Her Umbrella Premiere Issue Fall 2015

Her Umbrella 

creating a life outside the lines 

BLURRINGTHELINES: 

A LETTER TO 

SO UTH KO REA 

10 UNIQUE 

HOSTESS 

GIFTS THAT 

ARE SURE TO 

IMPRESS! 

The Joy Fund 

Project: 

Repurposing A 

Life Straight 

From The Heart 

LIVING 

WITH 

ANXIETY 

Seasonal 

Sweetness: 

An Autumn 

Crumble Recipe 

THE COTTONCANDY 

HAIR 

SURVIVAL 

GUIDE 

MINIMALIST 

MENTALITY 

REV I T ALI ZI N G 

YOU R LI FE & 

H OM E 

PremiereI sue!

She is a boho girl. 

10 Fun Things TOD0 This Season 

1. Watch HOCUSPOCUS. 

2. Visit an ORCHARDand go apple picking. 

3. Host a DESSERTPARTY. 

4. Make a VIDEOBLOGto share with your future kiddos. 

5. LEARNTOSAYHELOin five different languages (outside of what you already know). 

6. Go to the BOOKSTOREand pick out something that you'll actually read. 

7. Try MAKINGyour favorite Starbucks drink at home. 

8. BAKEsomething with a bit of maple in it. 

9. Take a DANCECLASS. 

10. PLANa weekend getaway with your gal pals. 

composed by GraceLynneFleming 

Premier Issue Fall 2015 / Her Umbrella 2

YOURDESERT 

ISLAND 

ON-THE-GO 

PLAYLIST 

GRAYSON WOOLERY 

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what would you need to survive? Water? 

Your favorite book? Mascara? Or maybe some music to keep you sane? Timeless 

classics, trendy rhythm, these are the songs you can't live without. 

1. Bon Iver Re:stacks 

2. Tallest Man on Earth 

Singers 

3. Kris Allen Lost 

4. Jack White Missing Pieces 

5. Aretha Franklin Think 

Grayson Woolery is from a small town and goes to University of Tennessee! Go 

Vols! She enjoys singing, Jesus, waiting tables & laughing till her ribs hurt and 

eyes water. Things she doesn't enjoy are Debbie/Danny Downers, being scared 

by other people,& going without eating cheese for more than a day. 

Follow Grayson: 


She 

rewrites 

the rules. 



A Letter FromTheEditor: 

WELCOME 

A year ago I was anxiously awaiting the birth of 

our first child. An adventure no matter how many 

twists, turns, throw-up bags or Spanx one 

endures, pregnancy is a wild ride for everyone. 

Unfortunately, we had an extra tumultuous trip. 

And while aboard the fearful ride I put my work, 

my writing, my reading, my blog and my 

emotional and mental health on the back burner. 

The goal was simple: take care of this wondrous 

baby and everything else can be dealt with later. 

And then New Year's Eve rolled around and, 

Claire, our magical daughter made her grand 

entrance. We eventually began to mend. And 

slowly got the hang of the whole "takin' care of 

baby" thing as we relaxed into a comfortable - 

although hectic - routine. I even fell back into 

work within two weeks of coming home. But I was 

missing my blog, known then as Her Umbrella. 

The problem was that I couldn't find the time, 

energy or even passion to continue the 

momentum of the space. So my wheels began to 

turn and Her Umbrella, the digital magazine, was 

re-born. The once HU blog was revamped into 

just Grace Lynne Fleming (.com) - a personal, yet 

public, space to share lifestyle adventures and 

travel journals. But now I had the freedom to 

reach out to other women and men in the 

creative community and generate something 

special - that had a heart I admired. 

Grace Lynne Fleming, Editor-in-Chief 

editor@herumbrella.com 

----------------------------- 

Editor'sCrush: 

Magazines have always held a place in my life. 

From my first Highlights subscription to my still, 

slightly-odd obsession with Seventeen Magazine, this media niche is a 

definite love of mine. And now we have Her Umbrella, dedicated to 

creating a life outside the lines, where "she" has the freedom to move in 

ways "she" didn't know "she" could. 

Every woman has an umbrella with a variety of likes, dislikes, stories 

and memories hidden underneath. And we're looking to uncover them. 

Look Around& Enjoy! 

DefineBottle 

learn more at definebottle.com 

H&MPoncho 

earn more at hm.com 

Perfect Rainy Day Read 


3 FORAUTUMN SARASTRAUSS 

Grabyour scarf andyour mugfilledwithwarm, Earl Greyandenjoythebeautyof theseason. 

Changing leaves. Pumpkin spice lattes. Sweaters. Apple-picking. 

Autumn always feels like a fresh start because the air is crisper and kids are going back to 

school. 

Allow Sara to show you why she swoons over fall, as if the season were Mr. Darcy himself, in 

three fall-inspired outfits! 

Apple-Picking 

There's no shortage of pumpkin-flavored 

foods and I like hunting for the best pumpkin 

in the patch, but it doesn't compare to 

apple-picking. Trying every kind of apple in 

the orchard, collecting more than you need, 

and then sharing the wealth with family and 

friends in the hopes that they'll make you a 

warm, fruit-filled pie. I was inspired by the 

apples themselves, so with a gray dress as a 

base I added a bright red cardigan, a turquoise, 

beaded belt, a blue floral scarf and brown 

wedges. 


Creamy Tea 

Don't get me wrong, I love iced coffee and iced tea, but 

there's something magical about a steaming cup of hot chai 

to warm you up when there's a chill in the air. Especially 

when that cup of tea is sitting next to a good book in a cute 

coffee shop. I put together an outfit that's reminiscent of 

milky coffee and tea: a white scarf, a light taupe blouse, jeans, 

and black ankle-strap flats. And don't forget your mug! 

Falling Leaves 

Brown to yellow to orange to red. The changing leaves are 

stunning, and I find myself paying more attention to the 

trees than the road when I drive during the autumn months. 

If you're not ready to give up your summer brights, this is a 

great summer-to-fall transition outfit: pair an olive green 

jacket with a bright yellow dress and taupe booties. 

Sara Strauss is a social media coordinator by day and an aspiring novelist by 

night. She writes about style, books and inspiration on her blog, Sincerely, Sara. 

You can find her reading YA novels, writing, watching Netflix and eating too 

many Oreos. Follow Sara: 


She had the spirit of a gypsy. 


EEF, BEAN& 

CORNBREAD 

CASSEROLE 

Melinda Birdwell 

Ingredients: 

- 1lb ground chuck or hamburger 

- 1cup diced onions 

- 16 oz tomato paste 

- 32 oz pinto beans- rinsed and 

drained 

- 4.5 oz green chillies- undrained 

- 1 tbsp chili powder 

- 1.5 tsp cumin 

- .5 tsp oregano 

- 6 oz pkg cornbread mix package 

Instructions: 

Cook the chuck/hamburger, onion 

and tomato paste, drain and return 

to the skillet. Stir in tomato sauce. 

Stir in beans, chilies, chili powder, 

cumin, oregano. Cover and cook 10 

minutes on medium low. Pour into 2 

quart baking dish. Prepare cornbread 

mix according to package directions. 

Pour over beef mixture. 

Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes 

til golden. 

Freshgrenbeanssautedinabit of oliveoil withadash 

of salt andpepper arethebest compliment tothishearty 

bite. Cozyupandtasteabit of our family-friendly, 

perfectlyfall weknight dinner idea. 

Melinda Birdwell is a wife to Daniel, mother to three, Dalton, Kami and McKenna and 

teacher for 21 years. Once retired, she dreams of cultivating and diving into her 

own catering business. 


MAKINGTIMEFORDATENIGHT 

WHY, WHEN& 6 WAYSTODOSO 

MONICAENCARNACION 

DO YO U HAVE TIME FO R ?DATE 

NIGHT?? If you?re a busy parent, and what parent isn?t, 

it?s probably a rare occurrence and involves some 

intricate logistics. Trust me I understand! Family life 

keeps us so busy /that more often than not, ?date night? 

is the last thing on our long list of to-dos. I have 

laundry to do, I can?t find a sitter, money is tight or I just 

simply do not have the energy. Those are all the 

thoughts that fly threw my head every time I consider 

scheduling a ?date night?with my hubby. 

I know that if I allowed myself to, I could find just 

about any excuse as to why the husband and I can?t 

spend quality time together. Really, its not because I 

don?t long for those carefree hours together, because I 

often do, but rather because at some point after our 

second child was born I started accepting the fact that 

finding alone time as a couple can be nearly impossible 

when one has kids. After the birth of my second baby I 

also allowed guilt to set in and convinced myself that 

everything we did had to involve the kids. Why? 

Because it?s what parents do. It?s how happy families 

work! Isn?t it? 

As parents we work so hard to provide our kids 

with the things we think will make them happy, 

sometimes clearly forgetting that our children?s 

happiness heavily relies on our own happiness as a 

couple. As parents we want nothing more than to 

provide our children with a great childhood and a loving 

home to grow up in. Too often all of our time and 

energy is dedicated to them. We think that this will keep 

everyone happy. Well, I?m here to tell you that it won?t! 

A few weeks after our daughter was born I began 

feeling sad, alone, disconnected, tired, irritated and 

sometimes even angry. I wasn?t sure why I was feeling 

this way. I have a wonderful caring husband, two 

amazing kids, and a beautiful home. I wasn?t alone! 

There wasn?t anything to be angry about! At the time, I 

truly couldn?t put my finger on what was making me feel 

this way. Then one day my mom came over and offered 

to stay with the kids so that my husband and I could 

take a break, go out to do some much-needed shopping, 

alone, no kids, no distractions. After spending the day 

out, I suddenly realized that we had fallen into the 

?parent trap." We had allowed ourselves to become so 

consumed with what the kids needed, or what we 

thought they needed that we had completely forgotten 

about us. Without giving it much thought, we had just 

accepted our new reality! 


And just like that it hit me! We needed to find a way to make couple time happen. We could not give up on 

?date night?without at least giving it a really good try. 

In our minds we always assumed that we would continue to have time to go out as a couple, to enjoy nice 

dinners and quiet moments alone. Now that we realized that those days were long gone, we had to start getting 

creative in order to find the time to spend together. We agreed that even when we can?t get a sitter or splurge on 

that fancy dinner we still need to have couple time, call it ?date night?if you want. We realized how important 

couple time is not only for our own happiness, but also for the happiness of our kids and our family. 

Below are some simple ideas that can help you find the time to re-connect even when you think it's not an 

option. 

An Afternoon Nap Snack Date 

This idea is especially handy for parents of small 

children who still take daily naps. If you plan ahead, a 

nap can buy you some much-needed alone time. You?ll 

have at least an hour or two to spend together so 

make it count! 

Schedule an afternoon nap snack date with each other. 

This can easily be done on the weekend or any other 

day when you are both off from work. Forget the 

laundry, cooking and any other chores that you usually 

tackle during nap time and only focus on each other. 

Prepare some snacks earlier in the day or even the 

night before and have them ready to go as soon as the 

kids pass out. A little cheese and wine spread works 

nicely in my opinion, and really helps to set the adult 

mood. So go ahead, dust off that ole wine bottle and 

get a little romance going 


Did Someone Say 

Breakfast? 

When I think of a romantic gesture, 

I think of my husband bringing me 

breakfast in bed. Reality is that with 

kids jumping into our bed at the 

crack of dawn, mornings are most 

likely not the best time for romance. 

But who said breakfast has to 

happen in the morning? Wait until 

the kids are all tucked in bed for 

the night. Then pop the bubbly and 

pour the OJ! Sip on a few Mimosas. 

