PDF - American Lifestyle Magazine

AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
THE MAGAZINE CELEBRATING LIFE IN AMERICA
Bella Mancini’s Designs - pg. 24 | The Florida Keys - pg. 34 | History of the Soapbox Derby - pg. 30 | Southern Recipes - pg. 16
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American Lifestyle IN THIS ISSUE
magazine
Contemporary in
Connecticut
24
RUBY IS DESIGN’S BEST FRIEND
Bella Mancini’s Designs
6
SMOOCHING CITRUS AND
BROCCOLI DOGS
The World of Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers
30
BOYS AND GIRLS START
YOUR ENGINES
History of the Soapbox Derby
2
AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
12
SWEET SIMPLICITY OF
SINGLE NOTES
16
SLICE OF SOUTHERN SWEETNESS
Recipes for Everyday Celebrations
Perfume for a New Generation
34
AMERICA’S QUIRKY CARIBBEAN
The Florida Keys
42
HOW TO LIVE FOR A CENTURY
Tips to Reaching a Hundred
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
3
smooching
CITRUS
THE WORLD OF
SAXTON FREYMANN
AND JOOST ELFFERS
and broccoli dogs
Article by Keller Rose, based on interviews with Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers
Art by Saxton Freymann © Play With Your Food LLC
“
[A]RT
Saxton chuckles, “I must have done
enough crazy things to make my wife
think I would be perfect for this job.”
w
What do you get when you combine a charming Dutchman who
has a knack for thinking up zany
ideas with a free-spirited artist
who has a talent for carving food?
An ingenious series of books featuring cross-eyed oranges, broccoli poodles, and an entire cast
of other edible characters. Play
with Your Food and the books
that followed are geared towards
children, focusing on concepts
like counting, basic vocabulary,
and handling emotions. But
these whimsical creations will
capture the child inside of every
adult too.
In Joost’s Words
The aforementioned Dutchman
is Joost Elffers, a self-titled creative producer with an arsenal of
book ideas who patiently waits
for the right person to come
along and explore each topic.
He’s the type of guy who believes
enough in good fortune to not
force an idea before its proper
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author can be found. It could
be the gentleman across from
him at a card game or a dinner
companion. In the case of Saxton Freymann, the artist with
the talent for carving food, it was
the husband of a female friend.
Saxton’s wife, Mia, founder of
Eeboo Toy Company, got word
that Mr. Elffers needed a produce
carver. Saxton chuckles, “I must
have done enough crazy things
to make my wife think I would
be perfect for this job.” Saxton
selected some produce from the
local market, carved a few faces
into each piece, snapped photos,
and sent them off to Mr. Elffers,
who immediately knew he had
found his author.
The concept for the new book
Play with Your Food emerged
from a previous book Joost had
created, translated from German, The Radish Mouse in the
Cheese Hole. Though it had the
start of characters, it was still
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
7
“
[A]RT
Stalks of rhubarb became miniature books,
half peeled eggplants suddenly resembled
penguins, and scallions became lanky
travelers impatiently waiting for their
zucchini train to arrive.”
based largely on the tradition of
garnishing. The new book would
be only about sculpture. Joost
emphasized the idea of a “pure
concept,” meaning the integrity
of the object would always be
maintained. If you carve a piglet from a lemon, you should be
able to still see the form of the
lemon. It was a celebration of
basic shapes of nature. This concept would hopefully lend timelessness to the art.
Joost rationalized how being a
foreigner worked to his advantage. While natives might be
pre-occupied with the concept
of a carved pumpkin, he was not
familiar with the Halloween tradition. Because he could see past
this, the stem became a natural
nose, revealing the inherent personality of each pumpkin. Being
the outsider allowed him to see
things objectively.
In Saxton’s Words
Saxton’s perception of produce
began to change as well, as the
grocery store transformed into
an artist supply store. Stalks
of rhubarb became miniature
books, half peeled eggplants suddenly resembled penguins, and
scallions became lanky travelers impatiently waiting for their
8
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zucchini train to arrive. It was an
untraditional palette, full of undiscovered possibilities.
The “off the beaten path” gig
suited Saxton to a tee. A philosophy and art double major at Williams College, he always knew his
calling would be random creative
endeavors. His father, very supportive of his schooling choices
would joke, “At least you can fall
back on your philosophy degree.”
After college, Saxton headed to
New York City with thoughts of
“artist” in his head. The next 10
or 15 years were filled with odd
jobs, painting and drawing. In
fact, his only experience with 3-D
sculpture had been carving the
occasional pumpkin on Halloween. He quickly took to the new
medium, finding beauty in the
organic forms. So how does he
decide what fruit or vegetable to
use for a particular staging? The
best solution is the most obvious.
For example, broccoli comes to
mind when you think of a tree.
Pears make great helicopters,
and a piece of cauliflower is ideal
for Santa’s beard. His favorite
creations were those that managed to resist being discovered,
but once realized were so obvious, like the artichoke owl or the
rhubarb books.
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
9
[A]RT
Growing up in a house with a mother who owns a toy company and a dad who carves
produce, they don’t have a typical impression of reality.” He remembers one particular day
when he was picking up his then three-year old son from preschool. “I overheard his
teacher ask him about my occupation. My son excitedly explained that I take pumpkins and
carve faces on them.”
The books were intended to be a
playful rift on produce, but what
happened in terms of glamourizing nutrition was a happy accident. Notes Saxton, “the edible
art is a useful tool to familiarize
kids with fruits and vegetables
that they might not be attracted
to.” And what kid wouldn’t want
to eat a little mushroom man?
Saxton’s family always ate the
food after shooting wrapped.
During the making of Gus and
Buttons, his wife became accustomed to chopping up little
mushroom faces to put in the
dinner salad.
The photographs are truly the
final product, as the art is not
about artificially preserving organic material. It is Saxton’s hope
that people take away the principle of looking more closely at
everyday objects. Play with Your
Food urges people to become
more open to resonances and resemblances, an inherent skill of
children.
In fact, Saxton often uses his
family as a source of inspiration.
He says with a smile, “My kids
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would chew their toast into a
shape with great pride. Growing
up in a house with a mother who
owns a toy company and a dad
who carves produce, they don’t
have a typical impression of reality.” He remembers one particular
day when he was picking up his
then three-year old son from preschool. “I overheard his teacher
ask him about my occupation.
