Fall 2012 FALL 2012
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FALL ISSUE 1
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Molly
She’s a Jesus lover, wife, friend, aspiring writer, and a figure-it-out-as-you-gouse-your-wits-dad-gummit kind of woman.
7 10 Things... 8 Reviews 9 Spend Less, Shop More 11 A Fresh Look 16 Taking the Reigns 17 Happy Hunting
19 Fall Living 21 Molly Stillman 28 Classy Chic 37 Swap It! 39 Wine/Drink of the Month 40 Design
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FALL 2012
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letter from the
creative editor
“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.” Steve Jobs As my first letter as the Creative Editor, I have had such a hard time deciding what to say. I suppose you could call it writer's block, although I don’t really consider myself a writer. More of a designer with a small message and love for magazines. So, I started with a quote. A great quote by a great man, Steve Jobs, who can be an inspiration to anyone. It’s amazing what can be done with passion and belief in something. And that’s what I have for this magazine. I have always loved magazines. I subscribe to over 20 a month and look forward to lazy Sundays where I sit in bed, watch bad television, and read/cut them up. I probably have an unhealthy collection of clippings and articles underneath my bed and in my office. Do I use them? Yes! All the time, actually. For outfit ideas, advertisements I love, layout inspirations. In fact, I had a specific pile I’d been keeping all summer for inspirations for the magazine. Some of the layouts in here were inspired by Vogue, Elle, InStyle, Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, and more. When I first started seeing a few e-magazines popping up, I was blown away. It was only my second thought that it was something that I actually might be able to do myself, with a little help from some great writers and friends. In May, I took a trip to San Francisco for an e-publishing and design conference and learned just how easy creating an online magazine would be, and thus my idea flourished. It only took me a few conversations and a few weeks to move things into action. I was astonished that most people I asked to write for me were more than willing to go along with this idea without actually seeing any proof. I couldn’t be more thankful for their faith in me to do this. And that brings me here: the launch of the first issue of Twila, a magazine named after my great, great aunt. It was unique. It was family. It was fabulous. Just what I aspire this magazine to be. I’m not sure exactly where I think or want this magazine to go, but I could not be more excited that it has become a reality. A gigantic thanks goes out to my editors, writers and contributors, as without them and their acceptance of my crazy idea, none of this would have happened. And with that, I hope you enjoy the magazine! Let us know your thoughts and comments. We’d love to hear from you. Ciao,
Johnna Hetrick 4
r u team
meet o donna hetrick
jeri hetrick
chelsea islin
emily richards
Donna Hetrick, is a certified clinical nutritionist, personal trainer & sales rep with organic pantry food company, Wildtree. She owns Lifestyle Fitness Nutrition providing nutritional counseling, blood chemistry analysis and personal training in Fredericksburg, VA. She has raised three amazing children, is still wildly in love with her husband of 30 years and is on this planet to teach others how to reclaim their health by nourishing their bodies with whole foods.
Jeri Hetrick is a young fashionista with Chanel taste on a Old Navy budget. She is currently residing in Fredericksburg until she begins her college career in Newport News at Christopher Newport University in January. She spends her time cooking, baking, interning for a wedding planner, and is an ambassdor for Protein Bakery.
Chelsea is a twenty-three year old living in Arlington, VA. She graduated from Christopher Newport University with a Communication Studies major in 2011 and is currently an Account Executive at DISYS. She’s a big fan of shopping, trying new wines and exploring DC with her friends. She started her blog for a college course and through that ended she’s continued posting! Check it out cchicc3.wordpress.com/ xoxo
Emily York Richards, founder and CEO of Sade Wellness, a corporate wellness solutions firm, oversees business development, directs creative initiatives and formulates the strategy for Sade’s client base. A fitness guru, marathon runner and self-proclaimed health fanatic, Emily embraces the importance of a life balance in body, mind and spirit which also drives the passion behind her business.
laura smith
Laura Smith is a twenty-five year old Communications Specialist working and living in Arlington, Virginia. She lives with her sister and AMAZING roommate. In Laura’s free time, she likes to run, volunteer, bake, and explore the DC area. Laura loves to embrace life by trying new things that Arlington and DC have to offer including classes, concerts, tastings, and more.
FALL 2012
cate summers
Cate is a twenty-five year old sales manager who frequents the DC social scene to keep herself busy then writes about it to keep herself sane. When she was growing up in the DC suburbs, she and her friends would pretend to be chic and spend weekends walking around Georgetown, dreaming of the days when they would be able to afford anything. Older and slightly wiser, she still walks around the city on the weekends with a tad more money in her pockets. In “Happy Hunting,” Cate will share stories from the front lines of her perpetual hunt for fun...and she’s got good aim.
rose wagner
Rose Wagner is a 2010 graduate from the University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown campus, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Professional Writing. She is twenty-four years old and currently employed at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, as a Recruiting Coordinator in the Career Services office. When she is not spending time with her fiancé or planning her upcoming wedding, Rose likes to cuddle up on the couch with a good book and a cup of hot tea.
