Midwest escapes; hidden treasures of our area
Published by Claire Silcox, August 16, 2018 As a college student, I’m always looking for new places to travel that are easy on the gas budget. I’ve compiled a list of places that I’ve found or would love to visit right here in the Midwest that are fun, affordable and eclectic. 1. Galena, Illinois With a downtown stretch with over 100 shops, Galena delights visitors with a mix of boutiques, restaurants, ice cream shops and so much more. There is a place for everyone in the city that was once home to General Ulysses S Grant. Galena was named after the mineral that was mined by local Native Americans for over a thousand years. 2. Starved Rock State Park, Illinois With hiking beautiful trails and up to tall bluffs, Starved Rock State Park offers the adventurous folk a small escape from the everyday flat landscape of Illinois. Stay the night at the Lodge or on one of many campsites in the park. Hike the 18 canyons eroded by glacial melt and enjoy the views of beautiful Mother Earth. 3. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, Ohio Music fan? Who isn’t, right? The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland shows visitors a variety of historical music legends, including The Beatles, Elvis, Panic! At the Disco, David Bowie, Madonna, Janis Joplin and so many more. The museum features traveling exhibits, a café, and occasional concerts and musical events. 4. French Lick, Indiana In French Lick in Southern Indiana, travelers can golf, relax at spas, dine in extraordinary restaurants and explore the indoor and outdoor activities offered. The West Baden Springs Hotel, was once claimed as the 8th wonder of the world and included 55,00 square feet of event space. The atrium alone can hold 2,000 people and was fully restored in 2007 from its original construction in 1902. 5. Chicago, Illinois Architecture tours We all know that Chicago is an adventure for every kind of person; the shopper has the Magnificent Mile, the animal lover has the Lincoln Park Zoo, the food lover has all of the amazing dining options and of course the architect. The architect can tour the Chicago Architecture Center or find the Frank Lloyd Wright homes on the Wright Around Chicago bus tour. 6. Mackinac Island, Michigan An island escape right here in the Midwest? Yes, it’s true. Mackinac Island is on the jewel lake of the Great Lakes and is an “all-natural amusement park” of sorts. With only horse and buggy, bikes and foot being transportation this island is known for its old Victorian era charm. 7. Hocking Hills, Ohio The beautiful area of Hocking Hills consists of an Ash Cave, 90 foot tall rock shelves, zip lining and so many more outdoor activities. Hocking Hills is also home to Hocking College; a community college focused on environmental studies and hands on experiences. 8. Broad Ripple Village, Indiana A section of Indianapolis known for its fun and quirkiness. The area of Broad Ripple is home to open-minded citizens and an array of restaurants, record shops, vintage stores and so much more. The Monon Trail passes through and people can been seen every day of the year walking dogs, going for a run or bike ride or just leisurely walking the trail. Broad Ripple also has a variety of concerts and musical events throughout the year.
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Posted by Claire Silcox June 1st, 2018
Remember when you were a kid and you wore little overalls during spring and summer and maybe corduroy ones in the fall? What about wearing them to help you mom or dad with yardwork? Well, they’re back; not that they ever really went out in rural areas and farming. But the new trend is wearing overalls in a high fashion way. Newer brand, Second Skin Overalls, sells just what the fashion world is looking for. Danielle Bernstein, WeWoreWhat fashion blogger and SSO designer, prides herself on her brand encompassing her passion for the fashion industry. SSO is a season-less brand and currently has four lines; the Basics, Oversized, Novelty and Going Out. Perfect for the chic New York City or LA girl, although for the average Midwesterner the prices are steep. A more moderately priced brand is REVOLVE. REVOLVE is a brand that Bernstein shops herself and they offer a wide variety of short and long styles in all sorts of colors averaging around a hundred bucks. Not bad for a staple item but still a good chunk of money that could be going to gas or rent. The lower end of the range would be Forever 21, with prices from $20 to $70 for overalls. Don’t forget that you’re paying for quality and the higher price usually means that they will be better quality and will last longer. There are so many different style possibilities with overalls and even designer brands have some of their own. Paco Rabanne, Dior, Kate Spade and Marc Jacobs all have overalls within their lines. A long-standing classic of a woman’s wardrobe has been the Little Black Dress. But LBD might be moving to the back rack and overalls coming to the front. No matter the weather there is a style of overalls for it all; long, short, skirt, wide leg, skinny leg, cotton, denim and so many more. Class them up with statement earrings, and heels or dress them down with Converse, and a mini scarf. Overalls are the new variety of the closet and are expected to soar throughout the 2018 seasons. Honestly, I can’t think of one person, one best friend, who has helped me get through the last few years of life. The truth is, I have had an army fighting with me, and a village taking care of me and my family. Without the support of all of these people, I may not have had the strength to heal from heart surgery, to get rid of the cancer, or to be sitting here writing today.
