Nuu-Muu: Bellingham Business Creates Seriously Cute Exercise Dresses For Working Out – And For Play

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Ashley Fullenwider and Christine Nienstedt met in Seattle in 1997 and became fast friends. They rode bikes together and went on biking trips – usually while donning dresses.

“That was always our thing,” says Fullenwider who, with Nienstedt, now runs Nuu-Muu – a Bellingham business crafting fun, functional and truly flattering exercise-and-everything-else dresses. “We’d always go out to dinner afterwards, or go have a beer or a glass of wine, and we wanted to be cute.”

Nuu-Muu officially kicked off in January 2008. Each dress is designed right here in Whatcom County, and then printed, sewn and finished in California.

“Christine is the brainchild,” says Fullenwider. “She got a bee in her bonnet, came up with the name, and put the website together.”

Fullenwider jokes that it was an amazing time to start a business. “Right when everything was closing!”

But Nuu-Muu’s sales have doubled every year, and with nearly 100 accounts across the United States and a couple overseas, it seems that trend will continue.

Locally, dresses can be purchased at Jazzercise Bellingham Fitness Center, Bikesport, Paper Dreams, and Blue Horizon Clothing. Nuu-Muu headquarters, at 1715 Ellis, near Bellingham High School, also opens its doors to the retail public every Friday, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

In some ways, it’s been a slow, steady growth for the company, which now has a team of nearly a dozen, with job titles that include “social butterfly,” “matchmaker,” “shipping fairy,” and “explorer.”

“There were all these people who wanted us to go big or go home,” Fullenwider says of Nuu-Muu’s early days. They purposely kept things small and relatively simple, as both have other full-time jobs they enjoy.

Fullenwider balances working for Nuu-Muu and a job with the Department of Energy’s National Labs, which keeps her busy with international travel.

“It satisfies a whole other part of who I am,” says Fullenwider, who has a degree in international affairs and speaks Russian. “Nuu-Muu is my fun job and my heart job. I love it and the people who are drawn to it.”

Nienstedt, who works as a paralegal in Boise, takes care of all Nuu-Muu website design and updates, and handles all press and promotional materials.

“She writes a lot of content for us, and she’s really good at it,” says Fullenwider. “The cute language on the website, the email blasts – that’s all Christine.”

“We both had families and we like to exercise,” Fullenwider says of their original plan for running Nuu-Muu. “We weren’t really willing to compromise on any of that. So we hired Enid, the mastermind behind a lot of the design work and the day-to-day.”

Enid Wilson, Nuu-Muu designer and production manager, handles patterns, colors, graphics, photo shoots – “Anything that involves aesthetics,” says Fullenwider. Wilson has also become an important voice for Nuu-Muu on the company’s Facebook page, where she regularly interacts with customers.

“Enid has a background in apparel, fine arts – she’s done it all,” says Fullenwider. “She came up with the pocket design in two seconds.”

A pocketed version of the classic dress, dubbed the “Ruu-Muu,” features two compartments on the lower back with a no-fuss fabric closure. It allows empty-hands exercise while keeping the wearer’s keys, wallet and phone safely close by.

Nuu-Muu releases about seven new patterns every year. Step into their center of operations and a sea of dresses in vibrant colors lining a long wall welcomes you – each packaged in biodegradable bags, ready to be shipped.

The secondary market for Nuu-Muu dresses is hot. “It’s amazing,” Fullenwider says. “You find them selling on eBay for $60, when they bought it for $70.”

An extremely supportive Nuu-Muu online community has cropped up around the company. Team Nuu-Muu is a closed Facebook group (available for any Nuu-Muu fan to easily join) where devotees connect, swap stories and sell or trade dresses.

“There were two women [on Team Nuu-Muu] who knew they were going to run the same half-marathon and got in touch,” Fullenwider explains. “The page now has a photo-finish of them holding hands, both in their Nuu-Muus. New best friends!”

Fullenwider’s favorite part about this compassionate group of Nuu-Muu followers? “It happens without us. It’s humans talking to humans, being nice to each other, building community together.”