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modestlychicstyle.wordpress.com
Natural True Beauty
Living Beautifully
Providing empowerment through fabulous, uniquely designed purses, wallets, bags, and collections. 6
naturaltruebeauty.com
10 THINGS
I hate about wedding planning...
by rose wagner 1. Who in the world are Uncle Frank and Aunt Nancy..... and why must I pay sixty dollars to feed them? 2. I don’t need a blender or a toaster. Please make checks payable to American Education Services. With your help, we can knock these loans out in 5 years instead of 10. 3. The groomsmen can wear their own black suits instead of renting tuxes. That will save them money! But.. they must all be IDENTICAL shades of black or they will look off... Not light black....not dark black... but, black black. BLACK BLACK! 4. My mother. My mother. My mother. My mother. My mother. My mother. My mother. My mother. My mother. Sigh. My mother. 5. Dear cheapest DJ we could find: If you play ‘Chicken Dance,’ ‘Macarena,’ ‘I Honestly Love You,’ ‘We are Family,’ ‘Celebration,’ ‘YMCA,’ ‘Hokey Pokey,’ “Endless Love,’ or ‘Love Shack,’ I will be forced to take you down. 6. I have to get my groom a gift? Forget that. My gift to him is ME. 7. “What do you think Daniel, roses or lillies?” “Whatever you want, dear.” “What do you think about these placecards?” “Whatever you think, hun.” “Is it ok if I walk down the aisle in a meat dress and hand out LSD to our guests?” “Whatever you want, sweetie.” 8. Tipping the caterer? Sure. Tipping the stylist? Absolutely. I draw the line at tipping a priest. 9. A big THANKS to theknot.com for the daily email reminders, informing me of the 687 tasks to complete before my wedding. 10. So, the dress I’m ordering today has to fit exactly the same way one year from today, or I will be faced with hundreds of dollars in alterations? And the year long fast startsssss....now.
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Favorite BOOKS
by laura smith BETHENNY FRANKEL | skinnydipping CHERYL STRAYED | wild “Who do I have to sleep with to get a drink on this plane?”
A backpack. A pair of boots. A deep breath.
Ah, Bethenny. What can I say about Bethenny Frankel? Sure, I’m completely obsessed with her, her show, products, cooking tutorials, life advice, you name it. So you better believe that upon hearing that she released a novel, I was one of the first to buy it.
In her non-fiction novel, ‘Wild,’ Cheryl Strayed straps readers over her back, and carries them through the ups and downs of her eleven-hundred-mile solo hike across the Pacific Crest Trail. She intertwines stories from her childhood, her teen years, her addiction, her marriage, and her divorce, with anecdotes from the trail. With no experience as a hiker, and a determination to change her path in life, she blindly starts her journey. Along the way, she meets vividly colorful people who give her advice and help her learn the true meaning of overcoming adversity and becoming the person you were meant to be.
Skinnydipping is about a young New Yorker named Faith, who has serious Daddy issues and wants to make it as a famous, successful businesswoman. (Sound familiar?) As a reader, you experience Faith’s mishaps as she tries to make it as an Actress in L.A., make terrible life decisions, fall into financial catastrophe, join a cooking reality show (Celebrity Apprentice, anyone?) and find love and stability later in life. Ok, ok, it’s not so much fiction and more so Bethenny’s autobiography. That said, the book is worth reading. We all know Bethenny ends up happily ever after with her multimillion dollar business, amazing husband and beautiful baby. (Seriously, that kid is almost unrealistically cute). What we don’t know is just how hard it is to get to that point. I recently turned 25. Is it me, or does no one tell you 25 is a HUGE turning point? I stress constantly over whether I am making the right decisions, saving enough money, asserting myself in the workplace or just generally behaving as an adult. This book not only assures that these feelings are normal, but illustrates the awesomeness that comes along with the ride. Because sometimes we have it together, but other times all you can do is smile, take a Chanel No. 5 spray to the crotch, and hope for the best.
