1N O R T H E R N C O L O R A D O ’ S M A G A Z I N E O F F I N E L I V I N G S I N C E 1 9 8 4

Holiday StyleLooking Chic After Dark

Local Gems

Holiday Family Traditions

Span Generations

FIVE DOLLARS

HOLIDAY 2008

2

2Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

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6Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

style media and design, inc.| 970.226.6400 |

w w w. s t y l e m a g a z i n e c o l o r a d o . c o m

PUBLISHER Lydia DodyCREATIVE DIRECTOR Scott Prosser

SENIOR DESIGNER Austin LambCONTRIBUTING EDITOR Erica PaulyADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVES

Jon Ainslie (970) 219-9226Abby Bloedorn (970) 222-8406

Karen Christensen (970) 679-7593Lydia Dody (970) 227-6400

Saundra Skrove (970) 217-9932OFFICE MANAGER Ina Szwec

ACCOUNTING MANAGER Karla VigilOFFICE ASSISTANT Ronda Huser

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSAllie Comeau, Lynn M. Dean, Sarah Duffert,

Julie Estlick, Angeline Grenz, Connie Hein, Kay Rios, Jim Sprout, Ina Szwec, Gloria Willis

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERSLydia Dody, Dana Milner,

Todd Newcomer, Bob Willis

AFFILIATIONSFort Collins Downtown Business Association

Fort Collins Area Chamber of CommerceLoveland Chamber of CommerceGreeley Chamber of CommerceWindsor Chamber of Commerce

2008 STYLE MAGAZINESJanuary-Loveland/Greeley Medical & Wellness

Magazine and DirectoryFebruary-Building & Remodeling

March-Northern Colorado Medical & WellnessMarch-Family, Community & Philanthropy

April-Business of Northern ColoradoMay-Building & Remodeling - Home & GardenMay-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness

June-Business & Building July-Fort Collins Medical & Wellness

Magazine and DirectoriesAugust-Women In Business

September-Building & RemodelingHome Interiors & Entertainment

October-Women’s Health & Breast CancerOctober-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness

November-HolidayDecember-Winter/Wedding

Style Media and Design, Inc. magazines are free monthly publications direct-mailed to homes and businesses in Northern Colorado. Elsewhere, subscriptions for 16 issues cost $24/year. Free magazines are available in stands at 100 locations throughout Northern Colorado.

For ad rates, subscription information, change of address, or correspondence, contact: Style Media and Design Inc., 211 W. Myrtle St., Suite 200, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521. Phone (970) 226-6400. E-Mail: rhonda@StyleMedia.com

©2008 Style Media and Design Inc. All rights reserved. The entire contents of Style Magazine is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Style Media and Design Inc. is not responsible for unsolicited material. All manuscripts, artwork, and photography must be accompanied by a SASE. The views and opinions of any contributing writers are not necessarily those of Style Media & Design Inc.

7Holiday 2008

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LYDIA, I am so truly grateful to you, and I know it will

be difficult to find words to properly express to you how much your work means to me.

I was so surprised to find out that you run both the magazine and founded Hope Lives! I knew that ‘a’ Lydia was responsible for both, but I couldn’t imagine that one person had the energy, the drive, and the love to do so much and affect so many. You are such an inspiration to me- my hero!!!

Hope Lives! has meant so very much to me- during my treatments. I’ve been able to take advantage of massages, facials, counseling and acupuncture; and it has been so wonderful for my spirit! Those services have uplifted me greatly when I was down and out, and I want you to know that I am forever grateful to you. You fol-lowed your passion and in turn, have positively affected the lives of so many women! You make me believe that anything is possible.

I had an amazing time at the photo shoot, salon, and boutique. I was honored to participate and meet so many women with beauty, strength, and grace…and all because of you. The clothes, hair and makeup and women all made me feel so beautiful, and I haven’t felt so beautiful in such a long time! It really meant the world to me, and again I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

With Love, Jenni Sells

DEAR STYLE MAGAZINE,We would like to thank Lydia, Corey, and the

rest of the Style staff who toured one of our re-cently completed “Smart Home” projects and featured it in the Homes that Think article Oc-tober Building & Remodeling Home Interiors is-sue.  A number of people have told us that they enjoyed the article, and were amazed at all the “cool” ways that technology can be used to sim-plify and enhance their busy lives. We are honored and grateful for the opportunity to get the word out to the Northern Colorado community.

Warmest regards,Dave and Stephanie Staudacher

  Home Smart Home, LLC

TO EVERYONE AT STYLE,Please pass on a word of thanks to all for

allowing me to participate in the issue of the magazine featuring Northern Colorado Business Women. I have had so many calls from my clients of congratulations. I also have an appointment to sell a home! One of my baby sitters when my kids were little saw the cover and called!  I have had calls from current friends, past associates, and I love showing the magazine to new prospects as well. Please tell everyone thanks!

  Joanne M. De'Leon

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8Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

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NOVEMBER 2008 :: HOLIDAY

features

14 Holiday Family Traditions Span GenerationsTraditions Tie Together Christmas past, present, and future

www.stylemagazinecolorado.com

18 Breathtaking Glass ArtAncient art form creates beauty

22 Edible GiftsGive delicious treats this holiday

24 Local GemsNational designers pick local jewelry stores

29 Holiday StyleLooking Chic After Dark

36 Holiday Gift GuideGlitz, Glamour, Gadgets, & Gifts

39 Hot Spots The best area bars for socializing

46 Positive Directions& Positive PlansChoosing a new mental attitude

32 Table Top StyleFun and festive tips for setting your table

48 Business SpotlightHighlights of area businesses

13 Meet the Models12 Publisher’s Letter

54 About TownA Vintage Affair • Dining in the DirtWomen Against MS •Brainiac BowlFriends of A Women’s Place GalaHope Lives! Gala

columns

8 From The Readers

52 Community Pillars:Wayne and Phyllis Schrader

28 Style PointsThose deserving recognition

35 TidbitsSeasonal and faith-based family activities

14

22

18

24

32

52

ON THE COVERCelebrating the holidays, Mary features an elegant red cocktail dress from the Joseph Ribkoff collection, $194, accented with a creative Mary Francis Christmas bag, $209. Courtesy of Designs Boutique, Fort Collins. Elegant pear shaped drop diamond earrings, $1690 and exquisite Hearts On Fire free flowing “Galaxy” pendant add the sparkling intrigue, $3250. Courtesy of Sather’s Leading Jewelers, Fort Collins. On location at he beautifully decorated home of Cliff & Mary Buchholz.

Photography by Dana MilnerArt Direction bu Lydia Dody

36

10 Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

Hot Spots The best area bars for socializing 11

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13Holiday 2008

13Cliff Buchholz

Cliff is married to Mary, and is father to Emile, 32, Dana, 30, and Hayley, 28. He is also the proud grandfather to James, age 8, Madeleine, age 6, Luke, age 4, Chesly, age 3, and Matthew, age 1. He is the owner of the three Miramont Lifestyle Fitness centers in Fort Collins. In his free time, Cliff still enjoys playing tennis, skiing, working out, traveling, and running a tennis tournament called Pilot Pen, in New Haven, Connecticut.

“Whenever I can get all the kids together, it is special. Taking pictures was fun, but its always fun to be at the house together. We always try to make something fun of it, and in this case, we were able to make a day and night of fun.”

Mary BuchholzMary is married to Cliff and is mother to Bre-

Anne, 35, Shelby, 32, Corbey, 28, and Collins, 25,

and a proud grandmother to Dylon, 17, Seatynn, 5, and Bella, 3. She owns and runs MKF Land-scape Design, and enjoys gardening, spending time with her family, and traveling.

“Anyone who knows me knows that I love to play dress up! And being able to do it with my daughters made it even more special.”

BreAnne FerrisBreAnne is mother to Dylon, age 17 and is en-

gaged to Jason Archibald. She is a consultant in technology development, but in her free time she enjoys skiing, hiking, swimming, biking, crafting, decorating, and running. But what she enjoys most is hanging out with her family.

“It was really fun to have Lydia at the fitting with us as a group. Lydia is always so fun to be around.”

Shelby SchillingShelby is married to Luke and is mother to

Seatynn, age 5, and Bella, age 3. She is a stay-at-home mom and works part time at Tula, a contemporary clothing store. She enjoys singing, listening to music, and spending time with her family and friends.

“It was wonderful to take a break from being “mom,” for a day. The best part was modeling with my family. Thank you Lydia and staff for thinking of me and for doing such a great job!”

Corbey Weaver Corbey is married to Brian. She and her hus-

band own and operate Weaver Stone Company. In her free time, she enjoys decorating, construc-tion, and sports.

“It is always fun to get ‘glammed’ up and spend the day having fun with my family.”

Meet TheModelsCLIFF BUCHHOLZ MARY BUCHHOLZ BREANNE FERRIS SHELBY SCHILLING CORBEY WEAVER

By Lynn M. Dean

Year After YearTradition Ties Christmas Past to

Christmas Present and Christmas Future

By Lynn M. Dean

Family Traditions

N udged by the gentle push of the crisp winter winds, naked, gnarled branches twinkled with the glimmer of holiday lights, trans-

forming the city from a colorless, barren waste-land into a festive, welcoming wonderland. There, in the Old Town shop window I saw it– a shiny silver tree with spindly branches laden with large colorful ornaments. My thoughts went immedi-ately to Grandma Rosine’s house and the small silver tree that always sat on a little table in her living room. “It looks like a gilded toilet brush,” I remember my dad saying in hushed tones. “It’s the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen!” I guess that’s why we didn’t have a metal tree at our house. No. We had a green artificial tree sprayed with fake snow and slathered with metal “icicles” and ornaments.

All it takes to spark such treasured memories of Christmases past is one quick glimpse of a tree, or an ornament, or a wreath. Or, perhaps, a ran-dom whiff that evokes memories of Grandma’s cinnamon Christmas bread, Grandpa’s Christmas Eve roasted chestnuts, or Great Grandma’s meat pies. Each memory comes wrapped in warm, fuzzy feelings of love, and family, and tradition. It’s what links one generation to the next.

The Christmas season is steeped in tradition. Perhaps because, for children, this time of year is filled with fun, excitement, and anticipation. “My favorite thing about the holidays is the atmo-sphere,” says Maggie Thompson, 17. “I like the two weeks leading up to Christmas as much as I like Christmas itself. I love walking around outside and shopping and I really love decorating my room because it sets the atmosphere.”

Maggie, her sister Jane, and her parents Linde and Ron Thompson live in the heart of Greeley in the historic Cranford neighborhood.

Deck the HallsEver since the 1890's Christmas trees, and the

ornaments that hang on them, have played a cen-

tral role in most Christian family holiday cel-ebrations here in America. “We have a tree in almost every room,” says Linde. “We always have a live tree as the main tree in the living room– I love getting a Colorado fir.”

“I love that we have a real tree instead of a fake one,” agrees Maggie. “And I love picking out the actual tree. All of our orna-ments have some kind of significance and we put bubble lights on the tree. It comes out looking like our tree– it’s not like all the other trees you see around.”

“There was a time when I trolled antique shops and vintage stores for shiny, bright orna-ments,” adds Linde. But that collection isn’t what makes the Thompson tree one of a kind. It’s the more personal touches.

“One time our house was on one of those Christmas home tours and it was a little funny,” recalls Linde. “Everybody else’s trees were so color coordinated and perfect! Our tree is American eclectic. There are silver bells made of egg car-tons that the kids made. And I have my talking Star Trek ornament and all of the ornaments we brought back from our travels.”

Like Maggie, Linde enjoys the weeks leading up to Christmas. “I like to extend the holiday sea-son. Our Christmas season officially begins when we buy the Christmas tree, usually in the first week of December.”

Although they only buy one real tree, the Thompsons also decorate several artificial trees each year. “Our daughters each have trees with

Mary Buchholz bakes cookies for her family.

Holiday S p a n G e n e r a t i o n S

14

14Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

The Buchholz family, continually growing in size, in tradition, and in love.

ornaments in their rooms,” says Linde. “I also have a kitchen tree. We hang spoons and egg beaters and other kitchen things on it.”

“My favorite decoration is a little Christmas carousel. You flip the switch and it plays Christ-mas carols,” adds Maggie. “For me the most ex-citing thing about decorating is getting out those horses.”

After they decorate the tree, the Thomp-son Family sits down and watches their favorite Christmas movies. “We always watch a Char-

lie Brown Christmas and the animated version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” says Jane Thompson, 10.

The Thompson’s decorations also include a Nativity scene. “It’s stained glass and metal,” explains Jane. “It has a little manger and a hang-ing angel. When the sun shines in the window through it, it is the prettiest thing in the world.”

For the Buchholz Family of Fort Collins, the Holy Family takes center stage. Mary and her hus-band Cliff, owner of the three Miramont Lifestyle

Fitness centers in Fort Collins, keep the focus on their reason for the season. “I want the Nativity to be the first thing you see when you walk in,” says Mary. “After all, that’s the central focus of our celebration. The Nativity sits two feet tall. It even includes the large elephant, camels, shep-herds, and the three kings. Most of it fits on the buffet in the entry. I hang a big wreath over it with an angel blowing a horn.”

