Tag: #bananapeelblog

#over50chicagolifestyle, over 50, Uncategorized

Looking for a snowy good time? Try Winter Miracles at Door County

Jane Bokun

By Jane Bokun

Some people may not think Door County, WI. when they think of a winter playground, but they would be dead wrong. In the summer, it’s yachts moored in sparkling blue water and tony restaurants. But in the winter, the cold, blue waters of Lake Michigan turn to magical, ice palaces and places to bring home the day’s catch after ice fishing.  

Indeed, here in one of the coldest winter spaces, there’s time for ice fishing, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and even fat-tire biking. But Door County is considered the Cape Cod of the Midwest and has it all. It sits on mammoth Lake Michigan, which covers Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois.  I am particularly interested in ice fishing because I haven’t done that yet. Luckily, what I notice is you don’t have to be perfect at any one of these sports. Bucolic Door County has a large retiree population and a lot of the people who come to this area to retire, or purchase second homes, like to laugh a lot.

I asked Destination Door County Chief Communications Officer Jon Jarosh, if the tentlike ice huts were heated and he said it was quite comfortable and safe in the cozy huts. Novices like me even find there are plenty of fishing guides to help get the huts ready and help with your fishing expeditions. They bait your fishing poles and then you can catch walleye, northern pike, perch, or brown trout. The area is also becoming known for getting some prime, popular whitefish. I’m familiar with catching fish as a relaxing, Zen hobby as my dad often took my family fishing on Lake Michigan in the summers. After we caught our wriggling fish, we would watch as my dad fileted them while we said, “gross.” My mom then cooked them to a golden brown and our trophies were delicious.

Door County has lots of romantic Bed & Breakfasts and hotels to accommodate newcomers, according to Jarosh. I’ve also done some snowshoeing and cross-country skiing and found I can handle the white snow packed Wisconsin hills with only some deep breathing – and silent praying.

“It’s better than skiing down a mountain,” I tell myself. It may also be more challenging then say, laying out in the sun sipping on a Pina Colada.

After some grunts and groans, it might be time for a spa, I lovingly say to myself.

“I’m trying to live in the moment.”

 In Door County, I choose The Spa at Sacred Grounds. There are a few spas here and it makes me want to stop and visit them all, (I love a fancy area) but I’m on a mission.

The Spa at Sacred Grounds in Door County

Although Wisconsin is thought of as a state known for friendly farmers and the popular Green Bay Packers football team, it can also be glamourous here. Art galleries, specialty pubs, wineries and large homes are no strangers.

Once you get to The Spa at Sacred Grounds, in Door County’s Ephraim, the first thing to notice is the place exudes calm. It’s open all year around. On the grounds there are tall trees and myriad plant life. It feels strange because you want to sit at a comfortable table in the woods and never leave.  It feels otherworldly.  When you’re, like I often am, feeling nothing but problems and anxiety, The Spa at Sacred Grounds is an oasis of therapeutic peace.

Kim Maedke-Shumway, a Door County native, was a customer at the spa for 18 years before she became owner.

 Helping others gave the trim, dark-haired woman a new sense of confidence and she already knew what made people happy. She started out with unique massages, facials and spa treatments. It’s a day spa so there is no hotel backing up the property. Inside the spa, there’s a pristine library and yoga studio where classes are held. There’s a private log cabin where some massages are performed as well.

“I thought if I can do for one person what this spa has done for me, I’d be doing well,” she says with tears in her eyes.

After a day at the spa or shopping in fun stores like Bliss, a luxury co-op made of several clothing and design stores, it’s time to try other winter activities. There are 250 miles of snowmobile trails; candlelight skiing in January and February; sleds and tubing at Peninsula State Park; romantic sleigh rides with Mayberry’s Carriages; Classes such as weaving and philosophy at The Clearing Folk School; and even a fish boil every Friday night at the well-known White Gull Inn.

There also are trolley rides that include specialties like cocktail and ghost tours found at Door County Trolley.

It can be tiring, and some homemade cherry wine might be in order from Lautenbach’s Orchard Country Winery. I love tangy cherries and have tried the wine flights which are delicious. Lautenbach’s, open year around, focuses on all things cherry which is my absolute favorite. Besides wine, you can get cherry strudel, pancakes, drinks and more.

For those who want to try this little-known jewel in winter, it’s easy to get to from airports in Chicago, (about four hours); Milwaukee (about two hours) and Green Bay (about an hour). Rental cars are also easy to procure.