Again and again, things have fallen into place right when they needed to at Nuu-Muu. Fullenwider thinks she knows why.

“I think it’s about not wanting too much,” she says. “Being open to the things that are happening.”

Having said that, she also stresses that Nuu-Muu pushes new employees to work hard when they want “to join the club.”

“It’s about you bringing their vision, energy, and passion,” Fullenwider says. “And if they can fit that into what we’re doing and figure out how to make themselves money, it works out.”

Aside from crafting and selling their popular products, Nuu-Muu has also launched initiatives intended to benefit their customers, fans and followers.

Offered for the first time last year, A Nuu You In 42, guided people through six weeks of intentional living.

Nuu-Muu also pulled together My Very First Bike Tour, a four-day/three-night San Juan Islands biking trip, with participants traveling from as far away as California to take part. A yoga and Nordic ski weekend in the North Cascades Methow Valley is currently in the works.

For more information about these and other experiences built around connecting and empowering community, visit Nuu-Muu’s website.

Still a work in progress, Nuu-Muu is also playing with the concept of finding ways to get women outside in a safe, fun, supportive way.

Calling the initiative “Athena,” Nuu-Muu’s first local event took place last July and brought together folks from the YMCA, Wild Whatcom, Moondance Sea Kayak Adventures, and local bike shops.

Fullenwider is excited about the possibilities of growing Athena. “2015 is going to be interesting!” she says.

“We still don’t have a big plan,” Fullenwider says when asked about the future of Nuu-Muu. She stops and rethinks that statement: “Our big plan is to keep having fun.”

To learn more about Nuu-Muu, visit its business page and Nuu-Muu Team page for the ins and outs, the scoop, and the skinny on this ever-growing Bellingham business that looks to empower women and girls to get outside, get active, get empowered, all while feeling comfortable and fashionable.

Nuu-Muu
1715 Ellis, Suite 102 in Bellingham
www.nuu-muu.com

“Shop for the Cause” to Raise Awareness and Funds for Haitian Women and Children

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WhatcomTalk Editor

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Submitted by Shop for the Cause

On Sunday, Nov. 23, the first annual Shop for the Cause: Women’s Fall Market & Expo will be held at the Best Western PLUS Lakeway Inn and Conference Center at 714 Lakeway Drive.

“Fall is a time for shopping, but it’s also a time for giving. We wanted to do something that brings together those two ideas,” says Sommer Cronck, Event Planning Chair. “Espwa Berlancia is an organization in Haiti that supports women through the prenatal, birth and post-natal stages. They offer medical care, HIV testing, meals, support, and services to women and babies who otherwise have no options. The reason we chose Espwa Berlancia is not simply because it is a wonderful organization, but because it has a local connection.”

Rhyan Buettner, the Founder and Executive Director of Espwa Berlancia, is the daughter of Bellingham residents John and Jana Buettner. Rhyan traveled to Haiti on a mission trip in 2008 and immediately felt a connection to the country, culture and babies, leading her to return to Haiti in 2010 and make it her home. She has spent the past four years caring for and supporting impoverished women as they go through pregnancy, childbirth and learning to care for their new babies. She is currently training to be a midwife.

Buettner will be at the event with items handmade by Haitian artisans and as well as more information about her organization. All funds raised through event vendor fees, admission and raffles will go directly to Espwa Berlancia.

The event will also feature over twenty-five local exhibitors representing national brands including Jamberry Nails, Younique, Mary Kay, AdvoCare, Stella & Dot, 31 Gifts, Keep-Collective, LuLaRoe, doTerra, Miche Bag, Ava Anderson Non-Toxic, It Works! Global, Paparazzi Jewelry & Accessories, Wildtree, Grace Adele, Pampered Chef, Partylite, Plexus Worldwide, Origami Owl, Tupperware and Nerium AD. There will be live music and a raffle with over $500 in prizes to be won. The first twenty-five (25) attendees will receive gift bags, and all attendees will be given a complimentary entry into the raffle.