Mary and her husband Cliff have known each other for ten years and have been married for

Sipping hot cocoa out of Christmas mugs, Mary and Cliff Buchholz take a moment to cherish the family gathering.

Shelby Schilling and daughter Bella, enjoy helping to

build their traditional Christmas gingerbread house.

Buchholz family enjoys reminiscing about Christmases past.

15Holiday 2008

15

Instead of crowding around their

home television set this season, the

Thompsons can enjoy a bigger and

better night of movies.

Sitting together and watching movies is a Thompson family

tradition.

five. Between them they have seven children and eight grandchildren. “Cliff jokes that before we were married he had only one tree and now he has nine!” Mary says her eyes twinkling. “Every room in the house has a sign of Christmas.”

“We used to get up from Thanksgiving Din-ner and start decorating,” she explains. “I love the Christmas season and I want to capture as much of it as I can. It begins for us at Thanksgiv-ing and the simple act of giving thanks. But now, with the kids gone, we have to start decorating earlier. There’s just too much to do on that one day. So my daughters come over in the week before Thanksgiving and we start putting up the Christmas decorations. Except for the entry and dining room table. Right after Thanksgiving din-ner we change out the dining room and the entry and it becomes Christmas!

Unlike the Thompson’s tree, homemade orna-ments don’t adorn the Buchholz’ tree anymore. “I gave those to the children when they left home for their own trees,” Mary explains. “All except my collection of Simpich dolls. When they were kids, I bought them each Cloud Babies and I won’t give those up just yet!”

Mary collects other ornaments, too. “Every-thing is a collection for me,” she says smiling. “I’m always on the lookout for unusual, sparkly and whimsical ornaments. I believe your decora-tions should be an expression of who you are. Your tree should have everything that makes you happy– the colors you love, the things that have a special meaning for you-- so that when you walk in and see the room, it just fills your heart with warmth and glad tidings and you just want to dance. That’s what makes my heart sing.”

Mary has one tree that she decorates just for her alone. It sits right outside of her garden level

home office and masquerades as a home decor item most of the time. But during the holidays it becomes Mary’s “Frufru” tree and is home to some of Mary’s most prized ornaments, including those coveted Cloud Babies. It’s sole purpose is to bring Mary a sense of joy as she works.

Mary is intent on passing that joy on to the next generation. “When they were little, the kids and I handmade all of our ornaments. One year they were made out of clay, another they were gingerbread men. Each year we made a new or-nament to add to the tree. So now everyone, in-cluding the grandchildren, gets a new ornament every year. They are no longer handmade, but the tradition still continues.”

Mary even chooses paper and ribbons that match the ornament hanging from the wrap-pings. She feels the time she takes wrapping each gift is an expression of her love. “The packaging is so important. I want them to be beautiful gifts, not just something wrapped with a bow. Presen-tation is important.”

Mary also takes extra effort to make the holi-days magical for her grandchildren. “We decorate gingerbread houses together and make cookies and candy which we wrap up as presents for all of our neighbors and friends.” She also sends the kids scampering all over the house on a scavenger hunt, leaving them clue after clue to a treasure she’s hidden for them to find.

Here Comes Santa ClausFor children, Christmas truly is a magical sea-

son and all the frivolity leads up to that one big day when they’ll finally be allowed to rip off that wrapping paper that was so lovingly applied. “It’s always fun to watch the kids do the Santa thing,” admits Ron Thompson who says they still leave

cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. “The big bonanza is somewhere between mid-night and six in the morning on Christmas Day.”

For adults, both parents and grandparents, the focus of the season is less on gifts and more on family and the promise of reunion. And tradi-tion often dictates where those reunions will take place and what activities will go on at them.

“For us, the holidays are really about family and getting them all together,” agrees Linde. She and her husband Ron grew up in Greeley and both have extended family scattered not only in Colorado, but across the globe. “For me, it’s like a jackpot when as many of them as possible can get together with us at Christmas time from all over the country and the world. And all of them come to our house.”

With no little ones at home and no wide eyes Christmas morning, Santa gets the night off at the Buchholz house. “We encourage each of the families to create traditions of their own– in their own homes,” Mary explains. “Cliff and I will go to dinner Christmas Eve and wake up to have a quiet Christmas morning together. Then we visit all of the grandchildren, and head up to Vail later that day. The kids then join us as they can.”

Visions of Sugar PlumsOf course, what family celebration is com-

plete without good food and sweet treats? And what we eat and when is often dictated by tradi-tion.

For the Thompsons it’s roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, and green bean casserole at Grandma’s house on Christmas Eve followed the next day by Christmas dinner at the Thompson house where both Ron’s and Linde’s family gather to enjoy a meal cooked by Ron. “Then we sit

The Thompson

family is

creating a

new tradition

this year at

their family

owned

theatre in

Greeley.

16

16Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

around watching movies,” says Ron. “We al-ways watch my favorite- Scrooge.”

“We also love to watch It’s a Wonderful Life, The Christmas Story, and last year, per-haps because of the live show, White Christ-mas.” adds Linde.

It seems somewhat fitting that, this year the Thompsons will all gather at the fam-ily’s newest endeavor, the Kress Cinema and Lounge located in downtown Greeley. “We’ll get to see our favorite movies on the big screen,” say Linde.

At the Buchholz house, tradition dictates that the opening of presents on Christmas morning be followed by a scrumptious Christ-mas morning brunch which includes eggs benedict and strawberry crepes. But with their ever-expanding blended family, that, like many other traditions, has morphed to fit the needs of their children’s families.

“As our family grows, new traditions are created and cherished,” explains Mary. “We’re always in a state of constant change. We still have our traditional brunch, just not on Christmas morning, but instead at a time that works best for everyone.”

During the week before Christmas, Mary and Cliff try to spend time with each of the children, and each set of grandchildren. “We choose one night to celebrate with each fam-ily.” And they try to squeeze in other times together, as well.

“We’re starting to do a family night some time during the week leading up to Christmas where all the families can come together,” Mary explains. “The bigger issue when your kids are married is that you have to pick a time when you can pull everybody together– a time that works for them. You just want to make sure it doesn’t end up being a stressful situa-tion. We try to work it out with all the in-laws so that we can all pack up and go skiing in Vail together the week after Christmas. Whenever we get together, we spend the time playing games and having fun together.”

And, for the Buchholz’ family, it’s fitting that their holiday celebrations together end just as they began– with the Christmas deco-rations. For some very special ornaments hang on one tree nestled in the corner of the family game room in the basement. Each fanciful or-nament is hinged and opens to reveal a hiding place inside where Mary stashes secret trea-sures. And at the end of their time together, everyone races to grab one of those one of those ornaments from the tree.

“Whoever gets the pickle ornament has to put on Santa’s hat, ring the bells, and sing “Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas.”

The evolution of the Buchholz and Thompson family traditions mirrors those of our own families ever changing to meet new expectations and realities. But, in the end, it’s not what we do, but who we’re with that gives true meaning to the holiday. “We count any time we can get together with our chil-dren and grandchildren as a celebration,” says Mary. “That’s the best gift of all!”

Lynn M. Dean is an award-winning writer who lives in Timnath.

17Holiday 2008

17

Glass Art BeginningsThe history of glass art is much like art of any

sort. One person started it, while others followed in their footsteps, ever perfecting and renewing old techniques.

Although there is no specific date when glass appeared on the scene, its existence dates back to the second millennium BC when the Egyptians created beautiful works.

By starting with a pile of clay and dung wrapped with molten glass, which was then rolled out to create a flat surface, glass art was discovered.

The ancient beginnings of glass making con-tinued to be refined and ultimately evolved into the skilled craft of glass blowing centered in Ven-ice, Italy. In 1292 all the factories of Venice were

By Erica Pauly

Robin Evans, owner of Robin Evans Studio, works on a glass mosaic.

A River Runs Through It, a console glass mosaic table created by Robin Evans.

moved to the island of Murano so as to protect the city from the danger of fire. Murano became famous throughout the world for glass mak-ing and its reputation reached its zenith in the 15th century. In 1676 an Englishman, known as George Ravenscroft, found that by adding lead to glass, it added more sparkle and a rainbow reflec-tion. This improvement took artists into the 19th century with glass being used for tableware, ar-tistic chandeliers, exquisite windows, floors, pic-tures, and all forms of glass sculptural art.

Robin Evans Studio, LovelandThousands of colors explode when the sun

shines in through the twelve foot by eight-foot door at the studio of Robin Evans, Glass Lumi-nist, and owner of Robin Evans Studio, formerly known as Glowing Panels Studio, in Loveland. Like a disco ball, reflections of yellow, blue, and red dance across the wall as Evans cuts away at different pieces of glass.

Upon entering her studio, the eye is either drawn to the organizer trays that are all filled with vibrant cut glass, or the glass itself.

Evans started working with glass as art 11 years ago after moving to Arizona. She is a gradu-ate from CW Post College in New York with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, but has been in-volved with art since she can remember.

“I could draw before I could walk,” she says. “I have always been into detail. I went to Europe when I was little, at the Cathedrals, I was more interested in the mosaic tiles on the floor and the stained glass windows than the building itself.”

Her creativity and eye for detail has earned

Evans the prestige of a nationally recognized glass artist. Her pieces have been sold in more than 45 galleries around the country.

Her creative process requires precision, focus, and many hours of work. The sheets of glass in her studio are organized in separate cubbies, by color and type of fusible and non-fusible glass. Depending on the project, Evans usually begins with a vision in her mind, which is then jotted onto a sheet of paper, or napkin, whichever is handier.

Evans then meets with her welder to plan and build the metal frames for her sculptures or her steel and custom mosaic glass furniture pieces. The creative process then continues with the fab-rication of her artistic panels or mosaic pieces. Evans owns four kilns, which she uses to melt the

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18Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

“Curvasian-Open Flow, created by Robin Evans, owner of Robin Evans Studio.

harsh edges of the glass she has selected, trans-forming it from rough and rugged to soft and elegant.

For her mosaic work, Evans creates an outline with bigger pieces, and then fills it in with smaller pieces that fit well together. She says, “It’s like a glass jigsaw puzzle. I create the outline so I can see the space, the color, and the architecture of my piece.”

Not all of Evans’ glass is as easy to work with. One specific glass she works with, known as dichroic glass, is made of two different colors. While one color is transmitted, the other is re-flected. Dichroic glass has been through a cham-ber and has been coated between 16 to 34 times with a metallic vapor coating. Each chamber costs $1,000,000 to build making a single 19 inch round sheet of dichroic glass cost up to $250.

After six hours of work, Evans’ mind cannot concentrate any longer. The high intensity of the detailed creative work can be demanding and stressful, but the reward is always worth it.

Evans has been able to create more work than she had ever imagined, and there is no end in sight. Her art includes glass towers, furniture, art for the wall, and glass logos for businesses. In the future, Evans is planning to create three-dimensional sculptures.

“It’s definitely about sculpture these days. My work is evolving from two dimensional color, tex-ture, and pattern, to three dimensional graceful yet powerful movement inspired by nature,” adds Evans.

Evans glass art is available at Jewelry Empori-um in Fort Collins. For more information on Evans, visit www.robinevansstudio.com.

Dimensions In Art Glass, LLC, LovelandDeb Kessler, owner and artist of Dimensions

In Art Glass, LLC, in Loveland, uses nature, land-scapes, and wildlife as the inspiration for her beautiful works of glass.

The friendly shop, located just west of High-way 287 in Loveland, looks out onto the vast cut-out image of the Front Range, which is a perfect inspiration for Kessler’s approach to glass art.

Shortly after graduating from the University

of Colorado in Boulder with a degree in pharmacy in the mid 70s, Kessler took a stained glass class at Columbine Studios in Boulder and fell in love with glass. She worked both as a pharmacist and stained glass artist while raising children. She says, “I have to sell drugs to support my glass habit,” with a cheeky grin.

In 2001, after working at another studio for four years, Kessler ventured out on her own and began Dimensions in Art Glass, LLC.

Most of Kessler’s pieces are inspired from nature and landscape. The sample pieces in the studio include etched trees, golden aspen leaves, vast landscapes, and serene animals in the wild. Upon entering the store, it is apparent how beau-tiful nature can be.

The front of the studio is filled with examples of Kessler’s fragile glasswork. Even though the most common technique requested is Kessler’s etched glasswork, done by sandblasting, her ca-pabilities expand much further to include decora-tive tile, leaded glass, airbrush color glass, gold leafing, and glue chipping.

Ornate and time consuming with much at-tention to detail, Kessler’s pieces are priced based on square footage, level of detail, and technique used. Deep carved sandblasted pieces; done on thick glass, start at $125 per square foot. Surface etching, which can be done on tempered glass doors, sidelights and shower doors, start at $45 per square foot. Leaded glass artwork averages out to $150 per square foot, and gold leafed work ranges greatly, depending on the price of gold at the time, how much gold is used, and the degree of detail required.

