Women Today

Women magazine is giving away tickets to the Spring Showcase of New Homes sponsored by the Brown County Home Builders Association.

For your chance to win, see www.mywomenmagazine.com and click on the link under the "Win tickets" heading.

In the latest issue of Women, writer Judy Kneiszel talks about taxes and avoiding an audit. For our blog readers, she also talks about which documents you should be keeping:

Don’t let sloppy record keeping bring you down.

Unlike being arrested where the burden of proof lies with the courts, if you get audited, the burden of proof lies with you. And Internal Revenue Service (IRS) studies show that poor record keeping causes more people to lose audits than taking too many deductions.

Make it a practice to save any and all documents that may have an impact on your federal tax return including:

-- Tax forms (W-2s, 1099s, etc.) and returns from previous years
-- Credit card and other receipts
-- Bank statements
-- Brokerage statements
-- Mutual fund statements
-- Cancelled checks or other proof of payment
-- Invoices
-- Mileage logs
-- Closing statements and other paperwork from real estate purchases

How long should you hang on to these records? Well, the IRS has three years from the filing date to audit a return if it suspects good faith errors.

The three-year deadline also applies if you discover a mistake and decide to file an amended return to claim a refund.

The IRS has six years to challenge your return if it thinks you underreported your gross income by 25 percent or more. There is no time limit if you failed to file your return or filed a fraudulent return.

The IRS doesn’t care how you save your records, but suggests you do it “in an orderly fashion.”

Judy Kneiszel is a freelance writer from De Pere and owns The Word House LLC with her husband, Jim.

Women readers can win tickets to the 2009 Spring Showcase of New Homes from the Brown County Home Builders Association!

Simply visit our Web site at www.mywomenmagazine.com and click on the picture of the beautiful dining room set. Fill out the information and you’ll be eligible for a free pair of tickets.

The 29-home tour will be presented March 7 and 8 and 12 to 15. The homes will be open from 4 to 8 p.m. on weeknights and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the weekends.

For more information see www.bchba.org.

Freelance writer Judy Kneiszel talks about taxes in the most recent issue of Women magazine. For our blog readers, she also explains what they can expect if they get word they're being audited:

There are several types of audits:

--The mail audit is that notice or letter asking you to explain something or requesting additional information.

--The interview audit is an IRS request for you to bring your records and returns to an IRS office for review.

--The field audit is when the auditor visits your office to review your records. This is more common for a business than an individual.

--If you have been selected for an interview or field audit and you have a lawyer or accountant, ask them to attend. Having a trusted financial advisor at your side will make you more comfortable, and might shorten the process a bit, since, hopefully, he or she speaks the same language as the IRS agent.
During an audit, IRS personnel will review your tax returns, receipts, logs and anything you used to compute your returns. Specifically, they will look at four areas:

1. Income: The auditor will want to make sure you reported all income and will ask to look at bank statements, sales records, alimony receipts, pension income, tax refunds and any other funds that came in.

2. Deductions: Over deducting is a common red flag that causes a return to be audited. The auditor will want to see receipts and possibly cancelled checks, credit card statements and any other documentation you can use to back up your deductions.

3. Previous returns: The IRS agent will study previous returns to determine if similar adjustments or deductions have been made. They are looking to see if there is a pattern of trouble.

4. Previous audits: If you have been audited before, the agent will look at the results.

After an audit, the agent will send you a copy of the “Revenue Agent’s Report.” It explains the agent’s analysis and lists any additional money owed.

You can sign the waiver enclosed in the report and pay the tax you owe or, if you disagree with the amount, you can pay the tax, then apply for a refund.

A third option is to request a hearing with the IRS Appellate Division. This takes the audit to the next level for review.

When questions arise, www.IRS.gov is a thorough and easy-to-navigate Web site that provides answers.

“People are afraid of the IRS,” says Green Bay CPA John DeYoung. “But they are not unapproachable.”

Judy Kneiszel is a freelance writer from De Pere and owns The Word House LLC with her husband, Jim. Tomorrow, she'll talk about which documents you should be keeping.

Exuberance and sadness were both part of the latest episode of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” for Kristin Steede of Greenville and Cathy Skell of Shiocton.

Cathy was ecstatic to lose 14 pounds and was cheered on by her teammates when she did so. However, earlier on the show Kristin was sad to no longer be on the same team as cousins Sione and Filipe.

“Sione and Filipe were like her brothers,” Skell says. “They pushed her and they motivated her. She loved working with them because they kept her going.”

The contestants were divided into two new teams after a contest that involved doing up-downs in the mud. For the contestants that did not win, a coin flip determined which trainer they would work with.

Although they are now separated from some of their old teammates, Steede and Skell were able to stay together and continue working with Bob Harper. Skell is happy to keep working with her daughter, and has learned something about her fortitude.

“I did find out that Kristin never even needed me,” Skell says. “Something just clicked in her. She just blew me away. She was on her own and when she exercised she pushed herself to her limits.

“She didn’t even need my encouragement. It was awesome to see her blossom like that.”

This week’s challenge pitted the teams against each other on exercise bikes. It was Skell’s least favorite challenge so far.

“The 24 hours were horrible. You would try to take a cat nap, and you couldn’t sleep in the gym. It was miserable,” she says. “I enjoyed a lot of the challenges, but that was the one that was the toughest.”

After the weigh-in, Skell and Steede’s blue team had to send someone home. Dane, who had lost more than 100 pounds, was chosen.

“Was it a mistake? We’ll never know,” Skell says. “We all got along so well that’s what makes it even harder, but we all realized that each week someone does have to go home.”

Skell's impressive weight loss has generated some doubters on The Biggest Loser blog, who claim she was water-loading before losing so much weight. There were no gimmicks involved, Skell says.

“I had to fight for every pound,” she says. “It would get discouraging when I would get on the scale and have lost only one pound. But I would think, I’m here, I’m eating right so it’s got to come sooner or later.”

Watch the next episode at 7 p.m. Tuesday on NBC.

The next few weekends are filled with opportunities to see the newest homes in the area.

The 2009 Winter Wonderland of Homes from the Valley Home Builders Association will be presented tonight through Sunday. Tickets may be purchased at the Valley Home Builders Association office at 920 W. Association Drive, Grand Chute, or at any of the homes on the tour and are $10 for adults and $5 for children.

One ticket grants admission to all 52 homes on the tour. To see the homes, check out page 16 of Women magazine at www.mywomenmagazine.com.

For maps and more information, see www.vhba.com or call 920-731-7931.

The Brown County Home Builders Association will present its 2009 Spring Showcase of New Homes March 7 and 8 and 12 to 15. Tickets are $10 at homes on the tour or $8 in advance at the Brown County Home Builder’s Association, 811 Packerland Drive.

To see the homes, check out page 22 of Women magazine at www.mywomenmagazine.com. For more information, see www.bchaba.org.

Women readers have the opportunity to win tickets to the Brown County event by registering at www.mywomenmagazine.com.