My husband, Chad, has been my rock. Our parents have done more for us than words can even begin to thank them for, and my sweet therapist, Ruth, taught me so much about God, His love, and His plan for me. I cherish every single one of my friendships and know I wouldn’t be who I am today without them. However, after spending some time reflecting on the past year or so, I’ve come up with three friends that have been crucial to my recovery. These friends have served different purposes on my journey, but they have all been helpful in getting me through the tough stuff and for that, I am extremely thankful. I’ll start with my lifelong best friend. We’ve known each other too many years to count. She has been there through thick and thin. She’s seen me on my worst days and been with me to celebrate the best days! It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since we’ve seen each other, we can pick up right where we left off like no time has passed. I know I could call her day or night and she would drop everything to help me. She has loved me through this medical journey and been a huge part of my support network! The next best friend came to me by the grace of God. I often refer to our meeting as “serendipitous”--a fortunate happenstance! From day one of our friendship, we just ‘got’ each other. We dream big together, encourage and support each other, and lift one another up in nearly every aspect of life. She completely understands my feelings, usually shares my emotions, and quite possibly is the only person who can talk me through an upsetting or stressful situation. Though we’ve only known each other for a short time, I’m incredibly grateful for this friendship of a lifetime! And last, but definitely not least, is my cancer best friend. We actually started off as colleagues several years ago and remained acquaintances through social media. That is, until we were diagnosed with breast cancer. That commonality, which neither of us would wish upon anyone, brought us together. This friend probably knows more about my outward body and all it has been through than even my husband...because she has been through it too. She understands the nausea, the fatigue, the pain, the fear, the hot flashes, the guilt, and the emotion that comes with all of it. She inspires me daily with her strength, with her zest for life, and with her commitment to her family and job through it all. I definitely couldn’t have made it through the last year without her and I am so very thankful for our friendship. Praising God daily for blessing us with many friends who feel like family. LEARNING TO TRY NEW THINGS
Imagine what you could accomplish if you took a half hour out of your day to simply relax. We live busy lives; no one can deny that. You’re always rushing around from one place to another. Maybe you’re a working professional who is figuring how to run your own business. Perhaps you’re a mother and your kids are involved in multiple activities. You’re always on the go and your feet are never on the ground. It gets to a point where you can’t even think logically anymore. You have so many thoughts swirling inside your mind that you begin to lose control. That’s when you need to make time for you. Set aside a half hour to relax, unwind, and perhaps start a new hobby that forces you to take that moment to breathe. That’s what I have discovered in the past year. I started a new hobby—bookbinding. One of my good friends, Marisa, taught me various bookbinding techniques so I could make my own journals. As a writer, I’m always going through journals—to the point where it would be cheaper for me to make my own writing journals. I learned two techniques, but the Japanese stitch binding method is the technique I favor the most. I never would have imagined I could learn a hobby like this. Growing up, I never considered myself “crafty.” My elementary school art projects could prove this point. But, in recent years, I’ve stopped caring about how others view my projects. Instead, I focus on how I feel as I’m stitching together my journals. I don’t sell my projects—because quite frankly, I’m not an expert at bookbinding. There are times when I ask myself, “Wait, how do I do this again?” But, then I figure it out and I enjoy the journey. I enjoy the creative process. It’s my time to relax, take a deep breath, and completely focus on one task—turning a stack of blank white pages into a decorative journal using nothing but a needle and thread. I feel better after each session. I can make three journals in a half hour. I feel accomplished when I’m finished, but I’m also rejuvenated. My mind is free and I’m active. All it took was thirty minutes to relax! I found a hobby I love, and I hope you someday find a hobby you love, dear readers. If you’re still searching for a hobby or activity to use as a stress-reliever, it’s okay. You’re not alone. You’ll find it one day. Just remember, you’re doing the best you can. -Kasy Long Editor & Contributor at Haute Life Freelance Writer Blogger at KJL’s Diary Writer Pascal Mercier once said, “We leave something of ourselves behind when we leave a place, we stay there, even though we go away. And there are things in us that we can find again only by going back there.”
