May 19, 2012

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5 Bad Beauty Tips From the Past

Written by Bioelements president Barbara Salamone

Last week, we posted this question on our Facebook page:

“Share your beauty tips from the past! What tip did you hear whenyou were young (from your mom, a friend, or from anywhere) thatyou later realized was not true?”

We got some great answers! Here are my favorite five, and my thoughts on each:

5. “Healthy looking skin is tan skin.”

I know many of us grew up with images of sun-baked goddesses as the ultimate in perfection. It’s good to know that many of us have wised up to know that SPF is a must – if you want a tan, make it a self-tan.

4. “To use shampoo as face wash. Yikes!”

Yikes, indeed! Shampoo and facial cleansers are not created equal. Shampoos are formulated with acidic ingredients to help keep your hair cuticles smooth, polymers to add shine, and fatty conditioners to fight static. Your face needs none of these things – in fact, they can cause breakouts and congestion. Stick to a cleanser designed for your exact skin type.

3. “Combat an oily t-zone with rubbing alcohol.”

Do not do this. Here’s why. Rubbing alcohol will dry out the skin –so when you first apply it, it will get rid of the oil you see. Sounds good, right? Wrong. It will dry out your skin too much, to the point where you’ll then produce even more oil than before to compensate for the new lack of oil. So you’re even oilier than when you started! Instead, tame oily skin with our Decongestant Cleanser, an alcohol free toner like Equalizer, and an oil-free hydrating gel like Beyond Hydration.

2. Put toothpaste on your breakouts.

I’ve heard this one from time to time, too. Simply put, toothpaste is made for your teeth, not your skin. Dabbing even just a small amount on a pimple can actually result in burns, particularly on those with sensitive skin. For others, irritation and drying can occur, making acne worse. Stick with 5% benzoyl peroxide found in Breakout Control.

And the number one bad beauty tip from the past is:

1. “Fresh pee from a baby’s diaper put on your face can keep you young.”

Wow. I don’t know where to begin with this one but let’s just all promise each other to keep urine away from our faces. There are plenty of effective anti-aging products that don’t involve bodily functions.

Filed Under: 2011-09 September 2011, Health & Fitness

Are you tired of being tired?

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a treatable disorder in which a person stops breathing during sleep.  Usually the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes the airway so that sufferers of sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during sleep, as frequently as a hundred times an hour and often for a minute or longer. Sleep apnea is a common disorder that affects millions of men, women, and children but is often undiagnosed, despite the potentially serious consequences of the disorder.  It is estimated that more than 18 million American adults and 2% to 20% of habitually snoring children have unrecognized sleep apnea1.

“Apnea” is a Greek word meaning “without breath;” those with apnea literally stop breathing in their sleep.  An apnea is clinically defined in adults as a cessation of breath that lasts at least ten seconds and in children as a cessation of breath that lasts the equivalent of two-and-a-half missed breaths.  In addition to apneas, hypopneas are often present. “Hypopnea” also comes from Greek: “hypo” meaning “beneath” or “less than normal” and “pnea” meaning “breath.” A hypopnea is not a complete cessation of breath but a reduction in airflow or a struggle to breathe.  With each apnea and hypopnea, the oxygen level in the bloodstream typically drops.

There are three different types of apnea: obstructive, central or mixed (a combination of obstructive and central).  Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common. With each apnea, the brain receives a signal to arouse the person from sleep in order to resume breathing, consequently sleep is extremely fragmented and of poor quality.  People with untreated sleep apnea are generally not even aware of the awakenings but only of being sleepy during the day.  They may, however, realize that they snore or gasp for air during sleep.  Loud snoring, punctuated with periods of silence (the apneas), is typical but is not always present, especially in children.