Her decorative tiles fused in a kiln, are ac-cents for tile walls and floors, while her leaded glass pieces take much more time because each piece of glass is cut and fitted separately and me-ticulously put together with lead channels, which have each been lead joint soldered.

Kessler’s airbrush technique comes into play allowing her to add color to her etched glass pieces. First, the glass is sandblasted to make the surface rough, then airbrushed to add a splash of color, which can be bold or subtle, depending on the effect desired.

19Holiday 2008

19A “Quilt of Glass,” where each piece used is an example of different glass-working techniques, created by Deb Kessler, Dimensions in Art Glass, LLC.

The aspen trees in the entryway were sandblasted and glue chipped to give the leaves a sparkling effect, created by Deb Kessler, Dimensions in Art Glass, LLC.

The centuries-old techniques of glass blowing by master artists continues today on the island of Murano. Masters are selectively appointed after demonstrating exceptional talent over a span of twenty to thirty years.

The gold leafing technique is Kessler’s favorite art to create, and most buyers’ favorite item to purchase. To create a gold leafed piece, Kessler first etches the design into the glass, then applies very thin sheets of real gold, silver or copper into the depression. Once the gold is in place, she ap-plies a thin layer of paint over the back of the gold to protect it.

The physical creation of Kessler’s work comes long after the mental work. For hours, Kessler plans, sketches, and creates a picture in her mind of what the piece should look like. Each project is original and unique. Precision, focus, and a lot of math go into creating any piece of glasswork.

But at the end of the day, it is always worth it. Kessler’s passion for the arts is what continues to drive her enthusiasm and creativity today. The leaf quilt pattern in the window of her shop is a sam-ple of all the glass working techniques, known at the time, collected in one piece. “I got to do what I wanted with this one,” says Kessler with a smile. “It’s nice to still get to do things that allow me the freedom to be creative.”

Far removed now from the pharmacy, Kessler does not see herself ever going back. “I love what I do. It takes a lot of focus, but it allows me to be creative, and I enjoy looking over what I’ve made and being excited for the new owners to see the completed work.”

For more information about Kessler and Di-mension in Art Glass, LLC, visit her online at www.dimensionsinartglass.com.

The story continuesBoth Evans and Kessler have expanded their

dreams and studios more than they had ever imagined. Both women have continued to evolve their talent and their passion, as did the origina-tors of glass art, to always be challenging them-selves to create new, interesting and exciting works of art.

Erica Pauly is a Style contributing editor.

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20Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

Deb Kessler shows a sample demonstrating different techniques; sandblasting, fusing, glue chipping, and hand beveling.

Gold-leafed aspen tree cabinet door inserts, created by Deb Kessler, Dimensions in Art Glass, LLC.

21Holiday 2008

21Trunk Show- December 19th-24th ALEX SEPKUS®

NEW YORK

J • f K v

124 E. MONROE DRIVE, FORT COLLINS 970.226.5808

$ • t_WW~~ewelryemporium.biz

COPPER C

Vern’s Toffee is locally made and nationally known for their delectable treats.

Let’s begin with one of the oldest of our businesses: Vern’s Toffee on Link Lane in Ft. Collins, which began making its tempting treats in 1976.

Ron and Mary Hert have been owners of the family shop since 1984, when they bought half of the business from Mary’s parents, Vern and Gert Hackbarth. Although the Hert’s took full owner-ship in 1990, they continue with the same proven recipe Vern and Gert worked so hard to develop.

Ron believes the success of the business is due to the delicious consistency of their candy, as well as their careful attention to every customer. The Herts use only the finest ingredients in their tof-fee, such as real butter, fresh California almonds, and the finest all-natural milk chocolate.

“Making candy is an art that you learn by feel,” Ron says, pointing out that you must know how to get just the right amount of oxygen

It happens every year during the holiday gift-giving season—the dilemma of how to please a loved one or friend who seems to have everything. The next time you face that problem, you

might consider a gift that not only delights the senses and soothes the soul, but is practical and wallet-friendly too: edible treats. Come with us as we explore a few Northern Colorado

shops specializing in gifts that tantalize the taste buds.

By Connie Hein

stirred in, then cook the candy at just the right temperature so each batch turns out the same. “We use finely crushed almonds on the top of the toffee and chopped almonds in the recipe,” he adds. Each batch must be coated with just the right amount of milk chocolate so it neither overwhelms the toffee nor gets lost in the other flavors.

The business has grown substantially over the past 30 years, with the mail order part of the busi-ness reaching all 50 states and over 50 countries each year.

Ron says they love to have people come to the showroom for a free sample and to see how the candy is made.

A one-pound box of their toffee costs $15.95 plus shipping; a two-pound box costs $30.50, and can be ordered by phone (970) 439-7770; at their shop, 444 S. Link Lane; or you may order toffee, take a virtual toffee-making tour, and read the rich family history of this business at: vernstof-fee.com.

Let’s move along on our journey (before we fill up on toffee!) and visit with Bret Holcomb, owner of Laura’s Fudge Shop and Haley’s Fudge Shop in Estes Park, named after the original own-er’s daughter, Laura, and Bret’s daughter Haley.

Holcomb got into the candy making business almost 30 years ago. His parents helped him buy Laura’s Fudge Shop and he became a protégé of the owner, Erwin Little. “Little had been in the business for over 50 years,” Holcomb says, “and taught me the art of candy making using high quality ingredients and making everything from scratch.” He says his dad and Little also taught him the value of keeping regular hours, working hard, and taking pride in his work. He believes these values, as well as his attention to detail have been the keys to his success.

The two shops, which are on opposite sides of Elkhorn Avenue, make over 30 flavors of fudge, which is their specialty. Holcomb says making fudge requires watching the weather forecast so that the cooking temperature is just right, to make sure the fudge is not too hard or too soft. He is very particular about everything they make. He says, “Everything has to taste and look perfect or it is not sold.”

Both shops are open daily, year-round, and stay very busy; shipping hundreds of packages of candy and popcorn all over the country--especial-ly during the holidays. They have many varieties of baskets and tins for gift giving, available both in the stores and on their website: www.laurasfud-geofestes.com.

Now we move on to what may be considered a more figure-friendly shop: Edible Arrangements, at 706 S. College, Ste. #103, in Ft. Collins, where the treats, though lower in calories than candy, are said to be equally fresh and delicious.

Each item from Edible Arrangements is handmade from fresh fruit to look like a flower arrangement. They are designed with many va-rieties of plain and chocolate-dipped fresh fruit. With names like “Orange Blossom half dipped with dipped Banana,” and “Chocolate Banana Bouquet,” and “Disney Princess Enchanted Bou-quet,” it seems there is something for everyone on your holiday list or for any special occasion.

Kristi Jones started the business in February 2006, and is already expanding with new equip-ment to make the process faster and more effi-cient. She hopes they can soon make select ar-rangements available for walk-in customers to purchase without pre-ordering.

Jones moved to Colorado from Arizona be-cause she says, “I fell in love with the city and its people.” She wanted to start her family and build a business that she could put her hard work and talents into that would provide something special and unique to Ft. Collins residents.

She found that she could use her gifts to make beautiful edible treats. She says, “We are trying to cater to people in all of Northern Colorado and do weddings or special occasion catering in sur-rounding communities as well as in Ft. Collins.” Jones and her staff prepare fresh arrangements daily that may be ordered for pick up, delivery or shipment anywhere in the country.

They range in price from $25 to $250, plus delivery. To order edible arrangements, call (970) 224-3788 or visit www.ediblearrangements.com.

Oh—and we can’t leave out our four-legged loved ones. We have found edible gifts for them too. The healthy treats from Wagz Pet Boutique & Bakery at 132 N. College Avenue in Ft. Collins

22Lydia’s STYLE Magazine22

Fresh baked in their in-house Treat Barkery at Wagz Pet Boutique, the wide selection allows you to pick the flavor your pets love most.

will make your pet sit up and beg – or curl up and purr.

Cristin and Matt Gauthier opened Wagz of Colorado in April of 2007, with the desire to of-fer Northern Colorado residents and their four-legged friends a premier dog and cat specialty supply store. Wagz features an in-store pet bakery offering all-natural, organic treats.

The specialty of their in-house-barkery is the Biscuit Bar, which boasts six kinds of tried and true biscuit varieties made from recipes tested and per-fected by the Gauthier’s (and their pets and those of their friends and neighbors). Flavors include Barbeque, Wag ‘n Brag Chicken and Carrot, Pea-Mutt Butter, Ain’t Behavin’, Bacon, Sunflower Surprise, and Herbalicious. The treats are made from all natural ingredients and each recipe is reg-istered as all-natural through the Department of Agriculture with most of the ingredients from the Food Co-op in Old Town Ft. Collins.

The biscuits are $10.99 per pound and are sold in bulk. At the ‘Biscuit Bar’ you can mix and match to find the flavors your pets love most.

Wagz also sells homemade doggie birthday cakes and several kinds of cookies with yogurt or carob icing. These are made by Bones De Jour. Cristin says, “We have tasted them and they don’t taste bad at all, kind of like a graham cracker with frosting.” We’ll take her word for it.

“We have created a one-stop shop for all your pet needs as well as unique pet-lovers gifts,” adds Cristin. Readers may check out their website at www.wagzcolorado.com or call 970-482-9249.

Sorry to say our journey has come to an end. But you can visit any of these shops yourself for fresh samples of their tantalizing edible gifts. Our advice: pace yourself-- these treats can be very addictive.

Connie Hein is a freelance writer living in Windsor and is the author of the Toliver in Time series of children’s books.

23Holiday 2008

23(970) 482-5395 Sale In Progress

M-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 12pm-5pm

642 S. College Ave.(Next to Deja Vu Coffeehouse)Come See Our

Holiday

Selections

Jeans • Jackets • Tops • Tunics • Dresses • Hats • Leggings • Belts • Jewelry

Kristi Jones, owner, Edible Arrangements creates fresh, sweet, festive fruit bouquets for holiday giving.

Local GemsNatioNal DesigNers Pick Fort colliNs

Paul Tacorian, founder of Tacori, and Julie Sather-Browne admire the high-end Tacori rings offered at Sather’s Leading Jewelers.

ulie Sather-Browne had a vision for Sather’s Leading Jewelers:

“Build a freestanding store with space to showcase a larger selection of fine jewelry, add more designer lines, and throw fabulous parties. The additional privacy in the new store

and personalized service would only help the family-owned business, started in 1910, continue to grow.”

Sather’s Leading JewelersIndeed, moving out of the Foothills Fashion Mall

and into the spacious and impressive Diamond Tower increased Sather’s visibility and, two years later, the store is carrying one of the largest selections of Tacori jewelry nationwide. Tacori artisan engagement rings are a top bridal brand in North America, popular among Hollywood starlets, and only available at certain exclusive retailers.

“We wanted to deliver a better experience for our customers in the new store, and we chose our designers based on the quality of the brand and requests for higher-end brands like Tacori,” Sather-Browne says. “Fort Collins is a young, highly-educated community, so engagement rings are popular. Tacori’s attention to detail is unmatched. Every piece is handcrafted in California and you know when you buy it it’s truly and uniquely your piece,” she adds.

The Tacori signature crescent silhouette is incorporated into all of its jewelry, giving it an “heirloom feel with a modern touch.” “People have been wearing rings for thousands of years,” says Paul Tacorian, founder of Tacori. “We don’t design fads. We strive to enhance the beauty of the center stone and bring attention in a classy and elegant way to the center of the ring.”

By Julie Estlick

Tacori ring available at Sather’s Leading Jewelers.

Exquisite rings designed by Tacori, available at Sather’s

Leading Jewelers.24

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Tacorian was impressed with Sather-Browne and her sales staff after a visit to Fort Collins last spring. All staff members are Gemological Institute of America (GIA) trained and several, like Sather-Browne, are Certified Gemologists and Certified Diamontologists. “Sather’s Leading Jewelers is one of my top-selling stores and Julie has chosen the right lines to invest in,” he says. “They have a fantastic store, they’ve been around a long time and they have the right business model. It’s the perfect fit.”

The jewelry industry is all about cultivating connections – between customers, retailers and designers, Tacorian notes. Good jewelers give honest advice and guidance on what is, for many, the first major purchase of their life.

“A lot of jewelers would like to carry our collections, but Julie makes the effort to build long-term relationships with her customers so we put our faith in her,” he says. “We send our collections there so people don’t have to travel to Denver or beyond for Tacori jewelry.”

When purchasing diamonds, there are four main “value” factors to con-sider, known as the Four Cs: cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. These charac-teristics offer a system to evaluate and compare the relative value of a diamond.

Tacorian likes to add a Fifth C: Communication. Good communication be-tween the couple is essential to making the perfect selection. “I tell the gentle-men I work with that your bride is the one wearing this on her finger for the rest of her life, so keep her involved! Get an idea about what she likes to wear either from her, her friends or family. Leave the element of surprise for when you pop the question.”