I remember stumbling upon this quote in a cafe and quickly scribbling it on a postcard during one of my remaining days in Florence, Italy. I had just spent four months of my life in a place I thought of as home. I knew leaving was going to be hard, but It wasn't until a few weeks back in the States that I realized the truth to Mercier’s words. The truth is that when you travel you leave pieces of yourself behind and when I returned home I realized I left something pretty important back in Europe. It was not any of my cosmetics or one of my treasured souvenirs, but my heart. This may say sound cliché or even an exaggeration. It is hard to explain to someone who has never experienced this and even harder to try to explain the complexity behind it. Believe me I have been trying to figure it out myself and wrap my head around the idea. All I knew was when I came home, while excited to be reunited with my loved ones, there was definitely a void, a hollowness that I have still to this day. I had mixed feelings because I was ecstatic to be back on American soil, but at the same time wanted to board the next plane to Italy. So I began to ask myself, why did this void exist? After many internal battles, I feel as if I finally have discovered the reason why. It is not entirely, because I miss the place although I still crave gelato and the sound of my feet on the Tuscan cobblestone streets, it is that you miss the person you are while there and you will never truly be that person again. Across my many adventures in Europe, I learned so many lessons and truths about myself. I lived a different life where I took day trips to different countries had charade like conversations due to language barriers and easily walked ten miles a day. While I will not have to walk 40 minutes to my apartment anymore, I will not have the opportunity to take in the beauty of buildings from the 1400s or chat with the quaint bookstore owner. All these opportunities challenged me and molded me into who I am today. Essentially, my passport gave me the tool to find myself. Italy captured my heart at the ripe young age of 18, along with France, Belgium, and the countless other countries and cities. At each place my passions, fears and even my unknown dreams arose. In my wanderings across Europe, I thought I would discover ancient ruins, and world wonders. However, I realized the biggest discovery was myself. Almost a year and a half later, I still feel that my heart is in Tuscany. Every day, I still have habits and longings I cannot find here and I am still in the process of adjusting. However, slowly but surely I’m realizing that the girl in Italy is not a separate version of me but a part of me waiting to be rediscovered. Back in 2009, I worked from home for a well-known satellite provider. I was a technical support representative and I had a home office setup in the corner of my living room. Working from home was awesome. I put my son on the bus in the morning, then started laundry, ate breakfast, and put my headset on. It was great for a few months, until they started wanting me to work evenings. Then they wanted me to start reading a sales script before I ended every call. Then I would get reprimanded if I forgot to read the entirety of said script. Then I got warned that my calls were taking too long. I quickly became disenchanted. The job that had once been perfect was now an inconvenience, both because of the hours and the work itself. Needless to say, I was upset. Here I thought I had found the perfect job, and now it wasn’t.
My solution to this problem was to quit that job and start my own photography business, which I ran strong for 7 years. This allowed me to work from home, which I loved and it was finally ideal. I set my own hours, my own pricing, and I had the freedom to spend time with family and friends without having to ask someone else for time off. But the income was too unpredictable and my weekend availability was disappearing more and more every year. I was missing out on family functions and important milestones of the ones I loved. Now I was unhappy again, and that caused me to get burnout. As much as I loved photography, it wasn’t fun to have to tell my cousin that I couldn’t make his graduation party because I was already busy. Being the only employee, I couldn’t get anyone to “work for me” either. I was it. And that just added to my negativity. So here I was, wanting to quit my business but still needing to make money. I was stressed and unhappy. I made the decision in February of 2017 to close my business. For a while I lived off the income I was receiving from clients paying off their balances, but I knew I would have to find work eventually. I decided I would get a job that August, once my youngest started Kindergarten. I began looking around the beginning of June, just to see what was out there. I came across a job opening at Rose-Hulman, and the description just fit. It was a tech support position and it came with a laundry list of benefits, including no evenings or weekends – ever. It sounded too good to be true, and even though I didn’t actually want a job yet, I applied. I figured it was a long shot. Four weeks and three interviews later, I was offered the job. Over the past nine months I have learned way more than I expected, and achieved more than I thought possible. So far I have earned one IT certification and at the time of this article I am two weeks away from my second. On June 1st I am starting the path to my Bachelor’s of Science in Information Security, and I am excited beyond words. IT was something I wanted to do growing up, so I took computer classes for fun in high school. I planned to go to ISU for Computer Science, but life happened and a college degree is something I never obtained. Getting this job has set off a series of events that have set me on a path I didn’t even believe was possible a year ago. I love where I work, who I work with, and what I do. Although I haven’t