Favorite MUSIC
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by rose wagner
Cheryl learns that the complications of her life seem like dust in the wind compared to coming face to face with a feisty rattlesnake on the trail, or hearing wolves howl as you shiver in your tent in the dead of night, or facing an ice-covered hill that you have no choice but to climb in broken boots. In life, we are always faced with tough choices. Do we dwell, or do we move forward? During her journey, Cheryl Strayed faces this question head on. “There was only one option, I knew. To keep walking.” Eric Culberon | in the outside
I fell in love with Eric Culberson when I accidentally stumbled upon him on a trip to the blues bar called Madam’s Organ. As blues is one of my favorite genres, I was thoroughly impressed with his energy, personality and soul in every song he sang. It was impossible not to be dancing along with each song. Originally from Savannah, Georgia, he now tours with his band, which includes a fantastic saxophone player who jammed in the crowd. He has four albums, including my favorite, ‘In the Outside’ which is also home to my favorite song ‘Stars in Your Tears.’ by johnna hetrick
SPEND LESS, Shop More
by jeri hetrick
SPLURGE
STEAL
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FALL 2012
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Classy Chic & Chardonnay
restaurants | travel | wine | fashion cchicc3.wordpress.com
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a fresh look
Time for true confessions.
I love food! I love to eat! BUT as I’ve gotten older, I’ve gotten much more selective in how I “spend” my daily calories. The quality of food is tops on my list. Go organic. Buy local. Get to know the farmers at the Farmer’s Markets and find out who is providing clean food. Find a source for organic, farm fresh eggs coming from happy, healthy chickens. If possible, eat those chickens as well! Find a farm raising grass fed beef (if you are a red meat eater) and stock your freezer. I know this way of eating takes some forethought and some planning but most communities have a Whole Foods, Wegman’s, or a local health food store that carry high quality, locally raised, organic meats that you can buy spur of the moment as well.
FALL 2012
by donna hetrick
So now that I’ve put a plug in for a high quality base diet—let’s take a look at ways you can add some enjoyment throughout the day without blowing the calorie bank! Let’s start with breakfast—a complete and total carbohydrate land mine waiting to be enjoyed and then explode on your backside! UGH—Who doesn’t enjoy one of those SUPERSIZED muffins from WAWA or a cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese? But who can do that and still fit into their skinny jeans? Not me! Instead of all those starchy carbs, make sure you are starting out your day with adequate protein—like 25 grams worth. We all know the easy high protein choices like protein shakes, eggs and turkey bacon, cottage cheese, but is there a way to have a muffin and get your protein too? And to that I say “ YES…yes there is!” It’s all in the source of flour, source of sweetener and source of protein. Here’s one of my favorite low carb/ high protein breakfast muffins that I found online a couple of years ago (continued on page 13).
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Achieve Healthy Balance in an Unbalanced World!
Nutritional Counseling Cardiovascular & Strength Training Workouts and Weight Loss LifestyleFitnessNutrition.com dphetrick@lifestylefitnessnutrition.com Fredericksburg, VA 22408 Phone: 540-898-5219 | Fax: 540-891-4050 12
Low Carb/High Protein
breakfast muffins
INGREDIENTS • ½ cup ground flaxseed. If you have a coffee grinder—it’s best to grind it right before you use it but you can also purchase already ground flaxseed at Vitamin Shoppe—I like Dash O’Flax ground golden omega flaxseed. Just be sure to keep it refrigerated. • 3 medium bananas mashed—should be very ripe. Tip: freeze bananas that are overly ripe that aren’t getting eaten and pull them out, defrost, and smash for recipes like this. They will look dark and discolored from being frozen but taste great when baked. • 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil—I highly recommend Wildtree’s expellor pressed/cold pressed grapeseed oils because I just happen to be a Rep for Wildtree—www.mywildtree.com/donnah • 2 eggs—farm fresh/organic if possible! • 3/4 cup egg white protein powder or whey protein powder—whichever you prefer. I like Jay Robb’s Egg White protein powder OR Biogenesis • Nutraceuticals Ultra Pure Whey Protein. • ½ tsp baking powder • ½ tsp baking soda **SWEETEN TO TASTE WITH STEVIA OR MY FAVORITE SWEETENER—SLIMTEVIA—found at www. Slimtevia.com DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 350-degrees and lightly grease your muffin pan with coconut oil or grapeseed oil—both are high temp oils. 2. In a large mixing bowl, beat together bananas, oil, sweetener, and egg whites. 3. In a separate bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients. 4. Spoon batter into prepared muffin pan. 5. Bake in preheated oven for about 12-15 minutes or until toothpick inserted into muffin comes out clean. 6. Recipe makes 12 muffins.