Prepare some of your favorite 

breakfast treats and enjoy them 

together, all snuggled up in bed, 

just the two of you, under the 

covers... 

Take Out Isn?t Only for 

Dinner 

Breakfast in bed is my favorite 

treat! My hubby loves to do this for 

me but like I said above, it?s usually 

impossible when we have early 

morning visitors in our bed. So how 

do we sometimes beat these early 

birds to it? We rise a bit earlier than 

they do and don?t waste any time 

cooking breakfast. Instead we order 

take out for breakfast. Some egg 

sandwiches from our local deli 

make for a nice treat. No time 

spent cooking gives us enough time 

for a few extra cuddles before 

breakfast and the visitors arrive! 

Plan a Play Date ? One for 

the Kids and One for You! 

Kids are always longing for more 

time with their friends, so why not 

give it to them? Plan a play date for 

your kids! Do they have a favorite 

friend they like to visit? Maybe 

they?ve been looking forward to 

seeing the latest movie or checking 

out some new books from your 

local library. These are things they 

might enjoy doing with friends. Ask 

a trusted parent to take over for an 

hour or two. The other parent 

might also be longing for a little 

kid-free time, so offer to do the 

same for them at a later time. Once 

your kids are off plan on enjoying a 

little play date of your own. Turn off 

all phones, pull the shades and 

enjoy! 

Keep ThemBusy So You Can 

Get Busy 

Don?t feel guilty for popping in a 

movie or letting them play that 

video game a bit longer. Choose a 

time when the kids are engaged in 

something that doesn?t involve your 

undivided attention and step away 

for a moment, just the two of you. 

Take it into the next room or step 

out onto the porch or in the yard. 

Enjoy a moment together, a glass of 

wine, a long kiss. Catch up on your 

day or just sit and hold hands. 

Worried that the kids won?t be safe? 

Put that old baby monitor to good 

use during moments like this! It 

will allow you to step away while 

still monitoring what?s going on in 

the next room. It might not hurt to 

talk to your kids about it too. If 

your kids are school-aged they will 

mostly likely understand that 

mommy and daddy need a moment. 

Let them know that you will be in 

the next room and will return soon. 

Just a few minutes away from the 

kids can make a big difference after 

a long day! 

Step Out for a Matinee 

If you have school-aged kids this 

one can work like a charm! When 

was the last time you went to the 

movies alone, just the two of you? 

Plan to go see a movie when the 

kids are away at school. Skip out of 

work a bit early or plan to do this 

on a day off. Not only will you save 

money on tickets, since a matinee 

showing is cheaper, you?ll probably 

also have the entire movie theaters 

to yourselves! When was the last 

time you made out at the movies? 

No, really! When was it? Well, here?s 

your chance! Go ahead and feel free 

to act like a pair of teenagers! 


FORTHE 

LOVEOF 

SCARVES 

Some favorites from the season. A wrap around 

your neck on a chilly evening, a whimsical tie 

around your tote or a new way to cinch your waist 

in a fall maxi, these are the scarves we inspire in. 

Burberry, Cashmere 

Scarf: Dark Cyan, 

$795 

Free People, Upstate 

Silk Indigo Blanket, 

$225 

Saturday 

shopping 

dates. 

Urban Outfitters, Dye 

Effect Knit Mix Skinny 

Scarf, $24 

At the 

game. 

Old Navy, Butterfly 

Printed Infinity, 

$16.94 

Evening 

classes. 

Nordstrom, Fringe 

Trim Infinity: Camel, 

$20 

Anight at the theatre. 

Splurges, 

Saves & 

Smore's & 

Bonfires. 



THEJOY 

FUND 

PROJECT 

MARGARETDABBS 

TODAY YOU MIGHT CATCH A GLIMPSE OF 

JOY HUNT EDEN GENTLY PEDALING HER 

FLOWER-COVERED, LIME GREEN HIGHLIGHTED 

BICYCLE HOME FROM THE MARKET IN MOBILE- 

VIBRANT FRESH FLOWERS CHEERFULLY PERCHED IN 

THE BASKET AND A THOUGHTFUL SMILE ON HER 

EXPRESSIVE FACE. 

Just three years ago, Ash 

Wednesday 2012, while she was on a 

ski\ snowboard vacation in Aspen, 

Colorado, thirty-seven year old Joy 

went into sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) 

while shopping in the Aspen 

Emporium & Flying Circus. In what 

she describes as a ?series of good 

fortune,? shop owners Shae Singer 

and Shirley Tipton responded 

without hesitation, calling 911 and 

administering CPR while waiting for 

the paramedics, who happened to be 

only two doors down from the shop, 

to arrive. Revived by swift use of an 

Automated External Defibrillator 

(AED), Joy was taken to Aspen Valley 

Hospital where she stayed a day 

waiting for weather conditions to 

allow a Flight for Life jet to transport 

her to the University of Colorado 

Hospital in Denver. After a series of 

discouraging complications, she was 

not expected to survive. 

However, Joy woke up after four days 

in a medically induced coma and 

made significant progress which 

paved the way for surgical placement 

of an Automatic Implantable 

Cardioverter Defibrillator (AICD). Ten 

days later, she was released. Since 

Joy was not allowed to fly, she and 

her husband, Kenny, left Colorado in 

blizzard conditions in a rental car and 

arrived in Mobile after an intense 

four-day expedition. She returned to 

the hospital in Mobile on two 

occasions- once for treatment of 

blood clots and another for a heart 

arrhythmia episode. Eighteen 

months of medication trials finally 

resulted in the discovery of the right 

combination and Joy continued her 

journey to recovery. 

After her close dance with death, 

Joy reflected on the first part of her 

life and knew she had to begin 

reinventing it without losing precious 

time. Living in Pensacola from two 

until she graduated from Tate High 

School, Joy?s growing up years were 

spent relishing life on the Gulf Coastendless 

sunshine and year-round 

water access for water skiing and 

wake boarding. Athletic and 

endlessly energetic, she also played 

tennis, softball, and enjoyed music 

with the flute and piccolo. This child 

of the sun became a child of the 

snow when she spent her college 

years at Boise State University in 

Idaho and aggressively took up skiing 

and snowboarding. 

College 

graduation 

accomplished, Joy 

lived in 

Cambridge, 

England, for a few 

years and then 

moved to Georgia. 

In addition to 

working in sales 

training for 

financial 

institution 

employees, she 

began preparing 

Repurposing 

A Life 

Directly 

FromThe 

Heart 

for triathlons. In 2003, Joy competed 

in her first one- running ten miles, 

cycling forty miles, and swimming one 

half mile. All these years, she felt the 

relentless tug of the Gulf Coast and 


happily returned in 2010, readily finding home in Mobile 

with her husband, her family, and her new job managing 

money for large businesses. 

Joy?s heart condition and the placement of her 

AICD have imposed extreme limitations on her activities. 

Short walks and easy bicycle rides to the grocery store 

and market replace triathlon training. Moving to a one 

level home eliminated difficult stairs and a reluctant 

retirement from her job avoided life threatening stress. 

The Aspen Emporium & Flying Circus propelled 

Joy?s movement towards a new direction for her energy 

when they started the Joy Fund in her honor as a means 

to raise money to purchase AED training and devices for 

other businesses. AEDs, small portable devices which 

include simple instructions, are designed to be used by 

laypersons. If the AED finds a heart issue that will 

respond well to an electrical shock, it provides the shock 

in order for the heart to return to a normal rhythm. 

On its website, the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation 

shares two jolting statistics which reveal how an AED can 

unequivocally make the difference between life and 

death for SCA victims. ?On average, only 10.6% of 

EMS-treated non-traumatic SCA victims of any age 

survive.? However, if bystanders take appropriate action 

by calling 9-1-1, employing CPR, and using an AED, 

?survival rates increase to 38% .? 

admiring vintage tablecloths. Growing up in a family that 

frequented yard sales on Saturday mornings, she 

developed an appreciation for old items that were 

capable of a new life. As Joy noted, ?I have always 

preferred vintage over new.? Thus, an easy and perfect 

choice emerged. Vintage tablecloths would serve as the 

canvases for her apron creations. 

Joy?s neighbor, former co-worker, and ?surrogate 

mom,? who has a degree in fashion design, became her 

sewing mentor. ?She was my guide when I couldn?t figure 

it out.? 

By the end of 2012, Joy had designed and sewn 

her first, very plain apron. Without pockets or other frills, 

?It was very basic because I had no clue.? Now, her 

ever-increasing sewing skills, eye for amazing fabric, and 

persistence as a ?picker? at estate sales, flea markets, 

yard sales, and antique stores, allow Joy to offer sunny, 

vibrant aprons that immediately, yet tenderly, evoke 

warm memories and a sense of comfort. 

Motivated by her desire to help the shop raise 

funds for these life-saving devices, Joy decided to make 

and sell aprons and the Joy Fund Project (JFP) sprang into 

action. Describing herself as a reluctant cook, she 

explained, ?For some reason, I always liked aprons. It was 

something about dressing you up for something you 

didn?t want to do? making it more fun.? 

Joy?s complete lack of sewing experience failed to 

deter her newly found mission. When Kenny tried to be 

the pragmatist and pointed out that she did not even 

know how to use a sewing machine, Joy replied, ?I 

managed money for multi-million dollar companies, I 

should be able to figure out a sewing machine. It can?t be 

that hard.? 

After deciding on aprons, Joy was at a yard sale 

ShewasmyguidewhenI couldn't 

figureit out. 


Joy?s ?basic? aprons have matured into a list of impressive 

descriptions- French, children?s, collegiate tailgating 

collection, team aprons. Her product line has expanded as 

well. Enthusiasm for her bicycle, via the need to carry 

items home from the market, resulted in B3- 

bike.basket.bag. This useful handiwork, with laminated 

interior, fits into a bicycle basket and carefully holds 

necessities such as water bottle, cell phone, car keys and 

purchased items including flowers and groceries. When 

the ride is over, the basket bag lifts out freely and 

becomes a tote bag. One bag does it all. When large 

burlap coffee bean bags are available, Joy converts them 

into tote bags, incorporating words and letters on the bag 

into the design scheme. 

The JFP?s distribution sources are as varied and 

distinctive as its products. Shoppers discover them on site 

at Pie Lab in Greensboro, Aspen Emporium & Flying Circus, 

and Market on the Square in Mobile, and online at 

Facebook and Etsy. In just three short years, Joy?s 

aprons and other handiwork have travelled across the 

country and around the world. Two aprons were delivered 

to Poland, two journeyed to Guatemala to be worn by 

ladies who run a mission kitchen, and two chefs in Italy 

wear theirs proudly. Notably, one of the Italian restaurants 

has an AED which has been used for a successful 

resuscitation. In Cape Cod, Massachusetts, a bride and 

groom were treated to JFP monogrammed aprons as an 

after rehearsal lobster boil dinner gift. As close to home as 

the southeastern states, and as far away as Rhode Island 

and Washington, the JFP shares sunshine and happiness. 

When a friend and JFP supporter sent Joy a dress the 

friend wore when she and her young sons attended 

former President Jimmy Carter?s Sunday school class in 

Plains, Joy turned the well-worn dress into an apron that 

will last forever and preserve incredible memories. 

