b e a u s e a n t December 2010 be glorious

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music artfashion

be togetherfreshen traditions

stay organizedspread the happy

lighten my holiday load

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Destination Weddings

C B P h o t o g r a p h y i s celebrating their 7th year with over 200 weddings under their belt!

inside beauseant | december2010

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHERmarianne orchard

Modern Bird Studios one of a kind art that’s personal

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week through a Photographers Lens

p. 4

p. 27

p. 20

p. 39

p. 12 5 ideas to breathe life into your holiday plansmary Ellis

Ensure your holiday spread is delicious and beautifulJohana Mulero

Welcome readers, artists, critics.

We are now deep into the holidays doing the necessary things with varying degrees of excitement or....varying degrees of dread.   Some of us have had a great year and for some it has been more than hard.  I have hope for all of us this season.  We are a resilient people.   We are a good people, and prone to be grateful for all we have and not dwell on what we lack.  

Years ago I was given some good advice during a particularly difficult time.   I was to sit down and write 100 things that I was grateful for.   e task seemed daunting but when told that chocolate chip cookies and other similar “friends” were welcome on the list it felt doable.  e list filled much more quickly than I would have thought possible.  Better yet, powerful and precious things were on it.   Yes the cookies were still there.  I still have the list and add to it when appropriate.  

Despite what hurdles face me, when I read it the only thing I am able to feel is happiness at all I have.   is season, let us rely on the many attributes we each have and we will find that the good things about us are strengthened and increased.   We may not be able to wrap that up and put a bow on it, still it would be an unbeatable holiday gift to give to ourselves.   Together let us make the most of the holiday season no matter the circumstances.

We will always include an offering such as, ‘e Soldier Of Pompeii’ in Beauseant Magazine because you, our readers are extraordinary and work hard every day to make the best choices possible.   Hopefully you will find that at least some of these stories will uplift you and help you to be more glorious.

Marianne Orchard

a note from the publisher

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the Soldier of Pompeii

action speaks louder than words, especially when the speaker is a 2000-year-old mummy from the ancient city of Pompeii.

But speak he does, and more eloquently than the raft of

politicians and orators whose empty promises and self-motivated gestures fill the electronic airways of our modern world.

He was a soldier, this speaker from the past, this voice from the dust of Pompeii. His spear and shield were still in hand when the English archeological expedition unearthed him nearly 1800 years later, along with hundreds of other citizens of the Roman city.

e busy port city of Pompeii was host to trade and commerce in 70 A.D., the year the sleeping giant Vesuvius, awoke. e great volcano, in a single violent gesture, which lasted several minutes, spewed millions of tons of ash and molten rock into the sky above the terrified city. Held there by the force of the eruption, the black mass hovered, shuddered, then fell -- covering Pompeii and its inhabitants with five feet of ash and lava.

But there was a time, between the initial explosion and the plummet of the deadly mantle -- time to think, to react, to run.

And so, untouched by the centuries, the citizens of Pompeii were preserved as they had lived during the last minutes of life -- panic stricken, trying to escape certain death.

Most were in the process of flight, running towards the ocean to evade the stifling ash. Many tried to save their possessions, and were

found still clutching their money and jewels. A few tried to help others: a mother huddled over two children, trying to protect the infants; a husband and wife crouched together in a grim embrace of final affection.

And there, also, amid the horror and doom, in a civic portal, was the soldier of Pompeii, still standing at attention, his spear at the angle of a sentry, his shield at the ready.

While others fled, while others thought of themselves and their possessions, amid the havoc and screams, even as the suffocating ash rose to his knees, then to his waist, the dauntless man-at arms stayed at his post.

By the very gods of Vesuvius, there was a man!

He had been given a duty, a sacred charge, and nothing could dissuade him from the assigned task. He was not chained to the portal; no bond but his own word held him there. He had set his face in the direction of duty, and death itself could not divert the purpose.

Call it what you will: “a sense of duty”, “maintaining the course”, “facing true north”, -- commitment to principle is a rare and exquisite human quality. It speaks of strength of character, of inner force, of personal integrity.

Across the centuries, the blackened soldier of Pompeii speaks to us, not in the feeble language of words, but with the eloquence of deed -- whispering the timeless charge: “stay at your post”.

A

beauseant stories of glory

Michael L. Robinson

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beauseant magazine| december2010

Marianne OrchardJanaea Nobmann Riddle

Marianne Orchard

Janaea Nobmann Riddle

Lacey Clawson

Layla BellLindsay HamiltonMary EllisMichael L. RobinsonJacquie WarnickJohana MuleroSeb Christiansen Zac ClawsonPat MerchantSoren McCoy

Debbie Campbell

Charles Bernard

Danielle Bortone-HoltAdina Morin Chas Elliott

Melodee Myers

Founders:

Publisher:

Associate Publisher:

Managing Editor:

Contributors:

Graphic Design:

Photography:

Research Assistant:

Health and Wellness:

Main Street

Inside Old Town Alexandria, Virginia USA

Along Main Streets Throughout America

Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. by: Soren McCoy

Alexandria, VA main street

Main Streets are little treasures nestled in the beginnings of new found territories. They stand their ground against encroaching and convenient strip malls and big box stores where we can find anything.