In the latest issue of Women, writer Judy Kneiszel shared some advice with our readers about how to avoid an audit (See A Taxing Time of Year at www.mywomenmagazine.com).

In addition to the tips offered in the article, she offers some advice on what to do when Uncle Sam writes to you:

The IRS sends millions of letters to taxpayers each year, mostly about issues that can be resolved quickly and painlessly.

An IRS letter usually covers a specific issue about an account or tax return and provides instructions on how to satisfy the inquiry.

The first step is to compare the letter with the information on the return in question. Then, if you agree with the correction to your account, no reply is necessary unless a payment is due.

“Most people who file their own returns and receive a letter like that just pay up because they don’t want any more hassle,” ntoes Green Bay CPA John DeYoung.

You can fight it, however. If you do not agree with the IRS correction, respond as instructed, usually in writing. Include any documents and information you want the IRS to consider, along with the bottom tear-off portion of the notice.

Mail the information to the IRS address provided in the notice. Allow at least a month for a response.

Most IRS letters don’t require you to call or visit an IRS office, as long as you follow the instructions in the letter. If you have questions, call the IRS at 800-829-1040.

Have a copy of your tax return and any IRS correspondence in front of you when you call. Keep all correspondence from the IRS with your records.

Judy Kneiszel is a freelance writer from De Pere and owns The Word House LLC with her husband, Jim. Tomorrow, she'll explain what happens during an audit.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit with this month's Women cover lady, Ellen Binnema. Ellen and her husband, Dirk, are natives of Holland who own the Planeview Travel Plaza on Highway 41 south of Oshkosh, and it was great to see her enthusiasm when we talked about their life in Wisconsin.

One tidbit of information I didn't have room for in the story was how Dirk and Ellen met. It's a cute story and I'm happy to share it with our blog readers:

Finding pasture and more

When she was 15 and living with her aunt and uncle in Holland, Ellen Binnema wanted to have horses at their farm.

First, however, she needed to find a pasture for them. There was no pastureland on her aunt and uncle’s property, so she had to look elsewhere.

She found the pasture she needed at the farm next door, which was owned by the parents of Dirk Binnema.

After meeting through Ellen’s quest to find pasture for her horses, Dirk and Ellen became friends and eventually began dating.

“It was more off and on because we both traveled. He especially traveled a lot and was gone for a long time,” Ellen says. “But we always stayed in touch with each other. The time that I went to America to visit him, that was when the turning point when we really stuck together.”

Dirk and Ellen were married on June 1, 2007, and live near Oshkosh. To read more about Ellen, see the latest issue of Women magazine at www.mywomenmagazine.com.

Women readers have the chance to win some great prizes from the American Heart Association: a love your heart tote bag, a mini tote or one of five heart healthy recipe books.

For a chance to win, send the answers to the questions below to: Contest, Women magazine, 1486 Kenwood Center, Menasha, WI 54952.

All answers are in this month’s issue of Women (see www.mywomenmagazine.com). Here are a few hints:

Which truck stop does Ellen Binnema own? See page 6
What is Judy Dillenburg’s job? See page 20
Where did Channel 5’s Wendy Neuberger meet her fiancé? See page 29
Finish this quote from CPA Mary Rimple: “If you have deductions, _________________________________.” See page 12
Name one thing you should look for in a new home. See page 13

The entry deadline is March 9.

Today guest blogger Brenda Velissaris of Saris Counseling in Appleton offers seven ways couples can improve communication in their relationship:

Within any personal relationship disagreements will arise from time to time. This is a normal part of any relationship.

When I meet with couples who are struggling in their relationship, I have found that one of the core problems is poor communication. Whether the issue at hand is petty or serious is really irrelevant; what is important is how each person responds to and resolves the conflict.

A person’s response and the resolution to the situation will either make or shake the foundation of the relationship.

I have found that in order for improvements to occur the following techniques should be practiced each day. It takes effort but the results are worth it in the end:

1) Work on listening skills and avoid interrupting your partner. Give them your full attention by avoiding any distractions.

2) When speaking choose words carefully to avoid being misunderstood. Always ask for clarification if you are unclear about something.

3) Detach your emotions from the conversation. Emotions can be heightened in tense moments, which leads to further conflict.

If things get too emotional walk away, regroup and talk it out with logical at a later time.

4) Winning isn’t everything. Communicating with your partner is not a game, so don’t go into a argument thinking you have to win.

Instead realize that true success comes from resolution, teamwork and compromise.

5) Speak honestly from the heart.

6) Treat your partner as you wish to be treated.

7) Realize that it takes two in a relationship.

Rather then playing the blame game with your partner, look for how the two of you can resolve the situation.

When using these techniques it is important to do so in an environment that is free from distraction and interruption.

Most importantly, make room in your life for have “couple time.” No partnership can effectively work let alone flourish if you’re not together.

Nurture your relationship by taking time out of the busy schedule for each other. This makes such a big difference in the quality of the relationship.

I hope you take this information this week, share it with your partner and have fun making changes with your communication style.

Warmly,

Brenda
www.sariscounseling.com

Congratulations to the most recent winners in our cookbook and tote bag contest:

Carol Smith of Appleton, Judy Laboy of Appleton, Helen Wittkop of Eden, Karen Laabs of Kaukauna, Virginia Sell of New London, Beth Kunitz of Cecil, Carole Frank of Combined Locks, Dorothy Knauer of Fond du Lac, Miriam Chavira of Appleton, Marian Harra of Oshkosh, Sue Romero of Green Bay and Lucille Langenohl of Wauwatosa.

Several of the women who entered last month's contest noted that the issue of heart disease had special meaning for them.

Dorothy Knauer of Fond du Lac wrote:
"I am a long-time reader of your publication and I enjoy it thoroughly. Your articles in the February issue are of special interest to me as I, too, have heart disease and realize the struggles that women have when displaying symptoms and trying to get the attention needed by the medical professionals. Thanks for your well-written articles on all subjects."

Carol Smith of Appleton, who won a tote bag in the contest and gave me a hug when I dropped it off for her, wrote us this note:

"On Feb. 16, 2002, my husband had a heart attack. Two weeks later another attack which meant bypass surgery. He was 64 years old and by age 67 needed a pacemaker. Thirteen months later he passed away at age 68. We were married 48 years and moved to Appleton in 2000. My husband's father passed away at age 44 from a stroke. My father had a fatal heart attack at 65, two months after retiring. I've worn red on Go Red day for the past three years. I'm a Badger fan, and wear my husband's red T-shirt.
"To the staff at Women magazine, real great information in each issue."

Thanks to all who entered our contest. Our readers will have another chance to win in the issue that hits distribution racks tomorrow. Watch our blog for contest information and hints.

Today our friends at Unity hospice, which has been offering comfort and care for more than three decades, offer information on how palliative care, which strives to reduce the severity of disease symptoms, can help people with heart failure:

February is recognized as Heart Month across the nation and it’s no wonder -- heart failure touches many lives.

Almost 5 million people in the United States have heart failure and more than 600,000 people develop new heart failure each year.