Before this winter excursion, I always thought I was a summer girl, but this trip to winter Door County was life changing. You might want to meet me in Door County for very, very slow candlelight skiing and a generous poor of cherry wine.

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The Grand Canyon and the elderly

Jane Bokun

After my son graduated from college and had done so well, I promised him a trip to the Grand Canyon after flying into Phoenix.

“It was truly awesome,” I said.

Post College trip

The first time I saw it, I was shocked. I came from what was essentially a steel mill town that was often dirty and smelling of the billowing smoke from factories. That wasn’t all. There also were people who lived there that never saw the Grand Canyon and never wanted to see it. My side of town suffered from a lack of intellectual curiosity or curiosity per se.

My son, on the other hand, was not that excited. He didn’t grow up in what was essentially a ghetto, and it wasn’t as awesome to him. He grew up in Tampa with its beautiful beaches and stunning atmosphere.

But me, I had never seen anything so big and colorful and awe-inspiring. The gargantuan mountains of sand that had been honed through time and water for years was amazing. It was near my alma mater, Northern Arizona University, and so I often did a little hiking with a bottle of wine and a friend. We were fearless back in the days before there were no fences and buses around the canyon.

“It’s a giant hole,” my son said nonchalantly.

“Yes,” I said, but what a hole. “Ok,” he said, and wanted to get back on the buses to see other parts of the hole. A curious thing had been happening. Everywhere my husband and I went people gave us their seats. Even when we were on a bus to get a rental car in Phoenix, people stood up and gave us their seats.

“Oh no, that’s okay,” I told one Hassidic Jewish man and a pretty girl.

“We’re young,” he said politely. Did I mention both I and my husband can walk?

“Oh my God, I really think I’ve still got some life in me,” I thought.

When the bus came to take us to another part of the Grand Canyon, I didn’t get a seat fast enough and stood in the aisle while everyone begged me to take a seat.

“I’m not doing it,” I thought. “I’m a daredevil.”

After the bus stopped, my son chastised me.

“You’re old mom and you should always take a seat,” he said. The girls traveling next to us agreed.

“I may never sit again,” I thought to myself in elderly defiance.

Then, as I sat in the Phoenix Airport, a worker came up and asked if I wanted a wheelchair? What? Why?

“Take it,” my son said.

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Disney has culinary magazine

Jane Bokun

By Jane Bokun

Have you ever patted your tight, huge stomach after having eaten a delicious meal at Disney and thought, “I wish I could make this at home?”

Now you can with Delish Magazine done by Disney Staff. It’s a product of my friend Charles who works in public relations for Disney and it’s a winner. It’s got 50 secret recipes from Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom. There are even drinks to complement each season. You can do a Disney feast without leaving your home.

Disney’s new food magazine

(From the blog) For Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Springs has a few new openings you’ll definitely want to have on your radar. Starting last March, Disney eaters can indulge in all the DOLE Whip your heart desires with the brand-new Swirls on the Water. This kiosk will feature delicious flavors as well as signature items like DOLE Whip Lime & Habanero Soft-serve Nachos featuring waffle cone chips topped with DOLE Whip lime and habanero soft-serve, mango boba pearls, Tajin spice, raspberry sauce, and whipped cream, or the 50th Celebration Cone with a DOLE Whip lemon and cookie dough soft serve swirl. You can also try the DOLE Whip Flight featuring all six of the featured swirl flavors and those over 21 can indulge in the Sangria Float featuring DOLE Whip and red wine sangria.

Now, I like all older women, love Sangria. It’s got that hint of sweet, but overall savory taste. I plan to remake the DOLE Whip sangria. If you’d like a copy of Delish Magazine by Disney, please leave me a message on the blog at http://www.bpeeled.com.

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Dressing in the post pandemic: style for those over 60

Jane Bokun

By Jane Bokun

I’m the kind of person who likes fashion.

 I know because I once spent time in the ornate Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The museum focuses on applied arts, decorative arts, and design with more than two million objects. What did I do? I spent about five hours looking at the wedding dress exhibit on display.

Even when there are no prying eyes to see me, like in the case of the past two-year Covid 19 pandemic, I like to look put together. During the pandemic, I always put on real pants to go to the grocery store. Even at home, who knows who might come over with a package and I might have to answer the door?

My idol of keeping it together in the elder years, Christie Brinkley

In fact, I completely agree with famous designer Edith Head’s comment, “You can have anything you want in life if you dress for it.”