I am a firm believer that everything has its place and find that a little of the old world mixed with the new is a great balance and reminder of simpler times. Let’s be honest, if all streets were as quaint as every Main Street in America we’d all be pining for large parking lots and one stop stores to get our groceries, shampoo, clothes and home decor, all for a really low price.

Here is a look along the Streets of Old Town Alexandria. Just outside DC, Alexandria is home to many who work inside our nations capital. Founded in 1749 this little town is full of the character and old world charm we all crave.

Alexandria, VA main street

This time of year one will find these tree lined streets fully dressed in holiday white lights and the sidewalks and stairs covered in red and ye l l ow l e ave s . Th e d r y crispness of the fall and winter months is a great sanctuary compared to the h u m i d a n d s c o r c h i n g temperatures of the summer. Alexandria’s King street is the main drag full of shops and eateries, from find dining french cuisine to great kabob and many other ethnic varieties.

Alexandria, VA main street

If you visit DC I would highly recommend a day trip to Old Town Alexandria. Full of high end boutiques and great entertainment you are sure to enjoy yourself. Ride the trolly throughout the town and get off as little or as much as you want. If you want to extend your stay there are a number of fine hotel accommodations with convenient spa amenities within their establishments. This is a great city to get lost in for a couple of days.

In case you have missed the daily deal revolution that is beginning to transform traditional online marketing models, be prepared for a lighter wallet as we introduce you to this new addicting way to find serious savings on the web.

Woot! was one of the pioneers in this "One Day, One Deal” strategy.   Since early 2004, people are increasingly checking woot with their morning coffee routine.  Woot only sells one item, and when stock runs dry the website simply has a sign saying the goods are “Sold out, come check what we have tomorrow.”   It goes against the typical business model of constantly looking for ways to keep web traffic coming.  When the item is gone, its gone.  Go home.  

Things get really exciting when they step out of this model and have a “Woot-Off.”  A rotating light marks the day when as one item is sold out (often in just minutes) a new item is posted.   Products are never announced beforehand so on these days, it’s common for people to hover over the refresh button of their browsers all day.   It is no exaggeration to say that wooting is addictive.   A brief survey among the Beauseant team revealed that we often spend more online i n a m o n t h t h r o u g h Wo o t t h a n contemporary sites like Amazon.   Are we

a l l suckers for a good deal?  Yes.

As in any free-market, success attracts many competitors.  Woot has now blazed the trail for many other web-based retailers since.   Groupon launched less than two years ago, and is on pace to make $300 to $500 million in revenue this year. How?  Simple: Create a community of over 9 million subscribers in local areas and negotiate deals on their behalf--deals that give them 30-75% off restaurants, salons, plays and everything in between. Unlike most email-based advertisements, people look forward to the daily deal.  It’s a reward not spam.

I’m now to the point of having to setting up an email account dedicated to all my “exclusive” private daily deals.  If you are confident you can keep it under control, here is a short list for you to participate in:   Woot, Groupon, Living Social, Tippr, HomeRun, DealOn, KGB Deals, Zulily, Daily Steals.

Daily Deals

Trends and Phenoms

daily deals trends and phenoms

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by: Pat Merchant

5 i d e a s t o breathe life i n t o y o u r holiday plansby: mary ellis

Choose one new tradition you like from the following list s u b m i t t e d b y r e a d e r s . Implement it this year and for years to come.

We have a Christmas Brunch after presents instead of a turkey dinner; it’s a lot less prep and time in the kitchen and we can spend more time as a family.

My kids make oodles of Christmas cards a f e w d a y s b e f o r e Christmas. With some family friends we sing carols at out local nursing home and the kids get to pass their cards out to all the residents.

Each year my family decorates our tree w i t h a d i ff e r e n t theme.

My family loves to do t h e 1 2 d a y s o f Christmas; they are small gifts but such a fun way to start the month of December.

W e t a k e t u r n s opening Christmas presents one at a time so everyone can see and enjoy the gift giving process.

O u r f a m i l y g e t s d re s s e d a nd e at s breakfast before we even start opening presents Christmas morning; that way the excitement of Christmas morning lasts longer.

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five ideas holiday

C r e a t e Traditions

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G i f t Wrapp ing t r e n d s

five ideas holiday

It doesn’t have to be the traditional red, green and gold. You can make your own color palette for the holiday and surprise everyone, maybe even yourself.