Heart failure itself is not a disease, but rather a weakening of the heart caused by other diseases and conditions (including high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, diabetes and cardiomyopathy) that have damaged the heart.

Although people can experience different levels of severity, heart failure can leave people seriously weakened with multiple debilitating symptoms.

Common symptoms of heart failure include weakness, lightheadedness, or dizziness; a rapid heart rate even while resting; fatigue; a change in skin tone; retention of body fluids; weight gain; nausea and poor appetite; shortness of breath; and pain and pressure in the chest.

A diagnosis of heart failure doesn’t mean there aren’t ways in which individuals can be supported to better manage these effects and the impact they have on their lives. Palliative care is designed to offer that support.

Nationwide, one of the leading diagnoses of patients who choose palliative care is heart failure. More and more families are turning to palliative care because it provides support that goes above and beyond that traditionally provided to patients in hospitals.

Psychosocial and spiritual suffering brought on by multidrug regimes, while out of the cardiologist’s typical scope of treatment, for example, can be addressed by the social workers and chaplains who are part of the palliative program’s interdisciplinary team.

Without the need for a physician’s referral to the program, palliative care provides patients and families with the choice to seek support when it is appropriate for them.

As conditions worsen, people with heart failure often find themselves making more frequent visits to the hospital. Annually, there are 1 million hospitalizations due to heart failure. It is also the leading admission for the elderly population.

Palliative care can help coordinate care for these individuals, ensuring that their hospital visits are less frequent.

Care can include help with medication administration, dietary and fluid intake, coordination of daily weigh-ins and physician visits, in-home assistance with bath care and household management, and oversight of home safety when weakness can make tripping hazards more prevalent and mobilization aids necessary.

As designed, palliative care helps heart failure patients gain an improved quality of life and put their focus on better managing the diseases and conditions that have affected their heart.

Today’s bleak economic reports are good news for comedienne Jane Condon.

“Everyone’s blaming the economy,” she says. “It’s the best excuse God ever created.

“Honey, I want you to take out the trash. I can’t do it. It’s the economy.”

Condon will be featured at Appleton’s Grand Meridian on Friday at the A Time to Laugh Dinner Gala and Comedy Fundraiser. The event will raise money for Harbor House Domestic Abuse Programs, 720 W. Fifth St., Appleton.

Condon keeps her act clean, using marriage and family life as fodder for her comedy.

“I’m not the world’s best mom,” she says, “but I’m one of the more entertaining ones."

It’s not just her life that she uses to make people laugh. Some of some of her lines were inspired by audience members.

“I like to ask the audience how long they’ve been married,” she says. “One British guy once answered, ‘Eighteen years, but with the wind chill it feels like 22.’ ”

Condon performs two or three times per week and loves being onstage. Her career has taken off thanks to her blend of quick and the chutzpah.

“I’m very happy when I’m onstage, that’s my happy place,” she says. “I have a sister who’s funnier than I am, but she’d never get onstage.”

For tickets to Condon’s appearance in Appleton, more information on A Time to Laugh, or to make a secure online donation, see Harbor House's Website at www.harborhouseonline.org.

Congratulations to Terri Refsguard, executive director of the New Community Shelter who received the Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership Award at the Brown County United Way Annual Meeting & Recognition Luncheon yesterday.

Refsguard was nominated for the award by the staff and board of directors of the New Community Shelter. The Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership award was created to annually honor a nonprofit executive in Brown County who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership, initiative and management skills, and has served as an example and stimulated other to act in ways that significantly improve the quality of life in our community.

The award was a surprise to Refsguard, but it wasn’t a surprise to any of the New Community Shelter representatives attending the luncheon as a tribute to Refsgard and this well deserved honor.

Those attending the luncheon representing the New Community Shelter were: Tom Olejniczak, Dick Danen, Scott King, Eric Siudzinski, Paul Schierl, Sheri Prosser, Paul Greene, Pat Dickenshied, Gary Ziegelbauer, Jeffery Johnson, Keith Pamperin, Judy Pieschek, Barbara Rueckl, Abby Brezinski, Tami Frea, Kris Olson, Ann Nehring, Melissa Malcore, Jessica Smurawa, Angela Deuchert & Janet Van Dreel.

“It was truly a privilege for our entire New Community Shelter team to nominate a true Community Leader,” says Tom Olejniczak, board president.

“Terri is a person with solid judgment and leadership skills and she cares deeply about the role the New Community Shelter plays in addressing the very basic needs in our community. She truly demonstrates exemplary leadership and service to the community and embraces, articulates and furthers the mission of the shelter. We are very proud.”

Here's a look at the nomination form submitted for Refsgard:

United Way Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership Award Nomination of Terri Refsguard believes in an individual's obligation to help his or her community, and how this can be accomplished according to Refsguard is by helping people, help themselves.

After spending most of her professional career working in the non-profit world, Refsguard has the insight, determination, compassion and intellect that make her an amazing Nonprofit Leader.

Terri’s entire professional career has been dedicated to working in the nonprofit sector. For the past five years, Refsguard is making a difference with regard to homelessness and how it is perceived as the Executive Director of the New Community Shelter in Green Bay.

Helping the underprivileged remains her passion. She has always maintained that she never feels sorry for the individuals she has worked so hard to help because she can’t fully respect a person she feels sorry for – instead she feels compassion and excited for the person that walks through the doors of the New Community Shelter.

The day a person has decided that they need to come to the New Community Shelter, it may be one of the worst days in that persons’ life. However, Refsguard is excited because it is the beginning of a new start – as long as that person is willing to help them self. Refsguard has high expectations of each resident, but one of the first things people should know when they arrive is they will be treated with respect and dignity during their stay.

It is clear to understand the passion she has for her cause, especially when you listen to her talk about the New Community Shelter and homelessness. She believes that anyone can become homeless, but ending homelessness must begin with the understanding that people who are or have been homeless are our neighbors and members of our community. Public perceptions and attitudes toward persons experiencing homelessness or in danger of becoming homeless need to change in order for positive, long-term solutions to be realized.

Since she arrived at the New Community Shelter many things have changed! A new facility was built; the entire structure of the organization changed; many new partnerships have been established and existing partnerships strengthened. She is an integral member on the Mayor’s Task Force to address Chronic Homelessness and via this assignment, continues to expand and begin new programming that will help this most vulnerable population in our community.

However, if you ask Terri Refsguard why the organization is successful she will quickly give credit to others. She always says she is fortunate because she surrounds herself with intelligent and qualified people that make things happen. Many people associated with her will say it is her charisma, intelligence, determination, and success that make her someone they want to be associated with….and an Excellent Nonprofit Leader!

Musicians in Northeast Wisconsin have a shot at national exposure when Garrison Keillor broadcasts "A Prairie Home Companion" from the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center next month.

Keillor is seeking local musicians for his March 28
performance im downtown Appleton. He'll do a live broadcast of "A Prairie Home Companion" and will later deliver "APHC: Off The Air with Garrison Keillor."