What are the risk factors for sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea occurs in all age groups and both sexes, but there are a number of factors that increase risk. Risk factors for adults with sleep apnea include a family history of sleep apnea, excess weight,  age 40 or older, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, a large neck, abnormalities in the structure of the upper airway, loud or disruptive snoring, insomnia, shift work, smoking and alcohol use. Apnea is also a concern with use of certain medications and general anesthesia.  Risk factors for children include excess weight, snoring, large tonsils, and neurological disorders (Down syndrome).

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

Adults with untreated sleep apnea complain of disruptive snoring, gasping or choking for air while sleeping, excessive daytime sleepiness, falling asleep inappropriately, workplace drowsiness, morning headaches, memory problems, feelings of depression or irritability, lack of concentration due to sleepiness, acid reflux or GERD, nocturia (a need to use the bathroom frequently at night), and impotence. Children with untreated apnea may show signs of hyperactivity, inattentiveness, and poor school performance. 

What are the consequences of untreated sleep apnea?

Consequences of untreated sleep apnea include high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, mood and memory problems and weight gain.  Sleep apnea may be responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle accidents.

What is your “Snore Score”?

1. Are you a loud and/or regular snorer?  Yes___   No____

2. Have you been observed to gasp or stop breathing during sleep? Yes___ No____

3. Do you feel tired or groggy upon awakening, or do you awaken with a headache?  Yes___ No___

4. Are you often tired or fatigued during the wake time hours? Yes___ No___

5. Do you fall asleep sitting, reading, watching TV or driving? Yes ___ No___

6. Do you often have problems with memory or concentration? Yes___ No___

If you, or someone close to you, have one or more of the above symptoms, you are at a higher risk for having obstructive sleep apnea.  Untreated sleep apnea can be extremely serious and you should discuss your symptoms with your physician or sleep specialist immediately.

1.  “Sleep Apnea and Sleep.”  National Sleep Foundation.  National Sleep Foundation, 2011.  Web.  07 Sept. 2011.  <http://www.sleepfoundation.org>.

2.  “What’s your Snore Score?”  American Sleep Apnea Association. American Sleep Apnea Association, 2011.  Web. 08 Sept. 2011.  <http://www.sleepapnea.org>.

Filed Under: 2011-09 September 2011, Health & Fitness

Behind the Scenes

David Curnel, MD and Pamela (Cassiano) Curnel

Pamela Curnel is never not beaming. Her smile is constant and genuine, her personality is approachable, and she exudes creativity. Her zest for life is as ‘caliente’ as the Tabasco sauce she puts on everything she eats.

“My wife has two speeds…100 miles an hour and off,” says David Curnel, MD, when asked how he would describe his wife of 26 ½ years.

Three days after Pamela Curnel was crowned Mrs. Washington 1993, she was asked to take on the position as State Pageant Director. Her response? “If you need help, I will help you.”

Eighteen years later the responsibility of being the Mrs. Washington America Directors/Producers remains in the hand and teamwork tutelage of Dr. and Mrs. David Curnel.

Pamela’s delightful attitude gives energy to mentoring of other women. In a world of immaculate image maintenance, it’s a rare trait to look beyond the physical beauty and learn the real person. People are strangers until they share their story; Pamela listens.

“She is interested in their lives,” her husband says. “They become like a part of our own family. We care about their husbands, their children, their life outside of the pageant system.”

It is easy to say Pamela’s sense of fulfillment as a director is neither transitory nor superficial, but stable and healthy. “I enjoy the whole process,” Pamela says. “Being a director has meant a profound opportunity to meet women from different walks of life, whose narrative, life experiences and calling is unique and important. And above and beyond everyone’s expectation, she reaches into those lives and offers friendship, skills, and self-confidence to mobilize the likes of them to rise up and reach their individual goals.

Pamela Curnel

One wonders how is it possible for someone like Pamela to work so hard, yet be in such a sound (and, from all observances, happy) state of mind?  She has help. Her husband defers to Pamela’s obvious advantage in setting the pace, yet enjoys his involvement in her passion of expressing her creativity and love for people. So, as co-director…co-producer…host…master of ceremonies…stage prop person…script proof reader…teamwork coordinator…errand boy…loving husband…father…grandfather…and…friend…he takes on his part, willingly. “Without his support, I wouldn’t have the energy or stamina to do what I do every day,” says Pamela.