Big boxes with little ones on top is not only uber creative and aesthetically pleasing, it is organization at its best. If you can get all your presents to fit in descending order from largest to smallest you will be the holiday winner. This is from none other than Good Housekeeping. They have all the tips on how to achieve this look.

Things don’t have to be matchy matchy. You can mix patterns and throw in some bright green as opposed to traditional evergreen and breathe life into your wrapping. We especially love to buy wrapping paper ahead of time and online. The example above is from one of our favorite online stores GiftWrappingPaper.net.

Letter press name tags can add a very special touch to your gifts. They are far supirior to clipping extra pieces of wrapping paper and folding it into a card; which may be creatively resourceful but not artistically creative! This example and many others like them can be found at the style files blog.

This is a favorite. You can use paper shopping bags or get a roll of brown paper from the drug store or shipping supply store. Dress it up with any ribbon and tada! It works for any occasion, Christmas, Hanukkah, baby shower etc. We found this extra awesome example at lah mode blog.

We love these monogramed name tags from Paper Source. Click here for the how to guide from their blog. They are a nice personal touch that tells your loved one you enjoyed the gift giving process from beginning to end.

five ideas holiday

G i f t Wrapp ing t r e n d s

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focus on p e o p l e n o t s t u f f

five ideas holiday

The holidays are all about family and togetherness...right? That is our goal with all the pomp and ceremony, to make things special and exciting for those we love. However, with all the special stuff staying focused on the important things and people can be pretty tricky. After all, the holidays are f u l l o f t i m e c o n s u m i n g preparations. I have a couple of common sense reminders that can help keep some perspective amongst the lights, gifts, parties and sugar induced comas.

You don’t have to do everything! People will appreciate all you do but that doesn’t mean you

have to be the ultimate holiday extraordinaire. If you feel like past holiday’s have been overwhelming and a lot of work with little time left over to enjoy it all, you are not alone. What can you do to fix it? Take stock: What did you really love, what did your family and friends enjoy and what afforded you the most bang for your buck? I would choose the things you

can’t live without and then choose maybe one or two extra things to focus on. Scaling back and cutting out the clutter and not stretching yourself too thin will really help to put the T back into time.

Get everyone involved by refining your delegation skills. So many people have so much to do, and

t h e y e n d u p d o i n g i t a l l themselves. I do realize that a lot of people are not helpful, however, a lot of other people are just bad at asking for help. Either things have to be perfect, or you don’t want to bother your family or guests. Learning to delegate in a fun a gregarious way can get a party started and everyone will have more fun. Guests will be more appreciative of all the work because they were able to contribute and will see first hand all the work you have done. You will be a happier more welcoming host or hostess. Nothing says welcome to my home like roll up your sleeves and frost some cookies.

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M a k e every one happy on a budget

five ideas holiday

ask for lists splurge and save

start early make a big deal

Have each member of your family give you a list of their top five gifts. Choose what you can from each list and make sure you are within your budget. This way you will know each of your loved ones will get something they want and it will still be a surprise.

Whether you are on a budget because you are just good with money or you are on an even tighter budget because you have had a rough year, both situations are always made better and more normal if you make a big deal. Sad eyes and apologies for a scantier than usual presentation of gifts will never get anyone excited. Don’t dwell on the hard times. Make a big deal about the fun you are able to have as a family and the traditions you can still enjoy. If you are happy your kids won’t even notice anything is missing.

Everything doesn’t have to be your number one choice. Depending on the amount of people you are buying for you can save a lot of cash by adhering to this tip. Mix your expensive items with your filler items and you will be sure to make a little go a long way.

We’ve all heard beggars can’t be choosers. Beyond that, beggars in a hurry can be even less choosy. If you know you’re going to be tight on money or you want to stay in your budget and get the stress out of the way, this tip is for you. Giving yourself ample time to pick through the multitude of toys, gadgets and clothes will prepare you when sales strike and coupons come knocking at your door. Take advantage of these deals one year and I promise you will be an early bird year after year.

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h o l i d ay d e s s e rt s

five ideas holiday

Chocolate Chip PieJacquie Warnickphoto by: Adina Morinfull recipe pg. 48

Pumpkin Cheese Cake Sharon Gurneyfull recipe pg. 48

Gregg and Megan Deal are out there, doing what they love and making it hap p en TOG E T HE R . ey are overflowing with information and a passion for Modern Bird. eir humor and love for what they do shows in this extensive interview, sure to give you insight into DC’s up and coming artistic go to company.