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afresh look Banana Flaxseed Muffins The nutritional analysis for each muffin is 105 calories, 3.5 grams fat, 10 carbs & 10 protein. As opposed to one Betty Crocker Blueberry muffin (prepared) contains: • 180 calories • 1.5 g total fat • 0.5 g saturated fat • 26 g carbohydrates • less than 1 g fiber • 14 g sugar • 2 g protein Tip: These freeze well! INGREDIENTS • Add a couple of strips of Applegate Farms turkey bacon…Au Fresh or Al Fresco chicken sausage or homemade turkey sausage patties and you’ve got a Protein Packed start to your day! Turkey Breakfast Sausage INGREDIENTS • 1 pound lean ground turkey (I prefer this to turkey breast) • ¾ tsp. sea salt or ½ tsp. Wildtree’s Ranchers Rub (www.mywildtree.com/donnah) • ½ tsp Rubbed Sage • ½ tsp. Pepper or Wildtree’s California Pepper Blend (www.mywildtree.com/ donnah) • ¼ tsp ginger • ½ tsp. garlic powder or Wildtree’s Garlic Galore (www.mywildtree.com/donnah) DIRECTIONS Mix all ingredients in large bowl. Shape into eight 2 inch patties. In a nonstick skillet coated with grapeseed oil (I like using the Bacon or Hickory Grilling oil for this) cook patties over medium heat for 6-8 minutes on each side or until no longer pink. **These freeze really well!
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FIND BALANCE.
body, mind and spirit.
A Wellness Solutions Firm that helps individuals achieve a life balance in
FALL 2012
SadeClarity.com | 703.850.1785 info@sadeclarity.com
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Taking the Reigns On
by emily york richards
Life Balance
Models and actresses have to keep their bodies in shape. It’s part of the job requirement. In our line of work, we too are required to keep fitpart of the whole ‘practice what you preach’. Another thing we preach is life balance, and the importance of balance as it pertains to body and mind. This is a topic that I think about often- because this is an area of my life where I have too often caveated with ‘do as I say, not as I do’. Like most days, the thought crossed my mind today. I was on the massage table, trying to calm my racing mind and relax in the moment. But to no avail, my mind raced as the massage therapist began working out the multiple knots throughout my back and shoulders. I kept thinking “Can she tell how high my stress levels have been?” Ok, I didn’t think so eloquently. My real thought was “is she thinking ‘wow- this the worst back of knots I’ve ever worked on? What does she do everyday?’” Regardless of her actual thoughts, if she wanted, she could have totally called my bluff had I claimed life balance. So what good is it to know and understand the importance of life balance if one doesn’t
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implement it? Having burned the candle on both ends for too many consecutive nights, my body and mind are begging for a reprieve. And I should listen. And small changes could help get me there. It’s about being conscious of your body and actions. If you’ve pushed it ‘hard’ during the week, on Saturday morning, sleep in. If you’ve promised to grab a drink with a friend and are short on time, suggest exercising, even a walk to catch up rather than a cocktail. This kills two birds with one stonecatching up and exercise. Learn to say ‘no.’ Just because someone is a friend and/or wants to get together, doesn’t mean your schedule will allow. The bottom line, make time for yourself. Pencil yourself into your schedule. When you make time for yourself, you will find clarity and, consequently, greater balance. With this balance will come greater productivity, greater calm, and overall greater satisfaction in your day-to-day.
by cate summers
HAPPY
Hunting
“I drink to make other people more interesting.” – Ernest Hemingway
It must have been a labor of love, because it took a hot minute for the bartender to deliver the concoction. After watching her try to finagle the whipped cream can for five painful minutes, she finally admitted it was on the fritz and we would have to go without. Disappointed, I gave it a taste anyway. Even without the trippy topping, the drink was delicious and refreshing.
The Fourteenth Street Northwest corridor is the etch-a-sketch of neighborhoods. Each weekend it seems like some business has closed and a new one is set to open in its place three months from now. When I spotted Bar Pilar at 14th and T a few months back, I committed the name to memory We had to order some food to counteract the and vowed to be a patron in the near future. crazy combinations of alcohol floating in our That day came this past Saturday when I was stomachs. I have proclaimed on many occasions on a daytime rooftop bar crawl with a group that I am fundamentally against small plates/ of rowdy twenty-somethings looking to have tapas. Why would I pay a high price for a small as many fancy cocktails in broad daylight as plate that I have to share with other people? possible. After bouncing from Local 16, to the Doesn’t make sense to me. But the boyfriend new rooftop spot The Brixton, then over to El took one look at the menu and said we needed Centro, we decided it was time for some air to order at least three plates, so I did what I was conditioning and made our way to Bar Pilar. told. Upon entry, you’re greeted by a stellar soundtrack from the 1960s that makes you feel like you’re dancing with Johnny for the crowd at the Shelldrake, about to nail the lift. The atmosphere resembles Ernest Hemingway’s basement and all of the trinkets he probably illegally removed from Cuba. His picture adorns the walls and his influence is evident.
The mussels came in a white wine and butter sauce intermingled with sliced shallots, and they were delicious. The chicken empanada was big and crispy; he devoured it. The cheese burger was perfectly cooked, as well as the bacon on top of it. The portions on these small plates were anything but. We both left pleasantly surprised and supremely satisfied.