In these modern times, many couples do shop together for their engage-ment rings and openly discuss budget, design, and what is comfortable to wear daily to work. Using the Four Cs as guidance, you can determine the exact qual-ity of diamond you want and be confident you are paying a fair market price— no matter which jeweler you choose.

A diamond's size is measured in carat weight, so the larger the diamond the more carats. Each diamond carat is also equal to 100 points. For example, a diamond that is a 1/2 carat is referred to as a 50-point diamond. Just remember - bigger isn’t necessarily better!

A two-carat diamond that is cut poorly is not nearly as beautiful as a smaller diamond that is proportionally cut, according to Diamondhelpers.com. Or, it may be cut well, but have poor color and clarity.

Clarity refers to a diamond’s “flaws” or inclusions. Every diamond has some internal or external flaws created by traces of non-crystallized carbon or non-diamond crystals. Most of these are not visible to the naked eye. The amount, size, and position of these growth patterns in a diamond determine the clarity grade. Less prominent characteristics get a higher clarity grade ranging from flawless to slight inclusions to imperfect.

The color of diamonds varies from colorless (most rare and precious) to shades of yellow. Slight tints of yellow make a diamond less rare, but some people prefer the personality it gives a stone. Consider whether you want a gold, white gold or platinum setting and how the color will be set off. The color continuum ranges from a perfect D (colorless) to M (slight yellow tint).

Last but not least is the cut of the diamond. Cut is commonly confused with the shape of the diamond, i.e. oval-cut, pear-cut, or marquise-cut, but it is actu-ally how well the diamond is proportioned, according to Sather-Browne. The artisan determines how to enhance the diamond’s natural qualities and attempts to cut it to make the best use of light.

When a diamond is cut to good proportions, it allows light to reflect from one facet to another and then disperse it through the top of the diamond. The facets must be placed with precise symmetry for www.theleodiamond.com/diamond-brilliance.html maximum brilliance. The diamond industry places 65 percent of the value of a diamond on cut. Diamonds that are cut to exact pro-portions are called "Ideal Cut" diamonds, though less than 1 percent of all diamonds cut are cut to these proportions.

Sather-Browne personally handpicks her store’s diamonds in Antwerp, Bel-gium, and oversees the cutting. “Our diamonds have all been expertly cut to maximize the ‘light performing ability’ of each rough crystal,” she says.

A good jeweler will want to earn your trust and get to know you and your partner, your lifestyle, and tastes. Once a relationship is established, you can confidently return to them for guidance on anniversary gifts, birthdays, and to mark other special occasions.

Jewelry EmporiumJewelry Emporium owner and manager, Susan Harrison, likes to say every-

one who walks through her doors becomes a friend.“We develop friendships with our customers, we learn what they like and

what they collect,” says Harrison, who started as a sales clerk in 1979 and pur-chased the company in 1990. “We take the time to explain things thoroughly, are very upfront about cost, and don’t try to force-feed them jewelry. People will

Susan Harrison, owner, Jewelry Emporium, with Barbara Westwood, designer and creator of the fine and unique jewelry sold at Jewelry Emporium.

One-of-a-kind heart jewelry collection, designed by Barbara Westwood, can be found at Jewelry Emporium.

25Holiday 2008

25

spend an hour and have a cappuccino and look around. It’s not just about the sale – folks get the sense that we care.”

Harrison has always carried custom designers, but since Jewelry Emporium received the presti-gious Top 50 Designer Retailer Award for 2007 from Jewelers Circular Keystone (JCK), more arti-san jewelers come to her to sell their lines. “Over 50 percent of what we sell is a special order or custom-made for our clientele because we can personalize it. Really, that’s what we’re known for – you don’t have to settle for something you kinda like, we’ll get you what you’ve been dream-ing of.”

Award-winning designer Barbara Westwood of Monument, Colorado, is the top seller at Jew-elry Emporium. Her bold, colorful gemstone de-signs and “interchangeable and collectable fine art” strike a chord with customers. Hearts and horizons are consistent motifs in her pieces, which are manufactured in Beverly Hills and sold in just 14 shops and galleries around the country. Jew-elry Emporium is the only store in Colorado that carries Westwood’s jewelry.

“Barbara’s jewelry is an art form,” says Harri-son. “She fits a niche for my customers that want to make a statement. They demand something different that people have not seen on somebody else. ‘Jewelry as self-expression’ is her mantra.”

Westwood couldn’t be happier with the ar-rangement. “Susan is an authentic person and she always follows through,” she says. “My piec-es are so unique that I need a strong retailer to promote me. She has the most diverse and excit-ing jewelry store in Fort Collins.”

Jewelry Emporium sales staff keeps a wish lists for customers. If you come in and see something you like, it will be jotted down and your partner may get a call with gift suggestions. Harrison also makes office visits when requested.

The store is hosting a Westwood trunk show on Thursday December fourth, and Friday Decem-ber fifth. The designer brings her entire line and gives customers an opportunity to meet her and get a sense of what her jewelry is all about. “At my shows, we play dress up and put on differ-ent pieces to see what looks good. The people in Fort Collins recognize my pieces and seem to love them. There’s a real artistic embrace of my work.”

It’s no wonder that Northern Colorado resi-dents are finding exactly what they want and love right here in Fort Collins—why travel to Denver when your perfect piece of jewelry is right here waiting?

Julie Estlick is a freelance writer and lives in Fort Collins with her husband Mike and son William.

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26Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

One-of-a-kind piece made by Barbara Westwood, created for and sold at Jewelry Emporium.

27Holiday 2008

27Art Consultants Jenny, Wendy, and Ali

House on the Hill Parade of Dreams Home Bank of Colorado

WE'VE MOVED TO 119 W. OAK ST.(NEXT TO JAY'S BISTRO)970.490.1001

In-House Custom FramingLocal & International Originals & Prints

Corporate Office Buildings • Hotels and ResortsWholesale to Interior Designers & Artists • Installation

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28Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

Brian Fate, Colorado State University alum, who’s Woof Wellness Wa-ter was featured on CNBC’s “The Big Idea” in October. The water, which comes in a delectable peanut flavor, provides a healthy liquid treat for your canine pet.

Great Outdoors Colorado for their $550,000 grant to Larimer County for the Red Mountain Open Space and Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. GOCO’s grant is to be used is to build 42 miles of trail systems.

The Poudre River Trail Corridor, Inc. and the City of Greeley trail system has been recognized by Where to Retire magazine as one of the nation’s “8 Havens with Great Cycling Trails” in their September/October 2008 issue.

Mary Fischer, director of the Larimer Small Business Development Center is the 2008 winner of the Colorado’s SBDC Network State Star. Fischer received the award for her model program using volunteers to as-sist businesses with counseling and training and for consistently leading the state in performance goals.

Greeley’s Union Colony Civic Center for providing Northern Colorado with cultural experiences for the past 20 years. Happy anniversary.

Larimer County Extension staff Laurel Kubin, Kathy Wolfe and Pam Heeney received awards at the Annual Extension Forum. Kubin, director of the Extension office, was recognized with The Continued Excellence Award and Administrative Leadership Award for her skill in developing community partnerships and for her leadership in facing budgetary chal-lenges. Wolfe, 4-H Extension Agent, received the Mid-Career Award for her dedication to 4-H programs and Heeney was awarded the Meritorious Service award for her work as a support staff member.

Werner Elementary School, in Fort Collins has been named a 2008 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Educa-tion for assisting their students to achieve at a very high level and making significant progress in closing the achievement gap.

Style Points is a monthly department that recognizes people, businesses, organizations and God’s humble creatures who show fine style by contributing to the betterment of life in northern Colorado. Nominate deserving candidates by emailing their names, their accomplishments and their location to erica@stylemedia.com.

STYLE POINTS

The six members of Fort Collins fraternity Pi Kappa Alpha for donating several hours one Saturday morning to help remove graffiti from locations throughout the city, collecting litter and trash along the way.

Larimer County Commissioner Kathay Rennels for being honored with the “Friend of Extension” award from Colorado State University. The award, given to her in October, recognizes Rennels’ many years of involve-ment with and support of CSU Extension education programs.

Not to be outdone, Larimer County Commissioner Randy Eubanks has received his own award. Eubanks has been named Wilderness Hero by the national non-profit wilderness advocacy group Campaign for America’s Wilderness. Eubanks received the honor for the month of October and was featured in their monthly newsletter.

Loveland’s Parks and Recreation department for their restoration of Centennial Park. Loveland received the 2008 Columbine Award from the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association for its restoration of the ball field complex. The park is the main youth baseball facility in Loveland.

Melissa Chew, director of the parks and recreation department for the town of Windsor. Chew has received the Fellow Award at the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association conference for her professional achieve-ments and support of the parks and recreation profession. Chew was nominated by fellow staff members and professional peers.

The City of Fort Collins for being named one of the nation’s most bicycle friendly communities by the League of American Bicyclists. Fort Collins achieved Gold Level designation in the League’s Bicycle Friendly Commu-nity Program for ease, convenience and safety for those traveling by bike.

The Fort Collins Regional Library District, being honored by the Colo-rado Association of Libraries. The Regional Library District was named one of the best in the state and receives the award for “Services to Diverse Populations” this month.

Rustic Oven restaurant, located in Fort Collins. Rustic Oven raised $5,100 in September for Project Self-Sufficiency, a local nonprofit that assists low-income single parents to become economically independent from commu-nity and government assistance. The restaurant donated all revenue from alcoholic beverages and desserts during the Grand Opening party of their new restaurant on Harmony Road.

Denkai Animal Sanctuary for working tirelessly to rescue five yearling horses from a kill lot in Cortez, Colorado. Denkai raised funds to ransom the horses from the kill lot and for transportation. For more information or to donate please visit www.denkaisanctuary.org for more details.

Colorado State University’s Warner College of Natural Resources professor George Wallace received the prestigious Fred Packard Award from the International Union for Conservation of Nature for his outstand-ing service in protected area management.

HolidayStyle

Photography by Dana MilnerArt Direction by Lydia Dody

Mary Buchholz and her daughters dressed up for the holidays.

2929Holiday 2008

Striking day to night dressing looks stylish on Shelby. Black and white bold zebra print satin tunic from Rachel Adams, $56, adds sass to David Kahn’s black denim straight leg jeans, $149. Silver chandelier earrings dress up this holiday look, $15. Courtesy of Karinza Boutique, Windsor.

Showing off the essence of modern femininity Mary easily moves day into night, in Simon Chang’s white blouse with flirty wire-edged stand-up collar, $195, and trendy Alberto Makali black skinny pants, $130. Brighton double-layered chain, $82, and earrings, $40. Courtesy of Designs Boutique, Fort Collins.

Sporting a trendy European look, BreAnne looks right in style in a Kaelyn-Max tank and off the

shoulder sheer tunic with feminine metallic embroidery, $86, and

Lagarto’s rock and roll black denim low-rise Italian jeans, $138. Big

gold hoops fit right in. Courtesy of Dress Code II, Fort Collins.

3030 Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

Wearing a touch of sparkle, Corbey energizes the season in Cashmere’s silver metallic ¾ sleeve long tunic, $72, worn over skinny French shiny stretch low rise jeans with crystal trim from Carmen Electra, $128. Fabulous blue bead and shell pendant and drop earrings add a splash of color, $12 for the set. Courtesy of Dress Code II, Fort Collins.

(Left) Looking festive with a touch of sophistication, Shelby greats the holidays in a banded metallic mock

turtle red tunic by Donna, $68, and wide waistband pants from Margaret M, $110.

Chandelier silver and abalone earrings, $15, add a playful touch. Courtesy of

Karinza Boutique, Windsor.

(Right) Looking stunning BreAnne shows off Finley’s modern approach to eveningwear. Long black satin cinched

and gathered skirt, $306, with Shelly M’s overlay organza sleeveless evening top

with pearls and black accent flowers, $130. Classic fresh water pearl necklace

with magnetic closure, $125, bracelet, $95 and earrings, $40. Courtesy of

Designs Boutique, Fort Collins.

3131Holiday 2008

TopAt this time of year, magazines and

shops are so filled with breathtak-ing interior design ideas, holiday decorations, and elaborate table settings that you can become a bit

overwhelmed with so many choices; especially if you’re brand new to decorating a table for a spe-cial occasion or for the holidays.

Here are some tips on how to create beautiful table settings with pizzazz and panache.

The EssentialsMore than just a centerpiece, the dining ta-

blescape encompasses the linens, napkin rings, lighting, dishes, place cards, and all the table’s es-sentials to help set the style, theme and mood for your event.

In order to create an interesting tablescape there are three key factors to keep in mind. The first is selecting a color scheme and palette, the second is to create contrast between textures, col-ors, and patterns, and the third is to add one or more unique touches that incorporate your indi-viduality and personality into the design.