“We work well together, we have TONS of fun, we laugh a lot, and when I'm stressed out and freaking, he talks me off the ledge”.

q: Who runs the show, or is there a balance?

a: M: Duh, I do, if he knows what's good for him...okay, not true.   Again, we run it together.   I take care of all the marketing, PR, and social media, but I always want his opinion on things.  He trusts me 100%.  He takes care of the creative side, but he still wants my feedback on things.   I trust him 100%.   We collaborate and contribute to the future Modern Bird offerings together.  It is pretty much the most bomb diggity gig eva.G: I'm offended by this question.

q: What's it like working full time as a husband and wife team?  

M: It's precarious, for sure!  If he would just agree with everything I say from the beginning, than things would be a bit more harmonious.  HA!  Totally kidding.  It's awesome working together!!   We have always had great communication in our relationship, we work well together, we have TONS of fun, we laugh a lot, and when I'm stressed out and freaking, he talks me off the ledge. G: We both have different ways of doing things, and as it happens, we're polar opposites. Meg is neat, tidy and organized and I'm a bit of a mess.  But for what I do, I'm good and for what she does, she's perfect.   It's a perfect balance. The other side of that is that she stresses, puts stress on me and then our whole house almost i m p l o d e s b e c a u s e we ' re c ro s s i n g streams....kinda like the Ghostbusters.

a:

How would you categorize your style?  Or would you?  

q:a: M: My style is very modern and

clean.  I die from clutter.  My kids kill me daily with their clutter.  So does Gregg.   I live in a home of messy people, and a part of me slowly goes insane everyday because of it.G: Modern, urban. I like clean, but I also like gritty when it's not trying too hard. In my work I like what comes naturally, as long as it's true. 

q: Tell us what you can about the process?  a: M: Gregg is the artistic warrior, and his process is protected by a team of design Delta Force types, so I'll let Gregg handle this.  

G: This is a hard question.  I guess I can give you parts and couple it with my experiences.   I use spray paint. That's no secret anymore.   I use a high grade mostly acrylic based spray paint.   I create the artwork on my computer, much of it by hand on the computer, and create a stencil for each piece to guide the paint.   The process is more in depth than that, but that's the meat and potatoes of it.   It's a culmination of my graffiti days, fine art painting (I'm trained in oil), the sign industry, and graphic design. Did I even tell you anything?   I probably just created more questions than answers I think.

q: What is your dream workspace like?

M: I'm easy--something clean and organized with a pimped out Mac. Neon lights are optional.G: Big open space. Inside and out, big open space.   I'm pretty easy though. If you see my workspace, you'll understand why. Servants. I'd like servants too. I'd settle for interns. 

a:

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q: How do you manage to get things done between changing diapers and nap time?  

M: Our children don't go potty, and they nap all day long, so we easily achieve everything we set out to do on a daily basis.  We have achieved perfect balance and harmony.  Okay, our household is a hot mess.  Most of the time.  It is hard to get much done when they are up and at 'em.  Ya know, now that I think of it, these kids are completely unprofessional, and I'm not sure they are Modern Bird Studios material for employment.  G: You know, the day after I got laid off, I saw my son crawl for his first time ever. I would have missed that if I wasn't at home. I relish in the time I get in the midst of working. I'm ok with killing myself for this work because 1) I love it, 2) I get time with the kids and 3) I get time with my wife. This is the nice fluffy answer.  The truth is, neither of us knows how we do it. It's nuts sometimes. Sometimes I have to stop and contribute.  Sometimes I can work through it.   No matter the dynamic, our family is closer and stronger because of it.   That and I get to bring my oldest down with me and work on stuff.  You can't beat that. 

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q: What can we expect from MBS in the next two years...five years?  

M: Hmm...we hope to still be around in 2 years with new and even more innovative offerings.  In 5 years?  We'll be expecting the Bobby DeNiros of the world to be calling us requesting commissioned pieces.   Hoop dreams, ya'll.

G: My true hope is that Modern Bird is still around subsidizing my personal work, being the thing that picks up the slack.   My real hope is that my personal work blows up and supports my family completely.   Modern Bird begets my work, but my work begets Modern Bird.  If that tilts to one side or the other, it is fine by me.  I love what I'm doing. I love what WE'RE doing.

a:q: What subject matter is your favorite

to produce.  

a: M: I love pieces that aren't so predictable -- NOT the Olan Mills pose with the head angled slightly and the hand underneath the chin -- but the ones that catch a raw, spontaneous moment.   I love when there is some sort of natural background in the photo, like the ocean or a field or a wooded area.  Those are my favorite.  They are harder to create because of the amount of detail, but they are always my favorite.

G: I love when people submit photos with the "I want to see what you can do; I trust you," attitude.  I like to have that artistic license to make their image more exciting.  It's a leap to let me do something with a photo that might mean something to you.   Like Meg says, we're not Olan Mills. I like raw and honest images.   Sitting as a family, fake smiling with a fabricated backdrop in JC Penny is not honest.  It's nice, but it's not an honest moment. 

