News anchor Ted Perry from Fox 6 called me a few weeks ago. I was pleasantly surprised; Ted’s a nice guy and I was curious as to why he would call. I had run into him at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer kickoff breakfast a month or so ago and I told him about the interesting year I was having.

He said on the phone he thought a lot about our conversation and wanted to do a story on me. I laughed and told him I didn’t think I was that interesting. He disagreed. I went through a second round of breast cancer last year and am currently training for the Madison Marathon.

He wanted to do a piece on a breast cancer survivor to kick off the big event taking place May 5 at Discovery World. The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society and Fox 6 is a sponsor of the event.

I have to say it was a little unnerving sitting in the hot seat instead of being the one asking the questions. Tim, a photojournalist from Fox 6, came to one of my Herceptin treatments and pointed a camera at me while I was undergoing the intravenous treatment I do every three weeks.

Last week, Ted came to my house with Chris, another photojournalist, and interviewed me for an hour.

To round things off, they came back one Saturday morning and videotaped my son, Jake, his girlfriend, Lauren, and me on one of our training runs. Jake and Lauren are doing the marathon with me. We are celebrating their graduation from UW-Madison in May and me surviving cancer a second time.

It seemed like a lot of effort for a few minutes of air time, but they’re professionals and I’m sure it will come together nicely. I just hope I held up my end of the story for the viewers.

The segment is scheduled to air on Fox 6 during the 10 p.m. newscast on Thursday, May 3. For more information on the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, visit fox6now.com and go to the link on the home page.

Being M’s home and dining editor, I’ve kind of got a right brain/left brain thing going on. One part is devoted to all things home; the other to food and drink. This blog is dedicated to both, and will include timely information about upcoming local events and matters of interest for foodies and designophiles alike.

Garden Clubbing

The Milwaukee Art Museum Garden Club — the folks who sponsor MAM’s fabulous Art in Bloom — are inviting prospective members to a May 9 luncheon at the art museum. Members promote the fine art of gardening, floral arrangements, landscape design, horticulture and conservation.

The garden club’s winning floral entry from Art in Bloom will be on display and designers Jim Sequenz and Tim Garland will discuss the genius behind their design. Call or e-mail club president Pat Netzow to make a reservation, (414) 343-6608 or patnetzow@sbcglobal.net.

Dream Day for Design

The design experts at Susan Fredman Design Group are putting together an exciting lineup for “A Day of Great Design” on May 17 at their Whitefish Bay design studio.
Here is a sampling of what’s in store: “Design-driven Home Automation” presented by Grand Home Automation; “Appliances at the Peak of Design and Technology,” presented by Thermador; “2012 Design Trends” by Susan Fredman Design Group; “Building Your Dream Kitchen” by Wood-Mode; and “Newest Collections of Fabrics” by Kravet.

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and topics will be presented hourly between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. The studio is located at 401 E. Silver Spring Drive. To make a reservation for this free event, call (414) 332-4600 or go to info@susanfredman.com.

Home Building Finds

Looking for doors, lights, tile, appliances, lumber, sinks, roofing shingles and more? Construction and demolition materials that have been saved from landfills will be for sale at the seventh annual Milwaukee/NARI Foundation Fundraising Rummage Sale from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 4 in the parking lot of Milwaukee Millwork, 11712 W. Dixon St. Proceeds from the sale will provide financial and educational support to students pursuing a career in the home improvement and remodeling industry.

For more information on the Milwaukee/NARI Foundation Rummage Sale, call (414) 771-4071 or e-mail info@milwaukeenari.org.

Looking for the latest cutting-edge fashions from local designers? Check out The Shops of Grand Avenue, where the new Pop-Up program is offering rentable space for local vendors, artists and designers to debut and sell their creations.

Jones Lang Lasalle, the management company behind Grand Avenue, also launched a similar (and highly successful) program last year to fill the Plankinton Arcade with creative and entrepreneurial groups.

Lease terms for artists, vendors and designers will be available in three- and six-month, and one-year options, starting at only $100 a month. Considering the Shops draw a daytime population of nearly 5 million people each year, the exposure for local talent is monumental.

Be the first to see these haute shops at the Pop-Up Open House from 6 to 8 p.m. this Thursday, April 26, on Grand Avenue’s second level, near Radio Shack.

Visit http://www.innovationinmilwaukee.com/pop-up-open-house/ for more information.

Recently, I was out on a long run with my friend, Hans Wegesser, when we discovered we each make our own organic energy bars. He was telling me about his “chia bars,” named after the chia seed he adds to his recipe.