Right now he's looking for talented local musicians and musical groups to be featured on the live broadcast, which begins at 4:45 p.m.

This is a great opportunity for a local musician or group to be featured nationally on a program that is broadcast to more than 4 million people on 580 radio stations.

Keillor is the host and writer of "A Prairie Home Companion" and "The Writer's Almanac" heard on public radio stations across the country. The March 28 performance will also feature comedy sketches, music and Keillor's signature monologue, "The News from Lake Wobegon."

Submissions should be sent directly to "A Prairie Home Companion" and need to be received by 5 p.m. March 9. Those interested should send a few tracks of their best material.

In order to submit information to "A Prairie Home Companion"®, you must be at least 13 years old. For more information, visit prairiehome.org.

After the live broadcast, Keillor will also host a second, non-taped show at the PAC starting at 8:30 p.m. "APHC: Off The Air with Garrison Keillor" will offer familiar monologues, tongue-in-cheek humor and the music of Guy's All-Star Shoe Band, just like in the broadcast performances.

Due to the popularity of this performance, there is an eight-ticket limit.

Tickets for "APHC: Off The Air with Garrison Keillor" start at $35 and are available now by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-982-2787 or the Center's ticket office at 920-730-3760.

Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center's ticket office or online at foxcitiespac.com.

Groups of 15 or more can save by calling 920-730-3786. Additional fees may apply when ordering by phone or online.

"A Prairie Home Companion" with Garrison Keillor and "APHC: Off The Air with Garrison Keillor" are part of the Boldt Arts Alive! series, which is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts. "A Prairie Home Companion" with Garrison Keillor is locally sponsored by Miller Electric Mfg. Co. "A Prairie Home Companion"® is nationally sponsored by General Mills and Ford.

The four participants selected for the first Fox Cities Financial Makeover Challenge have been working diligently with counselors from the Financial Information and Service Center (FISC) to achieve their goals by the April 15 deadline.

The four participants in the Fox Cities Financial Makeover Challenge are:
-- Adam and Stephanie Jackels of Freedom – whose goals are to reduce spending, to put more money into savings and retirement, and to work together on budgeting and financial decisions.
-- Shari Martzahl of Menasha – whose goals include balancing her budget, paying off credit card debt, and finding additional income while cutting expenses.
-- Kevin and Lisa Mroczkowski of Appleton – whose goals are to work together on finances, to live within their income, and to begin a plan to become debt free.
-- Tim and Rita Braun of Neenah – whose goals include changing exemptions to put money into their children’s school fund, discontinuing their practice of paying extra on house payments and putting that money into savings instead, and starting a spending plan with separate cash envelopes for each of their monthly bills.

Goodwill NCW has produced separate videos about each of these finalists. The four videos can be viewed on FISC’s Web site at www.fisc-cccs.org.

The Challenge is designed to help local families improve their financial situations. Participants meet one-on-on with financial counselors, who help them set goals and build strategies to increase their savings, reduce their debt, and reduce their expenses.

Mary Novak, FISC’s Counseling Services Coordinator, says the participants have been meeting on a regular basis with counselors to review their progress and make adjustments to their plan.

The family that comes the closest to meeting its goal before the April 15 deadline will be named the winner of the Financial Makeover Challenge and receive a cash prize of $1,000. The other three participants will each receive a $250 cash prize.

FISC, which is a program of Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin (NCW), has been given a $4,000 grant through the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region to cover counseling and other costs related to the Challenge.

“All of the participants will benefit from this experience,” Novak said. “They will not only learn how to improve their immediate financial situation but also take with them some life-changing financial behaviors that they can use forever.”

In addition to FISC, the following Fox Cities partners are cosponsoring the first Fox Cities Financial Makeover Challenge: Appleton Area School District, Appleton Public Library, Best Advantage Credit Union, Brillion High School, Capital Credit Union, Catholic Charities Budget Counseling (Green Bay Diocese), Citizens Bank, Community First Credit Union, Fox Communities Credit Union, Fox Valley Technical College, Freedom High School, Hortonville High School, Kaukauna School District, Kimberly School District, Lakeview Credit Union, Little Chute High School, Neenah Joint School District, Pitney Bowes, The Post-Crescent, Postal Annex – Menasha, Prospera Credit Union, School District of New London, School District of Shiocton, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Unison Credit Union, UW Extension – Outagamie County, and Watters Financial Group through the Community Foundation.

Kristin Steede of Greenville and Cathy Skell of Shiocton survived another week on "The Biggest Loser" and had a great time doing it.

They had to work out outdoors this week, since they were not one of two teams who got the keys to the gym in this week's challenge. The teams were required to climb a mountain to choose a set of keys from among 130 that were there, and Steede and Skell were not able to unlock the gym door.

For a stress reliever, Steede saw that the sprinklers were on at the ranch and decided to run through them. Pretty soon a bunch of contestants were doing belly flops and having a great time.

"It was hilarious," says Stephanie Price, Kristin's sister.

Since they couldn't go to the gym, the Fox Cities competitors worked out at the beach. Steede gave it her all as she ran in the sand and carried oil drums for her workout.

Steede's efforts were rewarded with a 12-pound weight loss. Her mother lost one pound, and the women avoided elimination. Shannon, from the pink team, left the ranch.

The next episode will be broadcast at 7 p.m. Tuesday on NBC.

Donna Steinke of Appleton was one of the winners in our Agea Spa gift certificate contest that was featured on the Women Web site in January.

She recently wrote to say that the prize was the bright spot in a tough time for her.

Here's what Donna had to endure over six months:

-- Losing her job.
-- Having a deer run into the side of her car.
-- Car repairs.
-- Christmas expenses.
-- Taxes due.
-- Insurance due.
-- Frigid cold means higher heat bills.
-- And she's turning 50 in March.

With all that, she says she's experiencing "a bit of stress." We're happy that the spa gift certificate was able to shine a ray of light into that dark time.

I gave Donna a call yesterday to get an update on how she was doing, and she said her spa visit was indeed wonderful. She had a relaxing time at the spa, and is also seeing more bright spots in her life.

There's a part-time job and hopefully school on the horizon. She's upbeat about her future and has a positive attitude toward all the possibilities that await.

It's great to see her doing better, and we're pleased she was able to enjoy a little bit of pampering to get her through a rough patch.

If you're looking for something different to do, Women has another contest on its Web site for you to enter. We're giving away tickets to the Brown County Home Builder's Spring Showcase of New Homes. Visit our Web site, and you could also be a winner!

Today guest blogger Joye Moon, an artist and author from Oshkosh, checks in with a recap of her recent trip to Costa Rica. She led a group on an excursion there from Jan. 26 to Feb. 5:

Our trip was a wonderful experience!

The group of 25 people was scheduled to visit the Poas Volcano, but because of the recent earthquake in that area we toured an amazing orchid garden instead.

We also toured the famous Sarchi Village where handcrafts are still being made as they were centuries ago.

To get to our second location, the group first traveled by bus and then by flat bottom boat for almost two hours to reach the Evergreen Lodge at Tortuguero.