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The first sounds a baby hears are the rhythmic beatings of the mother’s heart and the rhythm of her breathings in and out. The baby feels the rhythm of the mother’s cadence as she walks, and feels and hears the rhythm of her words as she talks. To a baby, rhythm is comfort. Or so was the case with my two children.

My children were introduced to rhythm inside the womb. My wife could not escape my hours of practice as a professional drummer. With our first child, we stumbled upon the comfort of rhythm quite accidentally. As my wife was walking and bouncing the colicky baby, I began my practicing. As soon as the baby heard the rhythms, she became calm and comforted. It was then that I decided to create drum recordings for her to listen to in the car and at night when she was in the greatest need of comfort.

When our second child arrived, he seemed to have many more bad days than our first. We once again began to

use rhythm to comfort our little one. To our delight, he responded even better than our first child.

The more I researched about rhythm, the more I realized how integral rhythm is in the entirety of our human existence. Dr. Oliver Sacks, MD (author of the book Awakenings, which later became the movie starring Robin W i l l i a m s ) w r i t e s i n h i s b o o k , Musicophilia that, “Rhythm… appears spontaneously in human children, but not in any other primate.” Another expert in his field, Daniel Levitin (author of This is Your Brain on Music) says that, “Rhythm is what we dance to, sway our bodies to, and tap our feet to.”

I knew that I needed to share this incredible gift with other parents. As a drummer and recording engineer I set to work to release my first volume of Baby Beats.

Craig Sowby’s Baby Beats can be found on Amazon.com and iTunes.

a gift for babies Craig Sowby

A fashion week is a fashion industry event, lasting approximately one week, which allows fashion designers, brands or "houses" to display their latest collections in runway shows and buyers to take a look at the latest trends. Most importantly, it lets the industry know what's "in" and what's "out" for the season. The most prominent fashion weeks are held in the four fashion capitals of the world New York, London, Milan and Paris.

Beauseant's photographer, Danielle Borne-Holt attended fashion week New York so we could bring back to you what's' in this 2010/2011 season. As we can see from the layout there is a lot of beige, white and green. Some may say basic, others may say simple, but the Beauseant team believes it is

the basic and simple pieces that build t h e fo u n d a t i o n fo r a d i ve r s e wardrobe. Take the greens, whites, beige's and create a foundation for fall and winter. Accessorize with color, throw in a bright scarf, fun jewelry or a bold pair of heels and boots. Often forgotten are the timeless hair pieces that can take an outfit from dull to wow with a quick clip.

Fashion week gives us a parameter with which to dress by, but the essence of true fashion is when you take an outfit and make it your own. Be individual and have fun. This seasons style guidlines have been set. But, that’s all they are. It’s up to you to implement your fashion sense and style and put it into action.

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week

NY

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Fashion Week fashion

Herve Lerger

TIBITIBI

TIBI

TIBI

Fashion Week fashion

Michael KorsExciting things happening at the Michael Kors show. We saw long flowing skirts or knee length and full. The prime colors are beige with mustard, royal green and purples, as well as many all while ensembles. Of course, right below we see the man himself, Michael Kors pushing the color envelop in all black.

On the bottom right we see a retro yellow coat dress, wIth full 3/4 length sleeves and a boxy look of the 50’s and 60’s, very chic and sexy with the above knee cut. Further right a relaxed greek goddess is wrapped in a flowing floor length frock. Off the shoulder show a little skin but keeps it classy.

Michael Kors

Michael Kors

Fashion Week fashion

In my opinion the one blooper of the show. This n o t o n l y l o o k s uncomfortable but it s unflattering. It looks too big, too long, and too stiff. Not a fan!

Oversized bags! Like extremely big. It looks as though both models could fit nice and neat right inside their bag, if in fact they ever needed to. In this case go big or go home. We like.

Michael Kors

Michael Kors

Photo Essay: thailandchaselliott photography

Thailand | photo essay

Thailand | photo essay

Thailand | photo essay

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Thailand | photo essay

Thailand | photo essay

Keep track of milestones or mundane events in your life with “fun charts”. Pregnancy Charts track your due date and progress of pregnancy. With other charts such as chore charts for the kids, end of school countdowns and much more. Your entire family can have fun anticipating whatever excitement is in your life.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MyFunCharts?ref=seller_info

Find us online at:

In the Kitchen with Johana

Well it’s that season again, apple season. Whether you pick your own apples or get them at the market this is the time for apples! Since apples are in such abundance this time of year it’s always good to have a quick and easy apple pie recipe on hand. This is one I use when I want to make a last minute apple pie and don’t have any homemade pie dough, or when we decide to have a last minute get-together. It’s super easy and everyone always loves it!