Pamela has the support of additional family members as well. Directing a pageant is not all fun and fluff, it is hard work, and delegation is key. Pamela’s brother is stage manager, another brother and sister-in-law do the tickets, and her daughter Melissa is her assistant. “We all work hard together,” Pamela states. With a solid stance on family values, (you will often see Pamela ensconced with her oh-so-cute grandson, David Joseph), it is not a surprise.

It is also not surprising to become enveloped in the devotion and admiration this couple have for each other; refreshing in this day of questionable and/or compromising relationships. How do they do it?

“We have a 50/50 proposition,” laughs Dr. Curnel when asked why he thinks they have such a connected marriage. “She gives out the orders and I carry them out.” Pamela’s eyes shining, she smiles and laughingly says, “I let him talk, then I come in like a shark. It is OK to disagree, but only before he carries out the chore.”

Pamela goes on to tell why she so adores her husband and why is he is her sole (and soul) focus.

“My husband is honest, I respect him, and he knows everything! If I have a question, I just ask him and he has the answer. I love that about him.”

David runs the Boston Marathon, 2004

As a doctor with the Moses Lake Clinic, David has an enormous responsibility in helping others be well. “There are times when I call Pam and tell her I need something.” “I’m on my way!,” “will be her response.” With his also being an Addictionologist, diagnosing and managing patients with addiction disorders, this can mean 24-7  patient care. “They need my husband’s help,” Pamela says with compassion. “I support him in that.”

Nurturing meaningful moments is a chosen priority. “We talk about everything, every day. We still have date nights and hold hands and enjoy doing things together, even the smallest of things.”  She adds,

“He is very athletic and  is dedicated to being physically fit with a regiment of 3 days weight training, 3 days running, 1 day off. We have corporate teams for the Bloomsday race in Spokane each year and, of course, he runs.”

And run he does, with a finish at the Boston Marathon in 2004, he accomplished what many wish they could. Qualifying by only 12 seconds and running in miserable 93 degree heat, the odds were against him to make it, yet he did. Keeping with his focus on athletics, Dr. Curnel nodded ‘yes’ when asked to be a physician at the state wrestling tournaments. Twenty years later, he was presented with an award for his long-standing dedication and for always being there when needed.

These same qualities carry over in his position on the City Council, and more than likely the reason Dr. Curnel serves on this watch. “It is so different from what I do every day,” says David. “I want to give back to the community. Local issues are important and I want to have some input in how things go, plus I enjoy it.”

David being presented the 20 Year Award for volunteer service by WIAA Executive Director Mike Colbrese

There are two ways of explaining how Pamela and David Curnel accomplish whatever they set their minds and hearts to, and they’re not mutually exclusive; passion with the will to channel it into something that helps other people, and straight-up verve! “We only take on 3 things at a time”, quips Pamela. “Your work should stand for something, and in this way you can be both productive and happy.”

As a ballerina, Pamela has danced her whole life, and her love of dance is inexplicable. Having had her own studio in Rochester, Washington, Pamela has taught ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and performance readiness. Choreography is one of the most creative endeavors you can undertake as a dancer. It allows for freedom of expression while providing a forum to convey a message to the audience. The essential step in choreography is vision of how the dance will look when completed.

For Pamela, whether she is choreographing an upcoming pageant, or the 23 dances for the Moses Lake High School upcoming musical, her vision is clear. “Life is precious and I just want to do more,” shares Pamela. “So, David and I, together, conquer one goal and then come up with another.” Her burgeoning anticipation of winning an Emmy award for her upcoming documentary for television, entitled: ‘Behind the Crown’, drives her forward with a smile.