I had never heard of chia seed, and was intrigued by this super food. We’ve all heard of the Chia Pet, advertised at Christmas time as the “fabulous” gift for all ages. The chia seed is what those lovable animals sprout all over their bodies. Who knew the seed was a great food source for endurance athletes?

Chia, say experts, has tremendous nutritional and medicinal properties. It is very rich in omega-3 fatty acids (more so than flax seeds), antioxidants, fiber and a slew of minerals.

The seed turns into a gel-like substance when soaked in water for a half an hour, suggesting this reaction takes place in your stomach and slows the time it takes carbohydrates to convert to sugar.

This fact is what makes it perfect for the endurance athlete. It curbs hunger and boosts energy. Hans eats his chia bars during ultra marathons and long runs — and swears by the positive effect it has on his running performance.

He certainly sparked my interest, as I am currently training for the Madison Marathon and am always eager to try anything that’s safe and will boost my energy levels.

So, I went to Health Hut and bought a bag this week. Now ... what to do with it?

I went to the Internet and discovered numerous ways you can eat these organic gems, including raw right out of your hand. They have a nut-like flavor and can be put into foods as seeds or ground.

Not into endurance racing? No worries: You can also eat the seeds as a dietary supplement, as Chia is touted for its ability to curb your appetite, and the nutritional value is great.

I’m excited to give it a try this weekend before my 18-mile run. I’ll let you know if it helped me to keep up with my 22-year-old son!

Sometimes the best things in life fall right into our laps. And this certainly was the case for local vintage bridal designer Jackie Barutha, who launched her line in 2008 while visiting her sister in Los Angeles.

Barutha now has a full line of bridal accessories in her Jaxie line, including clutches, bridal sashes, hair accessories, veils and cuffs. And her designs are no one-trick pony: They all can be worn again after the wedding.

Find Barutha’s elegant designs at Miss Ruby and Zita boutiques, www.shopjaxie.com, www.shopjaxiebridal.etsy.com, and local salons like DeRiah, Cedarburg; Glow, Milwaukee; and The Parlor, Germantown.

M: When did you begin your design career, and what were some of your inspirations?

JB: I started my line by total accident. In August 2008, I started making my own headbands while I was visiting my sister in Los Angeles. I had countless people stop me on the street complimenting me and asking me about where I got them. When I mentioned I made them, I had one woman tell me to check out L.A.’s downtown fashion district for supplies. At first, I thought “yeah right,” but I was secretly intrigued in the back of my mind. When I revisited L.A. later in December, I checked it out, and with a few hundred dollars Jaxie was born on the streets of L.A. I was always very inspired by my grandma, Ann. When she passed away, she left us bags and bags of jewelry, fur, clothing, etc. I love the classic feminine style of the ’50s — the millinery hats, veils and hair fascinators.

M: When did you begin to incorporate bridal designs into the Jaxie line?

JB: As Jaxie became a huge success in the Milwaukee scene, I caught attention from one of my loyal customers, Victoria. She asked if I could make her a birdcage veil and hairpiece for her wedding. The next thing I knew, I had so many requests that I began a bridal division. Miss Ruby asked me to display in the store immediately. I kindly accepted, and have been selling to Milwaukee’s most fashionable ever since. Although my everyday accessory line landed in 14 stores, I had to make the tough decision where to invest my money. Due to high demand, I recently chose to just strictly design bridal. The birdcage veils and hairpiece trends evolved in the past three years, and so did my company. I now offer bridal sashes, as well as clutches.

M: What have been some of your biggest successes so far?

JB: I have caught attention from the New York and Chicago national bridal markets, as well as some twitter love. One of the accessory editors at Elle magazine tweeted me just gushing about my collection. I also had some twitter love from one of Betsey Johnson’s photographers.

M: Tell us what to expect in Jaxie’s bridal products. What makes them special?

JB: I really pride myself on fashionable, affordable glam. I keep prices at a fair value. I only use high-quality rhinestones in comparison to plastic ones that other companies are using in their sashes. This is a big draw for people because they are paying the same price for higher quality materials. I find my materials mostly in New York and Los Angeles. I really try to stick with the current trends, and truly listen to my customers. They inspire me each and every day when I collaborate with them. I offer custom services to brides. I sit down with them and really get to know their style. This includes checking out their dress and wedding colors and the overall theme. I create an item specifically suited for them and their personal style. I have worked with materials ranging from grandmothers’ brooches and mothers’ veils to trimmings from the bride’s gown, to truly create an heirloom piece to pass down for generations to come.

M: What is one of your best-selling bridal products?