“Whether you are looking to get started on your holiday shopping, are interested in trying new products, want to support local small business owners or Espwa Berlancia, this event truly has something for everyone,” says Cronck.

Shop for the Cause: Women’s Fall Market & Expo will be from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Best Western PLUS Lakeway Inn and Conference Center and is open to the public. Admission is $5 for adults, with discounts for seniors and children. Exhibitor information, tickets and more event details can be found online at shopforthecause.org.

To learn more about Espwa Berlancia, please visit espwaberlancia.org.

Free Holiday Meals and Baskets in Bellingham, Ferndale, and Lynden

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WhatcomTalk Editor

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It’s that time of year again, when we gather together with family and friends and give thanks. But for many in our communities, it’s not always possible to put a Thanksgiving feast on their table.

The following organizations generously help bring delicious meals to all, on and around Thanksgiving Day. Please remember to support them, if you can – by volunteering or through donations – as they support so many who need their help.

bellingham best breakfast — Old Town Cafe will be serving up its 42nd annual free Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

United Church of Ferndale
2034 Washington St, Ferndale
Saturday, November 22
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
360-714-9029

Ferndale Food Bank
1671 Main Street in Ferndale
An addition of turkey and a bag of holiday fixings to regular distribution prior to Thanksgiving on November 19, 22, 24, and 26.

Five Columns Restaurant
Thanksgiving dinner for seniors (age 65 and older). It’s recommended that you make a reservation a week ahead of the holiday.
1301 East Maple St, Bellingham
Thursday, November 27
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
360-676-9900

Lighthouse Mission
Bellingham’s Lighthouse Mission supplies a traditional Thanksgiving meal and clothes giveaway in the Assumption Church Gym.
2116 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham
Friday, November 28
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
360-733-5120

Lynden Project Hope Food Bank
Thanksgiving gift baskets provided for regular Project Hope clients.
205 South B.C. Avenue #105, Lynden
Monday, November 24, and Wednesday, November 26
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
360-354-HOPE (4673)

The changing colors of the leaves remind us that it's that time of year to give back to those in need. — The changing colors of the leaves remind us that it’s that time of year to give back to those in need.

Maple Alley Inn
Maple Alley Inn will provide a Thanksgiving meal the week before the Thursday holiday at Faith Lutheran Church.
2750 McLeod Rd, Bellingham
Thursday, November 20
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
360-739-7335

Old Town Café
Old Town Café serves up its 42nd annual free Thanksgiving dinner.
1316 West Holly Street in Bellingham
Thursday, November 27
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
360-671-4431

Salvation Army
Free Thanksgiving dinner – all are welcome.
2912 Northwest Ave, Bellingham
Wednesday, November 26
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
360-733-1410

Western Washington University Student Selina Simon Spins the ‘Wheel of Fortune’

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WhatcomTalk Editor

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wheel of fortune contestant — Selina walked away with $8,000 from 'Wheel of Fortune.'

Selina Simon grew up watching “Wheel of Fortune” with her mother and aunt.

“It was just what we always did – watch ‘Wheel of Fortune,’ and then ‘Jeopardy,’” says the Western Washington University senior from Federal Way, Washington.

She’d signed up online to audition long ago, so it felt seemingly out of the blue when she got an email requesting she audition in Seattle in March.

“I was so excited, I was freaking out,” Selina says. “I didn’t believe it – I was screaming.”

The audition took place at the Edgewater Hotel, where Selina joined about 60 other hopefuls.

“We played a practice round where everyone got to say a letter and smile and clap, so they could see your charisma level,” Selina explains of the process.

Round two involved a 15-question quiz, and a puzzle to solve. Selina moved on to the final round, with about 15 people and did a rundown of what a real show would be like.

They were informed that if they didn’t receive something in the mail from ‘Wheel of Fortune’ in the following couple of weeks, they hadn’t been selected. Selina returned to Bellingham and her classes.

When her mother called to tell her something had come in the mail from the show, Selina didn’t believe her.

“It took me a good week, before I got back down home, until I saw it and believed her,” she says with a laugh.