I did a little bit of research on Bar Pilar before the bar crawl. It was one of the few places on the list I had yet to visit, so I wanted to know what was in store. Brightest Young Things published a post earlier this summer of the best frozen/refreshing drinks in DC and Bar Pilar’s Cuba Libre made the list. Billed as an alcoholic float, the real selling point was the homemade absinthe whipped cream to top the whole thing off. I had to have one.
So go home and watch Johnny take Baby out of the corner, then head to Bar Pilar for a corner booth and order the Cuba Libre while you decide if you want to get three or four small plates…for yourself.
FALL 2012
Check out the review on the Cuba Libre here: www. brightestyoungthings.com/articles/most-frozenrefreshingdrinks-in-dc-in-2012-in-your-mouth.htm Read more about Cate’s adventures at her blog csumm. wordpress.com and follow her on twitter: @fire_and_nice.
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Jesus. Diet Coke. Burritos. What Not.
Molly Stillman mollystillman.com
Twitter: @mollybuckley
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FALL Living 7AWESOME Halloween 14
Order a
Be
1 pumpkin
The
with
the
kiddies
will
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football
G o f o r a l o n g run – the weather is
Make chili in a crock pot. Consume while watching football.
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Make tomato soup – be fancy and top it with
fresh basil!
Invite friends over for a
baking day. H o s t a p umpkin c a r v i n g contest.
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16Watch Hocus Pocus. Drink cider 17 10 Bake pumpkin seeds. (yay gluten free!)
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absolutely perfect.
Bake an apple crisp.
around a fire pit 5 Sit and tell crazy stories.
Come up with a creative (not just slutty) costume for Halloween. Involve crafting.
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FALL 2012
house
come-a-runnin.
all day long, because who doesn’t like having an excuse to drink excessively and be obnoxious on Sundays?
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the
candy.
spice latte.
Watch
by laura smith
18 Go on a haunted hayride.11
Light pumpkin spice scented candles in every room of your house.
Build a fort
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(no boys allowed).
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Start saving for Christmas – it’s right around the corner!
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Plan your social calendar around the Fall 2012 TV schedule.
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Snuggle.
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SHE’S still being
Molly Interview with Molly Stillman, by Johnna Hetrick Seeing the charismatic and happy, Molly on stage on her wedding day, it dawned on me that this woman has grown into a much different woman from the one I met seven years ago, in all the best ways. Her journey through life hasn’t been easy. But it’s brought her to be the amazing woman that she is today: a successful blogger on topics from finances, to fashion, to doing it herself and more. By publishing her own stories and experiences, she has inspired others to do great things.
Tell us a story about your childhood, and who you were growing up. I was an awkward kid. Heck, I’m still pretty awkward. But, I had parents that loved me SO much and always encouraged me to be myself, even if being myself sometimes meant I got made fun of. A lot. In elementary school, I was tormented. I have a really loud laugh and I sometimes couldn’t control it (well, I still can’t). So kids made fun of that. I was also rather unfortunate looking. I didn’t wear nice clothes, I had a mullet haircut, and I wore huge glasses. PLUS, my name is Molly, a very common... DOG name. SO, I quickly became Molly the dog. Kids would follow me home from school and throw dog food at me FALL 2012
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and bark. It was pretty awful. Until one day, I started to learn to stick up for myself so I’d growl and bark right back at them. Eventually they stopped. I look back on it and laugh now. At the time it wasn’t fun, but in a lot of ways I learned to really embrace my awkwardness and grow thicker skin because of it.
You’ve worked really hard to get where you are today in your personal and professional life. Do you have any advice to give to others about what you’ve learned?