Tortuguero means "turtle catcher." This is where Hawksbill and Leatherback turtles go to lay their eggs.

We each had our own cabin made of wood that stood on top of platforms and were all connected by walkways and bridges. We were totally inside the rain forest but we were fortunate to have two completely sunny days to enjoy.

We took many boat tours on the river to see wildlife such as crocodiles, howler monkeys, and birds of all kinds.

On the way to Tortuguero, we stopped at a banana factory to watch how they harvest and get the bananas ready for shipping. (We also got to taste fresh coconut milk an old man was selling. He also had the largest wood beetle we have ever seen!)

The group relocated to the Arenal Volcano area for several more days. On the way, we stopped at the Tirimbina Rainforest Center for our chocolate tour.

This site was an ancient cacao-tree plantation. How exciting it was to walk along a quarter-mile long suspension bridge in the pouring rain to get back into this location.

The bonus was the organic chocolate we sampled at the end of the tour. We also visited a beautiful butterfly garden while in this area.

At Arenal, we visited the town of La Fortuna and spent Super Bowl evening at the Titoku Hot Springs. Most of us soaked in the hot theraputic waters but five people just had to watch the game!

We each had our own house once again at this wonderful hotel/spa location.

The group then moved to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. We arranged ahead of time to visit homes of women who make all sorts of handcrafted items. This group is called Casem, Committee of Artisans of Santa Elena and Monteverde. We were very honored to be invited into their homes and saw demonstrations of embroidery, sewing, jewelry and painting.

At one house, the woman must have baked all morning because she served us all cake and Costa Rican coffee. This was a very memorable event.

The group toured the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and had the chance to see the elusive quetzel bird.

Ten brave souls did the zip line tour. This was an amazing experience and we all survived. We did 16 zip lines high above the rain forest floor, one rapelling line and one Tarzan swing at the end.

It was an exhilarating experience and we all wanted to do it again!

There was some painting going on but not much since we were very busy taking in all the sights. Many of us took lots of photographs to be used as reference for paintings later.

The group then moved back to San Jose to our original hotel for one last night. Our guide, German, pronounced, Herman, was 36 years old and a great guide!

The group left for home the next morning and Dave and I continued our journey to the Nicoya Peninsula. We enjoyed the beach for a week, watching surfers and boogie boarders all day. We rented a car for one day and toured the area by Montezuma, Mal Pais and Santa Teresa.

It was hard to return home to the cold weather of Wisconsin but "There's no place like home".

Jane Condon’s job on Feb. 27 is to make people forget.

The comedienne, who was voted the "Audience Favorite" on the 2007 season of NBC's Last Comic Standing, will be featured at the fifth annual A Time to Laugh Dinner Gala and Comedy Fundraiser at the Grand Meridian in Appleton. The event will raise money for Harbor House Domestic Abuse Programs, 720 W. Fifth St., Appleton.

“I give them a night off,” says Condon, who pokes fun at what’s going on in the world as well as her own life as she helps her audience forget their troubles.

“I just like to make it a big fun girl’s night out,” she says. “Save yourself. Forget the children for one night.”

Condon, who grew up in a blue collar town in Massachusetts and now lives in Greenwich, Conn., got her start as a comedian at a fund raising event for her son’s nursery school.

“I went over to my girlfriend’s house, stood on a Fischer Price table and did a few jokes for her,” Condon says.

The picnic table platform wasn’t the first time Condon’s ability for comedy was evident. She’s always had a knack for being funny, or at least for being talkative.

“My family would pay me not to talk,” she says. “On rides to the beach they would pay me a dime not to talk.”

She usually had to give up the dime, however, as she just could not stay quiet. Her gift for gab earned her the title of second funniest in her high school, and losing out on the top spot motivated her.

“That put fire in my belly,” she says. “Who’s going to Appleton, Wisconsin, now?”

Her performing career began in the late 1980s, when the suburban mom began appearing at comedy clubs on the East Coast. She soon fell in love with performing.

“It’s such a pleasure,” she says. “It’s like being in a sandbox and you invite people into the sandbox with you. It’s like being a kid again. You’re trying to make sense of the world around you I feel very lucky to do this job.”

She was reminded of the importance of the ability to make people laugh when a woman came up to her after she did her routine at a fund raising event. The woman’s son had lung cancer, and she commented that for half an hour Condon’s performance had made her forget her worries about her son’s condition.
“That’s why I perform,” Condon says.

For tickets to Condon’s appearance in Appleton, more information on A Time to Laugh, or to make a secure online donation, see Harbor House's Website at www.harborhouseonline.org.

This sauce goes great with the Mojo Cooking Style recipe featured on Page 22 of the latest issue of Women magazine.

Hot Honey Citrus Sauce

Ingredients

2 tablespoons wasabi powder

½ cup orange juice

1 cup orange marmalade

½ cup honey

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Directions
Dissolve the wasabi powder in the orange juice in a bowl using a wire whisk. Add the marmalade, honey and Dijon mustard and whisk until blended.

Here's the Mojo Cooking Style recipe:

Ingredients

5 ½ cups warm water

Juice of ½ orange

Juice of ½ lime

3 tablespoons finely chopped onion

1 tablespoon finely chopped celery

1 tablespoon finely chopped carrot

1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

2 tablespoons kosher salt

1 tablespoon freshly ground pepper

Directions
Whisk the water, orange juice, lime juice, onion, celery, carrot, garlic, cilantro, salt and pepper in a bowl until combined. Pour into a fondue pot. Bring to a rapid simmer over medium-high heat. Thread a piece of meat or vegetable on a fondue fork. Cook in the broth to the desired degree of doneness. Serve with your favorite sauce.

Recipes courtesy "Dip into Something Different: A collection of recipes from our fondue pot to yours; the fondue cookbook from the Melting Pot, Inc." Copies can be found at Melting Pot restaurant locations nationwide and online at www.amazon.com.

We continue our romantic recipes with a Love Martini:

Love Martini

Ingredients

1 strawberry

1 ½ ounces coconut-flavored rum

1 ounce peach schnapps

2 ounces cranberry juice

Directions
Remove the stem from the strawberry. Slice the strawberry and cut a small “V” in the top of each slice to create a heart shape. Place several ice cubes in a cocktail shaker and add the rum, schnapps and cranberry juice. Shake until chilled. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with the strawberry slices.

Recipe courtesy "Dip into Something Different: A collection of recipes from our fondue pot to yours; the fondue cookbook" from the Melting Pot, Inc. Copies can be found at Melting Pot restaurant locations nationwide and online at www.amazon.com.

Cathy Skell of Shiocton and Kristin Steede of Greenville, a mother-daughter team competing to be The Biggest Loser, won the show's challenge Tuesday night to stay in the competition.

"While I was watching the show on Tuesday, I couldn't help but think Kristin and my mom would win the challenge," says Stephanie Price of Shiocton.

The women were required to hold a bar in the air, and the contest went on late into the night.

"They were saying it was only 34 degrees out and everyone was dropping like flies, but they are Wisconsin girls!" Price says. "I love Kristin's attitude."