Always grateful for the people who saved her life and 

eager to help save others, Joy was the keynote speaker for 

her local American Heart Association Go Red for Women 

2014 luncheon. She also serves on the Go Red for Women 

2014-2015 Executive Leadership Team. After 

participating as a motivational speaker for young children 

and teenagers who live with AICDs at Camp Wired 

Together at Children?s Harbor on Lake Martin, she and 

Kenny now regularly attend as volunteers. Since its 

inception, the JFP has collaborated with a Catholic church 

in Mobile as well as Aspen Emporium & Flying Circus to 

facilitate placement of AEDS and to provide training for 

their use. With a persistent focus on awareness and 

education, the fund plans to work with other churches, 

nonprofit organizations, and small businesses in its 

continuing quest to save lives. Joy appreciates the 

multitude of additional blessings the JFP generates. Abbi, 

her niece, is her first assistant. With project business, they 

spend many pleasant, productive hours together 

discovering fabrics and designing merchandise. Joy?s 

mother, who died when Joy was a teenager, was an 

accomplished seamstress and often encouraged her to 

learn to sew. But Joy refused. With the JFP, sewing and 

aprons created a new connection to her mother, once 

stubbornly lost, and now happily found. For Joy Hunt 

Eden, a potentially life-ending incident evolved into a lifepromoting 

passion. Each one of her unique handmade 

products profusely blossoms from Joy?s wide open heart, 

carefully and directly aimed for the hearts of others. 


She 

rubs 

glitter 

in 

her 

hair. 


She feels all the 

feelings. 


1 . 

5 . 

1 . The Philosopher: 

Wonderful Life Tray. 

Paper Source, $14.95 

2 . The Natural: 

Agate Coasters. West 

Elm, $59 

2 . 

3 . The Homebody: 

Imogen Throw. 

Target, $45.99 

6 . 

4 . The Creative: 

Wreck This Journal 

Everywhere. Urban 

Outfitters, $10 

3 . 

7 . 

5 . The Reader: Tech 

Tools Hand 

Bookends. Amazon, 

$23 

6 . The Pet-Lover: 

Dachshund Cutting 

Board. World Market, 

$14.99 

7 . The Gilmore: 

Luke's Diner Key Tag. 

Pink Olive, $8 

4 . 

8 . 

8 . The Relaxed: 

Gallery Copper 

Moscow Mule Mug. 

Kohl's, $14.99 

9 . 

9 . The Charmer: 

Macaroon Trinket 

Box. Hattan Home, 

$10 

Hostess Gifts 

a compilation of appreciative pieces 

for the lady entertainment cultivator - 

from the cat lover to the artsy fart. 


1 0 . 

1 0 . The Adventurer: 

Fossili Centerpiece 

Bowl. Crate & Barrel, 

$99.95 


THROUGHALOCAL'SEYES: 

NASHVILLE 

PHOTOGRAPHYFROMDALTONWEAVER 


Dalton Weaver is a cinematography student and Nashville native. His dreams 

involve creating and directing blockbuster, Hollywood films. 


She is a 

trailblazer. 


She 

reads 

of the 

world 

around 

her. 


WHAT I WISH FOR 

MY DAUGHTER: AN 

EXTENDED LETTER 

GRACELYNNEFLEMING 

Claire, 

MY WISHES LIE INFINITE AND THERE WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH WORDS OR PAPER 

TO SORT THROUGH THEM ALL. You may need a magnifying glass for 

some or may be embarrassed of them enough to shield them 

away but to express all the wishes that I have for you is a near 

impossible feat. But I shall try, because one wish I have for you 

is that you jump in and try. 

I wish that I could change the world for you, just enough, that 

when you're 16-years-old, staring at yourself in the mirror,, 

there's no question of your worth, your equality or your 

contribution. I wish that confidence runs through your body 

like blood and there's never a day that you feel less than your 

peers or society may make you feel. I wish that you understand 

the need for strength and exercising your intellect until the 

day you become old and gray. 

I wish that you find fulfillment and that it doesn't come from 

someone else's words. I wish that it comes from your 

accomplishments, your dreams and the journeys that they take. 

I wish that you leave bitterness aside and you stay sensitive to 

the hardships and tragedies of life without forgoing your love 

of others - all others - of every nook, cranny, corner and home 

of the world. 

I wish that you bend molds, stereotypes and assumptions, as 


you surprise all those stuck in self-proclaimed 

tradition and ignorance. 

I wish that you develop a hunger for enjoyment. Of 

everyday simplicity's. I don't want you on a constant 

search of "more" or "better," instead I wish that you 

are able to stay content with yourself long enough 

to get excited about bowls of ice cream and fall 

TV-shows. 

I wish that you never take those simplicity's for 

granted. I wish that you travel and cultivate a desire 

to travel, see, read, do, explore and, most importantly, 

learn, always learn. 

I wish that you make time for naps, hugs, Halloween 

Oreos in October, movie nights with Mom and Dad 

and giggles with your pup. 

I wish that you learn to embrace your femininity, as 

long as it feels right, without being taught that it 

makes you inferior. Instead, I want you to know that 

there's power in being a woman with the ability to 

wear lipstick and heels all the while ripping 

someone to shreds with your words. 

I wish that you follow through with those words and 

commitments. I wish that you realize that there's 

nothing worse than being an incomplete friend. 

But most of all, I wish that you always know that I 

wished for you. I dreamt of you. I crossed my fingers 

for you. I prayed for you. 

I love you, Claire. 

xoxo, Mommy 


REALSNACKS 

FORKIDS 

AMANDAQUEEN 

If you are interested in feeding your child a snack that?s not 

from a package, but feel overwhelmed, you?re not alone. Here are some 

tips to keep it simple for you and fun for your kids. This also works 

really well for groups of children during play dates, field trips or study 

breaks. 

Try serving a variety of fruits and veggies. Cut them up so 

they're ready to eat with some fun but healthy things for dipping. Let's 

have a peek at some ideas! 

Cucumbers Superpower: Hydration! Cucumbers are 96% water. A great 

choice for staying hydrated on warm summer days. 

Strawberries Superpower: high levels of vitamin C and trace minerals. 

Peppers Superpower: Great source of vitamin C and vitamin A (eat with 

some fat to get the full benefits). 

Figs Superpower: All around excellent source of concentrated nutrition. 

Great source of d?ietary fiber, vitamin B6, copper, potassium, 

manganese, and pantothenic acid. 

Nix the overly-processed 

and packaged. Instead offer 

up healthy alternatives 

with big benefits. 


Carrots Superpower: full of vitamin A (eat 

with fat). 

Grapes Superpower: antioxidant boost! 

Antioxidants help to neutralize free radical 

damage from our environment. 

Olives Superpower: loaded with 

monounsaturated fat. 

Hummus Superpower: packed with protein 

and good fats for sustaining energy and 

building strong healthy bodies. 

Salsa Superpower: The tomatoes and lime 

juice in salsa are loaded with vitamin C. 

Additionally, you teach your child to love 

and appreciate REAL FOOD! Yay! 

Dirty Dozen/ Clean 15 The Environmental Working Group publishes 

a list called the ?Dirty Dozen and the Clean 15??every year. It?s a 

great guideline for choosing what produce to be particularly 

concerned regarding pesticides. The 2015 list: 

Dirty Dozen 

Clean 15 

MIX& MATCH 

YOURSNACKS! 

- Apples 

- Peaches 

- Nectarines 

- Strawberries 

- Grapes 

- Celery 

- Spinach 

- Bell Peppers 

- Cucumbers 

- Cherry Tomatoes 

- Snap Peas 

- Potatoes 

- Hot Peppers 

- Kale/ Collard Greens 

- Avocado 

- Sweet Corn 

- Pineapple 

- Cabbage 

- Sweet Peas (frozen) 

- Onions 

- Asparagus 

- Mangoes 

- Papayas 

- Kiwi 

- Eggplant 

- Grapefruit 

- Cantaloupe 

- Cauliflower 

- Sweet Potatoes 

Amanda Queen is a physician assistant, fellowship trained in Integrative 

Medicine with Dr. Andrew Weil through the Arizona Center for Integrative 

Medicine at the University of Arizona. She is a North County San Diego 

mama to Zula. She blogs at Amanda?s Apothecary, Integrative Wellness. 

Follow Amanda: 


She will make a difference. 


THECOTTONCANDY 

HAIRSURVIVALGUIDE ELAINAKARRAS 

A trend on-the-rise, learn how to take 

care of those pastel, mermaid tresses 

from a Nashville hair and makeup artist 

with first-hand experience and 

professional know-how. 

The first time I ever colored my hair pink 

was one of the most giddy experiences of my life! I 

was so excited (and scared)... but, once I saw the 

cotton-candy deliciousness surrounding my face, I 

knew I had made the right decision! It's been three 

years and my locks have seen every color of the 

rainbow. Although having mermaid hair has 

probably changed my life in some very positive 

ways - yes, really - there are many important factors 

to consider and understand before taking the 

plunge. This is a need-to-know ?survival guide? so 

you have the necessary information to save you a 

lot of time, money, and most importantlydisappointment. 

Be Realistic. 

It may not be possible for your stylist to 

accomplish this service in one day. Doing creative 

color properly is like performing surgery. Hairstylists 

have to chemically extract all of the natural (and/or 

chemically-altered) pigment from the hair without 

severely changing the physical structure and 

causing permanent damage. In order to do this 

correctly, it may take several hours to lift out the 

spectrum of colors from the hair. 

It is, unfortunately, not always your stylist?s 

error if your hair doesn?t become white within one 

sitting. At this time, we realistically do not have the 

technology available to us to lift dark brown hair to 

white in one sitting. On previously colored brown 

hair, it usually takes me 4-5 lightening sessions to 

accomplish the level of brightness that my clients 

desire without damaging their hair. 


Splurge on the Lightening Service 

This is not a good place to try to cut costs. Creating 

radiant, pretty mermaid hair is only possible with a healthy, 

beautiful, perfectly light canvas. Imagine drawing crayons on red 

or yellow paper; the colors would be muted out. This same 

concept holds true for cotton candy colors. 

Do yourself a favor and go to a professional and make 

sure the lightening process is done in a safe and healthy manner. 

Lightening your own hair without damaging is it incredibly hard 

to do and will often result in irreversible breakage and hundreds 

of dollars in corrective services. 

In order to maintain pastel shades, you have a couple of 

options. I always recommend that my clients start off with a more 

intense shade and allow it to fade into a pastel shade over the 

next few weeks. Otherwise, maintaining the color may require a 

visit to your stylist every 2-3 weeks. 

Use Protection 

Protect your hair?s precious and fragile bonds by making 

sure that your stylist is using Olaplex. During any lightening 

service, hair?s hydrogen bonds are broken and usually will 

re-attach to oxygen in the air, causing a different chemical 

makeup altogether. With Olaplex, these bonds are isolated and 

preserved, and are therefore able to re-attach and maintain the 

hair?s strength during and after a lightening session. This service 

is going to cost more initially; however, it?s like purchasing 

insurance for your hair. I find it so crucial to my craft that I have 

built it into my pricing structure. I can no longer morally use 

lightener on a customer?s hair knowing that Olaplex is an option. 

It's essentially like a condom for your hair - better to be safe than 

sorry! 

Invest in a Color-Enhancing Conditioner 

The truth is, these beautiful, magical colors seem to come 

with a fairy godmother in tow. However, instead of the clock 

striking midnight - it's more like the 6th or 7th shampoo. And 

then ... poof! The color is all gone! 

Thankfully, beauty companies are starting to realize there 

is a growing market for unicorn babes, like myself, and now 

several color enhancing conditioners are becoming available that 

help to pro-long the cotton candy colors' lifespan. A 

custom-mixed, in-salon option is the EVO Fabuloso Colour 

Intensifying Conditioner. 

