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Belmont Days Returns to Dayton

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On June 29, 2019, the Belmont Business Association (BBA) and the Belmont Eastmont Hearthstone Community Council (BEHCC) will once again host Belmont Days. This is an opportunity for their communities, and the city of Dayton, to come and experience all of the growth that has occurred in these districts over the last several years. The event will be from 11 AM to 6 PM, primarily on Watervliet Drive between Fauver Avenue and Mundale Avenue. There will be live music, food, shopping at local businesses, and an opportunity to visit all of the stores in the main business district of Belmont.

It has been twenty years since Belmont hosted this popular event. As the area of Belmont expands and improves, the community wants to invite all of their Dayton neighbors to see and experience the people and businesses that have built up these sections of the Gem City. Stores will be open for shopping while vendors on the street showcase the small businesses that have been built in the community. To kick off the festivities, Belmont Gym has designed a unique obstacle course to challenge the fitness of those that sign up. Music will be playing in the streets, while local businesses will offer everything one can imagine.

Belmont Eastmont Hearthstone Community Council has worked to build and promote these districts of Dayton since the mid-1970s. They work with the citizens of these communities to promote growth, both economically and socially.

Organizing 101 with Kim Metter of Designed to Organize

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Kim Metter – Professional Organizer and Owner of Designed to Organize, LLC

Kim Metter, owner of Designed to Organize, LLC, has always enjoyed putting things in their place and organizing the clutter. So much so that she decided to take her passion for organizing and create her own professional organizing business. Designed to Organize opened in July of this year and specializes in professional organizing and interior design.

Recently, we sat down with Kim to ask her some questions about her business and what they do.

Question: What made you want to become a professional organizer?

Answer: I have always enjoyed tidying up. Nothing makes me happier than organizing and making order out of chaos. I have a natural affinity for it. In every professional position that I have held, I have ended up organizing something. It’s like I can’t help it, I find something that needs to be organized and I just do it. I enjoy it immensely, it calms and centers me and makes me feel happy and fulfilled. I decided that with all of the organizing projects that I have completed over the years and the experience that I have had I needed to translate that into a career. I started planning Designed to Organize, LLC six years ago and decided that this was the year to pull the trigger.

Question: What is your organizing philosophy?

Answer: It is one of simplicity and logic. We require homeostasis (the tendency to maintain internal stability) to feel and perform at our best. When we are surrounded by clutter and chaos, we cannot be our best. We are stressed out, we become angry and we can lash out at others without realizing why we are doing it. We don’t feel calm or happy because our environment is not conducive to it. Clearing the clutter and organizing the chaos can eliminate that stress in our lives. We may have little control over the outside factors that cause us stress, but we can control the stress derived from living and working in cluttered and disorganized spaces. By getting and staying organized we are balanced, we perform better at our jobs, our home lives are better and we are more happy overall. That’s what it’s all about, clearing the clutter and organizing the chaos so we can live more healthy and happy lives. 

Question: What are your favorite organizing tools?

Answer: I have so many, it is difficult to choose just one! My ultimate tool is probably my moleskin notebook that I use to make to-do lists or write down the many things that are racing through my head at any given time. I find that writing things down and organizing them into lists helps give me a road map to follow. That’s really half the battle, having a plan. If you have a plan to follow, the organizing part is pretty easy. Secondly, I love my label maker. Placing names on objects for quick reference is key. Whether you are organizing files in your office or dry goods in your kitchen pantry, the label maker is essential. I also have a love affair with Post-Its. I use them everyday for quick messages to myself or others, they help me stay organized for quick and short term tasks. They are really great for that.

Question: What thoughts enter your mind when you walk into a potential client’s space?

Answer: People think that they are judged on their space; that their disorganization or clutter is a direct reflection on them. Nothing is further from the truth. When I walk into a space that needs organization, I see nothing but potential. I see a project waiting to happen. I see the space as it can be, not as it is. If the space was perfectly organized, I wouldn’t be there in the first place! My goal is really to listen to the needs of the client. What is the space to be used for? What do you like or dislike about the space? What changes do you want to see in the space? All of my designs are client driven. I make sure that you are going to enjoy using the space as you intend to use it and that I leave you with the tools you will need to continue to keep the space organized and uncluttered so that the space can be used as it is intended.