EASY AS APPLE PIE

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In the Kitchen with Johana

Ingredients:‐7 tart apples‐3/4 cup sugar‐2 tablespoons 9lour‐1 teaspoon cinnamon‐dash of nutmeg‐dash of salt‐package  of  refrigerated  pie dough for 2‐crust 9‐inch pie‐2  tablespoons  unsalted  butter, cut into small cubes

Preheat  your  oven  to  400 degrees.First  step  is  to  peel,  core,  and thinly slice your apples.Second  step  is  to  mix  all  your dry  ingredients  together,  then pour  them  over  your  apple slices  and  mix  until  all  the apples  are  coated  in  the mixture.Third  step  is  to roll  out the  pie dough  into  the  pie  pan.  Then pour  the  apples  over  the  pie dough.Fourth  step  you  place  your butter  in  small  cubes  over  the apples.  Then  you  roll  out  the other  pie  dough  on  top  of  the 

apples,  seal  the  pie  crust,  and cut out a design or at least make four  slits  on  top  to  allow  the inside  to  have  a  vent,  and sprinkle some sugar on top.Fifth step,  is  to  place  the  pie  on top  of  a  cookie  sheet  (in  case anything drips out) and bake for 50 minutes.After  the  pie  has  been  in  the oven  for  15  minutes  cover  the edges with foil so they don’t get to brown before  the  pie  is done baking,  then  place  back  in  the oven for it’s remaining time.The results are always great and it’s always easy.HAPPY  BAKING  and  HAPPY APPLE SEASON!

*Tart  apples:  Granny  Smith, Empire, Cortland*Using a homemade pie  crust is 9ine!*Cutting vents into the pie  crust prevents  pie  explosions  or bubbling over.*Always  use  unsalted  butter when baking.

In the Kitchen with Johana

Decorating Cookies

With the holidays quickly approaching cut-out sugar cookies are always a fun item to bake! They look great out on a platter, they make great gifts, and are just plain yummy to eat. The best part are they are fun to make with kids.Once I have rolled, cut, and baked the cookies, then the fun begins! I love decorating the cookies, it’s the best part.Tools you will need:-piping bags-food coloring-decorating tips-standing mixer

First, I make Antonia74’s Royal Icing.Ingredients:-3/4 cup warm water-5 tablespoons meringue powder-1 teaspoon cream of tartar- 2 . 2 5 l b s . ( a p p r o x i m a t e l y 9 c u p s ) confectioners’ sugar, siftedDirections:In a standing mixer, pour in warm water and the meringue powder. Whisk by hand until frothy and thickened, about 30 seconds. Then, add cream of tartar and whisk by hand for another 30 seconds. Pour in all of the confectioners’ sugar at once and place bowl on mixer. Using paddle attachment, on

lowest speed, mix for a full 10 minutes. Icing will get thick and creamy.

Once you’ve made the royal icing it’s time to color it. This recipe makes enough for you to make several colors. Once colored place into your piping bag with a tip size 1 and outline your cookies. Make sure to cover whatever portions of the icing your not using with a damp cloth to prevent crusting and drying. After you’ve outlined your cookies take some of your royal icing(don’t use it all keep some thickened, as you will need some for more decorating) and slowly stir in water to thin it down. Add a teaspoon of water at a time and stir until it is a runny consistency, when you scoop and pour it should melt back into itself within 3 seconds, that is the proper consistency. Place in a piping bag with a tip size 2 and flood the inside of the outlining. Then leave it to dry. Once dried and hardened (about 1-2 hours) use the rest of your thicker royal icing to pipe decorations, this is the part the kids love doing! Using a piping bag with the tip size of your choice decorate the cookie. You can also add sprinkles, glitters, or candies to decorate your cookies, just use the thicker royal icing to attach these decorations to your cookies. Use your imagination and see all the wonderful things you can create!HAPPY BAKING

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In the Kitchen with Johana

Feed and Strengthen your Immune System-

Boost your Immune System by eating nutritional foods. Especially a balanced diet of good proteins. Mother was right when she said, "Eat your vegetables"! Yams are the highest vegetable in beta-carotene (converts to vitamin A), then carrots and green vegetables. So try to get three proteins combined with vegetables at every meal. For example:

BREAKFAST - An omelet w/veggies and feta or goat cheese, add turkey or chicken sausage (avoid pork as it will create an immune response) Try beef bacon if you tolerate beef it's delicious. TOTAL 3 Proteins

LUNCH - Protein of Choice (Poultry- Fish- Beef- Beans & Rice)Good Hearty Soups along with a salad containing pumpkin seeds, almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds and a side of broccoli or sweet potato. TOTAL 3 Proteins

DINNER - **Go light. Try a Whey or Soy protein shake with Almond Milk and Kefir. Add Spirulina or a combination green powder (example Kyo-green) to your shake for extra protein. Vegetables and grains of choice. TOTAL 3 Proteins

** I like to keep the last meal of the day more vegetarian.Of course add your fruits throughout the day for your snacks but make sure you keep them away from your protein/vegetable meals. That means no JUICE with your meals!

