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With which of your relatives do you make the best team?

Wednesday1:32 p.m.

This week in WichiTalk, we told the story of two local sisters, Connie Dirks (on the left in the photo) and Linda Grafton, who together have pursued an interesting new business venture that combines their individual passions: art and food.

Connie owns Fine Arts Photography, which specializes in artistic portraiture, weddings and more. And, also at 535 W. Douglas in Delano, Linda owns The Palette, a cozy cafe and bakery featuring breakfast and lunch dishes with a gourmet touch.

WichiTalk has two $5 gift certificates to The Palette to give away. In honor of the sisters who were best friends as kids and now work together, we’ll randomly select winners from among people who answer this question:

With which of your relatives do you make the best team? Is it your mother? Husband? Daughter? What is it that you do great together? How do you bring out the best in each other?

By Lori O'Toole Buselt | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Today’s WichiTalk cover is a-maze-ing

Tuesday2:30 p.m.

If you love working the puzzles you find every day in WichiTalk, we’ve got a treat for you with today’s section: The WichiTalk cover illustration is a working puzzle.

Coryanne Graham, WichiTalk’s visual editor, came up with the clever concept. So see if you can find your way from the headline to the illustration of the doctor. Then read our cover story about how to find the best health care.

By Lori O'Toole Buselt | Filed under Random thoughts | Comments (0)

What music gets your feet moving?

Aug. 22, 20085:22 p.m.

Do you have an album, artist or workout playlist that gets your heart pumping when your feet are dragging and you still have another mile left of your workout?

When selecting motivating music, ask yourself this: If you were dog-tired at a wedding reception, what one song would convince you to pull yourself up and make one last appearance on the dance floor? That’s the kind of song that also will inspire you to burn 100 more calories even though you’re ready to quit for the day.

A few suggestions to get you thinking:

  1. “I’m a Believer,” Smash Mouth
  2. “Baby Got Back,” Sir Mix-a-Lot
  3. “Cupid Shuffle,” Cupid
  4. “You Shook Me All Night Long,” AC/DC
  5. “Love Shack,” B-52’s
  6. “Dancing Queen,” Abba
  7. “Brick House,” Commodores
  8. “My Girl,” Temptations
  9. “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” Cyndi Lauper
  10. “What I Like About You,” Romantics

What’s your favorite exercise music?

By Lori O'Toole Buselt | Filed under Health & Fitness, Music | Comments (2)

How do you beat the morning rush?

Aug. 19, 20085:54 p.m.

Whether you have children or just yourself to contend with, how do you get yourself and your household in order and begin your day on time?

My husband and I split morning chores. The last one up (usually me) makes the bed. He feeds the pets and makes coffee, I get a load of laundry started. It gets us up and moving and propels our day forward. I also try to beat him to the computer so I can check my favorite Web sites, my e-mail and blogs before he logs on.

Do you have a technique, checklist or routine that’s proven to work for you? Do you keep things simple (buy food for portable breakfasts, etc.)?

By Lori O'Toole Buselt | Filed under Relationships | Comments (1)

Do you have ideas for inexpensive dates?

Aug. 19, 200811:52 a.m.

Marriage and family therapist Jeff Herring points out that a traditional dinner and a movie date can cost more than $100 once you pay for the dinner and movie tickets and snacks.

He suggests instead a “bookstore and coffee” date at a location that has a cafe in the bookstore. There, a book, magazine, two coffees and a piece of cake can set you back less than $30.

A couple other ideas that I’ve enjoyed:

Do you have other ideas for creative, inexpensive dates, whether it be with someone you’re just getting to know or your spouse of 10 years?

By Lori O'Toole Buselt | Filed under Food and Drink, Movies, Relationships | Comments (2)

How have you celebrated a milestone birthday?

Aug. 18, 20085:05 p.m.

Are you ringing in your 30th, 40th or 50th year in style?

Before you make a wish and blow out the candles, tell us about how you’re celebrating your special day — or how you’ve already done so. Did you invite your 30 closest friends on a cruise? Spend 40 hours of vacation volunteering in the Wichita area?

WichiTalk is looking for the most creative ways local women have embraced their “big-0” b-days.
Tell us about it by clicking on “comments,” and we may contact you for a future WichiTalk story.

By Lori O'Toole Buselt | Filed under Random thoughts | Comments (3)

Were you an only child? Do you have an only child?

Aug. 15, 20085:57 p.m.

The Chicago Tribune reports that the single-child family is the fastest-growing type of U.S. family.

What are the highs and lows of being an only child, whether you experienced them yourself or see them now as a parent of an only child?

By Lori O'Toole Buselt | Filed under Relationships | Comments (8)

How did you navigate campus for the first time?

Aug. 13, 20081:58 p.m.

It’s back-to-school time for college students as well as younger pupils. Based on your own experiences, what are a few things that every college freshman should do to make the transition onto campus an easier one?

A few things I learned:

  • Get a job on campus. You’ll meet fellow students, grow mentoring relationships with professors and earn a little extra money while you’re at it.
  • Find a quiet place. Whether it’s a nook in the library or the dorm laundromat on a Saturday morning, figure out a place you can go to study, think and reflect. Privacy and peace can be rare commodities during college.
  • Go exploring. Learn more about your college and your town. You just may learn more about yourself while you’re at it.

Click on “comments” to add your own tips. In the meantime, check out expert tips for those navigating campus for the first time.

By Lori O'Toole Buselt | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Readers share more s’more traditions

Aug. 12, 20086:15 p.m.

In WichiTalk last week, we shared how some Wichita-area residents love to eat s’mores. Since then, I’ve heard from a couple of other people who offer these variations:

  • One woman who identified herself as Phyllis said that she uses strawberry-flavored marshmallows and includes a slice of strawberries in hers. “It’s chocolate and strawberries. How can you beat that?” she said.
  • Don Gray e-mailed saying that his oldest son, who doesn’t like chocolate, eats his s’mores with a piece of caramel. “Extra sticky gooiness!” Gray wrote, adding that he likes to use a Peeps marshmallow treat and cinnamon-flavored graham crackers in his. “Now you’re really talking some serious sugar!” he wrote.
By Lori O'Toole Buselt | Filed under Food and Drink | Comments (1)

How do you please your lunch bunch?

Aug. 11, 20086:56 p.m.

School starts later this week for thousands of Wichita-area students.

Do you have favorite lunch recipes, a kid-friendly cookbook or other technique to make sack lunches for school interesting? Do you write your kid a note or leave a surprise in her lunch? Is she in charge of packing it? Trade tips with other parents here to prevent the Boring Sack Lunch Syndrome from striking your kids this school year.

By Lori O'Toole Buselt | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (1)