Again, as cliche as it sounds, don’t let anyone ever make you feel like less than who you really are. You are capable of far more than That’s quite a background story. By the time you can possibly imagine. However, in a lot of we met, you had grown out of that stage by a ways, I did play things safe, and I am glad that long shot! Now you’re all grown up, and living I did. When you want to do something badly far away from where you started. What made enough, you’ll figure out a way to make it happen. But, don’t compromise your personal you decide to move to NC? or moral beliefs or totally do something you’ll At the time I thought it was because of a boy, later regret to get there. Also, laugh a lot. but when I look back, none of that made any Like, a lot. Just keep laughing. Laughter fixes sense. Nothing made sense when I moved to anything. North Carolina. And three years later, I’m in a COMPLETELY different place in life, personally. That is terrific advice. Moving forward, what Now I think it was just God’s way of figuring are you looking for in the future? Where do out how to get me down here so I could meet you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? my husband and start to grow into the person I just want to continue to grow personally and I’ve become. professionally. We never know how long we How hard was it to just pick up your life and really have on this earth. So, I’m going to keep making the most of what I have. I know where move? I want to be and I know what I want to do, but Oh my gosh, it was the hardest thing... EVER. at the same time, I don’t want to sacrifice the And that’s why it really didn’t make sense at here and now for the future. God forbid I get the time. I had a great job, a great roommate, hit by a bus today, I don’t want to have spent a great place to live, great friends - and I was all my time thinking about tomorrow. I want to moving to a state where I knew one person. love people now. I want to serve people now. WHAT? Crazy. And I want to laugh with people now. All while What did you learn about yourself? continuing to make myself better and learn from my experiences. I think, in the end, if I do I learned a lot about myself. Probably the all that, then in 5, 10, 15 years, I’ll be happy. most I’ve ever learned about myself. When you live alone in a state where you hardly That’s a great way to look at it. And with that, know anyone, you have a lot of time to think. I think you really live out that philosophy every And as I got more comfortable with myself, day through your blog and social media. I started learning that you don’t need to What made you start blogging? surround yourself with people who don’t fulfill I’ve always been HORRIBLE at journaling. you. You don’t need to do things you don’t I would go to Barnes & Noble, buy a pretty want to do because you feel like you HAVE journal, write in it for 3 days and then never to. I learned to surround myself with people crack it open again. I’m left handed and it’s who love me and embrace me. I learned to too much of a pain to hand write all the junk do what I love and explore new opportunities going through my head all day long. and challenge myself. And I learned that you don’t need a “man” to make you happy and So in 2007, I started a blog. The blog is my confident, BUT, when you find the right one electronic version of the pretty journal that I who becomes your best friend, he can do all used to buy. Now I just redesign my logo or header or put up a new background. of those things and so much more. 22
Molly’s Favorite Quote: “I always wanted a happy ending... Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it without knowing what’s going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity.” -Gilda Radner
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The only thing that’s really ever been consistent about my blogging is the change. I write about what I want to write about, when I want to write about it. And the content has certainly shifted over the years. And I like it that way. You are very honest and open in your blog, have you always been this honest and open in your life? Yes and no. There are definitely things I don’t share with people and I don’t share on my blog. However, I’ve learned that people can relate to REAL people and I feel like, because I’ve experienced and been through enough weird stuff in my life, if I share those experiences and weird things, that someone might just learn from a mistake I’ve made, or gain new perspective. I am far, FAR from perfect and I have almost NOTHING figured out, but I like sharing my imperfections and figurings out with people. And I like to make people laugh. It’s the greatest thing for me; the feeling that I get when I’ve made someone laugh. It all is probably connected to my childhood when kids used to laugh AT me, it hurt. So I started taking those hurtful laughs and making them positive in my mind. Ever since then, when I make someone laugh, it fills me with joy. Maybe that’s a sick and twisted thought - but it’s true. I just want people to know that I am who I am and I’m just an imperfect person trying to chase after a perfect Savior and this is the stuff that happens to me along the way.
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yourself out there to continue to inspire others. As someone who inspires so many others, what are some of your inspirations? This sounds cliche, but the biggest inspiration for me is Jesus. I know that’s not always a popular thing or might turn people off, but it’s something that I’ve genuinely tried to do better at. I want to treat everyone that I come into contact with love, service, kindness, and respect. I also draw inspiration from my late mother. She was the most selfless, hilarious, genuine, and loving person. EVER. When I was younger, I hated being “like my mom.” But now, I try to be more like her every day. Your actions always speak louder than words! It’s amazing what you have done with that compassion and love. What is your passion? Why do you get up in the morning?
Laughter and creativity. I think that’s why recently I’ve really amped up my love for fashion. It may sound totally materialistic to some people, but I’ve always loved fashion, and I love what fashion can do for someone. The perfect outfit or the perfect accessory can totally turn someone’s mood around. I struggled, and still struggle, with body image issues for YEARS. So many women AND men do, but when we learn to dress for our body and embrace what God gave us, our selfesteem problems can be drastically improved. And thus, it gets people laughing more. The biggest compliment I’ve received lately was It’s really inspiring to see how much you’ve from a reader who emailed me and said, grown in your life and how much you put
5 things I can’t live without: 1. Jesus 2. My husband 3. Diet Coke 4. My iPhone 5. Vaseline (that stuff fixes EVERYTHING!)