Color SchemeUsing a palette with just a few colors can

make a bright and bold holiday statement that is attractive and appealing to everyone; using the same hues you have in your home can be very elegant and create a unifying theme. However, choosing slightly unexpected dazzling and atypi-cal colors can heighten the drama--and some-times that is what holiday decorating is all about.

For a different look this season, don’t limit yourself to the tried and true; think whimsical,

‘Tis the season when we traditionally deck the halls for our special holiday celebrations and create a festive

atmosphere in our homes. Setting your table for a holiday dinner, or any dinner party, should be more than a

functional arrangement of plates and flatware.

Table

By Gloria WillisStyle

Hixon Interiors uses traditional colors with a hip splash to create the green, red, and

white modern-day blend.

Dramatic and textured, The Cupboard’s table top fashion this season represents their customers—rustic, earthy, and traditional.

wild or exciting. Mix burgundies and lime greens with copper or gold accents. Non-traditional col-ors like purple, sage green, royal blue, or lilac can also be beautiful.

Another way to choose a color scheme is a bit more practical. If you’re a traditionalist, use lin-ens, napkins, and table runners that further the traditional holiday themes. Start with one color, such as cranberry red or a soft squash yellow, and accessorize in the same palette. Or choose other rich and festive shades, like plum, wine, or rose. White linen with the use of a seasonal accent color or two is always an elegant choice.

Sarah Bashore, owner of Hixon Interiors says, “Decorating a table really depends upon personal taste and inserting your individuality and creativ-ity. Think outside the box and think about new ways of using color.”

For the recent Great Christmas Hall presen-tation at the Lincoln Center, Hixon Interiors cre-ated a whimsical tablescape dubbed “Colorado Reindeer.” Traditional Christmas colors were used with a slight “tweak.” An eight-foot wall hanging made up of white cows on a lime green back-ground hangs behind a thin rectangle glass-top dining table with a modern white, metal base. The table is covered with a sheer runner and Bashore used white milk cartons filled with brick red gerbera daisies for the centerpiece. Square, white dinner plates, silverware with squared han-dles, and black chairs round out the fun and fanci-ful table setting.

“A growing trend is to take traditional holiday colors and modify them a bit. Use lime green in-stead of holly green and brick red in place of the traditional Christmas red,” says Bashore. “Or, cre-ate a sophisticated table by using different shades of one color and using flowers, twigs and pine boughs with lots of texture to create an interest-ing, classic look.”

Centerpieces are usually the focal point of the dining table and you’ll want to give some thought to the placement of the centerpiece. Generally, the placement depends upon theme, type of service planned, and your own creative-ness. Whether using fresh flowers or dried ar-rangements Michele Adams, Manager and Buyer at Palmer Flowers & Decorating Gallery, also sug-gests out-of-the-box thinking for interesting and

32

32Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

things up a bit with lamps and lanterns. Since the holidays are a time of giving, set a

small gift at each place setting that matches your theme. Perhaps a special ornament or a tiny box of chocolate truffles will do the trick. When set-ting the table, little things such as these can go a long way in making guests comfortable.

Above all, when decorating your dinner table

for the holidays, keep it fun, stress-free, and personal. Always celebrate in the style that brings you delight!

Gloria Willis is a freelance writer who lives with her husband, Bob, and her two Australian cattle dogs in Fort Collins.

Palmer Flowers and Decorating Gallery can help make your holiday table interesting and unique.

dramatic floral arrangements. “Take your inspiration from nature and our

Colorado landscape; a big trend this year is to use a lot of chocolate with citrus colors” says Adams. “Flowering branches, painted bare branches in in-teresting shapes, leaves, mosses, natural grasses and even sod can transform a tabletop into some-thing special.”

For Christmas, Adams suggests centerpieces using bells of Ireland, green button mums, and creamy white calla lilies. As well, hot pink, green, red or ivory hypericum berries can add wonderful texture and color to any floral centerpiece. “Cop-per and gold are popular accent colors this year and are stunning blended with the traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas colors,” says Adams.

Texture and PatternsUsing repetitive and complementary patterns

is another essential ingredient in creating a visu-ally interesting tablescape design that makes your table come alive. Use contrast: shiny and dull, smooth and rough, thick and thin, or contrast a plaid and a stripe using complementing colors for a fascinating vignette. Linens and placemats are more exciting than ever and come in every fab-ric and style imaginable... raffia, leather, wicker, beads and ribbon all add interest and can be con-trasted with the smooth surface of china plates. Marry dark linens with light colored plates and layer dishes atop one another for a visually inter-esting effect.

For the Great Christmas Hall presentation at the Lincoln Center, The Cupboard designed a stunning table with their customers in mind. Fresh lime green, shades of brown, gold, and bronze create a blending of rustic and dressy. A cream tablecloth is layered with crisscrossed lime-green table runners with brown edging, while Waech-tersbach traditional dinnerware in different brown tones completed the place settings. The center of the table holds a green and bronze hand-blown glass tree. Acorns, oak leaves and acorn sprays added more artistry to the table.

Rochelle Walden, consultant at The Cupboard says, “We wanted to present a table that would be representative of our customer. So, we created a tablescape that is both rustic and traditional and filled with texture and drama.”

“We used the new, “in” colors for the sea-son, including browns, lime green, and bronze,” Walden said. “Acorns have replaced pinecones and the beautiful hand-blown glass tree adds a special magic to the table. The table setting is simple yet dramatic. We wanted to show that you don’t have to buy a million things to create some-thing really fantastic.”

Unique TouchesMake certain your tablescape includes the el-

ement of light. Candles are a great way to add a festive glow for little expense. They can create a mood from romantic to zany to elegant, and are available in many sizes, shapes, and colors.

Cluster several candles or votives on a small mirror, as the mirror doubles the glow. Aside from traditional candleholders, experiment with creative items such as terracotta pots, colorful bottles, interesting dishes, or antique teacups. Place pillar candles in bowls with greenery, pol-ished stones, coffee beans, pinecones or nuts. For balance, arrange candles of different sizes and textures in staggering heights. You can even step

33Holiday 2008

33

34Harmony Office • 970.229.0700Horsetooth Office • 970.223.0700Mulberry Office • 970.221.0700Loveland Office • 970.663.0700Greeley Office • 970.392.0700Centerra Office • 970.613.0700

Serving You with 6 offices in Northern Colorado

Serving You with 6 offices in Northern Colorado

Harmony Office • 970.229.0700Horsetooth Office • 970.223.0700Mulberry Office • 970.221.0700Loveland Office • 970.663.0700Greeley Office • 970.392.0700Centerra Office • 970.613.0700

Georgena ArnettLoveland • 461-7141

Jim ChanceHarmony • 377-4942

Michelle HubbardHorsetooth • 377-6077

Cindy KurtzCenterra • 679-1545

Mary OnealGreeley • 378-2299

Deb BarkerHarmony • 377-4935

Nancy Churchwell MausCenterra • 679-1571

Terry McNealHarmony • 377-4955

Patti PhillipsMulberry • 419-2334

Russ HunterHarmony • 377-4908

Jason BillingsMulberry • 419-2364

Kelli CouchCenterra • 679-1577

Elaine C. MinorHorsetooth • 377-6050

Joey PorterHarmony • 377-4905

Keith HuntsmanHarmony • 377-4941

Cindy BlachMulberry •419-2342

Joanne DéLeonMulberry • 419-2310

Rob MygattHarmony • 229-5411

David RandCenterra • 430-9505

Randy JosephHorsetooth • 377-6042

Brian BogaardHarmony • 377-4954

Shelly HillMulberry • 419-2348

Carl NelsonHorsetooth •377-6009

John SimmonsCenterra • 679-1596

Prue KaleyHorsetooth • 377-6023

Kathy ArentsMulberry •419-2331

Judy BogaardHarmony • 377-4931

Linda HopkinsHarmony • 377-4916

Matt NesbittMulberry • 419-2327

Linda KoentoppHarmony • 377-4914

Todd SledgeCenterra • 679-1585

Felipe SorzanoCenterra •679-1565

Ryan SpencerCenterra • 679-1575

Janet StewartHorsetooth • 377-6054

Dave TrujilloCenterra • 679-1550

Karla VanDenBergGreeley • 378-2296

Robert WalkowiczHarmony • 377-4945

Bill WestHorsetooth • 377-6015

35

35Harmony Office • 970.229.0700Horsetooth Office • 970.223.0700Mulberry Office • 970.221.0700Loveland Office • 970.663.0700Greeley Office • 970.392.0700Centerra Office • 970.613.0700

Serving You with 6 offices in Northern Colorado

Serving You with 6 offices in Northern Colorado

Harmony Office • 970.229.0700Horsetooth Office • 970.223.0700Mulberry Office • 970.221.0700Loveland Office • 970.663.0700Greeley Office • 970.392.0700Centerra Office • 970.613.0700

Georgena ArnettLoveland • 461-7141

Jim ChanceHarmony • 377-4942

Michelle HubbardHorsetooth • 377-6077

Cindy KurtzCenterra • 679-1545

Mary OnealGreeley • 378-2299

Deb BarkerHarmony • 377-4935

Nancy Churchwell MausCenterra • 679-1571

Terry McNealHarmony • 377-4955

Patti PhillipsMulberry • 419-2334

Russ HunterHarmony • 377-4908

Jason BillingsMulberry • 419-2364

Kelli CouchCenterra • 679-1577

Elaine C. MinorHorsetooth • 377-6050

Joey PorterHarmony • 377-4905

Keith HuntsmanHarmony • 377-4941

Cindy BlachMulberry •419-2342

Joanne DéLeonMulberry • 419-2310

Rob MygattHarmony • 229-5411

David RandCenterra • 430-9505

Randy JosephHorsetooth • 377-6042

Brian BogaardHarmony • 377-4954

Shelly HillMulberry • 419-2348

Carl NelsonHorsetooth •377-6009

John SimmonsCenterra • 679-1596

Prue KaleyHorsetooth • 377-6023

Kathy ArentsMulberry •419-2331

Judy BogaardHarmony • 377-4931

Linda HopkinsHarmony • 377-4916

Matt NesbittMulberry • 419-2327

Linda KoentoppHarmony • 377-4914

Todd SledgeCenterra • 679-1585

Felipe SorzanoCenterra •679-1565

Ryan SpencerCenterra • 679-1575

Janet StewartHorsetooth • 377-6054

Dave TrujilloCenterra • 679-1550

Karla VanDenBergGreeley • 378-2296

Robert WalkowiczHarmony • 377-4945

Bill WestHorsetooth • 377-6015

Timberline Church Choir & Orchestra

Unwrapping the Hope Christmas ProgramDecember 3rd, 7:00 p.m. and December 13th, 5:00 p.m.December 14th, 8:30, 10:00, and 11:30 a.m.

Christmas Eve ServicesDecember 24th Every Hour 1:00 p.m. through 6:00 p.m. 2908 Timberline Road

Faith Evangelical Free ChurchWoman’s ministry Christmas EventThe Unexpected Gift lecture by national speaker, Danna Demetre & music by recording artist, Mary James. Enjoy a display of uniquely decorated tables and refreshments.December 4th & 5th, 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. December 6th, 10:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Church North Commons,4036 South Shield StreetTickets $15 per person

A Place Called Home story Drama, music, and teachingsSundays, November 16th through December 21st, 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Temple Or Hadash hosts a concertChanukah UnpluggedDecember 21st, 4:00 p.m., Senior Center 1200 RaintreeOpen to the public, for information: www.templeorhadash.org or (970) 686-2300

Fort Collins 13th Annual CelebrationFirst Night New Year’s Eve CelebrationAlcohol-free event featuring entertainment, storytelling, craft projects, street-performers, international dancing, and more. Fort Collins Museum, starting with a Kid’s Countdown at 5:00 p.m. Ending with fireworks on Old Town Square at 10:30 p.m.Admission button $6, Children under six with adult are free. Visit www.downtownfortcollins.com for aschedule of activities.

22nd Annual Festial of Trees, GreeleyFeaturing decorated trees, children’s activities, storytelling, music, and more. November 29th through December 6thAdult Admission $2, Seniors and Children under 12, $1More details, www.greeleygov.com

Crossroads Church, Loveland

Light of the World, Women’sChristmas EventSpeaker Carey Scott, Christmas Market, and RefreshmentsDecember 7th, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.Tickets $10

Re-Gift 3 Week Series, weekend services in December

Christmas Party for ChildrenWith Special NeedsDecember 13th, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. for children 4 to 10 years old. RSVP by December 4thMore information, (970) 203-9201 ext. 8120

Loveland Lights Program, Loveland4th annual two days of free family fun at the Loveland Library. Dancing, Holiday treats, model trains, storytelling, building a gingerbread house, and more.December 6th and 7th, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Visit www.fortnet.org/FotLPL/ for a schedule

Grace Place Church & Berthoud Chamber of CommerceChristmas in Berthoud on December 6thConcert with several musicians, 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.Soup dinner at Grace Place Church 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.Christmas Eve Service on December 24th, 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.Thompson Valley High School

TidbitsNorthern Colorado seasonal & faith-based

family events to enjoy this December

By Angeline Grenz

Lazy DaysBeautifully handcrafted 20” Lazy Susan, hand drawn with vibrantly blended hand painting is a one-of-a-kind sought after design from Sticks. Cost is $399, and custom orders are also available. The Right Card, Old Town Square Corner of Walnut & Linden Streets in Fort Collins. (970) 221-3030.