Keep it Dirty 

The more you shampoo, the faster any hair color is going 

to fade. Invest in a sulfate-free, color-safe Shampoo and a dry 

shampoo that you love, like Kevin Murphy FRESH.HAIR Dry 

Cleaning Spray. Use the dry shampoo as an aid in allowing your 

body?s natural oil system to adjust, so you don?t need to shampoo 

your hair as often. 


Beat the Heat 

Using hot water on your hair will make your color fade 

faster. Use cool water when you absolutely MUST shampoo. 

Cooler water is going to help keep your cuticle sealed down so 

the color can stay trapped in a bit longer. 

The sun?s UV rays can cause free radical damage that can 

lighten and weaken your hair strands. The antioxidants in 

sunflower oil are able to fight off free radicals, providing a 

natural UV filter to protect your hair color from being affected by 

the sun. Try incorporating sunflower oil into your diet to prevent 

weak, brittle hair and naturally stimulate hair growth. 

Temporary Alternatives 

There may be a lot of reasons preventing you from going 

all ?My Little Pony?on your hair, but that doesn?t mean you have 

to miss out on all of the fun! 

There are so many options now to test-drive these colors; 

on the weekends with clip-in extensions, hair chalk, or even your 

favorite eyeshadow (which you?ll want to set with hairspray). 

VISITELAINA! 

Elaina Karras is a hairstylist and makeup artist that specializes in image 

development and visual branding. Her days are spent on the set of music 

videos, photoshoots,and creating tutorials and reviews for her new beauty blog, 

The Beauty Sensei. Elaina considers herself an advocate for the freedom of self 

expression. Follow Elaina: 


She empowers 

her youth. 


AppleSIPSSERVED3 WAYS 

seasonal-inspired treats for any day in fall 

Monica Encarnacion 

SparklingCaramel AppleSangria 

This sangria is bubbly blend of Sparkling White 

Chardonnay Grape Juice and Sparkling Apple Cider with 

a kiss of sweet caramel. Nothing says autumn like 

apple cider and caramel apples! This yummy beverage 

makes a great treat to share with family and friends on 

any crisp fall day! 

Prep Time: 10 Minutes Yield: 1 large pitcher Equipment: 

large pitcher or jar 

Ingredients: 

- 2-3 apples, cored and chopped into 

small cubes 

- 1 bottle Sparkling White 

Chardonnay Grape Juice 

- 1 bottle Sparkling Apple Cider 

- ¼ cup of Caramel Syrup (or a tad 

more if you love caramel like I do!) 

Instructions: 

Chill both the Sparkling White Chardonnay Grape Juice 

and the Sparkling Apple Cider. Core the apples and 

chop them into small cubes. Place the apple cubes at 

the bottom of a pitcher. Pour ¼ cup of Caramel Syrup 

over the apple cubes. Pour in the chilled Sparkling 

White Chardonnay Grape Juice. Pour in the chilled 

Sparkling Apple Cider. Stir, pour, drizzle a little extra 

caramel over the served Sangria for an added kiss of 

caramel goodness and enjoy! 

TurnIt IntoAnAlcoholicCocktail! 

Substitute the Sparkling White Chardonnay Grape Juice 

for a bottle of your favorite White Wine or Chardonnay . 

You can also skip the caramel syrup and add ½ cup of 

Caramel Premier Issue Vodka Fall instead. 2015 / Her Umbrella 33

SparklingAppleCinnamonTea(Hot or Cold!) 

This sparkling apple cinnamon tea is made with 

Sparkling Apple Cider, black tea steeped with cinnamon 

sticks and just a dash of lemon juice. Not only does it 

taste delicious, it smells delicious too! As soon as you 

start to pour it you?ll understand why I like to say, ?It 

smells like autumn in a cup!? 

Instructions: 

Place tea bags and cinnamon sticks in a large 

glass-measuring cup. Fill the measuring cup with 2 

cups of boiling water. Let the tea steep for about 10 

minutes. 

To make it a cold: 

Chill your bottle of Sparkling Cider for 1 hour. Once the 

10 minutes are up and your tea is ready, remove the tea 

bags and cinnamon sticks and chill the tea in the 

refrigerator for at least 1 hour. In a large pitcher 

combine the chilled Sparkling Cider, the chilled black 

tea, and fresh lemon juice. Stir and serve over ice. 

Garnish with cinnamon sticks if you wish. 

To make it a warm: 

Once the 10 minutes are up and your tea is ready, 

remove the tea bags and cinnamon sticks and pour the 

(still hot) tea into a large teapot. Pour Sparkling Apple 

Cider into the teapot. Pour in the fresh squeezed lemon 

juice. Stir and pour into a teacup. Garnish with 

cinnamon sticks if you wish. 

Prep Time: 15 Minutes Yield: 1 large pitcher or teapot 

Equipment: large pitcher or large teapot, kettle (boil water), 

large glass measuring cup (to steep tea) 

Ingredients: 

- 2 black tea bags 

- 2 or 3 tall cinnamon sticks (plus a few more for 

garnish if you wish) 

- Fresh-squeezed lemon juice from 2 small lemons 

- 1 bottle of Sparkling Apple Cider 

Monica Encarnacion is a born and raised New Yorker and innovative educator. She loves raising her family in the 

city she?s always called home. Married to her best friend and husband of 16 years, she now spends most of 

her time playing and laughing with their two young children. When she?s not busy with the kids, you?ll find 

her building connections through social media, writing, blogging here, cooking and taking tons of photos! 

Follow Monica: 


She 

will 

take 

your 

breath 

away. 


DISNEYINSIDERTIPS: 

A Vacationer'sGuidetotheHappiest PlaceonEarth 

MANDYVOGELPOHL 

Having worked right in the heart of one of the most popular vacation spots in 

the world, allowthis Disney "insider" to give you the scoop. 

Disney World is a place where people from all over the world long to 

visit. There's just something about the atmosphere - the characters, the 

castle, the fireworks, the legacy and the magic. 

Working in the parks for a little over seven years, I noticed that a lot 

of guests were unaware of what was going on around them. There were so 

many people who were so confused about where they were, what the parks 

had to offer and why things were done a certain way. People would be 

cranky and I would often ask how it was possible to be so grumpy in a place 

like Disney World! Eventually, I came to realize, that it was because a lot of 

the guests were unaware of so many of the most important nooks, crannies, 

secrets and itineraries of the parks. So here I am to share a few tidbits that I 

have learned over the years that will hopefully make planning your magical 

vacation a bit easier and less of a stress. 

1. Don't use a travel agent if you can help it. If you have a really good travel 

agent and you have been to the parks before, it may be beneficial. However, I 

cannot tell you the number of times I have experienced travel agents, who 

have not worked at or for Disney, have messed up the guests' itineraries and 

left them throwing their hands up in the air and angry at the front line cast 

members. If you haven't been to Disney before, it can be very frustrating 

when you get to the park and you have no idea what the travel agent set you 

up for and what they didn't. A lot of the times, this problem occurs with 


purchasing Memory Maker, setting up Magic Bands, and dinner reservations. If you're not familiar with the 

parks and have no clue what you want to do or see, this can be a huge problem. Understand that Walt Disney World 

does not include Universal Studios, Sea World or Aquatica. I know that might sound like a no-brainer, but there is an 

issue with guests getting confused by this every single day. A lot of the time it has to do with travel agents who 

have misguided them, or have booked them in all of those parks without explaining that they are different. It's 

easier to just call Disney Reservations at (407) 939-5227 and have them walk you through your planning. 

2. Should you buy Park Hopper tickets? My advice is to always buy the park hoppers. I know that they are a 

bit more expensive, but I really believe that it is worth it. While you're on your trip, you might decide that you want 

to spend half a day in Animal Kingdom and the other half in Hollywood Studios. Or, maybe you want to spend most 

of the day in Epcot and then later head over to Magic Kingdom for their evening Extra Magic Hours. There are so 

many choices when you have a Park Hopper ticket. You could also make a dinner reservation in a separate park. 

3. Download the My Disney Experience App onto your smartphone. This phone app is the key to your trip. You can 

do everything on it: set up Fastpass+, make dining reservations, find out the wait times to rides, find show times, 

and set up your itinerary. You can even add friends to your plans! 

4. Purchase Memory Maker. Memory Maker is a product that Photopass offers. And if you buy it online three days 

before your trip, you'll get a discount. What Memory Maker does is allow you to take as many photos in the park as 

you want (including ride photos and even ride videos). When you get home, you can download all of these to your 

computer, along with the copyright. From there, you can upload and print your photos and share them online in any 

way that you want. It's a great product because you don't have to worry about dragging your camera with you. I 

would say that you should at least have your camera phone with you, because there will most likely be an instance 

where a photographer will not be around. But, if you're nervous about not being able to get enough photos for your 

money or about finding the photographers, there is a section on My Disney Experience that will show you where the 


photographers are located in the parks. Make sure you 

ask for Magic Shots. Every photographer that is 

shooting an icon location is supposed to automatically 

do this for you, but some don't. Don't be afraid to ask 

for those special shots. As long as you are being safe 

and are wearing appropriate attire, any of the 

photographers should be more than willing to take the 

photo that you want. Memory Maker is definitely worth 

it, as the price of one photo starts around $15. I believe 

the estimate is that by the time you buy 14 photos from 

your trip, you have paid for Memory Maker and could 

have had all of your images instead of the single 

photos. 

Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. This is my absolute 

favorite thing in the Magic Kingdom. 

8. What are the must-see things to do and see? See my 

picks below! 

5. Drink a lot of water. Regardless of the time of year 

that you are visiting, please stay hydrated. People pass 

out like flies at Disney World, because they are not used 

to the heat and being on their feet all day. The cast 

members want you to be safe. If you don't feel like 

spending $5 on a water bottle, any of the quick service 

locations that have soda fountains will give you free 

cups of water! 

6. Decide the main things you want to do. Do you want 

to spend the day meeting characters? Do you want to 

ride all of the rides? Do you want to see the shows? If 

you want to do some of everything, I recommend 

picking one thing out of each of those categories. Plan 

them out by times and then work everything else 

around those. If you are using Fastpass+, pick the three 

rides you want to do and schedule them as early in the 

day as you can. Once you use those three Fastpasses up, 

you can go back and get one more. If you want to meet 

characters, keep in mind that a lot of them are only out 

in the morning and finish around 2:30pm to get ready 

for the parade. 

7. When is the best time to visit Disney World? To be 

honest, the attendance has been going up throughout 

the entire year. The slowest times are the weeks 

following Labor Day up until mid-October. Epcot has 

their International Food and Wine Festival from 

September until November. If you love Halloween, I 

would recommend buying tickets to Mickey's 


Magic Kingdom: 

Attractions - Mickey's Philharmagic, The Haunted 

Mansion, Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, 

Enhanted Tales with Belle 

Special Tips & Must-See's - At The Haunted Mansion, 

take a peek in Memento Mori right outside. You can get 

a ghost photo taken of yourself! 

You don't have to be a little girl to get pixie dust! If you 

pop into Castle Couture behind Cinderella's Castle, the 

merchandise cast members have special pixie dust 

wands and they will pixie dust you for free! 

The Festival of Fantasy parade (every day at 3 P.M.) is 

extraordinary! It is my favorite parade! You can sit 

anywhere from Frontierland up to Main Street U.S.A. 

Wishes Fireworks Show 

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 

(September-November) 

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a fun roller coaster, but 

don't fret or feel left out if you don't get a hold of a 

Fastpass or don't have the time to wait out the lines. 

Hollywood Studios: 

time. It's a lot of fun to just walk around Epcot and to 

experience the different countries. It's great for dining 

and shopping. 