I don’t want to go out looking like I’ve given up and wearing the same black nylon pants and matching polyester printed shirt. There are women who are 64 like me and have completely given up on their fashion sense.

To the rescue is Sue Abarno, a personal stylist with that pinnacle of fashion, Bloomingdales. Personal stylists in larger department stores are free and there is no tipping. You also don’t have to be a Size 2. All shoppers do is make an appointment. Stylists will tell you when something new comes in and give you a heads up. They will work with other departments when you need other things like gifts and home items. They’re mainly looking for long term relationships with customers.

“We see people of all ages and sizes,” Abarno says.

“It’s all about the elevated basics,” she says. “Women want to remain comfortable, but still look classic and put together.”

She stresses that means wearing traditional silhouettes with updated fabrics like fitted tees with a little, colorful cashmere cardigan for cool evenings in summer.

You can wear traditional knit pants with a structured look, zipper and flat front. You may want to be age-appropriate, or not. That’s up to you. We’ve reached the age where we can do what we want. For some that want to stay within the bounds of fashion, there are things like the perfect pair of jeans that will get them started

I’m hearing from fashion experts that those above 60 should stick to the classics. No jeans that end at the hips and show your stomach. I hardly like to show my stomach during surgery.

The best jeans for women over 60 are those that are more tailored, meaning you’ll have to toss your ripped jean look along with mom jeans and bell bottoms. Make sure your jeans really fit. I always seem to buy pairs that sag on my previously huge, voluptuous butt. That happens to bathing suits too. I’m talking to you designers: some older women have smaller butts and larger stomachs. In fact, I wish I had this butt when I was young. It would have saved a lot of catcalls and trouble.

Right now, I only have one pair of jeans I think are perfect. They make me feel put together and don’t sag on my deflated derriere. They make me feel chic and stylish, and sticking to them is the plan.

According to Abarno, people like traditional jeans with a little elastic give in the cloth that you can pair with short sleeved sweatshirts, blazers and T-shirts. They should be straight or bootcut. The great news is now you can wear them with your tennis shoes and still be cool and comfortable.

Maria Pinto, a Chicago designer of the collection M2057, who has dressed celebrities such as Michelle Obama and Oprah, says post pandemic women over 60 aren’t willing to compromise on comfort. Her M2057 collection features minimalist and feminine styles. They include neutral structured jackets, skirts, dresses and more that ooze sass. The best thing is they’re machine washable.

“The new high-tech fabrics are really great,” Pinto says.

“We positioned this collection M2057 for function. Indeed, Pinto’s ready-to-wear collection is easy to put on and go, making sure you look great.

She says in terms of style, she has friends who look stylish at any age.

“One of my most stylish friends is 82,” Pinto says. “We got where we are by listening to women.”

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MaskTite Keeps it tight

Jane Bokun

By Jane Bokun

With the recent double mask mandate to deal with the Covid-19 virus outbreak, it’s getting more and more confusing. Maybe if we just swabbed a huge Band-Aid around our faces and bodies it could ensure that no virus reaches us. Or, we could try new products that can help us truly deal with the virus and its complications.

Enter, MaskTite a new tightening product for masks that actually leaves no entryways for germs with an airtight seal to your face. Designer/owner and mechanical engineer Dave Franchino launched MaskTite, LLC in the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic. After months of dealing with fogging glasses and slipping masks, he says he knew there had to be a better way.

I seriously like these new MaskTite strips for better mask use.

His solution was MaskTite strips. I’ve put these strips on each of my designer masks and found them to be highly comfortable and the best thing is I can wear my glasses and a mask without any fog. In fact, when I recently took a Covid test, I gave some to my CVS pharmacist and she loves them.

MaskTite strips are made of skin-safe, medical-grade, double-sided adhesive tape. They’re hypoallergenic and latex-free, made of US materials and manufactured in Wisconsin. MaskTite strips can be used with paper and cloth masks and improve mask fit in a variety of environments including schools, healthcare facilities, retail and restaurant settings, manufacturing, offices and more. The strips are sized to help adults and kids and work with paper and cloth masks. When you need to wear a mask, MaskTite makes every mask better. It also gives you the feeling that you’re doing everything you can to avert the virus.

I have some of the MaskTite strips that I can send to you if you’d like to see the difference they make. Contact me at janepospybokun@gmail.com with your address and I’ll send you a few in the mail. They are also available through Amazon and more.