Whether a quiet gesture or grand statement, giving is one of the ways we say that we care!

Pandora’s Box of OrnamentsReceive this free gift after a $75 purchase of Pandora products at the Trunk Show on Friday, Dec. 5. Bracelets start at $35 and beads begin at $25. Give the gift of uniqueness this year. Designs Boutique,164 North College Avenue in Fort Collins.(970) 484-3443.

Scarlet FeverLG’s new “Scarlet” HDTV will rock your guests this season. Complete projection and screen theatres are also available installed from $5,500. Lighting Designs & More,3595 Clydesdale Parkway in Loveland. (970) 593-1101.

Bon AppetitDine with elegance, sip champagne with a loved one, or give the gift of Copper Creek this holiday season. The gourmet food awaits you. With gift certificates available at the Marriott, it is as easy as a phone call. Fort Collins Marriott, 350 East Horsetooth Road in Fort Collins. (970) 282-6889.

HolidayGiftGuide

36

36Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

Put your feet upSit back and relax in your new Broyhill ‘Attic Heirlooms’ Leather Chair and Ottoman. Top grain leather, available in 50 different colored leathers, Chair $995, Ottoman $395. Patio & Dining Lifestyles-The Broyhill Gallery, 215 SouthCollege Avenue in Fort Collins.(970) 484-2940.

Winter WarmthThe BainUltra Temazkal dry heat sauna provides light therapy, thermotherapy and aromatherapy. Up to $10,000, depending on the finish and your personal preference. Kitchen Bath & Design, 226 Remington Street, Suite 2 in Fort Collins. (970) 224-3424.

Safety FirstSolid steel door, 40-90 minute fire rating, a lifetime warranty, different size and color options, and a customized interior, nothing says manly like The Everest Safe, made by Summit Safes. $1945.00 to $2945.00. Bring this ad in and receive a FREE SafeArt magnet and Desiccant with your summit safe purchase. ($50 value, offer expires 12/31/08). Rocky Mountain Shooter Supply, 3507 East Mulberry Street in Fort Collins. (970) 221-5133.

Smokin’ HotCedar lined and cherry finished Biltmore is a perfect masculine gift. Mahogany lift-out tray, polished brass quadrant hinges and handles, create the sleek look. $675. Edwards, 111 West Prospect Road Unit D in Fort Collins. (970) 226-5311.

Gifts &Gadgets

37Holiday 2008

37

A gift that’s a cinchCinch your seasonal sweater with the white leather, filigree buckle belt, $30.00. Karinza Boutique, Clothing and Accessories, 1550 Main Street #130 in Windsor. (970) 674-2967.

Head to ToeSaucy red patent pumps with tassels will pair with anything for upcoming parties. From Goldenbleu, $277.00. Caprice Bianca handbag spreads holiday cheer, red patent drawstring satchel with gold trim, $616.00. Sole Mates, 172 North College Avenue, suite A3 in Fort Collins. (970) 472-1460.

Puttin’ on the GlitzBoasting 2.77 carats, the Encapsulate Pendant captivates any onlooker. Hearts On Fire Diamonds, $12,000. Sather’s Leading Jewelers, 300 East Foothills Parkway in Fort Collins. (970) 223-0256.

Another Year YoungerRevitalizing Peptiderm moisturizer and eye treatment bring new meaning to fresh skin. Holiday special runs $185.00, but is valued at $207.00. Vogue Laser Clinic, 1625 Foxtrail Drive in Loveland. (970) 593-3009.

&

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38

Rustic OvenOld Town

123 North College Avenue in Fort CollinsOpen 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday,

11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Sunday

(970) 482-6500

Harmony2350 East Harmony Road in Fort Collins

(Same hours as Old Town Location)(970) 226-2300

The contemporary and casual dining spot in downtown Fort Collins is no longer the only Rustic Oven in town. A new Rustic Oven has been opened in south Fort Collins on Harmony Road; making it easier for everyone to enjoy daily drink specials and live music entertainment.

Daily drink specials include Monday $5 wine flights, Tuesday $2.50 draft beers, Wednesday $3 wells, and $2 off martinis. Pick your favorite night or try them all out for size.

During Happy Hour, drinks and half priced pizzas are available on Monday through Friday, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. For snazzy Sunday drinks, Rustic Oven offers $4 Bloody Marys and $4 Mimosas from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Live music is offered at both locations- Every Wednesday night at the North College location, and every Friday and Saturday night at the Harmony location from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

So whether you are in downtown for the night with friends, or down south, the bar at Rustic Oven is the place to be. 39

Holiday 2008 39

Chimney Park Restaurant and Bar406 Main Street, WindsorOpen nightly at 5:00 p.m.

Lunch Thurs - Sat 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.Sunday Brunch 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

(970) 686-1477

Chimney Park Restaurant and Bar is a warm and inviting place to cozy up with friends and enjoy a martini or glass of wine. Soft jazz music sets the afternoon mood for the daily happy hour from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., which includes two for one martinis while bottles of wine are half off on Sundays.

Their drink list includes beers, local and domestic, an extensive wine and martini list, as well as margaritas. They offer a separate bar menu and cheese selection for those wanting a quick bite or who prefer to mingle and socialize.

The flat screen television offers a comfortable appeal to those wanting to watch the screen and enjoy a cold beer.

Mixed coffee drinks, espresso, and cappuccinos are included on the menu as well.

Enzio’s Italian Kitchen and Bar126 West Mountain Avenue, Fort Collins

Open 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday and from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight

on Friday and Saturday(970) 484-8466

The extensive wine list, chic atmosphere and old-country Italian menu make Enzio’s an excellent place to socialize and unwind. With a Happy Hour that fits any schedule either from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, or 9:00 p.m. to Midnight on the weekends.

Enzio’s is the perfect spot for a night out with the girls, a romantic date or just spending time with friends. The pasta is made fresh daily and you’ll find a perfect wine pairing with over 80 choices, including sparkling, red and white wines, port, and Grappa.

Enzio’s offers the late-night owl the ideal location to socialize, dine, and enjoy. Specials throughout the month include half off bottles of wine on Monday nights; wine sampling with a variety of specialty plates on the First Tuesday of each month; & Family Night every Sunday. For more entertainment, Enzio’s features local live musician’s on the first Friday of each month.40

40 Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

Sonny Lubick Steakhouse115 South College Avenue in Fort Collins

Open 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Monday - Thursday Continued service from 4:00 p.m. to 12:00

midnight Friday and Saturday(970) 484-9200

New to the social scene, the Sonny Lubick Steakhouse has recently opened it doors in style. This fine dining steakhouse offers fine drinks to boot. With martinis and fine tequila straight from the freezer, the drinks are exquisite.

But the upscale drinks do not end there. We offer a house-made Bloody Mary garnished with shrimp along with premium Well cocktails and more than 130 options of fine wine.

If you want more casual dining, we have that too. Local beers are on tap and ready to serve to customers who would rather watch one of the nine flat-screen televisions.

We are the perfect spot for your evening out to the Lincoln Center, any sporting event or strolling through art galleries downtown. Happy Hour is from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and though we are only open for dinner at this time, we will begin to serve lunch in January 2009.

Manno’s Restaurant and Bar1441 East Horsetooth Road in Fort Collins

Open 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.Monday through Sunday

(970) 223-2478

Enjoy the country club atmosphere without any dues. Manno’s is open year-round and everyone is welcome to enjoy their quality services and fair prices. With a Colorado lodge dining room and bar setting, everyone can come in, sit down, grab a drink, and feel welcome. Happy hour is from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily, with a Prime Rib special on Tuesdays. Drink variety includes beer, wine, martinis, margaritas and specialty Bloody Marys made from habanero infused vodka.

Live jazz brings everyone to life every Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and people are free to enjoy sports viewing including the NFL Ticket, ESPN Gameplan and all local team games.

Enjoy your drink out on their patio while the weather stays pleasant, or reserve the private banquet room that seats up to 100 people for any holiday party coming up this season. 41

41Holiday 2008

ZQUILA2400 East Harmony, Suite 101 in Fort Collins

Open 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

(970) 631-8565

Of course the Zquila Margarita is among the most popular drinks at Zquila, but so is the Casa Margarita, the Padre Patron Margarita and the make-your-own margarita.

Zquila Happy Hours run daily from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. offering $2 draft beers and only $4 for the margaritas as well as a tequila flight or margarita flight.

The brand new building offers ambiance from the half dome granite bar, the waterfall, and the chiminea on the patio. But the nightlife is not just relaxing, once the Mexican music gets going or the Jimmy Buffet beats start rolling, Zquila is the place to be.

Vincent Restaurant902 West Drake Road in Fort CollinsOpen on Monday through Sunday

from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.(970) 472-0201

Domenic’s Restaurant931 East Harmony Road, Suite 3, in Fort Collins

Open on Monday through Saturdayfrom 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight

and Sunday from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.(970) 207-0411

What brings life to locally owned Domenic’s and Vincent Restaurant’s, is the good nature of their patrons and their staff. Fantastic food, a comfortable atmosphere, impeccable service, and a diverse choice in beverage provide a delicious evening for diners. New food specials are offered every night, as well as happy hour from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. every day.

Whether you want a quick bite on your way home or want to get dolled up for a fancy night, an evening at Vincent or Domenic’s will excite the palette. With appetizers, drink specials or an eclectic dinner paired with wine, your evening is sure to please.42

42 Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

Stonehouse GrilleOld Town

125 South College Ave. in Fort CollinsOpen 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight Sunday through

Wednesday, and 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.Thursday through Saturday

(970) 498-0873

Warm wood surrounds the lower bar for one-on-one conversations, while their new second floor offers, not just the only rooftop bar in Old Town Fort Collins, but 13 high definition plasma televisions.

Daily happy hour starts at 3:00 and ends at 6:00 for working professionals, but they also offer a late night happy hour from 9:00 to 12:00 midnight for those who prefer a livelier atmosphere.

Join them on Thursdays for Big Beer Night, or relax at the Wednesday Afternoon Club (WAC), where special martinis and wine are offered each week.

Everyday is different at Stonehouse, so there is a different food and drink special each day including Blue Moon Monday, Tuesday Stoli Night, Wednesday WAC, Thursday Big Beer Night, half off wine on Saturdays and Bloody Mary Sundays. 43

43Holiday 2008

Jackson’s All American Sports Grill925 East Harmony Road in Fort Collins

Open 11:00 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 11:00 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, 10:00 a.m.

to 2 a.m. Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to midnight on Sunday

(970) 229-0017

People love Jackson’s for its great neighborhood feel. This is where you can watch your favorite team play and eat a delicious meal at the same time.

The casual sports bar is hopping from 5:00 to 10:00 every night with committed sports fans and socializing friends. More than 50 televisions make it easier to show any game being played at any time, so everyone can watch what they came to see.

Jackson’s offers an array of drinks, but beer and mixed drinks take the cake in popularity. Happy hour is from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. to close every day.

Stop in to watch a game or mingle with friends, Jackson’s is always ready to entertain.

Harmony Grill1544 Oakridge Drive in Fort Collins

Open 11:00 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday and

11:00 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday(970) 223-2821

The brand new Harmony Grill is the perfect spot to join your friends. A delicious mix of food keeps your belly happy with everything from great appetizers to seafood and steaks to burgers. With dark luxurious booths and large colorful art, you can rest at ease with a drink in hand. Martini’s, wine and 24 beers on tap make this a great place for socializing.

Live music is also a part of the experience at Harmony Grill. To find out more about upcoming music, check out their website at www.harmonygrill.com.

A fresh new hot spot in Fort Collins, Harmony Grill is where you can find great service, awesome food and a price that keeps you in harmony.

4444 Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

Wild Boar Coffee1510 College Avenue in Fort Collins

Open 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. every day(970) 372-2334

Wine and beer may not flow over the countertops here, but you can count on coffee by the bag full. The unique atmosphere of Wild Boar, set in a home built in 1924, with more than six rooms to meet up with friends or make new ones. The coffee house offers homemade meals, drinks, breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Soft music accompanies that perfectly roasted and brewed coffee, while you read or chat with a business colleague. The Wild Boar plans to have live music in the future.

Stop by the Boar for a quick sip or a warm up session with your favorite cup of coffee and time with friends.

Charco Broiler Restaurant and Bar1716 East Mulberry in Fort Collins

Open 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Monday through Saturday and 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Sunday

(970) 482-1472

The Northern Colorado classic bar to socialize is none other, but the Charco Broiler. Known for its world-class steaks, the Charco Broiler offers a rustic, unique, and relaxed atmosphere where new faces continue to become faithful regulars. Its original artwork and friendly employees come together to form a unique and comfortable place to mingle, and has been a staple of Fort Collins since 1957.