Animal Kingdom: 

Attractions - Mount Everest, Kilimajaro Safari 

Special Tips & Must-See's - The Festival of the Lion King 

is my favorite show! It's closely followed by Finding 

Nemo. 

Favorite Restaurants 

O'hana at Disney's Polynesian Resort | Boma at The 

Animal Kingdom Lodge | Splitsville at Downtown 

Disney | Seasons inside The Land at Epcot | The Garden 

Grill inside The Land at Epcot | Pizza Planet at 

Hollywood Studios | 50's Prime Time Cafe at Hollywood 

Studios | Sci-Fi Diner at Hollywood Studios 

Attractions - The Great Movie Ride, Rockin' Rollercoaster, 

Tower of Terror, Star Tours, Muppet Vision 3D 

Special Tips & Must-See's - Star Wars Weekends 

(May-June) 

Fantasmic 

The Animation Courtyard has a lot of cool things inside! 

You can even take a class on how to draw a Disney 

character. 

Epcot: 

Attractions - Soarin', Test Track, 

Imagination, The Land 

Journey Into the 

Special Tips & Must-See's - Club Cool has Coca-Cola 

samples from all over the world! 

World Showcase is usually where we spend most of our 

Mandy Vogelpohl lives in Orlando, Florida with her husband, Matt, and puppy, Ella. 

She is very passionate about stories and other people's stories and believes 

they should be told. She loves writing, crocheting, music, going to Disney World 

and experimenting with makeup. Visit her blog here. 

Follow Mandy: 


She reminisces. 


Take your lashes to an 

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Highlight what's left of 

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NYC Sun'n'Bronze 

Bronzing Powder, $4.99 

Silky lacquer with 

brilliant color choices. 

After School Boy Blazer, 

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Seasonal & Reasonable Beauty 

It really is as smooth as 

buttahhh. NYX Buter 

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Soft, rich colors that stay 

all day. Ulta Cheek Color: 

After Glow. $7.00 

Quick Drying & Pleasant 

Shine. Avon Rare Gold 

Shimming Body Powder. 

$5.50 

Refreshing all year. 

CLEAN Air 0.17 oz. 

Rollerball. $8.00 

Quick & easy cover up 

that works. e.l.f. Studio 

Concealer. Ivory, $3.00 

Inexpensive & effective. 

Equate Original Clean 

Facial Wipes. $5.97 



FALLIN' FOR 

FLATBREAD 

Inspired by both the season and by 

Middle Eastern, Sfeehas, pair these artistic 

snacks with a salad or soup for dinnertime 

any day this week! 

NADJAMERALI 

Flatbreads make a great snack, appetizer or simple meal when paired with a salad. These flatbreads 

were inspired by Sfeeha, Middle Eastern flatbreads typically topped with a minced lamb mixture or 

spinach and cheese. They are absolutely delicious and are something that I enjoy on a regular basis. 

Essentially, they are the equivalent to pizza, just Middle Eastern. The toppings can vary but the 

aforementioned are the most commonly enjoyed. With Fall around the corner I thought we could 

make use of some seasonal inspiration for the toppings. 


__________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

With that cool air ready to breeze around the corner, it is probably getting about time for you to either bring 

in your herbs from your outdoor garden or dry them so you can enjoy them throughout the winter months. 

Drying herbs is actually quite straight forward. 

1.) Take about 5-10 stems of herbs; 

2.) Rinse your herbs and remove any browning leaves; 

3.) Fasten the stems with an elastic band, string or twine; 

4.) Take a paper bag and pierce two holes in it near the top (see photo). Place your herbs inside and secure an 

additional elastic or string to the herbs so that you can hang the herbs through the holes. Secure the other 

end of the elastic to a hanger. The paper bag will catch any leaves that will drop off during the drying process, 

so you don?t end up with a messy floor; 

5.) Seal closed with staples or tape and store in a warm and well ventilated space. The fewer sprigs of herbs 

Mix & Match International Ingredients! 

squash, riccotta cheese, lemon zest, dates, cheeses natire to the Levantine region such as: akawi, baladi & 

halloumi, oregano, cinnamon, feta cheese, thyme and even pine nuts! 


Flatbread Dough 

Ingredients: 

- 250 ml warm water 

- 1/ 8 cup of sugar 

- 1 package of active dry yeast (8 grams) 

- 4 grams of salt 

- 60 ml of vegetable oil 

- 600 grams of flour 

- ¼ cup of roasted sesame seeds 

- 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon 

Instructions: 

Using a stand mixer (if you have, if not a 

large bowl is fine) place the yeast, warm 

water, oil, sugar and salt in the bowl and 

stir gently. Let sit for about 10 minutes to 

allow the yeast to activate. You will notice 

the yeast activating as it will no longer be 

seedy. Add the flour, cinnamon and 

sesame seeds and mix with the dough with 

the dough hook attachment until a nice 

round ball forms ? or knead until smooth. 

Brush on some more oil on top of the ball 

of dough and cover with plastic wrap and a 

cloth and let rise until the dough has 

doubled in size ? approximately 1 hour. 

Set aside and start on your toppings. 

Butternut Squash Topping 

Ingredients: 

- 1 small (~1 lb 14 oz) butternut squash, oven 

roasted and pureed2 This should result in ~1 ¼ 

cups of pureed squash 

- 1 teaspoon of brown sugar 

- juice of one lemon 

- salt & pepper to taste 

Instructions: 

Combine ingredients in a bowl, taste for salt 

and pepper and place in a piping bag if you 

have ? if not a ziploc bag will do, you will just 

need to cut a hole in one of the corners once 

ready to dress the flatbreads. 

Feta & Date Topping 

Ingredients: 

- 250 grams of feta 

- 90 grams of dates pitted 

- 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon of minced shallots 

or onion 

- 1/ 8 cup of olive oil 

- 1 tablespoon each of fresh thyme and oregano 

- salt to taste 

- 1/ 8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper 

- 1/ 8 cup of pine nuts 

- Mint to garnish (optional) 

Instructions: 

1.) Pit your dates, I simply squeeze out the pit, 

medjool dates are very soft, and dice them into 

1 cm pieces; 2.) Dry roast your pine nuts in a 

pan on medium heat until fragrant and lightly 

toasted ? set aside; 3.) Combine the dates with 

the feta, shallot, olive oil, spices add salt. 

Riccota Topping 

Ingredients: 

- 1 ¼ cups of ricotta 

- 1 tablespoon each of fresh thyme and fresh 

oregano 

- 3 zest of 1 lemon 

- salt to taste 

Honey Roasted Pecans 

Ingredients: 

- ½ cup of pecan pieces 

- 1/ 8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 

- 1 tablespoon of honey 

- ¼ teaspoon of salt 

Instructions: 

1.) Combine the ricotta, thyme, oregano, lemon 

zest and salt in a bowl and place in a piping bag 

if you have ? if not a ziploc bag will do, you will 

just need to cut a hole in one of the corners 

once ready to dress the flatbreads. 2.) Roast the 

pecans in pan with no oil over medium heat 

until they are fragrant and slightly browned. 

Remove and immediately toss with the 

cayenne, salt and honey. Set aside. 

Assembly - Bringing Your Dough & Topping Together 

1.) Preheat your oven to 425 degrees; 

2.) Decide what size of appetizers you want to make, you make larger ones and simply cut them into small 

pieces like pizza for your guests to enjoy or you can make smaller flatbreads ? 4? for example and allow you 

guests to enjoy one person. I have done a combination; 

3.) Roll out your flatbreads on a lightly floured surface until they are about 1/ 8 inch thick and place them on a 

pizza sheet (or cookie sheet lined with parchment paper) I pinch the entire rim of the flatbreads to give a bit of 

a design; 

4.) If you are using the squash and ricotta topping brush the flatbread with some olive oil before placing your 

Premier Issue Fall 2015 / Her Umbrella 44 

toppings on;

5.) With your pipping bag you can alternate the mixtures like I have done, it will give you a very pretty effect. 

Top with your roasted pecans; 

6.) With the feta and date mixture you simply spread it on and garnish with your pine nuts before placing in 

the oven; 

7.) Bake for 10 minutes or until nicely browned; 

8.) Remove and garnish with mint if desired. 

Nadja Merali is a hobbyist cooking blogger born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 

of Lebanese and German heritage. The Teeny Table is where she putters and creates 

new recipes as well as harbour and document family favourites. She loves playing with 

different spices and flavour combinations and is a true believer that you do not need a 

recipe to start cooking; all you need is imagination & taste buds! 


SO -LO NG FO O D 

TRUCKS 

UNTILNEXTSUMMER 

LAURATOLEDO 

YOU KNOW IT?S SUMMER IN MINNEAPOLIS WHEN THE FOOD TRUCKS ARE OUT. 

Summertime in the Midwest is coveted. We are holed up on our 

offices and homes for 7+ months out of the year while we watch the 

snow accumulate. We deal with bad traffic, weird weather (or 

extended weather), and lots and lots of weather talk. 

By the end of winter (April through July, depending on the year), 

we've had enough. Not just of being stuck indoors, but stuck with the 

same food options, the same routes and scenes. Sure, the 20+ miles 

of skyway system is cool (kind of like the Mall of America is cool - 

you go a couple times, and you've had enough for your lifetime), but 

it gets old. 

So when summer hits, we spend as much time as we can outdoors 

(even if that means we?re wearing shorts and flip-flips in 40 degree 

weather). And with summer in Minnesota, comes food trucks. And the 

lure of food trucks is strong. So strong that I?ll forego the (healthy) 

lunch I brought just to get a taste of something different. 

Not too many years ago, there were only a few food trucks. More like 

a novelty, their reputation spread through word-of-mouth and 

Twitter feeds. Those food trucks have increased exponentially, to 

brick-and-mortar restaurants and food truck fairs. 

It?s become a ritual. Each summer morning, the trucks park early, 

securing their spot for the day. We? those who ?live? in the 


skyway? check Twitter feeds and peer out our windows, starting to 

think of what we want to eat for lunch that day. We check the 

dedicated website for food truck locations? tcstreetfoods.com, which 

aggregates all locations and menus of the trucks in the area that 

day? and start emailing. "What are you craving today?" Will it be the 

rice bowl from World Street Kitchen, or perhaps the beet sliders from 

the Moral Omnivore. Hot? Cold? Tacos, or perhaps falafel. Maybe I'm 

in the mood for a homemade soda. There are all kinds. And you can't 

go wrong. 

Most trucks focus on a particular type of food: local/sustainable, 

seafood, areapas, tacos, Asian fusion, Indian cuisine, pizza, grilled 

cheese, salad, burgers, cupcakes? even ice cream and smoothies! So 

many varieties. Each truck has unique and exquisitely made food. 

Small menus that promote quality and creativity. 

There?s also a method to ?food trucking.?My colleagues and I have 

found that the best time to go is between 11 & 11:30, before the 

lines get long and before they sell out. This also means you get first 

dibs for seating, which is extremely limited. There are few tables and 

benches outside for us to enjoy the (limited) nice weather. There is, 

however, a section of stairs overlooking a plaza, which turns into a 

tennis court for two weeks out of the year. The tennis tournament is 

an extension of Minnesota?s Aquatennial celebration? which means 

you have to be extra diligent about going out early. 

Minnesota might not be known for much outside of the state, but it?s 

become a hot-bed of creative food experiences. And a food truck is 

just one of those experiences that you want to share (even to those 

who live here and don?t work downtown). 

It?s just too bad there are 7 months of winter, each and every year. 

Until next year, food trucks. 

Laura Toledo is a mom, writer/ editor and communications professional out of 

Minnesota. She, her daughter, and husband, love to read, travel, host dinner 

parties, watch MMA and try new restaurants. 