The weigh-in did not go well for the team, but because they had won the challenge they had immunity and did not have to worry about leaving the ranch. At the weigh-in, Kristin gained two pounds and Cathy lost two.

"I know Kristin had some back issues and she wasn't able to work out as hard as she would have wanted to," Price comments. "There is no doubt in my mind that they will kick it into high gear next week!"

Watch the show at 7 p.m. Tuesdays on NBC. For more information on the show, including episode recaps, see http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser/.

This delicious romantic recipe comes to us from our friends at The Melting Pot:

The Flaming Turtle

Ingredients

12 ounces milk chocolate, finely chopped

2 tablespoons heavy cream

¼ cup caramel ice cream topping

1 tablespoon 151 rum

3 tablespoons chopped pecans

Directions
Combine the chocolate and cream in the top of a double boiler set over simmering water. Heat until the chocolate is melted, stirring constantly; or combine the chocolate and cream in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave until melted, stirring every 30 to 45 seconds.

Be careful not to let the chocolate burn. Pour into a warm fondue pot. Pour the caramel into the center of the chocolate mixture. Do not stir. Add the rum to the pot and ignite carefully, using a long wooden match or lighter. Allow the flame to burn out and stir gently to combine. Sprinkle with the pecans. Keep fondue warm over low heat.

Recipe from: "Dip into Something Different: A collection of recipes from our fondue pot to yours; the fondue cookbook from the Melting Pot, Inc." Copies can be found at Melting Pot restaurant locations nationwide and online at www.amazon.com.

Our friends at the Melting Pot provided us with a delicious recipe for our Valentine gift ideas in the latest issue of Women magazine. This week we'll be featuring additional romantic recipes on our blog.

We hope you enjoy them!

Feng Shui Fondue

Ingredients

1 ½ cups (6 ounces) shredded Butterkäse

1 ½ cups (6 ounces) shredded Fontina cheese

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

½ cup white wine

¼ cup dry sake

¼ cup rice wine

2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic

2 teaspoons finely chopped shallots

2 teaspoons crushed red pepper

2 tablespoons chopped scallions

Directions
Toss the Butterkäse and Fontina cheese with the flour in a bowl. Place a metal bowl over a saucepan filled with 2 inches of water. You may also use a conventional double boiler. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a medium and pour the white wine, sake and rice wine into the bowl. Stir in the garlic, shallots and red pepper using a fork. Cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.

Add half the cheese blend and cook until the cheese is melted, stirring constantly. Add the remaining cheese blend a small amount at a time, stirring constantly in a circular motion after each addition until the cheese is melted. Pour into a warm fondue pot and keep warm over low heat. Garnish with the scallions.

Today, guest blogger Brenda Velissaris encourages us to focus on our strengths, and explains how that can lead to a fulfilling life:

“Never apologize for what you do well,” someone once told me.

I remember laughing uncomfortably at the comment, but I made a mental note of the statement and have carried it with me ever since.

I was uncomfortable because I didn’t see the thing I was doing as a strength. Even if it was, I thought that it was arrogant to acknowledge something that I did well. I know differently now.

Our culture puts too much focus on our weaknesses in a vain attempt to improve them. This will never work, as we may mildly improve a weakness but it will never become a strength.

Rather than urging people to work on their weaknesses, I first encourage them to accept themselves for who they are, weaknesses and all.

Then I have them put the time and energy in using and sharing their strengths with others. I have found that these are two crucial components to living a fulfilled life.

However, they are also the most difficult to do.

Accepting yourself for who you truly are comes from within. It is about being comfortable in your own skin and loving yourself unconditionally. It’s about reassuring yourself when you are nervous or scared.

It’s also about turning off the negative thinking that runs through your head. It’s about being able to laugh at yourself and admit that you have faults.

Strengths are something that we are born with and often forget about as we age and focus on the busyness of life.

It takes some self-exploration to reconnect with, or even identify, a strength. Look at your life, past and present, and list everything that you are naturally good at. It is not about whether you like it or not but rather that you are good at it.

Then ask an array of loved ones (parents, siblings and friends) what they think you are naturally good at and what they have been able to rely on you for.

This gives you another perspective because sometimes we don’t realize what we are good at. Make sure you write everything down. When you are done review what has been compiled and look for commonalities. These are your strengths.

Focus upon what your strong points are from now on. In combination with self-acceptance and the work you do, you will gain confidence and have a more rewarding fulfilled life.

Warmly,

Brenda

Our friends at Unity Hospice share some important information with Women readers in their bi-monthly blog entry:

Many people associate hospice with cancer. When the hospice movement began in the mid 1970s, cancer patients accounted for the majority of hospice admissions.

Today, individuals of all ages, afflicted with a variety of illnesses, find support from teams of caregivers.

Cancer diagnoses today equal less than half of all hospice admissions, with heart disease the second-most terminal illness served by hospice. Other patients, served by the nation’s hospice programs, were admitted with diagnoses of unspecified debility (11.2%); dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease (10.1%); lung disease, including chronic (7.9%); obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke or coma (3.8%); kidney disease, including end stage renal disease (2.6%); motor neuron diseases, including ALS (2.3%); liver disease (2.0%); and HIV/AIDS (0.6%).

The nation’s hospice programs serve patients with such varied diagnoses because the plans of care are individualized to meet the needs of each person and their family. Despite a similar illness, no two patients are truly cared for in the same manner.

The length of support can differ for each individual, with many programs bringing supportive skilled care to the patient at the onset of illness through palliative care.

With the same focus on comfort and holistic wellbeing as hospice, palliative care helps patients attain symptom management when curative treatment has only just begun, putting their focus back on overcoming the illness and gaining an improved quality of life.

In honor of Heart Month, we will look next time at the support palliative programs can provide to individuals afflicted with heart failure.

No doubt about it, “Wicked’ is big. From the enormous dragon hanging over the stage and oversized gears hanging at its sides to the backdrops, bridges and dramatic lighting, this is a huge production to be dropped on the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in downtown Appleton.

There are some shows bring that Broadway feeling with them when they travel, and this is one of them. The detailed costuming, large ensemble dance numbers and those finely tuned voices of the show’s leads let you know that Oz, like Dorothy’s house, picks up and travels well.

The play is a skillfully told prequel of the familiar “Wizard of Oz” film. But although the staging enveloped me as I sat in the audience Thursday night, it was the story of friendship that truly carried the show. This solid foundation gives the story its heart offers a simple message that stands out amidst all the glitz surrounding it.

Donna Vivino plays Elphaba, who will come to be known as the Wicked Witch, and Katie Rose Clarke plays Glinda, who will become the Good Witch. They begin the play as determined enemies, a fact cleverly established in the song “What Is This Feeling?” However, a solid friendship develops and is tested by love, ambition and the Wizard himself.

The play skillfully answers some questions not cleared up by the movie, such as where the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion and Scarecrow came from, and looking back on the production it’s interesting to see the hints that were dropped during the show. The show also offers some commentary, quite thought-provoking for a musical, on just what “good” means.