Contracts were signed and travel arrangements made. All ‘Wheel of Fortune’ contestants must take care of their own travel and hotel arrangements.

For some college students, that would have meant passing on the opportunity to spin the wheel. Luckily for Selina, her boyfriend works for an airline so she was able to fly for free – and take her boyfriend, aunt, and her two roommates along on her alphabet-intensive adventure.

Selina wasn’t nervous on the day of taping. “I had been watching it ever since I was a young girl,” she says, with a laugh. “The only thing I was worried about was if my outfit was going to be okay. You can’t wear too much of a print because it looks too busy on-screen.”

All the contestants – five episodes were taping that day, so a total of 15 people – were prepped for their big moment. Contestant handlers talked them through what to expect and kept them pumped up and excited. They each got to practice spinning the wheel, and went through a dry run before the real deal commenced. Vanna White even stopped into the contestant dressing room beforehand to say hello.

“She just popped in and surprised us before she’d even had her makeup and hair done. She was really nice,” says Selina. “She gave us a little pep talk.”

Selina wouldn’t meet Pat Sajak until the moment, during taping, that he introduced her and said hello.

The studio – which Selina had seen on TV thousands of times – looked exactly the way she thought it would, except smaller.

“They also have a ‘used-letter board’ on the side that tells contestants which letters have been called,” she explains. “You don’t ever see that on TV.”

She wasn’t nervous, but that doesn’t mean everything felt completely normal.

“It was so surreal being up there, touching and spinning the wheel,” she says. “It’s really heavy.”

The entire seven-hour experience seemed to fly by and soon Selina was taping her episode. Round one, two and three – the game just wasn’t going her way.

“The wheel was against me,” she says, laughing. “I’d get some momentum going, gain $3,000 or $4,000 and almost be able to solve the puzzle, but then get a ‘bankrupt’ or ‘lose a turn.’ I called the wrong letter once.”

Finally, on the last round, Pat Sajak spun the wheel and contestants were given a chance to call one letter, and then solve the puzzle; if they couldn’t, play moved on.

The puzzled called for a fictional character. For Selina’s first letter, she chose ‘N.’ There was one, for $1,600. She couldn’t guess the puzzle. On her second try, she chose ‘R,’ with four of them in the puzzle worth an additional $6,400.

She correctly guessed “Harry Potter and Ron Weasley,” and walked away with $8,000.

“It was pretty amazing,” she says. “If you don’t get anything, they send you home with $1,000. But $8,000 – for a college student, that’s a lot of money!”

You can watch Selina Simon’s episode of “Wheel of Fortune” right here.

Blue Friday in Whatcom County

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WhatcomTalk Editor

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It’s Friday in Whatcom County, and you know what that means: A sea of Seahawks jerseys, hats, scarves – and nearly anything else you can slap a logo on – shouting out to the word that the wearer is a 12th Man (or Woman, Kid, or Pet).

WhatcomTalk would love to share your favorite Blue Friday photos – from snapshots of the kids headed off to school to your officemates at the water cooler. Please send them to submit@whatcomtalk.com.

Go Seahawks!

Snapper Shuler Kenner Insurance Matches Turkey Donations for Local Families in Need

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WhatcomTalk Editor

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autumn leaves trees — The changing colors of the leaves is a sight to behold.

Submitted by Snapper Shuler Kenner Insurance

Snapper Shuler Kenner (SSK) Insurance’s third-annual turkey drive is seeking to help more than 200 local families this holiday season.

Snapper Shuler Kenner Insurance, with offices in Lynden and Bellingham, is matching through Dec. 12 contributions of $15 for each turkey that a person or business wishes to donate, up to the first 100 turkeys. The turkeys will be distributed to families in need by Bellingham Food Bank and Lynden-based Project Hope. Donors will receive recognition on SSK Insurance’s website and Facebook page.