Question: To conclude, what would you say to those people who say they can’t get organized?

Answer: Yes, you can. You may not be able to do it alone, and that’s okay. Getting the ball rolling is always the hardest part. But with my help, yes, you can.DtoOLogo

Kim is hosting Designed to Organize, LLC’s first monthly meeting entitled, Tidy Talks, Monday, the 24th of November at 7 p.m. at the Oakwood Starbucks located at 2424 Far Hills Avenue Oakwood, Ohio 45419.  Join her for tips, tricks and solutions that will be shared along with beverages and snacks. Please let her know you will be attending by following this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/designed-to-organize-llc-presents-tidy-talks-tickets-14231142731.

Designed to Organize, LLC aids clients in organizing, decluttering and creating beautifully designed spaces to maximize comfort and livablility.

Designed to Organize, LLC: Address: P.O. Box 291876 Dayton, Ohio 45429 

Phone: (937) 479-5387 Email: [email protected]

Follow her on Facebook for quick tips and organizing ideas. 

A New Full Moon Rises in Dayton

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Photo by MIke Ritchie

Photo by Mike Ritchie

A new shop has opened in Dayton just a few feet away from the tattooed Jesus sign of Truth n Triumph Tattoo. Amanda Hamilton, formerly of Anything Under the Moon, has returned, re-opened and rededicated herself with to helping the wiccan/pagan community and those in need of guidance, counseling, supplies and just a good friend to talk to. Her new homestead is A Full Moon Rising at 603 Watervliet Avenue right off Mundale Avenue in the Belmont Business District.  It’s an artisan retail store with all the best of the handmade, homemade crafts, gifts, goodies and necessities needed for the craft.

90% of Hamilton’s inventory is handcrafted and made with extra special care including soaps, incense, prayer candles, ritual items, smudge fans, smudge sticks, oils and dream-catchers. She also makes her own jewelry from a variety of stones, gems and minerals, and has plans for upcoming classes, workshops, tarot reading, and psychic readings.

Hamilton joined the Pagan community at 16 after spending a year and a half in a Dianic Coven.  She opened Anything Under the Moon on her 18th birthday, becoming one of the best known shops of its kind in town for 24 years. Two months ago, she started a new beginning and vision under the light of the full moon. The shop specializes in candles with color symbology and essential oils with specific purpose. Hamilton’s a believer/follower of the 13 goals of a witch and The Wiccan Rede.

“I’m thrilled to be back in business and looking forward to serving the communities spiritual needs,” says Hamilton.

A Full Moon Rising also features a community bulletin board which local businesses are encouraged to use. Store hours are Monday-Saturday 10-7 and by appointment Sunday. 1-937-252-7000

The Passion Of Pin-Up

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Cherry Lee’s Salon Caters To A Classic Culture

A look, lost in time, revived to make eyes follow and fantasies unfurl. The bobby-pinned curls cascading down in huge rolls to frame a perfectly finished face, replete with fire engine red lipstick and a hint of blush to complete the illusion. The clothes have to keep up with the walk as the eyes take in the severely lined stockings, teasingly tempting as they make their way under a flared skirt. The straight cut bangs hovering above smoky eyes. The poses and positions that, while innocent enough, still evoke strong urges within the male’s psyche. This is the world of pin-up culture.

A local woman, Cassandra Barker, yearned to bring these frozen moments in time to life. She scrimped and saved, all while raising her children, until she was able to open her own salon to cater to the needs of the pin-up, rockabilly, hot rod culture. Her dream was realized last year when she was able to open the doors of Cherry Lee’s Salon, a place for ‘Classy Broads & Fancy Fellas’. In speaking with Cassandra, the first hurdle was defining what the culture is that her shop caters to.

“It’s retro or pin-up or anything that you would look at like that.” Cassandra said. “If you come into the salon, you’ll see that there’s real old pin-up stuff on the walls and the counter tops are decoupaged with pin-up stuff and Nancy Drew and all kinds of other stuff.”