I loved the play’s amusing dialogue, but it’s the big production numbers that I’d go back for. The opening sequence, “No One Mourns the Wicked,” and “Defying Gravity” scene at the end of the first act had me wishing I was holding my DVR remote so I could rewind the actors and watch them all over again.

I attended the play with my 15-year-old daughter, and this was an evening we’d both been waiting for since 2007, when it was announced that “Wicked” would be coming to the Fox Cities. We agreed that it was a fabulous production, and now we can’t wait to see it again.

Limited tickets are available. They start at $56 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-982-2787 or online at foxcitiespac.com. Additional fees will apply when ordering by phone or online.

A day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of seats will be held daily for "Wicked," which will be at the Fox Cities PAC through Feb. 28.

Each day, 2 1/2 hours before show time, people who present themselves at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center ticket office will have their names placed in a lottery drum. Thirty minutes later, names will be drawn for a limited number of seats at $25 each, cash only.

This lottery is available only in-person at the box office, with a limit of two tickets per person. Tonight’s performance of "Wicked" will not have a lottery due to the Wonderfully Wicked gala.

Tuesday through Friday performances are at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday performances are at 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

On Feb. 26, there will be a 2 p.m. matinee performance. There is also a performance on Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m.
For more from star Donna Vivino, see http://www.mywomenmagazine.com/blogs/blog1.php/2009/02/04/donna-vivino-talks-about-starring-role-a.

For a look at some of the people at Thursday night's performance, see Out and About at http://mywomenmagazine.com/modules/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=1247.

Today is National Wear Red Day, which reminds women to take care of their heart. In honor of this day, we're asking women to share their stories of Heart Health.

Send use your heart-related story by commenting below or sending your thoughts to Women editor Terri Dougherty at tdoughery@jcpgroup.com.

We're also encouraging women to keep their heart healthy with the Go Red Checkup. The online assessment will help you determine your risk of heart disease.

For your personal risk assessment, visit www.GoRedForWomen.org. This is a powerful life-affirming step you can take toward having a healthy heart.

This week’s challenge on NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” had contestants tethered together as they struggled to unravel a rope that was wrapped around a large beam.

Part-way through the challenge that involved crawling over and under the beam, Kristin Steede of Greenville hurt her back. She didn’t let the pain stop her.

“She could not actually hurdle herself over because her back injury was so bad,” says her mom, Cathy Skell of Shiocton, who is teamed with her daughter in the weigh-loss contest. “We found way to work together and pull on the harnesses.

“Kristin will never show if she’s in pain, she fights through it.”

The pair didn’t win the challenge, which would have given them cash or a two-pound advantage at the weigh-in, but their hard week that work at the ranch paid off. Steede lost 11 pounds and Skell lost 5, keeping them in the running for the $250,000 grand prize for one more week.

Steede did not realize she had done so well until the weigh-in, and when her mom saw how successful she had been she could not help but get emotional.

“It’s the motherly feelings,” Skell says. “To see her do so well at something she wants so badly.”

This was Skell’s first week back at the ranch after a month at home. After the first week of the contest, one member of each team was sent home and was allowed to return if their teammate was still at the ranch.

“I had no doubt that Kristin would bring me back,” Skell says.

Returning to the ranch was a little odd, she says, as the people who remained there had developed a close bond during the month the others were away.

“In a way I’m jealous of everyone who stayed there,” she says. “It was a no-brainer for me to come home, Kristin needed to be there, but when I came back, during those 30 days everyone there formed such a wonderful bond and relationship with each other and with the trainers. In a way I kind of felt like an outsider.”

That feeling did not last long, however, and Skell soon adjusted to the change in climate, time zone and schedule and got to know the others at the ranch.

“It’s kind of a magical season because everyone there gets along so well,” Skell says.

An exception to the harmony was the silver team, who left the ranch this week. Carla was dedicated to her workouts, but Joelle seemed distracted. The strain in the pair’s friendship and difference in their attitude was apparent.

“Carla was a ray of sunshine, absolutely remarkable,” Skell says. “She was always the first person in the gym every morning.

“There’s no doubt she is dedicated, and I will be so happy to see her at the finale.”

While the intense workouts and stress of the weigh-ins could strain even the strongest relationship, Skell and Steede continue to demonstrate compassion and caring for each other. That’s typical of the relationship she’s always had with Steede and her two other daughters, Skell says.

“We are that close,” she says. “We argue sometimes, and she’ll be the mom and I’ll be the child but we have the type of relationship where we know how to handle each other.

“It’s a relationship where you’re a parent but you’re also a best friend.”

There are only a few days left in this month's cookbook contest from Women magazne. Send in the entry form from Page 28 of the latest issue and you could win a heart-healthy cookbook from the American Heart Association, a Go Red tote or mini tote.

All answers to the quiz are in this month’s issue of Women. Here are a few

hints. Remember, we must receive your entry by Feb. 9.

1. When John Jones does public speaking, what does he call his presentation? See page 8.

2. Beth Kinzel plays which instrument? See page 18.

3. Bethany LaBarge had which heart procedure when she was pregnant? See page 10.

4. Can you be your own trustee? See page 14.

5. Aimee Dunbar used to work in banking but now works where?
See Page 25.

Send answers to: Women magazine, 1486 Kenwood Center, Menasha, WI, 54952. Good luck!

Wicked opens tonight at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center and is an event my daughter and I have been looking forward to ever since it was announced that the play would be coming to the area.

A few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to have an interview with one of the stars of the play, Donna Vivino who will play the green-skinned Elphba.

Vivino did quite a bit of acting as a child, even doing a Jell-O commercial with Bill Cosby, but put it aside in her later teen years and college. She picked things up again in her 20s, and shared what it's like to be one of the leads in the touring cast of a highly acclaimed show.

Here's an extended version of the story about Vivino that's appearing in this month's issue of Women magazine:

For some time after she takes her final bow, actress Donna Vivino finds that her ‘Wicked’ character sticks with her.

“I still always find remnants of (green makeup) in my ears and my hairline, I never really get rid of it,” says Vivino, who stars as the emerald-skinned Elphaba in the touring Broadway version of ‘Wicked’ playing at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center.

Green skin aside, Vivino sees plenty of similarities between herself and her character, a young, misunderstood young lady destined to become known as The Wicked Witch of the West.

“When I was growing up I preferred books to Barbies,” she says. “Elphaba is a very strong woman, and what I love about her is that she never apologizes for what she believes in.

“I don’t try to make her sympathetic, the script is written so well that I do what is written and it kind of takes care of itself,” Vivino says.

“Elphaba never apologizes for who she is, she never plays the victim. I never go out there thinking they’ll have to like me. I just tell the story and let the audience decide for themselves.”

“Wicked” is a prequel to “The Wizard of Oz,” telling of the unlikely friendship that forms between Elphaba and Galinda, who will become Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. Elphaba is particularly brave, as she challenges the wizard and doesn’t conform to what society sees as normal.