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Small treasures

Jane Bokun

By Jane Bokun

I recently joined a group of about 14 women, 13 of whom, I’ve never met before.

One of the women, Maile Peterson, a beautiful woman who doesn’t know her vast worth (like all of us), came up with the genius idea that each of us who were lonely and afraid during the Pandemic, would form a bond by sending each other a small gift. There were no rules just full anticipation and damn it, happiness.

This idea was great for me because I haven’t felt really happy in years. When I’ve laughed it’s been a shock and it doesn’t make up for my true mind-numbing unhappiness. I talk myself down from ledges almost every day and I no longer feel like the line I use to reassure others: it will all be okay.

Maile carefully compiled the list and put it on Facebook messenger for all of us to access. While I am not a crafty person, I went to Michael’s craft store and thought about making some jewelry as my gift for the other women.

I felt like a diva out of water while looking through the beads.

“How do you get them on a string?” I thought. “I better buy elastic string.”

In the end, I made toe rings! And only one. The others I sent were actually my own jewelry!

I have to get better at crafts, but I’ve received the absolute best gifts at a time when I really needed them. They include, crocheted wall hangings, a 2021 planner, puzzles and much more.

Now, when I run to the mailbox I’m pretty sure there is something special in it. I recommend everyone try this friendly group exercise. Let me know if you want in on my group at janepospybokun@gmail.com.

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The “What I love” winner

Jane Bokun

By Jane Bokun

My last blog talked about how I came to terms with my true love, or what I think about most during Covid quarantine. I asked you to tell me what you love and I heard from you. The most interesting note was from Dan Matthews and I’m shipping a lovely purse for his wife for his trouble.

This is the lovely purse gift for telling me what you love.

Matthews said he always wanted to be an artist and a body builder, but took a blue collar job instead to pay the bills and make more money.

“I love body building,” Matthews says.  “But I really like playing guitar and drawing. I should have gone to school for athletic training, but I messed up by taking my dad’s advice to go into some form of management.”

Indeed, Matthews went to Purdue University and received his bachelors in business.

“I loved the classes, but hated being a manager when I got my first job as a health club manager,” he says.

“While there, I really wanted to help people train with their workouts,” Matthews says.
He also really liked the training and development of people, but could never find a job in corporate America. 

Matthews say he probably never fit the “Bizzness” suit guy look. 

“I’m more of a blue collar wearing boots guy. ”

Matthews is worried he missed his calling in life, but has decided to take some art classes and go back to bodybuilding.

Albert Einstein said, “You never fail until you stop trying.”

People like us should never stop trying and one day, we’ll feel we made it, if only for our perseverance.

#over50chicagolifestyle, northwest Indiana, over 50, Uncategorized

Are your dogs in need of a little quarantine training?

Jane Bokun

By Jane Bokun

Kip Geyer knows exactly what to do with the dogs he trains at Landheim Training & Boarding Center in Indiana.

Geyer is lead trainer at Landheim, which is a large barrack-like building located on a winding stretch of bucolic road. He has been training dogs professionally for more than 25 years and now works under Landheim award-winning owner Bob Fleming.

“I work mainly with German Shepherds,” Geyer said.

The dog lover has more than 20 years training law enforcement K-9 teams in Patrol, Narcotics and Explosives. He has now added PTSD training to his roster.

Even cuties like this can be trained in PTSD

 Anyone who has gone through a life-threatening event can develop PTSD. These events can include: combat; sexual or physical abuse; terrorist attacks; serious accidents; natural disasters, and more.

“We train dogs to sense what’s happening and to block the person suffering from PTSD from any potential problems,” Geyer said.

Dogs literally get in front of their owners and block them from potentially stressful situations. The dogs may look formidable, but they are loving and trained to respond to PTSD symptoms. The dogs provide assistance in a medical crisis; assistance in coping with emotional overload and more. A trained PTSD dog can provide a sense of security and calm.

According to Geyer, PTSD Service Dogs can literally change the life of a veteran or other persons with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD Service dogs can help veterans remain calm by preventing people from crowding around.

In fact all the German Shepherds at Landheim are being trained for different purposes. Some are show dogs, pets and are used as K-9 police dogs. Owners can also train and board their own pets at Landheim.

“Our goal at Landheim is to always offer the latest and best training available,” Fleming said. “All our dogs are trained under the guidelines set by such programs as the American Police Canine Association (APCA), North American Police Work Dog Association (NAPWDA) and more.”

For more information call 219-365-8897 or access info@landheim.com.