to the earth, as well! n
kdalley@comcast.net. gardendaze.wordpress.com
Karla Dalley is a garden writer and speaker from West Hartford.
Smart Summer Traveling
by Lisa Lelas
MID SUMMER IS THE TIME of year
most families will be out of town on vacation. Getting away is good for you, actually…a chance to get off-schedule, relax and do some family bonding. If you’ve got travel plans in your calendar this summer, here are some tips to consider:
Traveling
by air
Research the area you are planning to visit and get your reservations in order. It’s important to know what the local climate is, how much there is to do in the area, special hotel packages, etc. Keep in mind you are more likely to get better rates by booking your hotel, cruise or air flight significantly ahead of time, but sometimes can benefit from some very last minute travel savings available simply to fill seats or cabins.
Create a Packing List. Jot down everything you need to take with you. Group items into specific categories: clothing, toiletries, financials, etc. Before you leave on your trip, check off all items on the list and enclose the list in your suitcase so you can refer to it once again on your way home.
Don’t put your home address on luggage tags. There is no need to advertise that your house is empty. Name, phone number and email or an office business card will do.
Travel light. Remember that most airlines are now charging additional fees for a second piece of checked luggage and several even charge a fee for your first bag. Keep your suitcase under 50 pounds for domestic travel…or you’ll be charged a separate fee! If you travel a lot, you might consider purchasing a small travel scale and keep it tucked right in your suitcase.
Remember the ‘3-1-1’ rule. When packing toiletries in your carry-on bag, you are allowed just 3.4 ounces or smaller containers of liquid or gel. Contain them in 1 quart size zip lock bag for every 1 person. Be sure to have your clear bag of toiletries out and ready to be placed in the screening bin.
Take an earlier flight whenever possible.
There is less chance of delays and more flights throughout the day ahead in the event your flight gets cancelled or delayed. Call ahead prior to your scheduled flight to see if there are any seats left on an earlier flight. If there are, plan to arrive at the airport earlier and book those seats. For domestic flights, you should not be charged any additional fees.
Check airport wait times. Before you leave for the airport, visit the TSA website (transportation Security Administration… www.tsa.gov) which offers wait times at major airport security checkpoints for each hour of the day.
Sit and stretch. If you want extra comfort, be sure to choose exit-row seats (adults only) or bulkhead seats (first row seating, which can accommodate children). These seats typically offer more leg-room than other seats in coach, but most airlines won’t release them until shortly before departure.
Use your phone, not your feet! If you find yourself stuck in the airport when your flight is cancelled, use your cell phone to reschedule a flight or to get waitlisted.
Double up on your drinking water after flying to help alleviate any jet lag.
Blend in when traveling to foreign places.
Getting organized before you leave can save time and money
Europeans joke that you can always tell Americans by their white sneakers! Blending in will help you avoid being targeted by pickpockets and unethical taxi drivers. Also, keep your valuables in your front pockets or in a security pouch…and keep a copy of your passport and drivers license back at home with someone who could fax it to you in a pinch.
Call your credit card companies. Let them know when you are traveling so that they do not choose to freeze your account because suddenly the card is being used in China!
Review hotel guidebooks. To find a reliable hotel abroad, read guidebook reviews, look at photos online and ask to see the room before you check in, as sizes often vary in the same price category. Typically, hotel rooms are much smaller abroad than in the US.
Traveling by car
Consider ‘shoulder season’ hotel bookings around the country. Book the shoulder of the summer season (such as very early summer or very late summer/early fall) when possible because hotel rates are cheaper and crowds are much lighter.
Choose kid friendly places. If you’ve got younger kids, make sure you choose a kid-friendly destination. Most family resorts offer excellent children’s programs with camp-like daily activities. Hold a family meeting to get a general consensus of what everyone wants to do, then purchase a guidebook or visit a web site from a place that shares your interest and budget.
Stick to 60 mph. Set the cruise control for long distance traveliung. Cruise control usually increases your gas mileage. U.S. Department of Energy statistics indicate every 5 miles an hour over 60 mph costs an extra dime per gallon used.
Keep your car in tune. Regular auto maintenance can keep from burning excess fuel. An out of tune car can burn 40 percent more fuel than a well tuned one!
So, what are you waiting for? Summer’s here… Happy Traveling! n
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RUSSELL SPEEDER’S FULL SERVICE HAND WASH associates are hired because they are the best. They are friendly, speedy and passionate about customer service. Your visit starts with a hospitable greeting while you determine which service your vehicle requires. Then you are invited to one of the pristine waiting areas while your car is driven to the conveyor belt (no pull chains used here), then they vacuum the inside, wash the exterior by hand, clean the wheels, and dry the car. Then they clean the inside windows, wipe the dash and console and wipe the door jambs!
When you mix CUSTOM CAR WASH equipment with the best cleaners available, the result is a car that is cleaner, shinier and drier than you could ever imagine.
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-Theresa Wright, customer
Absolutely the best car wash in New England! I am very perticar when it comes to my vehicles. I love what I drive and I want what I drive to love me back.
-John, customer
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