Having already done so much, their schedule booked with seemingly endless responsibilities, you might assume their motivation has been careening toward a future of some grand, indeterminate personal achievement. You’d be wrong. For despite everything they’ve done and have yet to do, the goal for the Curnels is… to help people.

 

Filed Under: 2011-09 September 2011, People

Kids back to School? It’s a perfect time to pull out the paint brush!

With our long Indian summer, and it being one hundred degrees in September, it’s hard to believe that the holidays are just around the corner. My planters are still in full bloom as I pull a few plants here and there making way for autumn kale and mums. Not a bit of frost yet, but I know it’s just around the corner too. Fall is so inspiring with its rich colors and crisper weather calling us indoors. This is the best time of year to reevaluate your interiors and decide if they speak to your soul. Does your home reflect who you are and how your family wants to live over the long winter months?

Do you suffer from bland interiors and uninspiring walls? Wanting to update your look but find yourself paralyzed with fear when trying to decide where to start? In my opinion, other than architecture, color is the best place to begin in your fore with design. A beautiful color scheme, a few cans of paint and a few hours (well…maybe more than a few) can really turn your home from drab to fab and what better time of year to start a project?  I am among the small group of people who actually think painting is fun and realize that not everyone has the same passion as I do.  Most of my clients’ eyes glaze over with the thought of wielding the paint brushes. As I pull out the fan deck many people start almost going into a coma. Selecting colors from more than two thousand choices in any given fan deck  is more than most can bare.  I call it paint paralysis and color ADD. This is my favorite part of design.  Color means everything to me. Unifying rooms thru color and texture is so rewarding because we all know the right color can pull a room together and the wrong color is…well…just wrong!

If you cannot afford to hire an interior designer to help select colors that are best for you, start by pulling color samples from your local paint shop. Tape them on your wall in a prominent place to see how they feel to you in your space.  Then narrow it down to a few choices and purchase sample sizes to actually paint on your wall. Make sure to prime the spot to get a true evaluation of the color and live with it a few days to see how it looks at different times of the day.

Next, select a sheen that is right for you. Flat paint is fabulous and has come a long way over the years. I love how it goes on like yogurt and looks like velvet. If you are a little nervous of flat select the next level available. Some companies call it satin, some velvet. Also make sure to purchase primer. If you are tempted to skip the primer, don’t! Primer not only provides a good surface for the paint by helping to even out the surface’s absorbency, but it also brings out the paints true color.

After you have all your tools on hand, prepare the surface. Remove dirt, dust and grease. If there are any areas that are especially bad such as kitchen walls, clean with TSP detergent and rinse thoroughly. Be sure to repair any surface imperfections. Fill all cracks and seams with paintable acrylic caulk, fill all holes with patching compound, and sand any peeling paint to a feathery smooth finish. Prime this area also for proper adhesion. If you have older homes, make sure to update yourself on safe ways to deal with lead paint. Contact the National Lead Information Hotline at 1-800-424-LEAD.

Remember: repetition of color visually links spaces and creates a sense of harmony. Cross pollinate each room and make sure the colors blend into each other well. Lay your color swatches on the table with your fabrics and carpets, and see how they interrelate and harmonize. I have been on many jobs to design furnishings and draperies around a paint color that simply was not working. It is much easier to match paint to your material selections than the other way around. If you can, start with your fabric and rug samples first.

This is my eighteenth year in the design industry and its interesting to look back on the major color trends that I have experienced. From forest green and rose to the Tuscan trend of red and gold, I have seen much come and go. In fashion as well as design, colors are actually selected by a team of professional’s years before we see them as a trend. Obviously some stick and some don’t. Stay tuned here in the Venue and also on my Facebook page for 2012 color updates. I will be attending ColorMix 2012 in November. This seminar is put on by Sherwin Williams’s director of color marketing Jackie Jordan to educate designers of upcoming trends in color and design.   Even though I am a firm believer in selecting what is timeless and fits your lifestyle, I also get excited to see what new things are going is on out there in the design world. Happy painting!!!