My son excitedly explained that
I take pumpkins and carve faces
on them.”
Both Joost and Saxton share the
same dream for these creations.
They envision the digestible creatures as animated stars, debuting
in their own box office release.
Books are the first step to a smorgasbord of other media. The final
book, Food Play serves as a catalogue of all the creations, and
shows the diversity and range of
the characters.
In the meantime, admirers can
get their fix of cauliflower poodles and giraffe bananas on calendars, note cards, and of course
in books. [AL]
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
11
[N]ATURE
r
sweet
SIMPLICITY
of single notes
Article by Katherine Durkes
PERFUME
FOR A NEW
G E N E R AT I O N
Romantic rose, soft violet, fresh
lilies of the valley, sweet vanilla—these simple perfumes were
at the height of fashion from the
late 1800’s through the 1920’s.
Household handbooks such as
the practical Household Cyclopedia (1881) and the Victorian
Era’s The Lady’s Dressing Room
(1893) contain recipes from the
time, like “Lavender Water,”
“White Rose Cologne,” “Extract
Vanilla,” and “Violet Water.”
People could either brew their
own at home or turn to their
local pharmacist for their
favorite fragrances.
Handkerchief perfumes were
especially popular. During the
previous era of Napoleon and Josephine, fashion favored strong
fragrances such as jasmine and
musk. In contrast, ladies of the
late 1800’s and early 1900’s preferred to carry lightly-scented
handkerchiefs and use toilette
waters rather than full-bodied perfumes. Even men wore
delicate fragrances, as light
garden florals signified gentility
and refinement.
Today, any designer perfume
made in the last twenty years
contains synthetic scent molecules developed in labs. These
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“
In contrast, ladies of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s preferred to
carry lightly-scented handkerchiefs and use toilette waters rather than
full-bodied perfumes. Even men wore delicate fragrances, as light
garden florals signified gentility and refinement.”
molecules can mimic common
scents like sandalwood and
musk, but often they have completely new, unfamiliar smells not
found in nature. For example,
marine perfumes, such as Davidoff’s Cool Water® or Ralph
Lauren’s Polo Blue®, rely on a
lab-made molecule to evoke the
scent of water.
The demand for these new aroma chemicals is high. According
to The Emperor of Scent by Raymond Burr, design houses start
with “briefs,” or statements of
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
13
the perfume’s concept. The briefs
are often highly visual and emotional in nature, such as this description from Escada: “We want
it to smell like the silks that have
two colors in them, depending
on the light.” Sometimes these
briefs run several pages long
with actual drawings and visuals to accompany the text. It’s up
to the perfumer to translate this
into scent, resulting in nuanced
fantasy fragrances that contain
hundreds of components.
It may seem that people have
permanently moved on from
the grace and romance of Victorian-era scents, but history often
repeats itself. Perfumery is no
exception. Small boutiques and
artisan perfumers have started
a movement to restore simpler
scents to the market. After twenty
years, modern designer perfumes
have exhausted many people’s
noses, and customers long for
the refreshing familiarity of wellknown “single note” fragrances.
What’s old is new again, including the growing number of home
perfumers who prefer to make
their own scented waters.
Lilacs and Love
A number of studies have shown
that people prefer fragrances
they can identify, especially nature scents that are rich with
emotional history. For example,
someone who remembers her
grandmother’s lilac potpourri
may prefer a simple lilac eau de
toilette to all the complicated designer concoctions in the world.
That emotional connection is
what many perfume customers
seek, but they often will not find
it at the cosmetic counter.
Many have gone back to the
natural, familiar scents of flowers
as their “signature scents” instead
of the latest by Calvin Klein or
Thierry Mugler. Parfums Raffy,
a prestigious perfume retailer
and perfumer, recently launched
a line of single note perfumes
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It may seem that
people have
permanently moved
on from the grace and
romance of Victorianera scents, but history
often repeats itself.
Small boutiques and
artisan perfumers have
started a movement to
restore simpler scents
to the market.”
aimed at “captur[ing] the magic
and romance of the late nineteenth century when single
note fragrances were extremely
popular but only available to the
wealthy.” (Parfumsraffy.com)
But Parfums Raffy is one of the
only perfumers to offer “single
note” scents. These elegant perfumes are still hard to find outside of specialty boutiques. The
good news is that they are simple
to make at home, just like the
perfumes of Victorian times.
Unlike Victorian times, however,
home perfumers now have access
to an incredible variety of natural
essences from around the world.
It’s amazing how many precious
botanical oils are available in
health food stores such as Wild
Oats or Whole Foods.
Scents’ Sense
Since scent is hard to describe in
words, perfumers talk about their
creations in terms of “notes,”
just like musical notes. The base
notes are components that linger on the skin. They are often
described as smelling warm,
woody, or rich, such as tuberose, patchouli and sandalwood.
Base notes last for many hours
because they are dense in scent
molecules and evaporate more
slowly into the air.
Middle, or heart notes are what
most people think of when they
imagine what a perfume smells
like. Floral and spicy scents tend
to be heart notes, such as geranium, rose, vanilla, and ginger.
Heart notes typically last from
two to six hours in a perfume,
but every one is different.
Top notes smell bright and fresh
and create the first impression of
a perfume. Often, they are gone
within a matter of minutes, but
some can last an hour or two.
Because of their high rate of
evaporation, top notes can overpower the wearer, especially if
they are one of the more piercing
synthetic aldehydes (Chanel No.
5® is a classic example.) Citrus,
black currant, mint, and eucalyptus are all top notes.
[N]ATURE
“
Historical Scented
Water Recipes
Both these unisex scented water recipes
double as linen sprays, but be sure to
test them first. They may stain light-colored fabrics. Store them in opaque or
dark glass bottle, and keep them out of
the sun. Sunlight will break down the
plant oils. Essential oils should never be
applied undiluted on the skin; they may
cause irritation.
(1 tsp = 100 drops)
Lavender Toilette Water adapted from
The Lady’s Dressing Room
• 1/2 cup vodka (4 ounces)
• 1/4 tsp (25 drops) lavender
essential oil
Shake well before every use.
Also use this formula for any singleflower toilette water, such as neroli,
geranium, or ylang ylang.
What’s Inside
The concept of essential oils is a
familiar one. Their use is popular
with natural skin care products
and aromatherapy. Essential oils
are essences that are pressed or distilled from a single type of plant.