She collects 

positive 

vibes. 


LIVINGWITHANXIETY: 

AFIRSTHANDPOINT-OF-VIEW 

MANDYVOGELPOHL 

THE DAY THAT MY HUSBAND PROPOSED TO ME, I found myself on the floor of a bathroom convulsing and hyperventilating. 

Not because of anything he did, but because of the amount of stress and anxiety that other people around me were 

causing me. It should have been the happiest day of my life and not just some other day on the calendar. But there I 

was, again, dealing with the issues that I had been dealing with all year and not being able to cope. Anyone can say, 

"Well, you just shouldn't have let anything get to you and ruin your day," but unless you are facing anxiety, it's 

impossible to understand what goes on inside of your head and your body. 

Living with anxiety is difficult. It's difficult for the person with anxiety, as well as for the loved ones around 

them. It's exhausting, especially if it is severe, like in my case. I had a wonderful childhood. I grew up in a pretty, red 

brick house with a very large backyard. My sister and I have fun memories jumping on the trampoline and sitting on our 

swing set, singing Backstreet Boys songs at the top of our lungs. At home, I always felt safe. I was comfortable. 

When I was a toddler, I remember pretty vividly hyperventilating if I got into trouble. I found out later, that this 

was because of something that happened to me. I was so young, that I don't remember the event, but it's still in my 

subconscious. It was traumatizing. I was a good kid-- I didn't ever want to get into trouble. I was very hard on myself. I 

was a rule-follower. There was even a time in the second grade, where my teacher accused me of something that I didn't 

do. She took a star off my name. She quickly regretted it, because she had to spend about forty-five minutes with me 

hyperventilating in the bathroom trying to calm me down. 

I believe that everyone has some sort of anxiety. I think that some level of it is normal and healthy. But I have 

always known that I had a little more than that normal amount. I have always been a very over-sensitive person. Things 

get to me. Words get to me. Actions get to me. It's how I am wired. Most of the time I can handle it, but sometimes I 

cannot. And it's caused me to have insomnia. I also have dealt with a great deal of social anxiety. There was a time in 

my life where I wouldn't speak to anyone other than my family and the one friend that I had. 

Until the last two years, I have felt like I have been able to handle things rather well. I was able to come out of 

my shell and talk to almost anyone around me. I had blossomed into a social butterfly and I was enjoying it. I had a 

successful blog and I was working on starting a project online. Then, out of nowhere, I had family members begin 

harassing me online. I would block them, but they would create new accounts and continue harassing. There were 

horrible things said to me. I was told I was worthless, stupid, uneducated and someone even threatened to harm my 

family. This went on for eleven months. It only stopped when I completely deactivated my social networks and changed 

my name. This wasn't a joke. I was being stalked online. I was crying every day because it was so much to handle. I felt 

like I lost everything. As a writer, my social networks have always been a great thing for me. 


Seven months into the harassment, my husband, Matt (at the 

time boyfriend), and I decided that it would be best for me to begin 

counselling. My anxiety had gone off the charts. I am a very 

self-aware person and I knew that the way I was reacting to things 

was not healthy. I wasn't hyperventilating, but I would get this build 

up in my chest that would cause me to breathe heavily. I would cry 

and scream. I would sometimes get extremely nauseous and have 

hot flashes. Sometimes when Matt would hold me to calm me down, 

I would just feel like all I wanted to do was run. I don't know where 

to, but it was an uncontrollable feeling. I would stress about every 

little thing. I would freak out about something silly, like Matt moving 

the toothpaste to the other side of the sink. It was absolutely 

ridiculous. 

Counselling was one of the best decisions we have made. I 

started off going by myself and then Matt would join me for support 

and insight on how to help. To a lot of people, counselling seems 

scary. People wonder what others will think of them. People worry 

that their peers will view them as less than. The honest truth is: we 

all have issues that we have to deal with on a daily basis. It doesn't 

make someone weaker for seeing a counselor. It has made me 

stronger. 

We started by detecting the types of anxiety that I have. 

Before my first session, I had talked to my counselor on the phone 

and explained what was going on. It was a really good step, because 

it helped me become comfortable with her. She asked me to order a 

copy of The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook by Edmund J. Bourne, PhD. 

and gave me some pages to read before the first session. I highly 

recommend this book if you have anxiety, even if it's not severe 

anxiety, because it is a very great book to learn from. 

When we sat down, she asked me a bunch of questions as we 

went through my life story. The book had some self-diagnosis 

questions and I filled those out. By the second session, it was known 

that I had social anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, OCD, and 

some PTSD. I had anxiety about phone calls, online messages, sitting 

in a group, parties, any situation where I was expected to speak out 

loud, and water tanks (aquariums are difficult for me). Most of these, 

I had my entire life. However, the thing about anxiety, is if 

something traumatic happens to you, it can be amplified. Feeling 

out of control is what drives most anxiety. 

Another factor to anxiety is your own personality style. I have 

always been quiet. I'm a writer, so I often enjoy listening and 

noticing things around me. I like this more than speaking. I can be 

outgoing if I am comfortable in a situation, but sometimes it takes 

me a long time to get to that point. This doesn't ultimately cause my 

anxiety. Up until the past two years, I would just accept that I was 

quiet. A lot of it is how I am naturally. Some of it is because of 

situations that have caused it and when my mind wanders to those 

things, that is when my anxiety starts to peak. 

The four personality styles that can swing anxiety into motion are 

perfectionism, excessive need for approval, ignoring signs of stress, 

and the need for control. I am three of these (perfectionist, need for 


approval, and I like to feel like I can control situations around me). 

These personality styles can control the way you think. My mind is my worst enemy. For example, the 

perfectionist in me wants everything in the house in order at all times. It also wants me to look put together at all 

times, which is something that I have learned to handle a little better. My need for approval is always high. I am not 

sure that will ever really calm down. I want my husband to be happy with me. I want my family and my friends to be 

happy and accepting of who I am. When people don't like me, it is very difficult for me to get past. The need for me to 

be in control is also very high. It's not so much that I need or want to be in control of people, but more the situations 

that surround me. I couldn't control the harassing messages being sent to my Facebook and my Twitter accounts. I can't 

control if it is going to rain while we are out at Disney. I can't control how much my husband has to work. I can't control 

whether or not my hair decides to cooperate everyday. Some of these are serious examples and some are more serious. 

My stress level is usually found hand-in-hand with these things. 

There are a lot of coping mechanisms to try when you have anxiety. The first one that we tried was a mood 

chart. This one didn't help me at all. The last thing I want to do when I feel like I can't breathe, is sit down and write out 

all the emotions I am feeling. I tried to write them afterwards, too, but by the time it was all said and done, I just felt 

kind of ridiculous about any of the attacks. Some things that did work for me were heavy breathing, imagery and 

tracing figure 8's. I have also written letters to people who have caused stressful situations, just to get all the words out 

and then thrown it away. I deal with a lot of self-blame and negative self-talk, so when I am feeling overwhelmed, I 

typically will lay down and weigh out the situation. Affirmations are important as well. Make sure you are doing your 

best to be positive about yourself. 

I was put on medication around this time, as well. Medication was something that I wanted to avoid, but because 

of the stress from the harassment and because we were planning our wedding within two months, it was decided that 

it would be a good tool to get through. I was put on Celexa, which is used for depression as welll. I'll be honest and say 

that it helped me, but at the same time it didn't. It would block out some stress, but oftentimes I would still have 

attacks. I didn't hyperventilate while on it, but my chest would tighten. 

I started tapering off Celexa this past May which was the hardest part. The side effects were difficult to deal 

with. You never know for sure what your body is going to do. My doctor didn't talk me through the side effects, so I had 

no idea why I was feeling so strange. The side effects depend on the medication. There was a moment where I found 

myself questioning why I decided to even come off it. It felt too hard and I was worried that I couldn't do it. I pushed 

through those emotions and almost two months later, I am so glad that I did! 

Anxiety isn't something that goes away. It's something that you have to deal with on a daily basis. Some days 

are really, really great, while other days can be terrible. Sometimes I am really good at applying my tools and coping 

mechanisms and other days I am not. 

Having a strong support system is very important. I would be completely lost without my husband. Keep in mind 

though, that anxiety, no matter how severe, is emotionally tolling on your loved ones as well. Remember that the 

people who love you are always there to listen and support you, but sometimes they need time for themselves as well. 

No matter what you're facing, know that you are capable of overcoming the obstacles thrown at you. Don't give 

up! There are always people who care, sometimes you just have to seek them out. Ultimately, you need to take the 

steps to become healthier for you. Mental health is extremely important. Don't ever be ashamed to ask for help. Don't 

worry about what people will think if you go to a counselor or decide to take medications. There is nothing shameful 

about it. 


I got married on December 7, 2014 in a nature 

preserve in Florida. Every day, my husband and I still face 

the challenges of living with anxiety. But wee get through 

it together, as a team. 

*If you are facing online harassment, make sure you 

report it and tell someone. You've been given a voice to 

speak up. Don't ever let anyone take that away from you. 

You may think that this can only happen to children and 

teenagers, but it can happen to an adult. A lot of people 

hide behind their computer screens. Be safe online. Use 

your privacy settings. If you are a writer, like me, you can 

use a pen name or change your first name to protect your 

identity. If at any time you do not feel safe or you feel like 

someone has crossed the line, take it seriously and get 

help. 

For resources about Cyberbullying visit 

www.cyberbullying.us. 


She is gentle. 


6 MOMMY 

SHORTCUTS LAURATOLEDO 

makingeverydayabit moreproductivefor thesuper busymom 

AS A BUSY PARENT, IT'S HARD TO KEEP EVERYTHING TOGETHER. (Or it's just 

hard remembering.) That's why finding the right technology 

can help you save some time...and sanity. 

* Back up those adorable photos! Speaking from experience, 

it SUCKS when your SD card or phone dies, and you lose 

precious memories. Don't risk it, back up your photos! There 

are a whole host of options from which to choose. Personally, 

I backup the original files to Dropbox, and reduced file size 

to Google (this is free with unlimited storage). Why two? Well, 

Google lets me store at reduced file size for free, with 

unlimited storage, and I love its features (they generate GIFs, 

collages, videos, and stories from my photos). And Dropbox 

allows me to store the original resolution for a reasonable 

price (yes, I pay for my files to be stored in Dropbox - this is 

my equivalent to external hard drives). Dropbox charges a 

reasonable amount for 1 TB of storage - worth it, in my book. 

For iPhone users, the iCloud might be a good option (but 

your storage limit is hit early, whereas Dropbox has quite a 

bit of storage for free before you're required to upgrade). 

* Get on the same page. Busy schedules can lead to 

overlapping events. Avoid double-booking by sharing a 

calendar with your significant other. My husband and I use 

Google Calendar (you might see a trend here - Google does a 

fantastic job of integrating their platforms). By sharing our 

calendars with each other, we can easily see what the other 

has scheduled for the day. The nice thing is that I can get to 

the calendar on all devices, desktop included. Cozi is another 

great app for families. It does a lot more than calendar 

events - it includes contacts, shopping lists, and a meal 

planner. 

* Never forget anything. OK, so that's exaggerating it a bit. 

But, since I've been using Evernote, I forget a lot less. 

Evernote is a virtual notebook that helps you organize 

thoughts from anywhere (web, hand-helds, desktop). I use 

Evernote as my "inbox" - I write down all thoughts, tasks, 

articles, shopping lists, etc., and then sort them from there. I 

can collect recipes and articles to read later from a browser 

extension. I can even use other third-party tools with it - for 

example, notes tagged with a certain keyword go 

automatically to a task manager. Bonus: you can schedule 

notes with alerts/reminders, and can share notes with your 

family. 