Elphaba is not afraid to take risks to do something that she knows is right, and Vivino knows a thing or two about taking chances herself.

The New Jersey native didn’t intend to pursue acting when she was studying at Columbia University, but said yes to an audition and found herself on Broadway in “Saturday Night Fever.”

“It was so random,” she says. “I think I auditioned for something when I was a teen once or twice and then got a call asking me to come in for ‘Saturday Night Fever.’ They needed girls with good voices, and I’m Italian so I think that helped. They were probably just going through files and saw my picture.”

Vivino had performed as a child, including a Jell-O commercial with Bill Cosby and “Les Miserables” on Broadway. Other pursuits took precedence during high school and college, but after “Saturday Night Fever” she pursued acting.

She wound up waiting tables for two years before landing a job as a comedy all-star in “Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me.” She impersonated stars such as Renee Zellweger and Britney Spears, and was in awe of the energetic Short.

“He puts us all to shame, “she says. “It felt like you just got on this train and went with it.”

Her other jobs have included voice work, such as ads for Clairol, Volvo and Barbie’s Potty Training Kelly. The 30-year-old has also taught master classes and workshops and before “Wicked” was in a touring production of “Hairspray.”

She’s also spent some time in Los Angeles, where she had some small television roles. The English major sees television writing as a possible future endeavor, but since November has been committed to life on the road.

“Wicked” is her second touring production, but her first as the lead, which brings additional demands and challenges.

“It takes a lot of discipline to stay healthy and get enough sleep,” she says. “I’m still figuring it out, but you do figure it out.”

The extra work is worth it for Vivino, who was impressed by “Wicked”’s strong female characters when she saw it onstage in New York.

“I was pretty blown away not just by the character but by the show as a whole,” she says. “It’s a great production and I wanted to be a part of it in any way I could.”

For “Wicked” ticket information, see www.foxcitiespac.com or call 920-730-3760.

Why was six afraid of seven? Because seven ate nine!

That joke brought to you in honor of guest blogger Brenda Velissaris's latest blog entry, about how laughter brought her out of a state of crabbiness:

Lately I have been taking myself too seriously and letting upsets in my life get the best of me. Basically, I’ve been crabby and not the ideal person to be around.

This perpetual mood not only affects my loved ones but everyone else that comes into my path, including myself. The cycle if crabbiness can be vicious: Crabbiness if not kept in check will create more crabbiness.

Then just when I wanted to crawl back into bed because even I didn’t like myself, a co-worker said something funny and I laughed. I chuckled at first and then burst into a great big belly laugh.

Did I need that!

My crabbiness, though not entirely gone, lightened. I lightened, laughed and then laughed some more. My shoulders relaxed, my headache dissipated and best of all my negative thinking and sarcasm left for a while.

Laughter has been researched in the psychology field since the 1930s, however more emphasis has been place on laughter research in the last two decades. Researches have found that laughter can dramatically increase a person’s mental and emotional well being.

One theory about laughter is called the relief theory, when laughter is used to release pent up tension, stress and frustration.

The theory goes on to state that humor is used as a buffer to lessen the negative effects of stress, helps us sleep better and cope with our problems better. At a time when everywhere we turn something bad is happening and we feel like there is no way out, this would be a good time to implement the relief theory to our lives.

Try these easy ways to add laughter into you life today:

-- Hang around other people that are funny and light hearted

-- Play and be a kid again. Reminisce about funny times in your life and create new ones

-- Be around children

-- Watch comedic TV programs and movies

-- Go to comedy clubs

-- Read funny articles, stories, or comics

-- Look at humorous pictures or photos

-- Get humor therapy or join a humor group

-- Learn to laugh at yourself

-- Express silliness through drawing, doodling or painting.

-- Use the Internet to search for humorous antics, information and videos.

My challenge for you this week is to take inventory in your life to see if problems have overtaken your existence. We will always have problems; what matters most is how do you handle them.

Incorporate laughter into your life and reap the benefits it has to offer.

Warmly,

Brenda
www.sariscounseling.com

Julie May, physician assistant with ThedaCare Physicians-Ripon, will lead a presentation on stress, how it affects your health, and ways to manage it at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 11 at ThedaCare Physicians-Ripon, 1081 W. Fond du Lac St.

Those who participate will leave with a better understanding of why and how the physiological responses to stress affect them and their health, as well as ideas on how to better manage it for themselves on a daily basis.

To register for this one-hour presentation, go to www.thedacare.org on the Web or call ThedaCare On Call at 920-830-6877 or 800-236-2236. Each person must register separately.

Marketplace editor Steve Prestegard writes about a local link to music history on the Marketplace of Ideas blog.

Tuesday will mark the 50th anniversary of "the day the music died," when singers Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and J.P. "The Big opper" Richardson died in an airplane crash. They had performed in a concert in Clear Lake Iowa, and were on their way to the next concert in Moorhead, Minn., when the crash occurred.

Before performing in Iowa, the "Winter Dance Party" musicians had given a concert in Green Bay on Feb. 1. They had been scheduled to perform in Appleton, but cold weather hindered their travel plans and they did not make that engagement.

Here's a link to Steve's take on the event:

http://www.marketplacemagazine.com/blogs/blog2.php/2009/01/31/today-through-tuesday-in-history

Fewer than 20 percent of people stick to their New Year’s resolutions, on average, and the biggest resolution failures are often fitness related.

“Many people set New Year’s goals to improve their health and fitness and begin new exercise programs," says Appleton Fitness, Spine & Sport, Inc. owner, Kevin McKee, a certified fitness and nutrition professional with more than 5 years experience serving hundreds of Fox Valley residents.

"Yet after investing time and money, most fail to get any traction and achieve significant long term results.

On Feb. 5, McKee will present “How To Make 2009 Your Healthiest and Best Year Ever.” He notes that being aware of the following five mistakes can help you reach your fitness goal:

1. Setting an unattainable goal
We all want to jump directly to our ideal health and fitness level, but there are steps in between. Avoid setting the same high standard resolutions that you continue to unsuccessfully achieve year after year. This will only set you up for frustration, failure, and disappointment.

2. Starting an incomplete program.
To be successful, a program must be complete. A complete program includes attention to nutrition, resistance training, and cardiovascular exercise – all leading to a “synergy” effect for maximum results.

3. No accountability.
Success achievers know that accountability is essential to move from intention to results. Without support and regular “check-up from the neck up,” life’s distractions quickly take many off course. Use accountability to stay on track with goals to avoid plateaus or backsliding.

4. No professional guidance.
Many begin a fitness program without defined goals or a plan to achieve them. To achieve significant, long term results, the guidance of an expert puts one on the right track.

5. Push too hard, too soon.
We all come into January raring to go, full of energy and enthusiasm for our new goals and new year, but in reality our body needs to be given time to adjust to a new exercise program.

When starting a new program we need to avoid pushing too hard in the beginning, which can causes soreness, stiffness, even pulled or torn muscles.

For more information on McKee's presentation, see http://www.appletonbestyearever.com./