Depending on the plant, the oil
can come from the bark, leaves,
flowers, or seeds. Not all of them
smell pleasant, however, and
are not suitable for perfumery.
Absolutes are much more concentrated than essential oils and
contain more of the plant’s true
scent. For many plants and
substances, only absolutes are
available because it is impossible
to make a distilled or expressed
essential oil from them. To fully
appreciate an absolute, though,
it must be heavily diluted, sometimes as low as 1% or less. People
who sniff them for the first time
often think they smell strange,
unpleasant, or chemical-laden.
That’s because trace substances
are highly concentrated in abso-
For example, someone who remembers her
grandmother’s lilac potpourri may prefer a
simple lilac eau de toilette to all the complicated
designer concoctions in the world.”
lutes that normally go unnoticed when sniffing a flower or
a diluted perfume.
Some of the less common fragrances, such as clean linden
flower or dark, sweet tuberose, are only available as absolutes from aromatherapy
and specialty perfume suppliers. Thicker essential oils and
absolutes require full strength
perfumer’s alcohol (denatured
ethanol) to dissolve them,
which is why starting with
more common essential oils
and vodka is recommended.
If you try the recipes, keep in
mind that homemade perfumes
with vodka still require shaking
before every use. Here’s to saving
money and smelling good! [AL]
Florida Water adapted from
The Household Cyclopedia
• 1 cup vodka (8 ounces)
• Essential oils needed:
• Lavender - 16 drops
• Clove - 16 drops
• Lemon - 8 drops
• Orange - 8 drops
• Cinnamon - 1 drop
Shake well before every use.
Author Katherine Durkes runs
The Excellent Living Guide, a website
on do-it-yourself bath and body, and
the Yahoo Group “Home Bath &
Body.” She has written three books
about making your own bath and
body products. For more homemade
ideas and recipes, go online to:
www.excellentlivingguide.com.
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
15
[F]OOD
Sweet Potato Pound Cake
SERVES 8 TO 10
the ingredients::
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
3 1/4 c. sifted all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 c. sugar
1 c. light brown sugar
4 eggs
2 c. mashed cooked sweet potatoes
cooking instructions::
1. Heat the oven to 350˚F, and grease and flour a
10” tube pan. Combine the flour, baking powder,
baking soda, nutmeg, and salt in a medium bowl,
and stir with a fork to mix well. Combine the milk
and vanilla in a small bowl. Set the milk and flour
mixtures aside.
2. In a large bowl, beat the butter, sugar, and brown
sugar together with a mixer at high speed until light
and well-combined, stopping once or twice to scrape
down the bowl. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating
well each time. Add the mashed sweet potatoes and
mix at low speed for 1 minute, or until the batter is
evenly mixed.
3. Add about half the flour mixture and beat gently,
I adore this cake, which bakes
up tall, aromatic with spices,
slice
of
SOUTHERN
sweetness
Recipes by Nancie McDermott
Photography by Becky Luigart-Stayner
and fortified with the autumnal
RECIPES
F O R E V E RY D AY
C E L E B R AT I O N S
rosy-golden color and comforting flavor of sweet potatoes. If
you long for a little pizzazz, top
this off with Buttermilk Glaze
or Quick Caramel Glaze. All
pound cakes taste sublime when
using a wooden spoon or a mixer at low speed,
only until the flour disappears into the batter. Add
half the milk and mix gently to combine everything
well. Mix in the remaining flour, and then the
remaining milk, beating gently only until you have a
thick, smooth batter.
4. Scrape the batter into the prepared tube pan, and
bake at 350˚F for between 60 and 75 minutes, or
until the cake is evenly browned, springs back when
touched gently in the center, and a wooden skewer
inserted in the center comes out clean.
5. Cool in the pan on a wire rack or a folded kitchen
towel for 20 minutes. Then use a table knife to loosen
the cake from the pan. Turn out the cake onto a
wire rack, place it top side up, and cool to
room temperature.
toasted, but this one blesses you
with its spicy aroma as well.
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AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
17
[F]OOD
Mother’s Cinnamon-Pecan Coffee Cake
SERVES 8 TO 10
the ingredients::
Cinnamon-Raisin Filling
•
•
•
•
•
•
1 1/2 c. light brown sugar
3 tbsp. all-purpose flour
3 tbsp. ground cinnamon
1 1/2 c. raisins
1 1/2 c. coarsely chopped pecans
3/4 c. (1 1/2 sticks) butter, melted
Coffee Cake
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
c. all-purpose flour
tbsp. baking powder
tsp. salt
tsp. vanilla extract
c. milk
c. (2 sticks) butter, softened
c. sugar
eggs
cooking instructions::
1. Heat the oven to 350˚F, and grease and flour a
13-by-9-inch pan.
2. To make the filling, combine the light brown sugar,
flour, and cinnamon in a medium bowl, and stir with
a fork to mix everything well. Combine the raisins and
pecans in another bowl and toss to mix them. Place the
cinnamon mixture, the nut mixture, and the melted
butter by the baking pan.
3. To make the coffeecake batter, combine the flour,
baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl, and stir
with a fork to mix them together well. Stir the vanilla
into the milk. In a large bowl, combine the butter and
the sugar, and beat with a mixer at high speed, stopping to scrape down the bowl, until pale yellow and
evenly mixed, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs and beat
for another 2 minutes, scraping down the bowl now
and then, until the mixture is smooth and light.
4. Using a large spoon or a spatula, add about a third
Christmas morning breakfast at
our house always included this
outstanding cake, which had
enough cinnamon to perfume the
kitchen and enough brown sugar
and pecans to make us clamor
for seconds. I love to make it
throughout the year, sometimes
in a tube pan but mostly in a big
rectangle so that it’s easy to cut
into yummy, portable squares.
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AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
of the flour mixture to the butter mixture, and stir only
until the flour disappears. Add about a third of the milk
and mix it in. Repeat two more times with the remaining
flour and milk, stirring just enough each time to keep
the batter smooth.
5. Spread half the batter evenly over the bottom of the
prepared pan. Sprinkle half the cinnamon mixture over
the batter, followed by half the melted butter. Scatter
half the raisins and nuts over the batter. Spread the remaining batter carefully over the filling, using a spatula
or a spoon to smooth the batter all the way to the edges
of the pan. Top with the remaining cinnamon mixture,
butter, and nut mixture, covering the cake evenly.