Cut way back on SUGAR thru the holidays and/or Eliminate it altogether if you feel the first signs of getting sick! Sugar depresses the immune system.

SUPPLEMENTS FOR PREVENTION

Vitamin C 1,000mg per day (I like Emergen C)CoEnzyme Q10 10-60mg per day Vitamin E

400mg alpha-TE (tocopherol equivalents) per dayPre-formed L-Glutahione250mg per-day (Important Antioxidant)Beta-Carotene 15-30mg per dayL-Glutamine 1 teaspoon per day (This amino acid strengthens your immune system. It is found in meat-chicken-eggs but in raw form as heat destroys glutamine. Use high grade and put in cool water) Whey Protein Concentrate is a fantastic immune booster. You can use this in your protein shake.

Is it possible to be flu and cold free through the winter months? Yes.

Be Prepared - Here's How

Health is something that we all seek. It is a personal thing and should be taken very seriously. Although we donʼt have all the answers Beauseant strives to deliver new information on all topics. Debbie Campbell is our Health and Wellness Director. She has many wonderful insights, however they are only suggestions for you to review and always consult your primary doctor before implementing any of the recommendations found here.

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Is it possible to be flu and cold free through the winter months? Yes.

Be Prepared - Here's How

FIRST SIGN OF ILLNESS DO THIS QUICK-

#1 Take 2 **Combat Acute immediately-away from food#2 Take 2 Olive Leaf Extract-away from food#3 Vitamin C 1,000mg 4-5 times a day w/food#4 Oregano Oil 500mg 4 times a day away from food#5 Grape seed Extract by Nutribiotics (sore throat) 10 drops in 1/2 cup water. Gargle 20 seconds twice a day#6 Fresh Ginger - small sliver under the tongue-s o o t h e s s o re t h ro a t immediately#7 Fresh Ginger tea - Steep a slice of ginger in water (add stevia for sweetness) drink every 2 hours# 8 E l d e r b e r r y (Sambuscus Nigra) 1 tblsp 4 timesdaily. Inhibits Influenza viral replication and reduces coughing.#9 Umbuca by Natures Way (read directions on label)#10 Add garlic-onion and ginger to chicken soup or miso soup# 1 1 H o t w a t e r w i t h lemon-honey and cinnamon every 2 hours#12 Eat light- steamed vegetables, soups, broths and herbal teas or teas listed above. DON'T force yourself to eat if you lose your appetite.** Combat Acute can be ordered from Infinity Health 303 703 3773NOTE- Stay away from Milk and Dairy products while you are sick. They will make you feel

worse as they encourage the production of mucus.AVOID Sugar-It depresses the immune system and decreases the number of white blood cells that your body produces. Be wary of fruit juices like orange juice as they contain far

more sugar than vitamin C. If you must drink juice m a k e s u r e t o dilute it first.

T h e s e N a t u r a l R e m e d i e s w i l l assist the body as it detoxifies and rids itself of the v i r a l o r fl u infection. (Taking traditional over the counter cold a n d fl u medications will inhibit the body a n d s l o w t h e healing process down, prolonging the illness)

Bravo for you as yo u h e l p yo u r miraculous body in doing what it knows best how to do, Self Heal.

Yo u h a v e n o w given yourself some very good tools to enjoy a Flu and Cold FREE winter!

HEALTHY YOU!

Deborah F. Campbell CNC, CBTTrue Balance Health and Wellnessdebbie@beauseantmag.com

“Baja Bean!” replied the perky female on the other end of the telephone.

“Which band is playing ursday?” I asked, still unsure if I had the correct venue.

“Umm.  I’m not sure.  Hang on.”  

is wasn’t a good sign.  How could she not know who was playing?   I stumbled upon Christabel and the Jons’ album Love and Circumstances approximately two months ago and fell in love with their vintage sound wrapped up in modern themes and subject matter.  I had a feeling that this band would be taking the music scene by storm.  At the

end of the week I would be driving 1 1/2 hours with a small group of friends to Staunton Virginia to see the band perform live and I didn’t want to arrive only to discover we had the wrong venue.

e perky female came back on the line and confirmed that Christabel and the Jons would be playing ursday night.

“Can I buy tickets in advance?” I asked, hoping to secure a seat in what I anticipated would be a sold out show.

“No.  Sorry.”  Came the reply.  We would just have to arrive early.

Christabel and the

onsJ

Christabel

zac clawson

Jons

Staunton Virginia is a quaint little historic town set in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  e streets of downtown Staunton are lined with antique shops, art galleries, and restaurants tucked into buildings built in the 1800’s.  With five historic districts, Staunton is frequently selected as filming locations for period films, the perfect setting for an intimate evening with Christabel and the Jons.