Traditional bar stools are waiting to be pulled up to a distinctive tavern for one of the best-priced drinks in town. Enjoy their diversity of ice-cold beer and wine, popcorn, peanuts, chips, and salsa, while savoring their notorious margarita or lemon drop martini. Whether its watching the Broncos on their 5 TVs, or socializing with your friends, the Charco Broiler is the place to be.

Join us for happy hour every night from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., where we not only have great priced drinks, but free appetizers. From our family to your family for 50 years!

4545Holiday 2008

By Kay Rios

46

46Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

About that same time, I was given John Ryder’s Positive Directions: Shifting Polarities to Escape Stress and Increase Happiness to review. I have to admit a certain cynicism

when it comes to self-help books. Many that I’ve read twist all the old standards and some of the current thinking stuff into a few different strands and call it good. But I also have to say that I’ve also found golden nuggets in some of those books. I’ve discovered some “aha” moments that have given me insight into myself and into the world.

And so it is with Ryder’s book. That he focuses on the positive aspects of living is essential-- particularly in this time period of economic stress and world tensions. Everywhere I look, with each encounter, I hear the song, “Under Pressure” pulsating through my head. Add to that the upcoming holidays and all that entails, and each of us has a formula built for disaster. So how

would Ryder have us move into a positive direction?

First, his background provides the means for a mixture of factual, philosophical, and spiritual in an organized discussion. Working on his doctorate in psychology, he studied neuro-psychology, exploring how the

brain’s mechanisms can explain all of the many behaviors humans exhibit. He also conducted clinical research at Mount Sinai School of Medicine where he evaluated and treated patients who suffered from anything from a mild head injury to severe brain diseases.

Blending that formal training with research into both Eastern and Western traditions, and borrowing contemporary ideas from some of the self-help gurus such as Anthony Robbins, Bernie Siegel (both have written praise for the book), Deepak Chopra, and Jack Canfield, he has created what he describes as “simple facts, explanations, and systems” to help the reader forge a bigger and better perspective on how to think and live more comfortably.

We have to understand how the brain works, he maintains, and he shows, with visual examples, how the brain can make mistakes. Several chapters on the brain/mind provide a tour through the functional parts of the brain, the nervous system, and that hard to pinpoint concept of “the mind,” showing what occurs in very simple terms. The idea is that it’s all about understanding how that happens and how we can break down our choices, our reactions, and our outcomes. At the end of the more dense factual chapters in the first section of the book, a list of keys provides a quick and dirty review for those who have that attention problem. The second section of the book discusses, in detail, each of his “Master Keys.”

Ryder constructs the nine master keys to unlocking all of life’s problems and challenges:

• Attention (concentration & shifting)• Perception (awareness & knowledge)• Higher Self (objectivity & decisions)• Passion (energy & motivation)• Will Power (stamina & patience)

• Transformation (negative into positive) • Judgment (rational & intuitive thinking)• Replacing patterns (positive programming) • Achieving Peak Potential (talents & goals)

The master keys are designed to help the reader shift from the negative side of the judgment, emotion, energy, and patterns (JEEP) factors to the positive. Most psychological challenges, Ryder says, are caused by being negatively locked in and his keys open those locks. He believes, because of human nature, the problems are identical in every person and, so, the keys will work in any situation.

First, and most important, is the Diamond Master Key of conscious awareness also known as attention, the ultimate key for observing the universe, thinking about it, and devising ways to improve the world. A big order for sure, but he says we can all attain a superior level of awareness and, in the chapter on attention, he describes the means for doing just that. There is a laundry list of ways in each of the “key” chapters explaining out to master each of the keys.

Ryder is big on keys and lists. In a later chapter, he offers another set of “Gold Keys for Escaping Stress and Increasing Happiness” (in an abbreviated version):

Think up: become aware, establish a clear set of intentions and act on them.

Relax and let go: Relieve stress by breathing slowly, deeply and deliberately relaxing, and then refocusing on true intentions.

Think with flexibility: Be curious about alternatives and rely on both subjective (intuitive) and objective (rational) information to make decisions.

Positive Directions & Positive PlansSometimes, it’s just hard to clear your head. Case in point: recently, after a particularly frustrating

co-ed softball game, I spent the remaining evening, a sleepless night, and the next stressful morning agonizing. My angst wasn’t just about the outcome, but about factors that had influenced, not only the game, but also my interaction with the other team. What should have been a fun event, turned

into a stressful and potentially damaging intrusion into my life.

47Holiday 2008

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Shift polarities: Practice reversing directions in thinking by identifying opposite emotions and transforming negative into positive.

Direct your will power: Work on goals ambitiously with confidence and determination

Keep energy flowing: Appreciate energy received and promote an exchange of energy, reciprocating as you receive energy

Build your faith:  Have faith in positive possibilities of the universe.

Ryder also offers his website (www.ShiftingPolarities.com) that provides resources to be used with his book. And for those purchasers of the book, there are free goodies to be gained including Downloads of the MP3 “Relax and Recharge,” personality profiles, articles about achievement psychology, a strategic achievement planner, six issues of his Positive Directions Ezine, poems, pictures, and comics.

Bottom line: The book is a quick read and has some interesting interpretations of his studies on the brain. His keys/lists are simple and, for the self-study reader, can prove valuable.

For me, there were those gold nuggets about shifting polarities and identifying patterns that I can replace. That’s a tough one since I, like most people, am very comfortable in my (mis)thinking, my emotions, and my judgments. Change sucks. But if I truly want to step away from stress, from negative situations, I need to change my thinking and my approach. I’m the one, after all, that creates or enflames those negative circumstances by buying in.

And, so, that softball game becomes a point in the past with a lesson learned in how I could have reacted more positively, could have adjusted my thinking, and not taken it personally. Much to my dismay, it isn’t all about me.

1) Become aware of your situation - What is the alarm signal - notice your body, identify the negative emotions and the polar opposite ones.

2) Relax and Let Go, breathe slowly and deeply, change your state.

3) Redirect your attention to your Deliberate mind, verbally analyze your experience and consciously decide to transform the emotions.

4) Imagine, recall, or create the polar opposite feeling, verbally acknowledge the new emotion and refocus on the new state. Realize that you are gaining control, resolving the problems and feeling good.

The Four Master Steps to Transform Negative into Positive Polarities:

w w w. S h i f t i n g P o l a r i t i e s . c o m

CONTINUED ON PG 50

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48Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

Innovative design and business practices, continuing professional development, and community in-volvement are the distinguishing qualities of this year’s award re-cipient for Colorado Association of Home Builders’ “2008 Colorado Builder of the Year.” Bob Peterson was given the award at the annual Rocky Mountain Builders Confer-ence in Beaver Creek in October of this year. Peterson and his wife Rita are the owners of Associates in Building and Design (ABD Design/Build) of Fort Collins. The business specializes in custom homes, remod-eling, and interior design, both resi-dential and commercial.

CAHB is an association consisting of more than 4,000 building related businesses providing opportunities

to share ideas, continue education, influence positive housing issues with state government, and encour-age ethical business practices. The Builder of the Year award is pre-sented to a member who has made significant contributions such as outstanding performance in innova-tive marketing, design, new product creation, green building, and unique development. “I’m extremely hon-ored,” Peterson said, “to be recog-nized by my peers with this award. It really means a lot coming from people who know my business and who experience the same conditions and challenges that I do.”

Keeping up with the state-of-the-art in the design/build industry has been an important goal of Pe-terson’s, during the 18 ½ years ABD

has been in business. For example, he’s attained his Certified Graduate Remodeler (CRG) designation from the National Home Builders Asso-ciation (NAHB) which requires that graduates meet prescribed stan-dards of business practice, possess a minimum of five years remodeling industry experience, have a proven track record of successful project management, complete a compre-hensive education curriculum, and pledge to uphold the program’s code of ethics. 

Peterson and his wife were the first in the state of Colorado to achieve the Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation, and Bob was further spotlighted as NAHB’s 2007 National Remodeler of the Year.

Associates In Building and Design

4803 Innovation Drive,

Suite 1 in Fort Collins (970) 225-2323

By Sarah Duffert

Bob Peterson

Happy Trails Pet Resort and Spa is setting new standards for pet care and boarding in Northern Colorado. Owner Jim Bush, a retired Marine officer, made it his mission to build the area’s preeminent pet daycare, boarding, training, and spa facility. To say he has succeeded would be an understatement.

Style Magazine took a tour of the brand new facility near the Bud-weiser Events Center in Loveland and was impressed by its cleanness and Bush’s attention to detail. Not your ordinary kennel, Happy Trails Pet Resort and Spa boasts eco-friendly amenities and construction – most of the wood used for the building is pine beetle kill from Colo-rado and Windsor tornado-damage lumber – and aims to take nothing

but the best care of local pets.“Before we opened I spent a

year and a half doing research on what other facilities are doing and visited some great places,” says Bush. “I decided I just needed to do it better.”

By better, Bush means cleaner and safer. Happy Trails has not one, but nine air control ventilation systems in place to prevent disease transmission and odors. There’s a full-service laundry facility, a full kitchen capable of preparing special diets, and a dorm room, complete with full bath, bed, and desk for overnight staff. Ultra-violet lights clean the air in the kennel rooms to remove 99 percent of the bacteria and prevent infections. Controlled high and low pressure zones in the

building ensure clean, fresh air is circulating throughout, while air conditioning and in-floor heating keeps cats and dogs comfortable year round.

Fun and comfort are just as important at Happy Trails as is sanitation and safety. From homemade beds, blankets, and in-kennel television sets, to web cams (so owners can check in), organic dog treats and play rooms, Happy Trails has it all. Bush even plans to add a doggy swimming pool, complete with spraying water and colored lights. “I want to spend the rest of my career taking care of other people’s pets,” says Bush. “I love dogs and cats and just love to be around them. I get to pet 30 – 40 pets a day. It’s a dream job.”

Happy TrailsPet Resort and Spa

3590 Draft Horse Court

in Loveland

(970) 663-7297

Jim Bush

49Holiday 2008

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50

50Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

Seeking Sitters Babysitter Referral Service

1607 Windsor Court in Fort Collins

(970) 443-5444

Sarah Kruse

Finding a babysitter, or a babysitting job for that matter, just got a whole lot easier. Seeking Sitters, a Front Range full-service babysitter referral program, handles it all.

For families in need of a babysitter, wheth-er for one night, every other weekend, or even for travel, Seeking Sitters is the perfect solution. The referral program handles every-thing, from finding the right sitter for you, to making the arrangements and ensuring your children are properly cared for so that you can have a stress-free day or evening out. “If you’re unsure about how to find a sitter or don’t want to leave your children with just anyone, Seeking Sitters is the way to go,” says owner Sarah Kruse. “It’s a great service for both sitters and families.”

Kruse tells Style that Seeking Sitters is all about convenience and peace of mind. “For a busy family, it’s all about convenience,” she says. “You don’t have to find a babysitter, interview him or her, and make the arrange-ments. All you have to do is log your request online and we’ll take care of the rest.”

Seeking Sitters babysitters are all 18 years of age or older, have at least two years of experience in childcare, have been personally interviewed by Kruse herself, and have been subjected to a rigorous criminal background and credit check. Families can rest assured that the babysitter Seeking Sitters sends to their home is trustworthy and well-equipped to safely entertain their children. “Our sit-ters arrive on the job with a backpack full of Seeking Sitters games and activities,” says Kruse. “They are attentive to the children at all times, clean up after themselves and the children, and complete a detailed log for the parents of all activities, including games, movies, snacks, dinner, and any other events of the evening.”

Babysitters themselves also benefit from the convenience of the service. After they’ve been approved by the service, jobs come to them. Seeking Sitters also does a background check on the families before signing them up so sitters can be certain of their own safety while on the job. “A lot of our sitters are col-lege students and don’t know a lot of fami-lies in town,” says Kruse. “We connect them with safe, reliable positions in childcare.”

51Holiday 2008

51The Scratchin’ Post 2321 East Mulberry Street #2

in Fort Collins

(970) 493-0292

Cat Ballew

If ever there was a place a cat could be as happy as they are at home, it’s at the Scratchin’ Post. A feline-exclusive boarding house, the state-licensed Scratchin’ Post prides itself on making cats and kittens feel happy and at home while their owners are away.

Owner Cat Ballew, a Registered Nurse, bought the Scratchin’ Post in 2004 after a life-long love affair with felines prompted her to make a career change. “I’ve always been a cat person and I absolutely love being around them,” says Ballew. “This is the perfect place for a person who thinks you can never have too many cats.”

Ballew prides herself on her ability to make boarding cats happy and comfortable. “This is a friendly, happy, warm place for the cats,” she says. “A lot of people call it the kitty spa.” The comfort of the cats is of the utmost importance at the Scratchin’ Post and is evidenced by everything from the six-foot tall enclosures to the viewing aquarium, the aviary, and the many ledges, shelves, and play areas the cats are encouraged to enjoy. “We’re big on entertainment here,” says Ballew. “The cats are never bored, there’s al-ways something to do, look at, or listen to.”