“Every month Bellingham Food Bank receives more than 11,000 visits and responds by handing out more than 225,000 pounds of food,” said Paul Kenner, executive vice president of SSK Insurance. “Project Hope assists many north-county families. Our turkey drive aims to help both of these fine organizations make the holiday season a little better for some families.”

An independent agency with origins dating back to 1925, SSK Insurance has offices at 501 Front St. in Lynden and 2115 Barkley Blvd., Suite 201, in Bellingham. Donations may be delivered or mailed to either office. For more information, call (360) 354-4488 or visit www.sskinsurance.com.

Juliet Jivanti – Health Entrepreneur Left High-Tech Career for Healing Focus

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WhatcomTalk Editor

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bellingham ayurveda — Juliet Jivanti, right, demonstrates an ayurvedic technique at a workshop at the Ayurvedic Health Center. Photo credit: Sarah Eden Wallace

By Sarah Eden Wallace

Though she’s a thoroughly modern entrepreneur who has traveled from Australia to Czechoslovakia, Juliet Jivanti of Bellingham has her feet planted firmly in the ancient past through her work with the 5,000-year-old Indian health tradition called ayurveda.

Often accompanied by her diminutive Schnauzer, Gus, Jivanti offers treatments, workshops and consultations at her Ayurvedic Health Center in downtown Bellingham, which she founded in 2006. A sister science to yoga, ayurveda is gaining increasing popularity in the West, with celebrities such as Ellen DeGeneres, Dr. Oz and Julia Roberts espousing it. Jivanti says a growing number of Whatcom County clients are drawn to its approach that includes using nutrition, herbs and simple home practices to help the body heal itself.

Jivanti took a globe-trotting path to connecting with the pursuit of inner peace.

After growing up as a tomboy on a 1,000-acre ranch in Montana that her mother helped to manage, Jivanti first earned a business degree at the University of Montana and then pursued a high-stress career in software management that took her to four continents.

“I always wanted to get out of Montana and see the world,” she remembers.

For seven years, she specialized in mapping-software systems, working in London, Alaska, Mexico, Costa Rica, Paris, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

“Eventually I realized that I was seeking something, but wasn’t finding it,” says Jivanti. “I was always in a plane, or a hotel, or a rental car,” she recalls. “I could see the path: First you’re a manager, then you’re a CEO, and then you have a heart attack. I didn’t want to continue down that path.”

She started doing yoga. She quit the software industry, moved to Texas, and started teaching at Texas A&M International University in Laredo. Then she discovered ayurveda at an alternative-health workshop. “The lightbulb went off — it was exactly the piece I was looking for.”

After studying with renowned ayurvedic physician Vasant Lad at the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, N.M., she moved to Bellingham for its “sense of community and a slower pace,” and opened the ayurvedic center in 2006.

Though it can be a little daunting to even pronounce “ayurveda,” many have welcomed the addition to Bellingham’s natural-health scene.

“My attitude toward ayurveda is that it is very powerful,” says Summer Starr of Blaine, who has a background in non-profit management. “If someone’s just looking for a quick-fix diet fad something or other I would not recommend ayurveda. But if someone really wants to make a commitment to their body and their life in a new way then I would say this is a really beautiful practice to do that with.”

While ayurveda may seem exotic at first, Jivanti emphasizes that she sees clients ranging from software consultants to soccer moms who learn to integrate the ancient practices with modern lifestyles and busy schedules.

“I would say to people to not be intimidated by the fact that it’s an Eastern philosophy of medicine,” says retired tugboat captain Mark Butterworth, who saw Jivanti for help coping with uncomfortable side effects from his cancer treatments. “It’s not hocus pocus or any kind of weird thing like that.”

Indeed, Jivanti aims to make ayurveda comfortable and accessible. Now she brings her global perspective to her small center, filled with comfy chairs, artwork and plants. It’s decorated with colorful artifacts, books and talismans as well as jars of aromatic herbs, oils and teas.

Jivanti, who has studied yoga for nearly 20 years, released a DVD called “Ayurvedic Yoga: Yoga for Your Body Type” in 2010. It features Jivanti demonstrating moves on an idyllic beach setting in Birch Bay. She’s exploring even more ways to share her enthusiasm for ayurveda, such as webinars.