When we arrived at the seemingly vacant burrito joint, after a brief panic we found a narrow passage that led to a back room where the band was squeezing their equipment onto a narrow stage.   For the next two hours, Christa DeCicco and her band entertained a small group in an setting that couldn’t have been more enjoyable.  During the five years that the band has been together, they have perfected their jazz based country swing style with some songs delving into delightful hints of bossa nova.   e quartet’s vintage wardrobe gives credence to their sound which, sight unseen, would be expected to come

from a less youthful group; yet Christa’s band mates’ lay down the perfect backdrop to her bluesy voice that at first listen, seems stolen from an old phonograph.   Despite their relative youth, the band has honed their talents into something that is normally found in back alley dives of New Orleans from musicians who have been playing as many years as Christa has been alive.   Christabel and the Jons’ style is familiar yet they offer up a fresh twist that makes this rediscovery fun all over again.

As we left Staunton thoroughly impressed, it was obvious that we had experienced something special and I was grateful to have stumbled upon Christa so early in her career.   e band is currently touring up and down the east coast on what appears to be a grueling schedule.  It won’t be long before Christabel and the Jons reach worldwide recognition.   My suggestion: go see them up close and personal before they start playing much larger venues.

Christabel music corner

el

Christabel music corner

Pumpkin CheeseCakeSharon Gurney CRUSTCan use any crust you want,  but I like this nut crust.  Whatever one is used needs to be baked so it won' t get melted into cheesecake 1 cup flour1/2 cup butter, softened, not melted1/2 cup chopped pecans3 tablespoons of raw* sugar Combine above and press firmly onto bottom and slightly up side of 9-inch spring-form panBake 350 for 12 minutes FILLING4 8 ounce packages of cream cheese, softened1-1/2 cups Demera sugar, or Raw Cane Sugar*4 eggs at room temperature1 teas ground ginger1/2 teas ground nutmeg1 teas ground cinnamon OR,  instead of above 3 spices,   Use 1 tablespoon of ground Pumpkin Spice1/4 cup evaporated  milk1 cup canned pumpkin,  NOT pumpkin pie filler TOPPING2 cups sour cream1/4 cup Demera Sugar or Raw Sugar1 tablespoon of maple syrup or dark corn syrupCombine ingredients just before take cheesecake out of oven In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until well blended.  Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed till blended.  Add remaining filling ingredients and mix until blended.  Pour mixture over crust.  Set pan on a sheet of heavy foil and bring foil up sides so won't leak when baking.  Either set in a pan of water about 1/2 inch up sides, or set on a cookie pan and put a dish or pie

plate etc of water in the oven while baking.  This keeps the cheesecake from cracking on top, and will also make it bake so the top is level. Bake at 325 for 1 hour 15 to 25 minutes, or until nearly set.  Will be like nearly set jello in the middle when youmove the pan. Take cheesecake out of oven and spread topping over  it to about 1 inch from edge.  Return to oven for 5 to 8 minutes until topping is set.Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes.  Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen;  cool one hour longer.  Refrigerate overnight.  Remove sides of pan.    Garnish as desired.  Refrigerate leftovers. *Demera or Raw sugar is a coarse granular brown sugar.  When you make the topping it won't totally melt into the sour cream, so it will be speckled and slightly crunchy.  Great sugar! 

DESSERTS WARNICK FAMILY RECIPES Pies Grandma Drumm’s Famous Chocolate Chip Pie FROM THE KITCHEN OF JACQUIE WARNICK/GRANDMA DRUMM Servings 2 pies/8

INGREDIENTS 3 Egg yolks, beaten 1 1/2 Sugar2 cups Whole Milk1 cups Half n Half2 pkgs. (1 1/2 Tblsp) Unflavored Gelatin1/2 cup COLD water1 Tablespoon Vanilla2 cups Whipping Cream2 4.25 oz. Cadbury or Symphony Milk Chocolate Bars2 Baked and cooled 8 or 9” Pie Shells

Cook first 4 ingredients in double b o i l e r f o r 2 h o u r s ; s t i r r i n g occasionally. Remove from heat and let cool. Dissolve gelatin in cold water, let set 5 minutes. Stir into cooled mixture (does not need to be completely cold). Add vanilla and store in covered container in refrigerator overnight.

NEXT DAY: Bake Pie Shells, allow to cool completely. Meantime: Remove custard from refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for 1 hour. Whip cream lightly. In separate bowl mix custard with a blender until smooth. Gently fold whipped cream into custard. Spoon into completely cooled baked pie shells. Hold chocolate bar in hand, use cheese slicer to cut curls of chocolate over custard. I continue to turn the chocolate so it is slightly warm from the heat of your hands to make the curls. Refrigerate pie at least 5 hours before serving. Keep

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