given up the dream of finding a work-at-home career that fits my life, I know it’s a possibility in the future. Actually, a lot is possible in my future. And I can’t wait to live it. Author: Ashlee Sappingfield Tech geek, bookworm, chocolate lover, and mother of two. I was super sick a couple of weeks ago. Like, everything hurts and I’m dying sick. My 9-year-old daughter was sick the couple of days prior, and my husband sick the day before I came down with it. We would have managed and made it work, but my mom and my mother-in-law came to our rescue, bringing us Gatorade, soups, applesauce, popsicles… you name it. About 16 years ago, my husband and I thought about moving a state away. I had an opportunity to interview for the home office of the company I was working for, and we were younger and hadn’t had a child yet – it seemed like the perfect time to go. So, I went to the interview. We hyped ourselves up to the thought of potentially moving. We told our moms it was a possibility, they didn’t love the idea. Once I got there and started the interview process, I knew it was wrong. I really think I gave up halfway through that interview, because I knew it wasn’t for me, or that it would be the right decision for us. I remember driving home, listening to my music, feeling glad for the experience, but also feeling super relieved that I wouldn’t be taking that position. Now I own two businesses and continue to work to make my own grass greener, right here where my roots are planted. Fast forward 6 years after that interview, we’re expecting a baby, and my husband finds out he has to go through chemo, which ended up consuming the next 3 ½ years of our lives. Without having our family close, I don’t know what we would’ve done. Well, I do – we would’ve pushed through and done what we had to do. However, those days and moments where we needed the grandma’s and grandpa to help with the baby were a necessity. Those moments where I needed to call my best friend who was a mile away and vent was easier. The days I could barely get through at work, but did because I had grown so close to my work friends were easier. The days my husband needed to leave for 3 hours for chemo treatment were made easier, too, because he’d had the same boss for 10 years. I know there’s a whole world to explore out there, and we can always visit it. But nothing takes the place of home. And nothing ever will. -Lori Mitchell We put so much pressure on ourselves the 1st of the New Year with goals that we set out for ourselves and end up mid February feeling the disappointment that we got off track but I'm here to tell you that "It's all Right"...sometimes we just need to give each other a break and lift and support one another instead of feeling defeated all the time. Were all built differently and sometimes it takes a little push to get back on track. Trust me I have been down this road and luckily I have family and friends who encourage me to keep going, so if your finding yourself in a slump right now I get it and understand but it too shall pass. Everyone goes through ups, downs, pain and struggles, but that's what makes us stronger right? I wouldn't change any of the hardships I've been through on my journey and I totally encourage you not to give up!! Make sure your taking January and February to rest and just breathe soon enough the sun will be shining bright again outside and the flowers will start blooming and you'll start feeling alive again.
Here are some simple steps when your starting to feel the blahs: * Get some fresh air and take a walk outside * Eat healthy and delicious food...cooking always comforts me * Go to the bookstore and grab a book * Get a massage and treat yourself * Get around some of your besties, drink wine and laugh * Surround yourself with your family and talk...put down all devices and play a game * Retail therapy is always fun and make a day of it * Play some music you love and start decluttering and clean...it will keep your mind off of the negative. * Start a journal , take a class or learn something new Good Luck and hopefully this helps motivate you to keep going!!! STITCHED WITH LOVE & CARE
I recently had the pleasure of meeting the women involved in God’s Hands in Action at Mount Calvary United Methodist Church in Clay County, Indiana. I sat in on a sewing meeting, where the women sewed teddy bears to send to nursing homes, hospitals, veterans hospice centers, and oversees to stationed military personnel. I witnessed a committed group of women who care about the project and the patients who will receive the bears. But, I was most struck by how the members don’t expect a “thank you” in return for their hard work and giving attitudes. Reader, I invite you to learn about the ‘prayer bears’ and the group of women who put a smile on multiple faces across the globe. When Kimberly McCarter made the bold decision to leave her former church three years ago to attend Mount Calvary United Methodist Church in Clay County, Indiana, she was grateful to be surrounded by a welcoming community. However, she had missed being a member of a small group project at her former church where she helped sew teddy bears from used clothing to send to nursing homes, hospitals, and veterans hospice centers. That’s when she decided to form a new group, God’s Hands in Action, at Mount Calvary. “I had to find a reason for leaving the other church. I have to do something nice for others. God’s Hands in Action allows me to do this,” McCarter said. Every Monday, a group consisting of nine women and two men meet in a sewing room located inside the small country church surrounded by corn fields. Taking used cotton t-shirts, jeans, buttons and stuffing material, each member has a different role. Some sew, many stuff the bears, and others cut materials and apply the button eyes to the bears for a finishing touch. It doesn’t matter how much experience you have had with sewing and crafts; there is a valuable role for everyone. Each