Filed Under: 2011-09 September 2011

Wines of Washington

White Heron & Competitions

Cameron Fries, White Heron Cellars

When we started in 1986 and for many years afterwards we entered competitions as a way to get the winery noticed.  If you come into our tasting room and peruse our scrapbook you will find information about medals we have won tucked away here and there.

Eventually we realized that none of the reviews (also tucked away in our scrapbook) or medals made any difference in our sales.  This was primarily because we never won the super triple gold platinum award.  This is because the un-oaked, fruit forward, and unfined style of wine we make does not fare well in competitions.  We then stopped entering competitions as, on average, it costs $40 per wine to enter.

Why does the White Heron style not fare well in competitions?

A recent competition near here featured over 200 wines.  I have myself worked as a judge in wine competitions.  You are served a flight of comparable wines, say five Chardonnays.  You rate these Chardonnays without food or atmosphere.  You then move on to the next flight of Chardonnays.  From each flight a wine is selected, assuming enough judges liked the wine.  The wine selected is the wine that tastes the best compared to the other wines in the flight in that environment.  The ‘winning’ wines from each flight are then returned to be tasted where eventually the ‘best’ wine of all is selected.

So to stick with our hypothetical Chardonnay, what is this Chardonnay best for?  It is most likely the wine with the strongest aroma, smoothest body, and with low acids.  In other words, it is the perfect wine for the cocktail hour where it will offend absolutely nobody.  As a whole, this is the mistake with judging wine, the best wine depends on the individual person, the environment it is served in, and the food it accompanies.

To return to our hypothetical Chardonnay, it probably would not fare well if served with pesto, braised scallops, and a mango salsa.  It would not be bad, it would just be bland.  Whereas, a Chardonnay from the Chablis region of France with a strong mineral taste, higher acid, and some astringency – a wine that would not do well in our competition – would form a synergy of flavor with the scallops that would elevate both the food and the wine.

When you taste over 200 wines in a day you are inevitably comparing them to one another.  Awhile ago I read a great article by a professional wine judge.  He commented that whenever he really loved a wine, another judge hated it.  This meant that the wine he loved was eliminated from the judging.  With such a system we are in essence removing any wine with character from the competition.  Yet for some of us these wines are the best and these wines are the most interesting with food.

A friend who owns a wine shop once brought me a wine and said, “Taste this and tell me what you think.”  I tasted it and commented on the rather bland overall character, nothing wrong with it, just uninteresting.  He said, “I know, I know, but it just won a double gold medal.”  As an aside, why is there no double silver or bronze?

Herb Lynch, an American wine importer, once described visiting a friend in France.  In France you can readily purchase wine in bulk and bottle it yourself.  Lynch accompanied his friend on such an expedition and spent the afternoon helping to bottle the wine.  Naturally they had to drink the wine as they bottled and Lynch was at first unimpressed with his friend’s selection, it seemed thin and light.  As the afternoon progressed and they continued to drink the wine Lynch suddenly realized that this was the perfect wine to drink throughout the afternoon precisely because it was not an overpowering wine.

At White Heron we have come to realize over the years that people are dramatically different from one another.  This means that anything perceived by the senses is going to evoke intensely different responses from different people.  This also means that no movie, no painting, no music, no wine can be quantified as the ‘best’.  At White Heron we make wine with character because we love wine with character.  We truly believe that every wine has a moment and a food with which, for that moment, it is the best wine in the world.

Filed Under: 2011-09 September 2011

Basin BBQ Bash to bring in thousands to LakeTown Landing

The Moses Lake Business Association (MLBA) is putting on a one-day event on Saturday, September 24th that is sure to bring in the crowds to LakeTown Landing, Moses Lake’s downtown shopping district. Third Avenue from Alder to Dogwood would be shut down to traffic and be filled with participants from the Pacific Northwest BBQ Association as well as a car show, commercial and food vendors, live entertainment all day in Sinkiuse Square as well as a Kid’s Zone.