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“I just started reading your blog a couple of months ago and have completely fallen in love with your style, but most importantly, I have fallen in love with your sense of self love. I constantly am in awe at how happy and confident you are. [..] I have struggled with self image problems in the past, a debilitating eating disorder, and it wasn’t until I found the love of God that I really started seeing my life turn around. I strive to one day be half the woman of God that you are.” I cried when I read that. That, right there, is why I do what I do. That’s really an amazing compliment to get. A real testimony to the woman you’ve become! This interview has been an absolute pleasure, do you have any last words? I think the best advice I could ever offer someone who wants to blog, write, create, share, etc. is don’t waste time comparing yourself to others in your industry. If I spent all my time comparing myself to bigger, better bloggers, I’d miss out on so many opportunities to be myself. Readers, clients, money, customers, work, etc. will come - if you are YOURSELF, original, and honest: it will all come. Nobody likes a clone. Thanks for having me, Johnna! Get more Molly! • Blog mollystillman.com/ • Twitter twitter.com/mollybuckley • Facebook facebook.com/stillbeingmolly • Pinterest pinterest.com/themollybuckley/ • Instagram followgram.me/themollystillman
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Molly's
Fashion
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CLASSY CHIC
& chardonnay 28
by chelsea islin
Color
Combination
When I was younger, for some odd, odd reason, purple and yellow (together) were my favorites colors. If it wasn’t a Minnie Mouse outfit, you could find me putting together outfits of yellow and purple. Funny thing is, 20 years later, I am still putting together outfits of these two constrasting colors, just now they’re a little more coordinated! I love how it is completely acceptable to mix prints and colors that years past would turn heads. (However some brave souls super mix & match and turn heads) But there’s no need to match your purse to your shoes to your belt any longer. Pair blue with black, black with brown, and brown with orange. I’ve posted on my blog a couple different mixes and a simple yet eye catching
FALL 2012
combination is a striped top and printed bottom. I love this print from J.Crew and have for quite sometime. Purples, teals, yellows, and creams allow this paisley print to be paired with any color in your closet. I recently purchased this v-neck from J.Crew factory and when I paired them together, I couldn’t help but giggle, thinking of the days as a little girl going to school in my purple & yellow. Skirt, J.Crew Factory/ Sweater, J.Crew Factory/ Purse, Forever21/ Shoes, Madewell/ Belt, J.Crew/ Assorted Bracelets/ Necklace, Aldo
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POLKA DOT
Picnic
My ideal fall season would consist of waking up every day, grabbing a pair of comfortable jeans and an oversized sweater, stepping into flats on my way out the door and having a cool breeze float by me as I sit at a vineyard, sip wine, and stare off into the mountains. Dream-that-will-never-come-true? Probably, but I’ll settle for a few trips to vineyards or on the mall picnics in that outfit. And just to be clear, jeans and an oversized sweater don’t have to be boring! If you look close enough, my jeans have subtle polka dots all over them! And a favorite fall accessory that hasn’t gone out of style for years now is a scarf. Try spicing up an outfit with a printed scarf. Aztec, animal print, polka dot, etc. are all great accents to
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complete any outfit. Shoot, if it’s cool enough outside, try combing two scarves together to give it more volume! And if you were a lover of summer’s neon trend, transition it into fall with small jewelry or cap toe flats. It gives a fun pop of color! Jeans, BDG/ Sweater, J.Crew/ Ring, Nordstrom Rack/ Flats, Alloy / Scarf, Target/ Purse, Aldo
P.S. For those wine lovers out there... If you’re looking for a cute, close to DC winery you have to check out Paradise Springs in Clifton. It’s my favorite! And be sure to check out my blog for some more winery reviews coming in the fall!
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Lace
Overlay
Material can seriously make or break an outfit. A lot of inexpensive fabrics look not only inexpensive but cheap. However lace is one of those fabrics where,the more intricate it is, the more expensive it is, but you can still look girly and ladylike regardless of the price. This peplum lace overlay top I found at Marshall’s for $16.99. And get this: the navy patent belt was included! Since this was an outfit I wore to work, I opted for my Winnie pants from J.Crew and slipped into my Missoni for Target heels.
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I’m a bracelet person, and when I don’t have jewelry on, I feel like a boy. So on my wrist, I have a single bangle and drop down earrings. (If you have to dress professional, or just want some super comfortable, nice fitting pants, run to J.Crew and purchase a pair of Winnie pants... they’re so worth it!) Peplum Top, Hearts... via Marshalls/ Pants, J.Crew/ Heels, Missoni for Target/ Bangle, Kate Spade/ Earrings, Kate Spade
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Trends…
A general direction in which something is developing or changing. Fitting that for each season a new set of trends makes its debut. 2012’s fall trends are something that I’m actually pretty excited about, mostly because there’s nothing too crazy that people won’t actually wear. This past spring, peplum tops, skirts, and dresses starting popping up, and it appears the trend is here to stay. I love how girly and fun a lace peplum top can be, and depending if you want to dress it up or down, pair it with a pencil skirt or skinny jeans for a perfect put together look. As far as colors go, gold is the color that I bet we’ll be seeing a lot more of this season, and it doesn’t have to be restricted to just jewelry. Grab a pair of gold studded loafers for a fun weekend shoe or go for a more regal look in a brocade skirt, woven with thick gold thread. If you want to try some mixing and matching pair a
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brocade skirt with a button up that sports an embellished collar. And fear not, if you can’t find a button up, individual collars are available to spice up any outfit. Burgundy coats can be thrown on top of any outfit. The color is rich, transitional and beats the traditional black or tan jacket that we’ve seen in seasons past. If you’re more into prints, replace your cheetah and go bold with a reptile print. Snake skin is super flattering as it elongates and usually comes in monochrome colors. A reptile print skirt, white blouse, and cap toe heels would be a perfect fall work outfit that can easily convert to an evening look. The greatest thing about these fall trends is they’re all able to work together. No outliers in this group. Mix, match, switch, and have fun!