“Ayurveda is a way of life that only gets better the more you practice,” she says. “I just met with a client yesterday who was so happy that she knew what to do when she started feeling out of balance with the cold, rainy fall weather. Ayurveda is easy to apply, but it’s so comprehensive.”

As ayurveda recommends, Jivanti now balances her work life with hanging out with friends and outdoor experiences. For enjoyment, she bikes, hikes — often foraging for herbs, berries and mushrooms as she walks — and takes Gus for long strolls reveling in Whatcom County’s natural beauty. She’s seen the world but knows self-care and simple enjoyment are essential. “That’s powerful and that’s what I hope to share with others.”

For more information about the Ayurvedic Health Center, visit 203 W Holly St, Suite 201, call (360) 734-2396 or see ayurvedichealthcenter.com or the Flying Elephant blog.

New Beer Tapping at Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen

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WhatcomTalk Editor

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Submitted by Chuckanut Brewery

Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen at 601 W Holly St, Bellingham, is excited to announce the tapping of the new Schankbier. This sensational German sessionable lager was collaboratively created by Chuckanut head brewer Bryan Cardwell and Kevin Davey, Gordon Biersch Seattle head brewer. The two brewers will be tapping the new Schankbier on Nov 7 at 5:30pm in Chuckanut’s bar. Both brewers will be on hand to answer questions and talk about this special collaboration.

The two brewers have been good friends ever since working at Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen together. Davey, now at Gordon Biersch Seattle, recently met up with Cardwell and the two brewers discussed creating a collaborative beer. After putting their heads together over a pint they came up with the Schankbier German style Session Lager. Hoppy and crisp, this quaffable lager will please both devout hop-heads and can-crushers alike. Its golden hue and frothy white head remind us of earlier nights and autumn mornings. Liberally hopped with Saphir and Saaz, this spicy treat could also be dubbed a “Autumn German Session Lager.” We hope you enjoy it at both Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen and Gordon Biersch Seattle.

Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen, located at 601 West Holly St, was awarded the National Small Brewpub/Brewer of the Year 2009 and National Small Brewery/Brewer of the Year 2011 at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, CO. The full service “Kitchen” is open daily at 11:30am to guests of all ages with an eclectic fresh local menu. Bar specials include: HOPPY Hour Sun-Thurs 4-6pm, Monday Night $3 Pints, Kolsch Night Tuesday’s and more. Check out additional information about Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen at www.chuckanutbreweryandkitchen.com.

Bellingham Artist Mat Hudson Leaps Back & Forth Between Illustrations & Storytelling, About To Launch His First Novel

By

Stacee Sledge

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Walk awhile through downtown Bellingham and you’re sure to spot Mat Hudson’s work.

From the Bureau of Historical Investigations to Make.Shift Art Space, plus innumerable show and event posters dotted around town, Hudson’s illustrations and graphic designs jump right out at you.

It’s also quite possible that any young ones in your life have raved about his picture book, “Dig,” which was published last year.

His artwork appears on album covers and t-shirts. Frankly, the 27-year-old artist seems to be able to do it all.

Hudson shape-shifts into yet another of his favorite artistic directions with his latest project – a novel titled “Hazel.” A Kickstarter funding campaign launched earlier this year to help make the book a reality raised far more than its initial goal.

Hudson moved to Bellingham from Michigan seven years ago, coming here for an AmeriCorps position as a reading tutor in elementary schools.

“I’ve always made visual things and tried to tell stories,” he says, describing his artistic background. “Ever since I was very young, both of those have coincided together.”

Using a drawing tablet to sketch directly into his computer, Hudson digitally creates his visual pieces, and then modifies them using Photoshop.

His artwork first popped up in Bellingham at Make.Shift, the all-ages music and art venue, when Hudson started crafting show posters for them; the popularity of his work turned into more opportunities and bigger projects around town.

“It was great to really try out some things and gain confidence – because I didn’t go to school for graphic design, I went to school for film and storytelling,” he says.