JB: One of my best-selling attendant items are my custom pleated cuffs. I have been in multiple weddings where I cannot wear the jewelry again unless there is a special occasion. With the Jaxie bridal cuffs, you can dress them up and down, and they are a piece that bridesmaids will be able to wear again. They are definitely a statement piece when they are walking down the aisle with flowers in their hands.

CREO, the Latin word “to create,” is a fitting name for the artistic program offered by Mount Mary College. Incorporating fashion, art and design, CREO will be held at the Hyatt Hotel in Milwaukee on May 11. This is the second year the popular annual event will be held off campus, and the first year that students from the fashion department will be joined by fine art, graphic design and interior design seniors. Attendees are in for a treat.

“Evoke” is this year’s theme and reflects the sophisticated and fresh vibe of this special event. In the grand ballroom, the fashion department will “evoke style” with three runway shows showcasing cutting-edge couture by young designers. Students from the Fashion Show Coordination class will coordinate every aspect of the runway show, from developing a theme and working with the graphic design department on designing an invitation and program for the event, to staging, lighting, choosing music, writing commentary and working with local retailers to acquire appropriate accessories. More than 100 original garments designed by sophomores, juniors and seniors, will be modeled, with hair and makeup artfully affixed by local salon specialists. “It’s a professionally produced show that gives the students and audience a real runway experience,” says Sandi Keiser, associate professor in fashion. “The show will be an extravaganza of creativity!”

A free gallery exhibit, open to the public, will take place in the Hyatt’s atrium. The fine art department will “evoke locality” through traditional and conceptual art pieces. Mount Mary’s mission to support social justice is woven into its curriculum and the art and design departments are no exception. Students from the interior design department recently designed and refurbished rooms for Lissy’s Place, a haven for homeless women. Sample boards and photos will be on display highlighting sustainability and “upcycled” furniture items. Students in the graphic design department will “evoke awareness” with their visual messages. Comprehensive portfolio work of original concepts for nonprofit clients will be shown. Studio 455, a student-run organization that has faculty and alumnae members, will be exhibiting a wide range of work in many media, including examples of baby quilts for Sojourner Family Peace Center made during their campus wide “Knit-a-Thon” project.

The May 11 event at the Hyatt runs from noon to 10 p.m., with runway shows at 1:30, 5:30 and 8 p.m. Tickets for the fashion shows may be purchased at www.creo-event.com or by calling Mount Mary College at (414) 256-1210. The art exhibits are free and open to the public.

Got Ideas?

Foodies and aspiring chefs — and by aspiring chefs we mean home cooks, students or anyone who loves to cook — are encouraged to enter The Hottest Kitchen Entrepreneur Challenge to become Wisconsin’s next great food entrepreneur. If you’ve got an innovative idea for a food business, go to www.hotwater247.com and submit a short application and a photo of your recipe or product concept.

The challenge, sponsored by Milwaukee Area Technical College and Reliable Water Service, coincides with the kick-off of MATC’s new Entrepreneurship Center, which opens this spring to help aspiring entrepreneurs with comprehensive resources and training to take a business concept from dream to reality.

The entry deadline is May 18. The grand prize winner will receive $2,500 in seed money from Reliable to start a business, a comprehensive entrepreneurial consultation package from MATC, and a gift certificate for professional cookware from The Boelter Cos. Finalists will be selected in mid-June to participate in a final judging event at Cuisine, the student-operated restaurant for MATC’s culinary arts program in late summer.  

Judges for the contest are Justin Aprahamian, chef de cuisine for Sanford Restaurant and semifinalist for the James Beard Award, Rising Star Chef; Lynn Sbonik, co-owner of Beans & Barley Deli, Market & Full Service Café; Andrea Marquez-Paquin and Andrew Paquin, owners of La Luna, a local company providing fresh, authentic Mexican food products sold in select grocers’ freezers; and George Flees, general manager of Parkside 23 restaurant in Brookfield featuring American food featuring fresh, local ingredients.

Spice is Nice

There is a “Man Vs. Food” episode waiting to happen Wednesday nights at Trocadero Gastrobar, 1758 N. Water St., during Spice Night. Start out slow with some jumbo Buffalo Chicken wings and work your way up to the Black Widow wings — wings so hot (made with the ghost pepper, the world’s hottest pepper) you have to sign a disclaimer before you can eat them. At 75 cents per wing, how many can you eat?

The Spice Night menu includes other hot offerings, from tacos to burgers to drinks (Devil’s Cocktail, anyone?). You might want to order an ice-cold glass of milk for $1 to neutralize the spice, or as a perfect side to a slice of chocolate cake made with bourbon chile sauce and strawberries.