bear is unique. The bears range in color, fabric style, and shape, which, as group member Alethea Colbe remarked, gives the bears different personalities. The group works quickly to gather as many bears, effectively called ‘prayer bears’ because the members pray over the bears, before making deliveries to multiple nursing homes in the Wabash Valley, including Southwood Healthcare Center (where the group recently sent 35 to 45 bears), Springville Village (which received 80 bears), Signature HealthCARE of Terre Haute, Exceptional Living Center of Brazil, and more. The bears are also sent to Union Hospital, Regional Hospital, and Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. Bears have even made their way to young cancer patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. “I can usually sew three bears in one evening,” McCarter shared. “Then I stuff and finish the bears at the next meeting to get them ready for delivery.” McCarter enjoys visiting the patients to hear their stories and witness their interactions with the bears. According to McCarter, it is more special to meet the patients who are receiving the bears so there is a face behind the patient. Many nursing home residents do not have families of their own, so the bears become companions during their stay. One blind nursing home resident has named her bear after McCarter. Even though she couldn’t physically see the bear, she knew it looked like the giving woman who carefully sewed the gift for her. “That moment really touched my heart. We work for God. We don’t work for each other or for the glory, but every now and then, we’re reminded of the importance of what we’re doing,” McCarter remarked. In addition to the bears sent to nursing homes and hospitals, God’s Hands in Action makes patriotic bears donned with American flags and crafted from red, white and blue material. These bears are sent to multiple veterans’ hospice centers throughout the Wabash Valley. As the group continues to grow, members eventually wish to send bears to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The patriotic bears are also sent during the holiday season to current military personnel serving oversees in Afghanistan, Iran, and have been sent to soldiers serving in Iraq. Many of these military personnel are from Terre Haute, including a Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology student who was stationed in Germany. Finally, the group makes pink teddy bears for breast cancer patients, as well as dog beds to send to the Terre Haute Humane Society made from the scrap materials left over from a teddy bear project. The members don’t want to waste any materials, according to McCarter. Everyone involved in the group is devoted to the commitment to serve others, not seeking glory for being involved in the project. “We like to make people happy,” said Rose Collins. “We know these bears are going to good homes that need them,” remarked Wanda Caton. When asked about the importance of gratitude in relation to God’s Hands in Action, McCarter explained that they will receive gratitude later. They work for others, not for themselves. “We don’t do this project for us or for a ‘thank you,’” said McCarter. “We do it for the patients and for Him. This is our calling to give these bears to people who really need them. We’ll eventually get a blessing and some gratitude for this project. It might not be now, but it’ll come to us later.” And don’t think the bears aren’t part of the sewing fun. Dozens of bears sit around the sewing room, listening to the group’s stories and waiting for a new bear to be added to their family. Then they’re ready to participate in Sunday service, reserving their own church pew in the congregation. “They’re part of our church family. Each and every single one,” Caton adds. --- God’s Hands in Action accepts monetary donations but has a real need for clothing supplies in order to fulfill future projects. The organization prefers men’s cotton t-shirts, jeans, cotton and other materials that could be used for stuffing, buttons for the bear’s eyes, and cotton-based materials that don’t stretch. You can contact McCarter through Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s bookstore at [email protected] or 812-877-8516. -Written by Haute Life Magazine Editor, Kasy Long New Year 2018.... Are New Year’s resolution’s achievable? Do we do it for society or for ourselves? Why is it year after year we torture ourselves with the typical weight lose resolution? By February the majority of people who signed up for the gym memberships, personal trainers, and the meal planning have already given up. I think that people genuinely want to stick with their resolution to go to the gym or lose weight, but they give up easily because they have lost interest in it already. My resolution for the last few years has been to be a better person than I was the year before. It isn’t always an easy resolution to try to live out throughout the year, but I think I achieve it. I like to do this for myself. Because I can achieve this, instead of something that I will just be disheartened by if I don’t see a change with in the first few tries. I think society puts this stigma on New Year’s resolutions that they have to be drastic changes in life. New Year’s resolutions should be about setting a goal to make yourself different than you were the year before. There are no rules when it comes to New Year’s resolutions. Who is to say the one we wanted to set on January first will work out February 18th? Life gets crazy! If you sign up for that gym membership, and go 3 days in January that is up to you girly. If you meal plan for 2 weeks, and then order pizza, order breadsticks too! There are no rules! Set a new goal each month throughout the year. In the end do whatever makes YOU happy, and you will live the best year of your life. |
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June 2018
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