6. Bake at 350˚F for 45 to 50 minutes, until the cake
is golden brown, fragrant, and beginning to pull away
from the sides of the pan. Cool the cake in the pan
for 5 to 10 minutes on wire racks or a folded kitchen
towel, and then serve in squares right from the pan. The
cake is delicious hot, warm, or at room temperature.
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
19
[F]OOD
Shenandoah Valley Blueberry Cake
SERVES 6 TO 8
the ingredients::
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
1 2/3 c. all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 c. butter, softened
3/4 c. plus 2 tbsp. sugar
1 egg
1/3 c. milk
1 c. fresh or frozen blueberries
(do not thaw)
cooking instructions::
1. Heat the oven to 375˚F, and generously grease a
9-inch square or round pan.
2. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a
small bowl, and stir with a fork to mix well. In a
medium bowl, combine the butter and sugar, and
beat with a mixer at high speed until well combined.
Add the egg and beat well for 1 to 2 minutes,
stopping to scrape down the bowl, until the mixture is
smooth and light.
3. Stir in half the flour mixture, and then half the
milk, mixing just enough to keep the batter fairly
smooth and well combined. Add the remaining
flour, and then the milk, mixing gently. Stir in the
blueberries.
4. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan, and
bake at 375˚F for 30 minutes, or until the cake is
golden, springs back when touched gently in the
center, and is pulling away from the sides of the pan.
Enjoy this simple, delicious cake
for breakfast, a tea party, or
a midnight snack. If you can’t
5. Serve a square cake right from the pan, warm
or at room temperature, cut into small squares. If it’s
round, let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack or
folded kitchen towel for 10 minutes, and then turn it
out to cool on a wire rack, top side up.
pick your own blueberries in
the Shenandoah Valley, don’t
worry. The cake comes out just
fine using fresh blueberries from
wherever you are, or even frozen
berries even in the middle of winter. The recipe is from The Best of
the Bushel, a delicious volume of
recipes from the Junior League of
Charlottesville, Virginia.
20
AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
21
[F]OOD
Mississippi Mud Cake
SERVES 10 TO 12
the ingredients::
Mississippi Mud Cake
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
1 c. (2 sticks) butter, cut into big chunks
1/2 c. cocoa
4 eggs, beaten well
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/8 tsp. salt
1 c. chopped pecans or walnuts
Mississippi Mud Frosting
•
•
•
•
•
•
One 16-oz. box (about 3 2/3 c.)
confectioners’ sugar
1/2 c. cocoa
1/2 c. (1 stick) butter, melted
1/2 c. milk or evaporated milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
4 c. mini-marshmallows,
or 3 c. marshmallows, quartered
We love this earthy cake—the way it
looks, the way it tastes, and especially, its wacky name. You don’t
have to be from Mississippi or even
Southern to come under its spell. The
main requirement, judging from the
cooking instructions::
1. To make the cake, heat the oven to 350˚F.
Grease and flour a 13-by-9-inch pan. In a small
saucepan, combine the butter and the cocoa and
cook over medium heat, stirring now and then, until
the butter is melted and the mixture is well blended, 3
to 4 minutes. Stir in the beaten eggs, vanilla, sugar,
flour, salt, and pecans, and beat with a wooden
spoon or a spatula or with a mixer at low speed until
the batter is well combined and smooth, and the flour
has disappeared.
2. Quickly pour the batter into prepared pan and
bake at 350°F for 25 to 30 minutes, until the cake
springs back when touched gently in the center and is
beginning to pull away from the sides of the pan.
3. Prepare the frosting while the cake bakes, so that
you will be ready to pour it over the hot cake. In a
medium bowl, combine the confectioners’ sugar and
the cocoa, and stir to mix them well. Add the melted
butter, milk, and vanilla, and use a large spoon or a
mixer at low speed to beat everything together well.
Set aside until the cake is done.
4. Remove the cake from the oven, scatter the
marshmallows over the top of the cake, and return
the cake to the hot oven for about 3 minutes, to soften
the marshmallows.
5. Place the cake on a wire rack or a folded kitchen
towel. Pour the frosting over the marshmallow-dotted
cake, cool to room temperature, and then cut into
small squares.
response during a help-us-eat-all-thesecakes party we hosted a while back,
is that you be in the room with it and
be able to reach the cake plate. How
its components transform themselves
into such a tall, tasty cake is a mystery
to me, since it lacks baking powder or
soda, and is ready for the oven after
only two simple steps.
22
AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
23
[D]ESIGN
r uby
is
DESIGN’S
best friend
BELLA
MANCINI’S
DESIGNS
Article by Eva Taylor
Photography courtesy of Bella Zakarian Mancini
i
“I wish I had a good story for why
we named the business Ruby. I
need to make one up,” laughs
Bella Zakarian Mancini, owner
of Ruby, a successful interior design firm in New York City. It’s
this down to earth candor that
wins over her clients, turning
many a business partnership into
friendships. According to Mancini, good chemistry between
herself and her client is half the
success. Explains the bubbly designer, “It’s like a first date—it’s
either good or bad. If it’s good,
there will be a better understanding of what the client wants.”
For the Stewart family of New
Canaan, Connecticut, the first
meeting with Bella would lead to
a happy and successful relationship. When Mancini met Cindy
Stewart, the two hit it off immediately, their visions for the home
matching equally well with their
outlooks on life. The majority of
Mancini’s clients are New York
City dwellers, demanding multifunctional rooms and clever storage. The Stewarts’ residence, on
the other hand was a capacious
7500 square feet, 5 bedroom, 5
and a half bath traditional.
The couple was clear on their
style goals for their new house.
They envisioned a contemporary
home with clean lines, plenty
of room for entertaining, and
comfortable furniture. The overall challenge for Mancini was
to infuse some much-needed
24
AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
25
[D]ESIGN
soul into a developer home. Mancini prescribed texture on the walls,
richly colored carpets to ground the
space, and a neutral palette to play
up the couple’s art collection.
Mancini’s design philosophy is simple: buy what you love and it will
(most likely) go together. She listens
carefully to her clients, tapping into
their style sensibilities and functional needs to create the perfect space
for them. Mancini is all about her
clients, her altruism evident in the
legacy she hopes to leave behind.