(Wood)working it

Urban(wood) Encounter is back for 2012 during Gallery Night and Day on April 20 and 21. See what can be done with wood otherwise deemed worthless. Furniture will be on display at the Design Within Reach Milwaukee Studio, 167 N. Broadway.

The stair treads and flooring used in the recent green redo of the Clock Shadow Building, 538 S. 2nd St., are a great example of this local natural resource. They are made from Milwaukee area ash trees removed due to Emerald Ash Borer devastation. The artwork in the space is by Jennifer Espenscheid of Soma Gallery.

Urban(wood) Encounter is presented by Wudeward Urban Forest Products and sponsored by Woodcraft of Milwaukee and Town and Country Resource Conservation and Development.

For some, science can be a bit hard to swallow.

Luckily, the new Science Cafés at the Milwaukee Public Market are taking some of the fear out of the daunting subject by hosting  modern scientific discussions in an informal atmosphere.

The free community series is sponsored by the Community Engagement Key Function of the Clinical and Translational Science Institute of Southeast Wisconsin, which is populated by local health care powerhouses the Medical College of Wisconsin, Marquette University, Milwaukee School of Engineering, UW-Milwaukee, the BloodCenter of Wisconsin, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert Hospital and the Clement J. Zablocki V.A. Medical Center.

Intrigued? Check the program for yourself on Monday, April 23, when Dr. Ken Schellhase, associate professor of family and community medicine and the associate director of the Center for Healthy Communities and Research, will lead a discussion on the uber-popular topic of health screenings. Or, on Tuesday, June 19, you’ll find a discussion on positive psychology led by Dr. Lisa Edwards, associate professor in Marquette University’s School of Education. Edwards will introduce participants to the positive psychology construct, in which mental health researchers study the health benefits of assets such as gratitude, forgiveness and hope, and how those assets may translate into disease management.

To register for one of the free Science Cafes, which are held from 6 to 7:45 p.m., visit http://ctsi.mcw.edu/community/science-cafe/ or contact Shannon Opel at (414) 955-5754 or sopel@mcw.edu.

Left to Right: Emily Moore, Amy Siewert,
Jake Siewert and Lauren Kumbier after
crossing the finish line at the Get Lucky Half Marathon.

I’m currently training for the Madison Marathon with my son, Jake; his girlfriend, Lauren; and their friend, Emily. We are calling it our Celebration Race. The three of them are graduating from UW-Madison in May, and I recently finished chemo and multiple surgeries from my second round of breast cancer. Crossing the finish line will be sweet; training to reach the start line has been a challenge.

I needed a new pair of running shoes when I started this endeavour, and my friend Hans talked me into trying a pair of minimalist running shoes. A recent trend for avid runners, the shoes are virtually sans arch support following the theory that we have conditioned our feet over the years to rely on artificial support, rather than strengthening the muscles we were given.

No arch support? The prospect seemed scary, especially for me, who has run every mile for the past seven years using custom orthodics in my running shoes.

I went to Revolution Natural Running and Walking Center in Wauwatosa where they put me on a treadmill and had me run in my regular running shoes, and then run barefoot. They videotaped the experience so I could see my running patterns. I was surprised at the difference. I was heel striking in my shoes and mid striking barefoot.

I was told the experts discovered runners were prone to more injuries using the cushioned shoes do in part to an increase in heel striking rather than mid-foot striking. The minimalist shoes “force” a person to mid-strike more frequently, a more natural running pattern for our human form with less chance of injuries to the ankles, knees, hips and IT-bands.

To switch over, I had to start out slow, running a half mile, than a mile and increasing in half-mile increments. I discovered I had muscles in my feet and calves I never knew existed.

Jake bought a pair and, under advisement, went out and ran three miles immediately. He could barely walk for a week and has since put the shoes in his closet and won’t touch them until after the race.

I switch back and forth; run the short runs in the minimalist and the long runs in my trusty Adidas with orthodics. I’m not sure which I like better. I had to learn how to run all over again. It’s an interesting experiment, but the verdict is still out there for me. Maybe due in part that my body just hurts more as the mileage increases weekly.

So far it has been a wonderful (sometimes painful) journey, and one that I am glad to be sharing with Jake, Lauren and Emily. The four of us ran in the Get Lucky Half Marathon in Minneapolis on St. Patrick’s Day. I certainly felt lucky to be participating after the difficult journey I went through this past year.

Now our thoughts are focused on the start line at the Capitol on Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. Stay tuned as our adventure continues. If you are currently training for your own special race, hang in there. You are three times more capable of doing something than you think you are!