Hudson batted around several different picture book ideas before jumping into “Dig” in March of 2013.

The story involves a fox that digs the wrong (very large) hole, and then falls through the earth. The book is read vertically, as one would flip the pages of a calendar.

“The nature of that formatting allowed me to be able to do one page a day, and I just connected it,” says Hudson, who knew where the story would end before he began. He posted each new page online daily.

On the fourth or fifth day of the project, a small comics and graphic novels publisher in Chicago, Yetee Books, contacted Hudson; they released the finished title the following August.

“It was a great experience,” Hudson says of working with a publisher. But with his second book, “Hazel,” he’s setting out on his own.

“I’ve been intrigued by Kickstarter since it popped up in 2009 and kept thinking about new ideas and ways to use it,” he says. “Amazon has a pretty cool printing process and there are a few other ways we can do some cool stuff.” He – along with his friend and “Hazel” editor Sara Holodnick – are now deep in the book-creation process.

Hudson’s first title was for children. This second book – a novel with a graphic element – is a bit harder to pin down.

“Sara and I have talked many hours about this,” Hudson admits, when asked to classify its genre. “It’s young adult fiction in that it’s appropriate for kids, but it’s kind of young adult with more of an emphasis on adult. It happens to star kids, but it’s got a feel that I think adults will really enjoy.”

After raising over $6,000 to cover the costs of editing and printing “Hazel,” Hudson has enjoyed the freedom of producing a book that’s exactly as he wants it to be.

Shooting for a late November or early December “Hazel” release for all his Kickstarter backers, Hudson then hopes to launch the book publicly in January or February.

What’s next?

“For the moment, I’m really enjoying writing stories and being able to scatter illustrations and make something that’s a visual companion,” Hudson says. “This particular story is so important to me.” He hopes to write a series of four “Hazel” titles.

When asked about the future and how he got from point A to point B to point C thus far, Hudson laughs. “A lot of this has been following winding paths, kind of a choose-your-own-adventure.” He pauses and thinks. “I don’t really know. I know right now I want to do ‘Hazel.’ Besides that, I just kind of think that whatever happens next is going to happen.”

Bellingham’s First Ethiopian Restaurant Announces Its Grand Opening at the Public Market

By

WhatcomTalk Editor

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Submitted by Ambo Ethiopian Cuisine

Bellingham will have its first Ethiopian restaurant when Ambo Ethiopian Cuisine opens on Saturday, November 8 inside the Bellingham Public Market.

After nine years of running her popular and beloved food stand at the Bellingham Farmer’s Market, Mulunesh Belay is opening a restaurant where customers can find a variety of authentic Ethiopian dishes including all the usual farmer’s market favorites. Expect to find delicacies like Ethiopian chicken stew and spicy lentils atop the signature steamed sourdough pancake known as injera.

“I want to share my people’s food,” said Mulunesh, who is also known as Mulu. “I am so, so happy. This is my dream.”

Mulu began learning to cook at her mother’s knee in the village of Gindeberet, Ethiopia. They worked in an open-air house with no electricity or running water. Mulu had to fetch water, cook over a fire, and walk 30 minutes to gather firewood. At age 15, the family moved to the town of Ambo, Ethiopia, where she and her family had electricity and running water. It is the town after which her restaurant is named.

Traditionally, a family sits around a large platter on which there is a huge round of injera, on top of which are fragrant mounds of spiced meats and vegetables. Rather than using a fork and knife, diners tear off pieces of the injera and use them to scoop up the delicious morsels of food. At Ambo Ethiopian Cuisine, Mulu will offer traditional food served in individual-sized portions and everyone is welcome to use the restaurant’s forks, knives and spoons!

Hours will be 11 am until 8 pm Monday through Saturday, closed Sunday. Ambo Ethiopian Cuisine will be in the Public Market at 1539 Cornwall Avenue, in the space formerly occupied by Seven Loaves Pizza.

For more information, visit amboethiopiancuisine.wordpress.com or follow the restaurant on Facebook.

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