What’s more, the feline boarders get plenty of time to socialize, something Ballew considers an added bonus. They’re let out to play and wander the large, sunny, and clean facility in small, supervised playgroups. “Socialization is important, but often over-looked, for cats,” says Ballew. “For both cats and kittens, socialization with other cats is extremely beneficial to their development and personality.”

In addition to Ballew’s obvious ability to comfort her feline guests, she also has the ability to care for them medically. With her experience as an RN, and her employees’ vet-tech experience, owners can rest assured their cats are in good hands. Ballew can ad-minister medications and insulin shots, is cer-tified in Healing Touch feline massage, and is able to provide feline geriatric care as well.

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52Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

Family business has had a special meaning to Wayne and Phyllis Schrader. It all started in 1937 when Wayne’s father, who was also named Wayne, became a distributor for Texaco.  Seventy-one

years later, Wayne, his children, Perry, Steve and Jennifer and some of his grandchildren are all working in the business.  Wayne says, “the opportunity to have our own business has created a sense of independence and freedom for our family as well as family unity and support for one another. Working together each day is not only fun but provides a sense of pride for our family.”

Phyllis is especially thankful and proud that her children and grandchildren are all pursuing good and productive lives whether working in the family business or not.

Phyllis has good memories of her childhood. She lived in Denver until high school, and then moved to Fort Collins and attended Fort Collins High School. Her parents made a living by operating boarding homes, which were necessary in those days as a way to put food on the table. Her mother would cook for more than 50 people each day, while Phyllis and her four siblings would wait tables and clean.

Phyllis remembers her mother as a stalwart for the family, so strong, with great patience that demonstrated her love through her daily commitment. She remembers one story as a child when she and her sister brought their first bicycle together for $18.75, with weekly payments of $.50 cents.  After graduating from high school, Phyllis was able to attend Colorado A&M for two years until she and Wayne were married on August 12, 1951-- when her parents informed her that she was now on her own.

Even though Wayne was raised in the gas business, working after school and through the summers for his father, he always had an entrepreneurial spirit.  While enrolled and studying at Colorado A&M, he decided to drop out of school to follow the wheat harvest to make his fortune.  Wayne and a friend purchased a combined truck and trailer, with a loan guarantee

from his father, and headed to Oklahoma.  The venture lasted a couple years, but ultimately, Wayne returned to college and graduated with a degree in Animal Husbandry. 

After graduation, because the family business could not support two incomes, Wayne took a job as the assistant extension agent for Delta County for a salary of $300 a month. In addition to other responsibilities, Wayne was in charge of all 4H clubs as well as the fair board for the county.  Wayne recalls one humorous incident when he was asked to be a judge at the Nucla County Fair. When Wayne arrived at the fair as a 23-year-old extension agent, he learned that he was to judge the entire fair, not just the livestock, but also the chickens, ducks, rabbits, turkeys, pies, cakes, and canned fruits. When he got to the cakes, he did not really know how to judge a cake. So he asked, “Where’s the knife?”

At this point in his career, an opportunity surfaced for Wayne to return to Fort Collins and go to work for Texaco as a “Farm Peddler” selling gas, propane, and oil products to the farming community. He thrived at this work and after seven years, Wayne and his father decided to form the Wayne Schrader Company. Each of them would deposit their monthly commission checks into a joint business account. This thrived as a good business partnership, until 1963, when Wayne’s father walked into the office and, unexpectedly, told Wayne that he was retiring. Wayne continued the business but was also interested in building his own distributorship as a franchise arrangement, known in the oil and gas industry as a ‘jobber.’  Fortunately, in 1966, a franchise became available with Phillips Petroleum, and the rest is history.

In addition to building his business, Wayne was active in the community and served as the President of Lions Club, was the Exalted Ruler for the Elks Club, was a Poudre Valley Hospital Board member for 12 years, and a bank director for First National Bank for over 30 years. Wayne was also President of the Colorado Petroleum Marketers Association, and served on the National

Petroleum Marketers Board as well. Phyllis recalls that in 1962 they took their first airplane trip, an 18-hour flight to Nice, France, as part of a Lion’s Club convention.

From Phyllis’s volunteer work on the Colorado State University Development Council, and her passion for women’s education through her PEO Chapter, along with being a “stay-at-home” mom and helping out with all the school and sporting activities, it is apparent that being involved in the community has always been an important part of the Schrader family life. 

Wayne commented that no one has packed more coolers or made more lunches than Phyllis. In fact, they have often laughed that their tombstone will read, “ Here lies Wayne and Phyllis - they packed coolers.” 

Fort Collins has contributed greatly to the Schrader’s quality of life, and they feel very blessed and fortunate, not only for their business successes, but also for the lifelong friendships established and their opportunity to serve the community over the years.

When asked about their legacy, Wayne says that, “for me, life has gone by so fast, but I would like to be remembered as a good and honest businessman who took great pride and joy not only in my children, but also in the many valued employees who work for the Schrader Oil Company.” 

Phyllis’ legacy is family. She is particularly proud of how they each have lived their lives and as she says, “They all have a strong and enduring faith that they each express in their own unique way.”

Fort Collins is indeed fortunate to be home to many family businesses and, in particular, fortunate to be home to four generations of the Schrader Family.

Jim Sprout is the Chairman of First Western Trust Bank- Northern Colorado and a regular columnist for Style Magazine.

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54Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

A VINTAGE AFFAIR

September 26Miramont Lifestyle Fitness Central Fort CollinsAn evening of wine tasting, gourmet food, live music and browsing the silent auction of exquisite artwork and other desirable items was enjoyed by nearly 300 attendees at the 7th annual Vintage Affair 2008. Almost $15,000 raised will benefit Hospice of Larimer County to provide compassionate, excellent, comprehensive care for those who have an advanced medical condition and to help support their families. Photos courtesy of Richard Mauro Ricchiuti. Wilma Feeley, Sarah VanEtten

Rick & Michelle Gebhart

Linda Hopkins, John & Vicki Mayae

Lani Hickman, Janet Rogahn

Anne & John Blair

Nancy Dinsmore, LuAnn Ball

Sally Gilmore, Bob & Janna Brandes, Terry Gilmore

55Holiday 2008

55A VINTAGE AFFAIR DINING IN THE DIRT

WOMEN AGAINST MS

September 24B.W. Pickett Equine Center

Fort CollinsPart of the series Round-Up at the Fort, this good old cowboy style event had over 300 denim dressed guests enjoying the company of friends, cocktails, a delicious dinner on the dirt, lots of good western dancing and “no-bull”. Proceeds benefit the Jim & Nadine Henry Student Alumni Connection Scholarship Fund and their mission to connect today’s students with alumni and keep a continuity of giving back to CSU. Photos courtesy of Aletier Design,

LTD and Randy Owens.

Rose & David Macy

Wes Sargent, B. Sue Wood, Hadley BarrettTrudy & Wes Sargent

Janie Bernd, Clay Stanley, Margaret Stanley, Bob Bernd, Cam the Ram, Flo Mikkelson, Cathy & Amos Lawrence

September 25Hilton :: Fort Collins

Nearly 350 business and community leaders came together to celebrate the 10th anniversary Women Against MS Luncheon. The luncheon raised over $36,000 for the Colorado Chapter of the National MS Society. The FC office serves over 1,800 people living with multiple sclerosis and their families through education, wellness programs, direct financial assistance, a mobility equipment loan closet and case

management services. Barb Carpenter, Renee White, Ashley Miller, Wendy Turner, Michele Marquitz, DeAnna

Hill, Allison Hines, Marta Farrell Stacy Unger, Pat Kendall

Mary Audette, Sara SeelyNicole Beckham, Kristie Salerno-Kent

(keynote speaker), Tara LaneHolly Osborn, Linda Stacey Michelle Boyle, Sonny Lubick, Carrie Nolan

Michele Marquitz, Jan CarrollJill Burge, Connie Hanrahan, Jill BelisleDonna Stroh, Elizabeth Elliott Karen Spina, Diane Sherry

56

56Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

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BRAINIAC BOWL

October 11Marriott Hotel :: Fort CollinsOver 250 guests came to test their knowledge and compete for the coveted “Brianiac Trophy”. The highly competitive trivia challenge tested 32 teams in this one-of-a-kind event on questions in science, technology, history, & pop culture. The exciting and very spirited evening helped to raise over $30,000 for the Discovery Science Center and their mission to provide enjoyable, interactive explorations in science and technology for the region to ignite curiosity and make learning fun for the entire family.

Back Row: Craig “Al Capone” & Heidi “Martha Stewart” Giles, Paul “The Dog” Marrick, Steve “Charlie Sheen”

Foran Front Row: Stephanie “Zsa Zsa” Marrick, Cynthia “Lorena Babbitt” & Steve “Hannibal” Hogan, Susan “Heidi

Fleiss” ForanTeam-Capital West Experimental Brain Project & Celebrity

Inmates -Winners Best Dressed

Holly & Bryce Warren, Claire & Cliff Thomas, Nina & John Bodenhamer, Chris Fleener

Team-Advanced Medical Imaging Nuclear Radiologic

Ryan Keiffer, Doug Johnson, Jerry GaedeTeam-A-Train Marketing Chemical Bonds

Matt & Lisa Meacham, Julie & Chris Otto, Tory & Shane Brown, Jenni & Josh Billiard

Team- EKS&H Green Team

Back row: Miriam & Greg Hoff, Steve VanderMeer, Mike Wilkinson, Johannas Gessler

Front row: Ann Turnquist, Martina Wilkinson, Seraina Gessler

Team-The Big Brains Construction

Gretchen Gaede & Julie SutterTeam-A-Train Marketing Chemical Bonds Todd Harding, Brian Gary

57Holiday 2008

57BRAINIAC BOWL “CELEBRATE L IFE IN THE PINK” HOPE L IVES! GALA

October 25Hilton :: Fort Collins

Over 500 guests enjoyed a magical evening at the 8th annual Hope Lives! Gala. Exquisite butterflies graced the ballroom and complemented the elegantly decorated tables and set the theme for the evening. The full evening included a gourmet dinner, live entertainment, a silent & live auction and the inspirational fashion show of breast cancer ‘thrivers’ escorted by their husbands, families, or friends. Inaugural Champions of Hope awards were presented to 9 individuals/businesses for their unrelenting commitment and outstanding professional service to women diagnosed with breast cancer and their support of Hope Lives! Breast Cancer Support Center (HLBCSC). Nearly $100,000 was netted for HLBCSC and their mission to support, strengthen, and empower those touched by breast cancer in Northern Colorado by providing free complementary

care, guidance, and education.

Jennifer & John Sinnett

Shawn & Scott Charpentier

Nikkie Boggs, Judy Bogaard

Dennis & Rosalie Sinnett

Lydia Dody

Claude VallenceKevin & Audrey Tool

Regina Brown, Jeanise Brown, Tricia Heller

Harry Devereaux,2008 Champion of Hope Honoree

Larry Stringari, Deborah Sather-Stringari, Sid Sather, Julie Sather-Browne, Duncan Browne

Beverly Donnelley, 2008 Champion of Hope Honoree

Sonny & Billie Miller, Barbara & Bill Schneider

Miho Tio Scott,2008 Champion of Hope Honoree

Jim Dickinson accepting on behalf of

Northern ColoradoSurgical Associates, P.C.

2008 Champion of Hope HonoreeGwen Lisella,

2008 Champion of Hope Honoree

Gamma Phi Beta Sorority at Colorado State UniversityJenni Sells

Heather Janssen

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58Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

FRIENDS OF A WOMAN’S PLACE GALA

2008 Honorees :: Judy Kron, Carole Schneider, Jean Hoshiko, Flo Mikkleson, Lolly Macrum

October 25Union Colony Civic Center :: GreeleyOver 600 gathered during National Domestic Violence prevention month at UCCC to honor five Weld County women for their exemplary community service. The evening included a musical tribute to these amazing women by the local talent from The Broadway Babes. Over $70,000 raised will help support the mission of A Women’s Place through community education about the vital programs Safehouse personnel provides to victim/survivors of domestic violence. A pre-gala Honorees Breakfast allowed honorees for the past 15 years to gather & meet this year’s candidates.

Rok & Judy Kron, Amy & Thomas Anema Jean & Pete Morrell Robin & Phil BrewerJean Morrell, Kristi Helzer, Lolly Macrum

59FRIENDS OF A WOMAN’S PLACE GALA

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125 W. Swallow(Just west of Dellenbach Subaru)

970.226.2438request a quoteat dellenbach.com

EXECUTIVEDECISIONS.

Whether you’re a young up and coming Professional or an experienced High Power

you face a number of

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Carol Arceneaux

At Dellenbach Motors we are proudto Employ these Women.

The Best of the Best!

3111 S. College Ave970.226.2438

1-800-830-4101Dellenbach.com