“I’d like to be remembered for helping people create a space that they
are truly happy to come home to,”
reveals a humble Mancini. Good
design is about good living, and the
ambitious designer is doing her part
to give urbanites and a few suburbanites a taste of that good life.
To find her inspiration, a leisurely day of shopping does the
trick. Recently on vacation in
the south, Mancini recalls being
impressed by the interior design
stores in South Carolina and
Savannah. “With design now being so accessible, it’s refreshing
to see well-edited stores. They
chose really beautiful items.
In New York City, pieces have
a tendency to get lost in the
clutter.” And just as she instructs
her clients to do, Mancini turns to
tear sheets, from a vault of interior
26
AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
decorating magazines and fashion magazines. She acknowledges
it is sometimes easier for clients
to express their style visions
through clothing. A lacy dress
can translate into a delicate room.
When asked what inspired the
Stewarts, Mancini jokes, “Well,
my client would have moved
the entire contents of the Holly
Hunt showroom into her home
had I let her and her budget permitted! Instead, I worked around
a few key pieces from that showAMERICAN LIFESTYLE
27
“
[D]ESIGN
room. She really liked the simple
lines and architectural aspects of
the pieces.”
With two young children, a family friendly space was a must.
Mancini achieved this with a sectional in the family room, large
enough for the whole family to
sit on together. The living room
needed ample space for entertaining, and included two sofas,
chairs, a game table, and a piano.
Much of the home is understated
and sleek, with bits of whimsy
mixed in. The table in the foyer
was custom-made to fit the popart painting that hangs above it.
In the dining room, a quartz and
alabaster chandelier by Stephan
Pagani lends an industrial-glamour to a clean space.
In the dining room, a
quartz and alabaster
chandelier by Stephan
Pagani lends an
industrial-glamour to
a clean space.”
Mancini has a great sense of
humor about her work. When
asked her biggest challenge with
the project, she mentioned the
rug from Nepal that took eight
months to arrive. “There were
monsoons and the rug refused
to dry. You have to keep things
in perspective though...it’s only
decorating.” This sense of humor
is shared by client Cindy, and is
reflected in fun pieces throughout the home. A bunch of mirrored squares tilted at unexpected
angles make up the fanciful mirror that hangs above the fireplace
in the master bedroom.
Mancini may channel husband
and wife design team, the Eames’
work ethic, or former employer
28
AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
Ellen Hamilton’s passion and infectious enthusiasm for design,
but her own design sense is innate. The young designer’s zest for
life and blind ambition inspired
her career change of heart. “I am
that girl who was rearranging her
room instead of sleeping, and
decorating my friends’ rooms as
well. I started my career in clothing and textiles, and moved into
interior design shortly after. I
absolutely love anything to do
with home and the idea of good
quality living. It’s what I do as
my hobby on the weekends.” The
natural-born designer opened
her own firm just five years after
earning her degree. Her design
partner has since moved to Italy,
but Mancini has shown herself
more than capable of being a
one-woman show. And lucky
for us, we see no signs of a finale
anytime soon. [AL]
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
29
[C]ULTURE
Scott was known at the News for his creative thinking as much as for his
photographic ability, and one of the best ideas of his life hit him at that moment:
Why not hold a coasting race and award a prize to the winner?”
i
boys
a nd
girls
START YOUR
engines
Article by Ralph Iula
Photography courtesy of All-American Soap Box Derby
30
AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
HISTORY OF
THE SOAPBOX
DERBY
It’s been called “The Greatest Amateur Racing Event in the World,”
“The Gravity Grand Prix”, and
many other expansive euphemisms,
but to most of the more than a million youngsters who’ve participated,
it’s just the “Soap Box Derby.” It
was dubbed the “Soap Box Derby”
back in 1933, when a Dayton Daily
News’ photographer encountered
three boys racing home-made, engine-less cars down an inclined
brick street. Myron E. “Scottie”
Scott, known at the News for his
creative thinking as much as for his
photographic ability, had one of
the best ideas of his life at that moment: Why not hold a coasting race
and award a prize to the winner? He
told the boys to come back to the
same hill with their friends a week
later, and they could participate in a
race with a trophy as a prize.
The week passed, and nineteen
boys arrived at the site in suburban
Dayton to contest for honors. One
of the cars in particular personified
Scottie’s vision of a “Soap Box Derby” racer. Obviously handcrafted,
painted black with a big white “7”
on it, the racer had been built by
Robert Gravett, son of a Dayton
metal stamping plant employee.
“Scottie” got his pictures and “Old
No. 7.” as he named it, would become the symbol of the Derby for
the next thirty-five years.
A Seed Blooms
But now Newsman Scott wanted
to expand this rolling-down-a-hill
fun into something much bigger.
If these kids would race on such
short notice for a simple trophy
and the fun of it, what number
of boys might come out to com-
pete for grander prizes? “My boss
agreed, somewhat reluctantly, to
let me promote a race,” he related
to another reporter some years later. He was allowed a princely (in
those days) sum of $200 to finance
it. The event was to be held on
Saturday, August 19, 1933, and an
amazing crowd of 362 kids showed
up with homemade cars built from
orange crates, sheet tin, wagon and
baby-buggy wheels—everything of
“junk value.” No doubt one was
actually made from a soap box, although there is no record of such a
creation. The police and the Daily
News estimated that there were
40,000 watchers along the hill.
After this promising beginning,
Scottie planned an even bigger
event; a national competition! The
race in Dayton was a huge success,
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
31
“
with champions from thirty-four
cities, each sponsored by a newspaper. Shortly afterwards, an Akron delegation met with Chevrolet officials to discuss long-term
sponsorship of the Derby as an
annual event. A committee made
up of Schlemmer of the Beacon
Journal, B.E. “Shorty” Fulton
of the city administration, and
Thomas Aspel of B.F. Goodrich
sold the idea to Chevrolet.
Rules are Rules
1936 would be a climactic year
of growth, establishing the Derby as a national institution. Derby Downs, the first racing complex of its kind, was approved as
a WPA project and constructed
as promised in a city park near
the Akron Municipal Airport.
Changes took place for the 1937
race. New rules more carefully
eliminated “adult” or “professional” construction of the car,
which had to be “boy-built.”