* Remember your passwords. Remembering over 200+ sites 

and their passwords is a bit of a headache. Instead, I use 

LastPass. It's an app that works with your browser that allows 

you to save and access passwords on-the-go. It's encrypted, 

so your data is safe. And the app is available on mobile, as 

well, if you ever need to look one up. (The phone app is part 

of their premium package, which is $12/year.) 

* Stream! One of the best decisions we ever made was 

dropping cable. Sure, it was relatively cheap for the first few 

months, before the deal ran out. Instead, we use Chromecast 

and Amazon's Fire Stick for our TVs. Between Amazon Prime 

and Netflix, we can stream almost anything! And it saves us 

from mindlessly flipping through channels when we have 

"downtime" (HA!). 

* Grocery delivery. This seems like it would be expensive, but 

I've done the math. For us, who spend way too much on 

dessert groceries, ordering groceries to be delivered has 

saved us so much money (and the two hours it takes my 

husband to grocery shop). Write a list out and research local 

delivery businesses. Compare prices, or compare the types of 

produce they offer (this seems to be the hardest to find 

online), and try it out one week. Even with the $10 delivery 

fee, we spend waaaaaaay less on groceries than shopping 

in-store. Plus, it lets us spend more time with the baby. 


StopWishing, Start Wandering 

CARLYVIATOR 

?I?VE ALWAYS WANTED TO GO THERE!? 

?Aww, I wish I could do something like that.? 

Perhaps you are wasting time envying world travelers? 

Instagrams instead of planning your own adventure. 

Maybe you just need a little pep talk to understand 

how easy it is to get out there and experience the 

world. Money is not the issue here. It is telling yourself 

?I am going there,? and believing it. 

Portions of my time spent globetrotting have been 

dedicated to showing audiences how easy it is to travel 

on a budget and ways to meet locals for a more true 

experience. Below are some tips for getting there, 

lodging for free, meeting like-minded friends and 

learning more about the world and yourself than ever 

before. 

1. PICK A PLACE! 

That?s right, go on then. Where do you want to go and 

why? 

2. SAVE THAT DOUGH! 

Throwthe envy out the windowand jump! 

Live a simple, frugal life for a couple of months. If I 

could hop across the ocean while still in college and 

again right after, then you have no excuses. You CAN 

make this happen if you TRY. Start out somewhere 


closer if that makes you more comfortable! Most of 

my tips still apply for not-so-far-away trips. If you do 

want to wander out of the country, a passport is only 

around $110. 

3. BUY YOUR TICKET! 

Once you have the money, search the net until 

finding the best flight deal. Nothing beats the 

feeling of pressing that final ?PURCHASE? button. I 

have gone through cheapflights.com a few times, 

but try a few different sites. Side 

note: sometimes you can do multi-destination trips 

without paying much more. Check it out. 

Now, this means you have no choice but to start 

saving money again! But you can literally say ?I am 

going there!? and that will inspire you to be an 

excellent budgeteer. 

4. RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH? 

Research has definitely led me to places I would not 

have otherwise known to visit. Ranging from 

reviews of a city?s must-see spots to the mapped out 

scenic routes, it?s all there waiting for you. Once you 

know what you want to see, planning your trip gets 

very exciting. The internet makes travelling a 

breeze, as you will observe from my tips. 

5. ESTABLISH AMBITIONS 

What is the reason you chose your destination? 

Maybe you just want to be by the ocean or perhaps 

touring a big foreign city full of history. This does 

not mean that you can?t do both though! It?s just 

deciding where you want to start and what you want 

to see. 

My last trip involved the above activities, but also 

hands on work (which I actually enjoyed) in 

exchange for food and shelter. More details coming 

below! 

6. PLAN LODGING ACCORDING TO AMBITIONS 

This is my favorite part to discuss because people do 

not seem to know enough about their 

budget-friendly lodging opportunities as a traveler. 

Let me name just a few options, all of which I have 

tried out and adore. 

FREE: Couchsurfing.org 

This site has landed me friends that I plan to have forever. Strangers have welcomed me into their homes 

without any financial benefit and I have done the same for travelers through this site. What is it? Basically, 

you make a profile that is similar to any typical social media site and then look start searching for a host 

anywhere on earth! First, you choose according to location, then common interests (like music, sports, films, 

etc). Reviews are included for that person to make sure they have always been good hosts, which is what 

makes the site legit. Finally, you send a request to your preferred hosts in hopes that they will take you in 

and show you around. 

This has become a HUGE part of the travelling culture and is a great experience for both the host and the 

Couchsurfer. I love having people in my home and showing them what Louisiana has to offer. I also learn 

more about the travelers?homeland as we discuss similarities, differences, and our language whilst having a 

drink or meal. Remember to be a polite guest because that?s what makes this lifestyle go round! You are 

representing your state/ citycountry. Be respectful, get respect. Many of my Couchsurfers do some tidying up 

and cooking as a way to show their appreciation. 


FREE: WWOOF.org & workaway.org 

These are volunteer-based websites where one can 

work on farms or projects in exchange for food, 

shelter, and the lifestyle experience. WWOOF, which 

stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic 

Farms, and Workaway both consist of all kinds of 

projects as well. These sites are great for those 

interested in getting their hands dirty while helping 

someone else out. It?s a mutual benefit! 

I spent so many hours researching opportunities 

from these sites. I was seeking knowledge about 

sustainable, eco-friendly living and I have indeed 

learned a lot about ways to improve my style of 

living. Typical experiences for me have included 

farming, building a house, having meals as a family, 

and learning about new regions first hand. Where do 

you want to go work? A California vineyard or an 

olive farm in the south of Spain? Your options are 

endless. 

*Note: There are fees to using these sites (around 

$100/ yr) but when you consider the money you save 

with free lodging and the value of new friendships 

with like-minded people, it?s a no brainer. These 

sites show you how others live and to have faith in 

humanity. 

CHEAP: HOSTELS 

For those of you unaware what a hostel is or for 

those afraid of the concept because of a stupid 

horror movie, let me explain the truth about hostels. 

This lodging option has been around for a long time 

and are possibly the easiest way to be sure you have 

shelter at a good price. Hostels.com is a reliable 

source for booking. You can choose according to 

your budget, but I always go with the cheapest 

option: a dorm of around 6-20 people in bunk beds. 

You pay anywhere from $7-50 and get a bed, 

shower, and place to relax. 

There are public bathrooms for showers (which may 

be the best thing ever after getting sweaty from 

your travels). You meet people from all over the 

world in your room, at the bar, or in the kitchen. I 

enjoy cooking my own groceries in the communal 

kitchen because it?s cheaper and it makes you 

remember what the sense of having a home feels 

like. Most of the hostels I choose provide a small 

breakfast for free, which is a big saver as well. 

Having a hot tea and cereal in the morning is a big 

part of the backpacking culture. 

PRETTY CHEAP: AIRBNB.COM 

AirBNB gives an opportunity for travelers to rent a 

room or an entire home/ apart in the city of their 

choice. This method has also taken the travel world 

by storm! You get to see what it feels like to live in 

that city first hand. I have had tiny apartments for as 

little as $20/ night but you can get as fancy as you 

wish. For instance, places like Southeast Asia have 

massive homes with a pool for decent prices. 

These homes/ apartments may be in the city, on the 

beach, or the middle of nowhere. It?s fun to look 

through all of your options and research the best 

place for your needs. I actually plan to rent my 

apartment out on this site during Mardi Gras next 

year. Everyone will win! 


7. TRANSPORTATION 

So there are some obvious choices for transportation once you are in 

a new place, as well as those less known. Here are a few for you to 

consider. 

* Flights: Maybe you don?t realize that other places, like Australia or 

Europe, have tiny airplanes that you can hop on for very cheap prices 

to get around. It is less of an ordeal, yet often a bumpier ride. Ryan Air 

is an example of a Euro flight company you could check out to get 

from country to country in Europe. Keep in mind though, tiny planes 

mean tiny cargo space. So try to pack lightly or you will end up paying 

a big baggage fee. 

* Trains: You can get rail passes to save a little money, but I find that 

trains can still get pretty expensive. I do suggest trying one out 

though because it is a great experience and often a scenic ride. Eurail 

is big in Europe and AmTrak is still up and running in the U.S. 

* Buses: Usually there are pretty decent bus prices from places like 

Grey Hound or IDBus. Yes, it does take forever. But I personally love to 

take a nap or read a book while on the bus so it doesn?t bother me. 

* Hitchhiking: This is a rush for the bold people! Hitchhiking is not 

necessarily a trend in the states anymore, but in other countries the 

hitchhiking world is going strong. Young people stand enthusiastically 

with signs that have their destination. You can meet fun, trusting 

people and get around for free in exchange for keeping them awake 

and in good company. Your best bet is to ask locals if they suggest 

hitchhiking in that area. The downfall, of course, would be safety 

concerns or the risk of getting stuck in bad weather for hours with no 

ride. I have yet to try it, but am very eager to in places like France or 

Ireland. Many friends have had great success and enjoy hitching rides. 

* Car share: This is catching on in the U.S. and I am very happy about 

that! LYFT and Uber are spreading quickly. But there are also options 

for long distance travel! 

I used BlahBlah Cars all over Europe and it was always my cheapest 

bet. Drivers have a have a profile with reviews, the type of car, where 

they are heading, and the amount you will chip in for gas/ toll fees. As 

a passenger, you also will need a profile and then put in your 

departure city and where you are heading and your driver choices pop 

up. Sometimes you can take one car halfway and then hop in another 

to finish out your journey. Words can?t express how much I loved 

BlahBlah cars. I even did a podcast about it on my site. 

8. PACK LIGHTLY 

It is certainly not easy to bring everything a gal needs in one 

backpack! But I am getting better each time I travel. Be sure to get a 

quality, comfortable bag or you will regret it. I would try to keep your 

bag around 30 pounds. 

Here are a few suggestions for must haves: 

* A scarf: take a nap on it, have a picnic on it, wear it in the rain, wrap it 

around you for warmth, wear it like a scarf. You just need one, okay? 

* A pillowcase: put clothes inside and use as a foldable pillow. 

* A sleeping bag: Budget-friendly travel means times that you need a 

good sleeping bag. 

9. GO! 

Your departure date will sneak up on you will be ready! BON VOYAGE! 

I hope that my tips have made you feel like your adventure is 

possible? because it IS! Feel free to check my site out for details 

about my adventures, such as mountain climbing and building a home 

out of clay. Travel opens your mind in more ways than I could try to 

explain. Realizing first hand that you share this planet with so many 

amazing people and such beautiful places is an irreplaceable feeling. 

Email me with any travel questions you may have! 

Carly Viator is a media freelancer/ cultural enthusiast based out of New Orleans, 

LA. Her work includes sharing stories of lifestyles, creativity and knowledge 

about cultures near and far. She also provides media content (like videography, 

photography, and web design) for musicians and businesses. Learn more about 

her work and inspirations over at carlyviatormedia.squarespace.com. 


She 

flourishes 

in the 

spotlight. 


MINIMALIST 

MENTALITY 

CARLYVIATOR 

As my fiancé and I planned our move to a new city, we suddenly had the 

opportune moment for that fresh start we had been longing for. It was 

time to give up unavailing paint jobs, as well as our accumulation of 

useless objects around the house. It felt as if I had lost sight of the things 

most important to me, literally. My artwork and photographs seemed to be 

camouflaged by random stuff and the bold colors of our walls. So while 

packing up, I told myself, ?Look lady, it is time for a change.?These changes 

were so simple and rewarding that I feel compelled to share some 

thoughts on minimalist mentality. 