Since this is not the run of the mill hair salon, I wondered how Cassandra got drawn into this specific type of hair styling.

“Well, I think what happened with me, I had a lot of theater background. I did hair working for Phantom of the Opera for a little bit and I learned a lot about Victorian hair. Basically, hair is just like fashion: it changes throughout the course of the years, but it keeps its general structure.” Cassandra went on to say that, “I took the things I learned from Phantom of the Opera and started incorporating it into up-dos for proms and weddings and things kind of went from there. I started researching it and made sure I was staying authentic, like using a beeswax that they used to use back in the day, because…that’s what they used to use. I try to keep as true as I can with the products we use because they worked.”

A hairstyle is just as identifiable as any other fashion or body modification. People instantly recognize what station or class or culture you are from based on your clothing and your coif, even recognizing what era a specific hairstyle may be from. What is the current interest in retro hairstyles and fashion? Could it be that, since we are currently living lives on the edge of the unknown that we cast a look back, trying to recapture a simpler, more contented era?

“I think so for sure. The time period that we focus most of our stuff on, there was no money, there were hard times and we’re kind of going back to that style and it’s easy; it’s not that expensive and everyone seemed happy.” Cassandra opined. “I think that what it comes down to…they were even talking in the news the other day that moonshine was on a resurgence and stuff is starting to come back that was cheap, but made fun happen, you know what I mean? I think that a lot of that is coming back and hopefully that starts to push everybody at least if not towards doing better monetarily, at least feeling better in their general life, which I’m 100% for.”

I wondered if this was the only type of hair styling that Cassandra did or if it was a full service salon. Cassandra answered my question by saying;

“I had a girl sitting in here watching me one day and she said, ‘The range of people that you have walk through your door amazes me!’ I have a range of people from real pin-up, retro girls who do all the photo shoots with the cars to a mom to a little kid to a little old lady, and I can do any of it. I worked at Square 1 Salon for almost ten years. I can do the soccer mom hair and I can do anything else, but my focus and passion is definitely the pin-up stuff and the more retro stuff.”

One might wonder what the purpose is of all of this retro-vision. Was there a purpose behind all of it?

“Basically…and I know this sounds cheesy and hokey…it comes down to making people feel the best that they can. I mean, if it’s taking a housewife, who has been a housewife forever and ever and ever and who has worn t-shirts and jeans for the last ten years, who sits at home and cooks and cleans and taking them and bringing them out, giving them a fresh look and giving them new hair and make-up and giving them that sexy little pin-up look. It’s frozen into some other land and then they all of a sudden have confidence again and start feeling good about themselves.” Cassandra added that, “Actually, I think it scares the crap out of their husbands. Like, every girl I know who has come in here, who had been kind of plain Jane and then they walk out with a little Betty Page pin-up look with dark hair.

Were there other markets that catered to the pin-up/hot rod culture? Where could you get the clothing and other accoutrements?

“They can pick up some of Nikki Forte’s pin-up design stuff here. Nikki has been bringing stuff in and out of the salon. She’s actually been getting pin-up stuff for the girls and is looking at opening a little boutique inside of the salon. It’s in the works. You know, Dayton, since it is out of the eye of everything that is going on with retro and pin-up, it’s harder to get a hold of the stuff.”

As we wrapped our conversation up, Cassandra told me about a big event that was taking place at our mutual friend, Bill Winger’s shop called Daddy Katz in Moraine.

“On July 9th, we’re actually doing a pin-up training camp at Bill’s shop (Daddy Katz).” Cassandra went on to detail the event. “It’s going to be two hours of one-on-one make-up, hair training and finishing…like I’ll finish their hair and make-up. Joe Schuster from Cincinnati will do a one hour photo shoot with each girl and they will walk away with a disc of pictures and later on, they will get an edited picture of the best picture from their shoot. It’s going to be really cool. There’s a lot of stuff like that going on in California, but there’s not anything going on that around here.”

Cherry Lee’s Salon for Classy Broads & Fancy Fellas is located at 2712 Linden Ave., but is open by appointment only. You can call (937) 901-6589 to make an appointment. Mention this article and you will receive $5 off their cut and style.