The B.F. Goodrich Co. supplied
volunteer car handlers for “Topside”—the area at the top of the
[C]ULTURE
Derby hill where cars were stored
and inspected.
together again. They worked all
afternoon and through the night
to put “the perfect car” back
into its original condition. The
technical advisors and able mechanics found that it wasn’t easy,
but they got it done a few hours
before the race began. Cliff was
patched up too; he came to the
track after the hospital released
him, put his racing uniform on
over his bandages, and drove five
perfect heats to win the sixth AllAmerican championship over
113 other contenders.
When eleven-year-old, sixty-twopound Cliff Hardesty, of White
Plains, New York, reported to
Topside in 1939, he received
a rather formal welcome from
the officials. His car that had
preceded him by two days was
flawless in workmanship, radical
in design and riding on a sophisticated suspension. The car was
something to behold, but was it
made by an eleven-year-old boy?
Equal Opportunity
The inspection committee included two top officials of vocational training in the Akron
Public Schools. For three hours
the twelve-member committee
questioned the youngster and
when he politely commented,
“Gentlemen, you forgot to ask
me how I balance my wheels,”
his elders decided to send him to
bed at midnight and resume the
discussion in the morning. The
next morning, the day before the
race, Cliff was taken to a garage,
By 1971, a total of 272 contestants raced in the All-American.
Girls were admitted to the Derby
for the first time and five qualified for the All-American. By
1972, twenty-seven of the 251
champs were female.
Nowadays, there are three racing
divisions in most local races, and
at the All-American competition.
The stock division is designed
to give the first-time builder a
learning experience. Boys and
girls, ages 8 through 13 compete
in simplified cars built from kits
purchased from the All-American. The Super Stock Car division, 10 through 17, gives the
competitor an opportunity to
expand their knowledge and
build a more advanced model.
The Masters division offers boys
and girls, 10 through 17, an advanced class of racer to try out
their creativity and design skills.
Masters’ entrants may purchase a
Scottie Masters Kit with a fiberglass body from the All-American Soap Box Derby.
Celebrities from the sports and
entertainment world come to
Akron to visit the champs and
take part in the Derby parade
and other festivities.
The week’s festivities lead up
to Race Day when the anxious
champions prime their racers for
a chance at the winner’s circle.
Race Day activities kick off with
a spectacular opening ceremo-
nies, followed by the traditional
Oil Can Trophy Race where celebrities compete in oversized
Derby Cars.
The All-American Soap Box Derby has traveled a long road, both
uphill and down, since Myron
Scott first photographed three
boys and their engine-less racers,
yet the goals haven’t changed.
They are to teach youngsters the
basic skills of workmanship, the
spirit of competition, and the
perseverance to continue a project once it has begun. [AL]
For more information, go online to
aasbd.com and find out how you can
participate in a race near you.
Cliff was instructed to duplicate the front suspension of his racer. The boy worked for only half an
hour before the committee stopped him; he had built a better system then the one on the car!”
supplied with tools and materials
and instructed to duplicate the
front suspension of his racer. The
boy worked for only half an hour
before the committee stopped
him; he had built a better system
then the one on the car! “I’m
sorry,” he said, “but I can’t quite
get the feel of some of these tools
and lathes. If I were in my workshop back home, I think I could
do a better job.”
He had impressed the committee.
But his difficulties weren’t over.
That afternoon Cliff smashed
up his car during his test run.
The car was wrecked and Cliff
was taken to the hospital. The
inspection committee felt obligated to have the car put back
32
AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
33
[T]RAVEL
america’s
QUIRKY
caribbean
“
THE
FLORIDA
KEYS
Article by Janine S. Pouliot
Photography courtesy of Janine S. Pouliot and Cheeca Lodge
And that’s a perfect reflection of the dichotomy of the Florida Keys. On one hand, they still mirror
the old swashbuckling reputation of pirates, hidden treasure and unconventional residents. But these
days, they also offer a luxurious resort equal to any at a high-end vacation destination.”
i
If the Florida Keys have a reputation for supporting a collection
of somewhat quirky and eccentric inhabitants, they’re sure living up to that status tonight. I’m
sitting in a funky restaurant/bar
overlooking the azure water of
the Gulf of Mexico when I have
an epiphany, of sorts. Yes, I realize, despite the ongoing gentrification of the Keys, they still do
maintain their underlying unconventional personality.
I’m just about to tuck into my
freshly caught grouper when in
walks a character in a lopsided
floppy hat, cigarette dangling
34
AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
from the corner of his mouth,
stubble on his face—and his pet
squirrel, outfitted in a custom
leather harness and lead. The
tiny being is scampering relentlessly around his body: from
his head to his shoulders to his
pant’s pocket with all the dexterity of his species.
Well, it’s not everyday I see
someone taking their squirrel
out to dinner. Mind you, at this
very moment, the restaurant is
also hosting a pet dog, a cat and
a gaggle of humans. The man
nonchalantly ties his squirrel up
to a post at the bar and hands
him a nut. The little guy grabs it,
scurries up to the bamboo roof
and munches contentedly.
The curiosity is killing me and I
just have to ask. I casually saunter over to the man to inquire
how he happened to acquire
this unusual pet. Seems the
poor fellow fell out of a tree, was
wounded and needed nursing
back to health. But every time
this good man tried to release the
furry creature back into nature,
he was immediately attacked by
other squirrels and limped home
bloodied and bruised. So, there
was simply no other choice, I’m
told, but to keep the little guy
around himself.
And that’s a perfect reflection
of the dichotomy of the Florida
Keys. On one hand, they still
mirror the old swashbuckling
reputation of pirates, hidden
treasure and unconventional
residents. But these days, they
also offer luxurious resorts equal
in amenities to any at a high-end
vacation destination.
String of Jewels
The Keys are comprised of a
necklace of islands that begin just
south of Miami and are divided
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
35
[T]RAVEL
into five regions: Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine
and Key West. Their history
dates back to 1513, when it was
recorded that Ponce de Leon, in
his search for the elusive fountain
of youth, sailed right alongside
these land masses. Much later,
they became safe harbors for pirates chased down by the fledgling Navy Anti-Pirate Squadron
established in 1820.
Eventually, settlers arrived, driving out the native population
of Calusa Indians and living off
pineapple plantations and a shark
leather factory. But plenty of
adventurers and fortune seekers
were drawn to the Keys to dive
for treasure found within the underwater wrecks that had crashed
on the nearby reefs. Today, these
same reefs have metamorphosed
into a thriving small industry attracting nearly a million visitors
every year.