First, let?s talk paint. When considering colors, it is easy to end up slapping 

something bold on all four corners of a room because you LOVE that color. 

Well my recent decision to white out all of our walls was actually guided 

by my adoration of colors. The result: my accent colors and favorites pieces 

are finally granted some space and the chance to be the focal point. Many 

disregard white as an option because it is ?boring?and to some, it is not 

even considered a color. Though who really cares what it is considered? As 

British writer and philosopher G. K. Chesterton put it ?White is not a mere 

absence of color; it is a shining and affirmative thing, as fierce as red, as 

definite as black.? 

when you are finished, downsize again. Clutter is unnecessary and can 

become burdensome as dust builds up and you lose things all day long. I 

know, we are Americans living in the 21st century and we tend to like 

having a lot of stuff. But imagine only being surrounded by what you 

need/love. 

My inspiration came from the European homes I have visited, which 

consisted of strategically placed belongings instead of excess stuff 

everywhere. The simplicity of each room drew my eyes to the objects that 

the homeowner wants visitors to see. Again, focal points become visible 

when there are less distractions. One bold art piece/decoration can speak 

louder than four mediocre pieces competing for the attention. 

In the end, our landlord expected to find a ?stark? apartment when he 

came to see the renovations, but he actually hugged me in response to the 

changes. The blank walls make our apartment like an art gallery, though it 

is still cozy with books and records around to entertain. The fresh 

transformation of our lives is visually demonstrated in our home and is 

easy to maintain. Start fresh and stay fresh by revitalizing your space 

because home is the place where you want to feel your best. 

Suddenly our decor pops and catches your eye when you enter each room. 

White does not make our house boring, but instead makes it easier to be 

eclectic as it lends attention and respect to our beloved maps, instruments, 

artwork, and photos. Natural sunlight is also a key in our home. New 

Orleans style bay windows welcome the sunlight onto the reflective walls 

and together they light up our space. 

So, you have your white walls and your blank slate is all ready to mesh 

with whatever decorations you so choose. Now it is time to downsize. Then 


"Whiteisnot amereabsenceof color; 

it isashiningandaffirmativething, 

asfierceasred, asdefiniteasblack.? 

-G.K. Chesterton 


She 

laughs at 

sameness. 


And she 

makes 

wishes 

on the 

sunshine. 


AUTUMN 

CRUMBLE 

AMANDAQUEEN 

Ingredients: 

Filling 

- 3 apples (I used Pink Lady, but Granny 

Smith or Honeycrisp would be delicious 

too!) 

- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar 

- 2 tablespoons coconut oil 

- 2 tablespoons lemon juice, + zest of 1 

lemon 

- 1 teaspoon cinnamon 

- 1 teaspoon vanilla 

- pinch of nutmeg 

- pinch of sea salt 

Topping 

- ½ cup almond flour or almond meal 

- ½ cup almonds, finely chopped 

- ½ cup of rolled oats 

- 3 tablespoons coconut oil 

- 3 tablespoons honey 

- 1 teaspoon cinnamon 

- pinch of sea salt 

In\structions: 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Chop apples 

into small, bite sized chunks, leaving peel 

intact. Combine in a large bowl with the 

remainder of filling ingredients and mix well. 

In a separate, smaller bowl combine topping 

ingredients and mix well. 

Fill your desired baking containers with 

apple mixture. Bake for 15 minutes, then add 

topping and bake for another 10-15 minutes. 

Makes 4-6 servings. I like these in individual 

baking ramekins but you can use any dish 

you like! 


Whipped Coconut Cream 

Optional! Top with whipped cream or my favorite, whipped coconut cream. Here?s how to make: 

Put a can of coconut cream in the freezer for 20-30 minutes. Open and scoop out everything solid and place 

in stand mixer (there will be a small amount of liquid in the can). Whip for 5-10 minutes. If you like, you can 

add a little honey or powdered sugar, or vanilla or the inside of a vanilla bean. Store extra (what?s that?!) in 


BACK-TO-SCHOOL 

ESSENTIALOILS 

PATRICIAA. WILKINSON 

WITH SCHOOL BACK IN SESSION THERE IS ALWAYS SO MUCH 

TO THINK ABOUT. New routines, homework, 

extracurricular activities, it's a constant battle for 

time. The beginning of a new school year can also 

bring additional stresses to the whole family. 

Keeping the kids healthy, boosting the immune 

system and finding easy ways to take the edge off 

by creating a healthy and calm home environment 

can make a tremendous difference. 

About 4 years ago I started researching 

natural ways to keep my three kids healthy using a 

more holistic and natural, chemical free approach. I 

grew up in a medical family; my dad is a family 

doctor. Growing up, I never really thought twice 

about using over the counter medication, or 

prescription antibiotics. I believe there is a time and 

place for traditional medicine, but I wanted my ?at 

home methods? to feel more natural. And my first 

approach was diving into essential oils! 

Essential oils have been around for centuries 

and used by many different cultures. And there is 

evidence of their healing properties from essential 

__________________________________________________________________ 

uplifting mood properties as well, but it is known for 

its aid in focus and concentration. Lemon also 

cleanses the air when diffused. I switch between wild 

orange and lemon in the mornings while the kids get 

ready for school. I also use lemon essential oil in my 

cleaning supplies. 

Lavender: Lavandula Angustifolia. 

Lavender is a STAPLE essential oil to have in your 

cabinet! There are many types of lavender, but 

Lavandula Angustifolia is the classic type used for 

aromatherapy. Lavender is best known for its calming 

and relaxing qualities. Although, it is also known for 

its ability to soothe insect bites, minor burns and 

eczema and to reduce allergies. It can be used 

topically and aromatically. I use lavender daily in my 

oils carbon dating back to 18,000 B.C.E. 

Over the years, I have dabbled in a variety of 

oils and eventually found my favorites. Keep in 

mind, there are very special guidelines one must 

follow before introducing anything new to your 

holistic medicine cabinet! Do you research but don't 

be afraid to dive in. 

Lemon: Citrus Limon 

Lemon essential oil is another one of my kids? 

favorites. It has a clean subtle aroma. It not only has 


in my diffuser. I also use it topically, and for 

cleaning. 

Tea Tree or Melaleuca: Melaleuca Aernifolia. 

Tea Tree oil can be labeled as ?Tea Tree? or by 

Melaleuca; at times it can be confusing! Tea Tree is 

one of my favorites because of its cleansing and 

regenerative properties. I specifically use Tea Tree 

topically on the skin and for cleaning. I do not 

diffuse Tea Tree oil. 

Wild Orange: Citrus Sinensis 

Wild orange essential oil is one of my kids?favorites! 

It has a light citrusy aroma and is used to energize 

and revitalize! Wild orange is a good tool for 

creating an uplifting mood especially good for those 

early mornings while getting ready for school. I 

diffuse Wild orange, and use it for cleaning. 

Thieves Oil / OnGuard Blends 

This blend usually includes Wild Orange, Clove Bud, 

Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, and Rosemary with some 

variation based on brand. **Note** the oils used in 

thieves oil are not all suggested for young children. 

Please be sure to research age restrictions before 

using for your family. 

Find more information about essential oils by visiting Doterra or Young Living. 

Patricia A. Wilkinson is a single mother of three girls. She 

lives in Clarksville, Tennessee where she is pursuing 

her education in holistic health and nutrition. 


BLURRINGTHELINES: 

ALETTERTOSOUTHKOREA 

At 26-years-old Brooke isn't falling into the 

stereotypical ways of Western society, at least by 

her hometown's standards. Instead, she's breaking 

the mold, blurring the lines and traveling the world 

as a teacher of English and an explorer of the 

heart. 

I GREW UP IN A SMALL CITY, IN A SOUTHERN STATE, IN AMERICA. 

That was my world. Yes, I traveled around the states 

and dreamed of European cities and of tropical islands, 

but my home was in that country, in that state, in that 

small city. I wasn't sure how to get out, but I always felt 

there was more for me. 

I had an unnerving, unsettling feeling that I 

wasn't where I was supposed to be. But I knew that my 

place was somewhere overseas, I just didn't know 

where. Overseas wasn?t a specific place for me, it was 

just somewhere foreign where I?d be helping people in 

need. Others would tell me stories of their travels and 

the feeling I would get inside was incredible. It was this 

longing for more, to help, for the unknown, for freedom, 

for it all. That never wavered or disappeared. It was a 

feeling that would bring me to tears and make me want 

to drop everything and GO. So out of all the countries in 

the world I chose South Korea. An odd choice, for most, 

even for myself, but little did I know, the perfect one. 

My world was about to be flipped upside down. 

Dear Korea, 

BROOKEGREENWADE 

Thank you for being the perfect start to my 

journey. 

Thank you for accepting me and showing me a 

culture so different that I?ll never be the same. 

I remember my first weeks here, I had no choice 

but laugh and adapt and figure things out. I starved my 

first two weeks but eventually found Korean bbq and 

bibimbap. 

Korea you are beautiful. Your people, your cities, 

your customs are incredible. You are overlooked in the 

world so much but will never be forgotten in mine. I 


was shown so much blatant kindness by 

complete strangers and taken back each time. You 

fed me, helped me when I was lost, took care of me 

when I was sick, and complimented me more times 

than I can count. 

I gave my heart to over fifty beautiful 

children and it was an honor to be a part of your 

lives. I feel like I learned more than you did some 

days. I?m blown away by the work ethic and respect 

these children have. At such young ages, they are 

taught order and respect and to want the absolute 

best for themselves. 

Thank you Korea, for welcoming me with 

open arms and giving me a place to call home for 

the past year. This is only the beginning for me, but 

the lessons I learned here will never be forgotten. 

My eyes were opened to a world that I didn?t 

even know existed and now I have a desire to 

explore every inch of it. 

Sincerely, 

a student, a teacher, an exploring woman with the 

curiosity of the world at her fingertips and in her 

suitcase, Brooke. 


She was born to fly free. 


Her Umbrella 

Editor-in-Chief Grace Lynne Fleming 

Contributors 

Sara Strauss 

Grayson Woolery 

Joy Eden 

Margaret Dabbs 

Melinda Birdwell 

Dalton Weaver 

Elaina Karras 

Mandy Vogelpohl 

Monica Encarnacion 

Nadja Merali 

Laura Toledo 

Carly Viator 

Amanda Queen 

Brooke Greenwade 

Photography/Art 

Credits: 

Bhakti Kulmala 

Foundry 

Public Domain Pictures 

Unsplash 

Larisa Koshkina 

Open Clipart Vectors 

bertvthul 

Logan Art 

Matt Trostle 

Splitshire 

Hans Braxmeier 

Karolina Grabowska 

Linda72 

Ximena-c 

SnipsAndClips 

AJ 

Stinne24 

Stefan Schweihofer 

Stokpic 

epicantus 

Rainer Küster 

Jan Va?ek 

David Mark 

SnapwireSnaps 

Lebensmittelfotos 

skeeze 

StartupStockPhotos 

Gabrielle Savoy 

ClkerFreeVectorImages 

bloodymarie 

Johanna Pakkala 

Nicole Köhler 

Petra 

Richard Thelion 

Peter Wieser 

Special Thanks to my husband. Without you, I would have been the 

only one mesmerized by the computer every weekend this month. I 

love you. 

biggifraley 

uploaderpixaby

Her Umbrella Premiere Issue Fall 2015

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