Entertainment for the event includes the Lake City Blues band, Bill Ecret Entertainment, who will MC the event ,as well as Dime Store Prophets. Entertainment starts at 11am with the Lake City Blues band who will play until 1pm, and then again from 2pm until 4pm and continues throughout the day with Dime Store Prophets playing from 5-7pm.

This event is a family friendly event that will include a Kid’s Zone that will include Chalk on the Block, face painting, the Kangaroo Bounce House and a hands-on Science Booth brought to you by the Girl Scouts of Eastern & Northern Idaho.

Jim McKiernan, Moses Lake Business Association Secretary, says “Central Washington needs some larger events that draw people from the rest of the state. With the popularity of cooking shows on TV, specifically BBQ Pitmasters, etc, the BBQ competition seemed like a great idea. We hope to see it eventually draw ten’s of thousands of people to downtown Moses Lake similar to the competition in Yakima.”

Marianne Kirwan, Moses Lake Business Association Executive Director, says “The Basin BBQ Bash is sure to be a fun day…live music…commercial and food vendors…car show…Kid’s Zone…and a BBQ competition!  Bring your family out and enjoy our beautiful downtown!”

Sponsorships are needed to assist in putting on this event. Sponsors can donate money and will be given the opportunity to set up a booth at the event, have their business mentioned in PA announcements and have their business promoted on Facebook and on the www.mlbacares.org website. There are many ways of getting involved and showing your support for what MLBA hopes to be an annual event for LakeTown Landing.

Vendor applications are still being accepted with space limited to ten, go to www.mlbacares.org to download applications for food and commercial vendors.

The Moses Lake Business Association (MLBA) is a non-profit organization formed in 1993 by interested Moses Lake citizens. The purpose of the organization is to stimulate economic development in the Moses Lake business district called LakeTown Landing and to promote the area as an exciting place to live, shop, work and play. The MLBA also seeks to maintain a healthy business community and a high quality of life. MLBA is a member of the Washington State Downtown Revitalization Program. It is currently seeking to obtain Main Street Program status, which will benefit the organization by qualifying for state and national funding for programs and projects. The four components of this program are design, economic restructuring, promotion and organization.

To contact the Moses Lake Business Association you can call 509-764-1745 or visit their website at www.mlbacares.org. You can alsobecome a fan on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/mlbacares or www.facebook.com/LakeTownLanding.

 

Filed Under: 2011-09 September 2011, Food & Wine

We’re in it for the fun: Venue Magazine turns 10

Melea Johnson, Publisher

One decade and one-hundred and nineteen issues ago, we set out to develop a magazine dedicated to the art and entertainment world and the creative people who keep it flourishing.

With this in mind we ventured to share ideas on how to best savor forty-eight hours of a weekend’s worth of fun only to discover the fun never stops. See, you’d think the hard-working people within the 17 communities we serve, while not busy perfecting their daily responsibilities would curl up on the couch and watch nothing more demanding than a reality show.

Guess again. What the people in our communities do, in fact, is get up, get in and get going. Spare time is an opportunity to experience all that our area has to offer and get acquainted with the exceptional people who live here.

So, for ten years now, we’ve been placing event after event on our pages, produced to stimulate the mind and please the senses, inviting thousands of people to attend to have a fun time.

Music concerts, visual art exhibits, photography, writing, speaking, live theater, dance performances, pageants, dining experiences, wine tastings, golf tournaments, museums, book reviews, community happenings…we are a vibrant region with a lot of talent and treasure to share.

We enjoy telling you about it.

So, here comes issue number one-hundred and twenty, encouraging you to not only mark your calendar for upcoming memories to be made, but also to stay healthy and fit so you can play with us, laugh with us, dine with us, dance with us, explore with us, shop with us, volunteer with us, and grow with us…with vigor.

Hey, we’re in in for the fun and we want you to come along!

Filed Under: 2011-09 September 2011, Publisher Notes