In fact, the Keys are home to
North America’s only living coral
barrier reef and the third largest
barrier reef in the world, after
Australia and Belize. Lying just
six miles off the coast, it parallels the full length of the string of
islands. Vivid colorful coral provide habitat to teeming schools
of exotic fish and marine life,
making the reef one of the Keys’
main tourist attractions.
“
To preserve this fragile eco-system, the world’s first underwater
park was created in 1960, called
the John Pennekamp Coral Reef
State Park. But despite this designation, pollution, inquisitive
visitors and the threat of offshore oil drilling continued to
erode this priceless national resource. In response, the Florida
Keys National Marine Sanctuary
was established. These days, with
an eye toward conservation, tour
operators offer dive and snorkel
trips and glass bottom boat rides
to this watery wonderland.
Each region of the
Keys exudes its own
unique flavor and attractions and I opt to
settle in Islamorada,
with the full expectation that I will take
day trips meandering
down the coast...”
One Slice of Beauty
Each region of the Keys exudes
its own unique flavor and attractions and I opt to settle in
Islamorada, with the full expectation that I will take day trips
36
AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
37
[T]RAVEL
The resort is a luxuriant profusion of palms, ferns, flowers, meandering lagoons, waterfalls,
swaying hammocks, sun decks on stilts over decorative pools, winding paths lined with
flourishing foliage and wooden foot bridges.”
meandering down the coast until
I hit the furthest point of Key
West, just 90 miles off the coast
of Cuba.
On Islamorada, fishing is the
buzzword and, along with the
little group of out-islands that
make up this one region, is
known as the sport fishing capital of the world. It’s heralded
for its angling diversity and has
the Keys’ largest fleet of deep sea
and shallow water “backcountry”
charter boats.
Occasionally Red Carpet celebs drop in here to compete in
fundraising fishing tournaments.
To their credit, the Keys boast
more world record catches than
any other destination globally,
according to the International
Game Fish Association.
But since fishing really isn’t my
thing, I’m hoping my husband
doesn’t notice the many charter
company offices along the road
as we drive to our hotel. We’re
headed to the uber upscale resort
Cheeca Lodge. The trick is finding the place. As testimony to
the genuine laidback nature of
the Keys, there are no signs announcing the presence of this
hotel. The only way to place it
on Ocean Highway is to look for
Mile Marker 82. Since there’s
just one road in or out for the
full 125-mile chain of atolls, offering a street number probably
doesn’t make much sense.
into the ocean floor. So this is a
happy phenomenon.
Another phenomena of the
manmade kind are the grounds
here. The resort is a luxuriant
profusion of palms, ferns, flowers, meandering lagoons, waterfalls, swaying hammocks, sun
decks on stilts over decorative
pools, winding paths lined with
flourishing foliage and wooden
foot bridges.
Tropics At Home
Actually, we sail right by it, only
to notice we’re well past Mile
Marker 82. We stop for directions, turn around and find it
somewhat concealed off the main
road. But once we enter, we
understand why it’s so obscure.
38
AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
This is truly a hidden paradise
of 27 lushly landscaped acres. It
also has, arguably, one of the best
beaches in America. The 1,200
feet of palm-studded sand kisses
water so startlingly aquamarine
and translucent, that if I blink,
I’d swear I was in the Caribbean.
But what’s more unusual is that
there’s a beach at all. While the
Keys are well recognized for water pursuits and breathtaking vis-
tas, the coastline is mostly rocky
with clusters of mangrove trees,
their twine roots growing directly
Our suite is richly decorated in
dark mahogany, leather and rattan furniture, and features a 42inch plasma TV, full kitchen with
granite counter top and a bath-
room larger than our first apartment. But it’s the view from our
fully screened-in porch that’s the
show stopper. At dusk, the surroundings take on a South Seas
ambiance with dozens of flickering tiki torches and the rush of a
waterfall tumbling from a manmade rock formation into the
blue lagoon.
Keeping Busy
There’s plenty to do here besides,
of course, just sitting mesmerized
by the amazing eye candy. Every
room is assessed a daily $39 activity fee which includes limitless
use of the par three, nine-hole
executive golf course, bicycles,
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
39
“
tennis courts, sea kayaks, fitness
classes, rods and reels for catch
and release fishing at the end of a
pier so enormous it seems to go
on to infinity, use of 200 first run
DVDs for in-room viewing, 63
cable channels and Riviera-style
striped cloth cabanas that fit
nicely over a set of beach lounge
chairs for privacy and shade.
Every room is assessed
a daily $39 activity fee
which includes limitless
use of the par three,
nine-hole executive
golf course, bicycles,
For an additional fee, a microtennis courts, sea
cosm of the best the Keys has to
kayaks, fitness classes, offer is also available including
romantic sunset cruises, deep sea
rods and reels for
fishing, scuba diving excursions,
windsurfing, Hobie Cat sail
catch and release
boats and more.
fishing at the end of
Just Rewards
a pier so enormous
But should guests prefer to just
it seems to go on to
relax, they can head to the full
service spa which offers an indulinfinity...”
gent menu of luxurious massag-
“
es, wraps, polishes, facials, exfoliation, manicures and pedicures.
For the ultimate in extravagance,
they can rent a private cabana
poolside for a treatment and then
remain in this semi-room with
ceiling fan and overhead electric
light, flat screen TV, DVD player, MP3 headset, fully stocked
refrigerator, complimentary fruit
plate and smoothies and use of a
personalized butler.
Another evening
we walk to the
Islamorada
institution, Morada
Bay Beach Café.
Locals and tourists
alike gather here
every evening to
watch a huge
orange sun
drop into a radiant
ocean from an
expansive sandy
beach dotted with
wooden tables, tiki
torches and live
music from a stage
formed by surf
boards.”
Our first evening in Islamorada
we ate at the resort’s fine dining
restaurant Atlantic’s Edge. Meals
can be taken indoors in an elegant room fronted by a wall of
windows overlooking the beach
and an ocean that turns silverygray as the sun sets. A pianist
plays softly in the background.
Alternatively, visitors may dine
al fresco under a palapa or palm
frond roof, balmy breezes teasing
tiki torches into casting shimmering orbs of muted light.