FALL 2012
Trends
fiery ginger quasi-yuppy socialite dabbles in the blogerary arts perpetually seeks sensational adventures day or night
Fire and Nice
FALL 2012
csumm.wordpress.com @fire_and_nice35
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Swap t IT!
by jeri hetrick
, n
Swap out your pasta for Shirataki Noodles by No Oodle Available at www.nooodle.com or whole foods. Love spaghetti, lo mein, and other pasta dishes but hate the amount of calories and carbs? Swap out your pasta for Shirataki Noodles by No Oodle.
s a n. e p p
No Calorie. No Carb. No Fat. Allergy Friendly.
“Swap It” Recipe of the Week Asian Stir Fry
• 1 package No Oodles -- prepared as directed • 4 tablespoons Braggs Amino Acid • 2 cup steamed broccoli • 1/2 cup shredded carrot • 8 oz. boiled chicken -- thinly sliced Prepare No Oodles as directed. Satay chicken and broccoli in 2 tablespoons of Braggs Amino Acid until heated and well coated. Once seasoned well, add in No Oodles and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, place in bowl and top with 1 tablespoon of Bragg's.
. t
a
140 Calories, 7g Carbs, 23g Protein (Per Serving—Recipe makes 2 servings) Add your favorite veggies, change the protein source, jazz it up your way! FALL 2012
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Dr
For everything related to fashion and chic style
magnoliagracestyle.com 38 MagnoliaGraceStyle@yahoo.com
rink
of the month Being gluten free, one of my favorite drinks is cider. And especially during the fall, I love a good glass of homemade spiked apple cider. Having found a great mulling spice mix from Wildtree (www.Wildtree. com, Mulling Spices) I make it all time. It’s so easy to make, and is always a great hit. All you need is a slow cooker or larger stove top pot. Ingredients • 1 tablespoon of Wildtree Mulling Spices • 1 liter of apple cider • cheese cloth or filter • 1 cup of Evan Williams Whiskey (or alcohol of your choice) Directions 1. Pour cider and alcohol into pot or slow cooker. Alcohol amount can be adjusted to taste or liking rather than recommended 1 cup. 2. Place Wildtree Mulling Spices in cheese cloth or filter and place in slow cooker or pot. 3. If using a slow cooker, let it cook on high for a while to infuse the flavors. If cooking on stove top, bring to a boil and then let it simmer for 20-25 minutes. Can be adjusted to taste. 4. Enjoy hot or cold. Add cinnamon if preferred.
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Order Today!
jeritpb.blogspot.com
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by johnna hetrick When my best friend, Courtney, told me she was getting married, it was about 7:30 AM on a Monday morning. I was driving to work. I had to stop my car because I was screaming and crying and just SO HAPPY I could barely control myself. But, she didn’t stop there. She then proceeded to ask to be her maid of honor, and I think I just cried even more. Courtney and I have been friends for a long time and over long distances. Nothing seems to be able to come between us, and to see her so happy, made me so happy. I couldn’t be more excited to be such a significant part of her big day. I finally stopped crying after a few minutes, and then it all sank in: the bridal shower, the bachelorette party, the speech, the dresses. While a tad bit overwhelming, I knew I was up to the task and I was determined to make everything PERFECT for her for her big day. My dress has been ordered, the speech is...gathering thoughts, and the bachelorette party is coming together. But then my focus was the bridal shower! I worked hard with the mother of the bride, FALL 2012
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the mother of the groom, and my mom to get everything together to be perfect. Courtney decided she wanted a luau theme, and I picked the colors turquoise and red. My mom has a giant ‘LOVE’ cardboard monstrosity (it’s about 6.5 feet tall) of awesomeness. She puts it out at Valentine’s Day, but it will work perfectly with our colors and theme. Invitations went out after a few weeks of designing, printing, and hand cutting, as well as hand writing each envelope. Inspirations came from all over the place (Pinterest, Lilly, blogs, you name it, I researched it). I was so thrilled with the outcome! Interested in invitations, save the dates, programs, or more? Contact Design Artketing today! Get custom invitations designed and printed for less than $1 an invite. DesignArtketing@gmail.com.
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until next time...
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