The menu offers four courses that
change seasonally and might start
with spiny lobster dumplings, risotto fritter or scallop in piquillo
pepper puree with eggplant caviar. A main course could be sautéed Florida black grouper, Key
West yellowtail snapper or Kobe
beef sirloin. But it wouldn’t be a
trip to the Keys without a dessert
of key lime pie.
Here, however, it’s not so simple.
Instead, the chef whips up a variation on that theme with a trio of
sweets just ever so slightly off the
40
AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
[T]RAVEL
beaten track. The key lime pie is
served semifreddo, which means
slightly frozen in Italian. It’s accompanied by a type of jelly roll
and raspberry sorbet.
Neighborhood Favorite
Another evening we walk to the
Islamorada institution Morada
Bay Beach Café. Locals and
tourists alike gather here every
evening to watch a huge orange
sun drop into a radiant ocean
from an expansive sandy beach
dotted with wooden tables, tiki
torches and live music from a
stage formed by surf boards. In
that magic moment between
daylight and darkness, the view
of the water, the neighboring
marina and the orchard of man-
grove trees softens to become a
still life of the quintessential romantic island escape.
We begin with a shared plate
of fried calamari that’s so sweet
and tender my husband and I
compete with dueling forks to
grab the tasty pieces. After, I’m
so stuffed from half of the mammoth portion that I decide to
forgo dinner, but my husband
orders a filet mignon that cuts
with a fork.
Wishful Thinking
Between lazing on the beach,
being pampered at the spa and
dining on the freshest of Islamorada cuisine, I never do make it
down to Key West, as originally
planned. I guess I’ll have to leave
that to a future visit, and that
gives me reason enough to come
back to the Florida Keys. [AL]
IF YOU GO:
Florida Keys information:
www.fla-keys.com, 1-800-FLA-KEYS
Cheeca Lodge: www.cheeca.com,
1-800-327-2888
Snorkeling and diving expeditions
with Keys Diver: www.keysdiver.com,
305-451-1177
Morada Bay Beach Café:
www.moradabay-restaurant.com,
305-664-0604
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
41
[H]EALTH
h ow
t o
LIVE FOR
a century
TIPS
TO REACHING
A HUNDRED
Article by Dr. Maoshing Ni, excerpted from his book, Secrets of Longevity
2
Fill Up with Soup
Eat soup at least once a day. A nutritious soup that
is low in salt rehydrates as it nourishes. Bottom
line: people who eat one or more bowls of soup
each day lose more weight than those who eat
the same number of calories but don’t eat soup.
Homemade is best, as canned soups are loaded
with salt and chemicals.
3
Chew
It
Up
Your stomach doesn’t have
teeth! Each time you take
a bite of food, chew at least
thirty times before swallowing. When you do, your
food is predigested in the
mouth by the enzyme ptyalin, found in your saliva. As
a result, the stomach doesn’t
have to work as hard, and
absorption of important vitamins and nutrients occurs
more readily.
1
The Heart-Happy Apple
The apple, a universally loved fruit, has long been a symbol of passion and temptation—and now,
scientists have confirmed that it also contributes to a healthy heart. Eating two to three apples per
day results in decreased cholesterol levels, thanks to the fruit’s rich pectin content.
42
AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
43
[H]EALTH
4
Artichoke: First Aid for Your Liver
Due to the chemical assaults of the world we live in, many
people’s livers are overburdened and function sluggishly. Artichoke to the rescue! This delicious vegetable is also a potent liver
protector due to a flavonoid called silymarin. So next time it’s in
season, steam and eat a couple of artichoke flowers to keep your
liver humming along.
5
Well-Being Booster: People
Just as we seek to create a healthy, positive environment
in our bodies and our homes, building a human community with similar characteristics will benefit our lives.
Being surrounded by family, friends, and associates who
are loving, uplifting, and helpful to your well-being
can add years to your life. A negative, depressing social
environment, on the other hand, can sap the pleasures
from life and rob you of the desire to go on. If you find
yourself in the former situation, congratulations! Do everything you can to sustain it. If you’re in negative surroundings, take whatever steps are necessary to develop
a more life-affirming situation.
44
AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
6
Work Out in the Water
Too many people find themselves disabled by worn hips and knees before they are old. This
works against your longevity plans, because exercise is a crucial part of health maintenance.
But many people suffering from joint pain can still reap the benefits of a workout thanks to
water exercise. Besides swimming, water exercises such as water aerobics and “aqua jogging”
using flotation devices have become popular in recent years. Water is the perfect cushion for
joints and provides resistance for a good cardiovascular workout.
7
Breathe Away Toxins
Breathing, our first independent activity when we
are born, is soon taken for granted as an automatic
function. However, due to habits developed in
response to illness, emotional trauma, and other
experiences, many people do not breathe properly.
It has been estimated that 70% of toxins in our
bodies are purged through the respiratory system.
If you don’t breathe correctly, you are accumulating toxins in your body. Practice deep, slow, diaphragmatic breathing daily, and you will reap the
rewards of better energy, improved skin complexion, and elevated moods.
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
45
8
[H]EALTH
Stress-Busting
Flowers
Colorful flowers have a powerful influence on moods. A
bouquet of flowers can conjure up love, uplift a patient’s
mood, and even help combat
stress. A study showed that
people who sat near a bouquet
of colorful flowers were able
to relax better during a fiveminute typing assignment
than those who sat near a foliage-only plant. Next time you
want to relax or improve your
mood, surround yourself with
colorful flowers.
9
Cut Clutter, Slash Stress
Simplify your life by cutting out the unnecessary items and activities
that collectively consume a large chunk of your energy—resources
that can be devoted to your health and wellness. The fast-changing world we live in lures us to acquire more and more objects.
The more we consume, the more we become enslaved by our belongings. Look around your house, find things you haven’t used in
the last three months, and give them to charity. Clutter makes you
disorganized, adding to your stress level. Streamline your surroundings to stay calm and in control.
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AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
Be Like a Two-Year-Old!
Just Say No!
The biggest stressor for many people is their attempt to please everyone. We feel the most calm
when we are in control. When we are overcommitted, we feel overwhelmed and out of control—and therefore stressed. There is power in
the word no, and we should relearn it and use
it. When we are able to acknowledge our limitations and our need for peace by saying no to
additional burdens, we reclaim control of our
lives and reduce stress. Remember how powerful
it felt when you uttered the word no when you
were two? [AL]
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
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