December 2010/January 2011

COMPLIMENTARY

December 2010/January 2011

Kristen Ledlow She’s Not Your Mother’s Beauty Queen

TW’s Faves & Raves

Gift Guide

Shop Local for

Divine

Holiday Entertaining 3 Steps to Get Organized

Get FIT in 2011

Unique Gifts They’ll

Love

Cheers!

Choose the Right Wine

t a l l a h a s s e e wo m a n

• D e c e m b e r 2010/J a n u a r y 2011 1

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Contents T a l l a h a s s e e W o m a n M a g a z i n e | D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 0 / J a n u a r y 2 0 11

16

20

On The Cover

Kristen Ledlow — Living Life With a Passion The newly-crowned Miss Capital City USA Kristen Ledlow is leading a faith-filled life, pursuing her passion for the things she loves best.

S P E C I A L S E C T I ON

20

Divine Holiday Entertaining

This is the season to celebrate with a party that will have your guests talking all year long. Gorgeous table settings, decorations, party attire and more will set the stage for a memorable event. Plus, ideas for some great hostess gifts that you can buy locally to show your favorite hostess your appreciation.

d e pa r t m e n ts

34

26

6

From the Publisher

7

Girl Talk

28

Real Life

30

Home

34

Sports & Fitness

38

Flavors

40

Travel and Leisure

44

Community

54

Funny Girl

10

A Holiday Wish From Our Family to Yours

Goodbye Hat Hair | Fashion Trend—Booties | Stumble Upon What You Love

Faves & Raves—TW’s Picks for Great Holiday Gifts

Three Easy Ways to Shift From Tired to Inspired This Holiday Season

Celebrating Our Way—Treasured Family Traditions | Say Goodbye to Clutter

A Heart for the Garnet and the Gold | Get Fit in 2011

It’s Wine Time Girls Gathering is a Gift of a Getaway | Make a New Year’s Resolution to Learn Something New

When Angels Shop—A Happy Holiday for All Through the Christmas Connection The Family Lounge at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare

The Perfect Gift

i n e v e r y iss u e Capital City Gems 12 | Around Town 46 | Women to Watch 48 Women We Admire 50 | Calendar 52 ABOUT THE COVER Photograph by Adam Cohen. Jersey provided courtesy of B&B Sporting Goods.

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TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH! Get the Facts

about Bioidentical Hormones

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“I am 53 and have literally traveled from Florida to California in search of help to manage my thyroid, menopause and fibromyalgia. Dzugan Method addresses the importance of balancing ALL hormones. I am feeling better than I have felt in 14 years. Dzugan Method has given me my life back.“ PB, Tallahassee “I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis so severe that I would wake up with my fingers frozen in a claw-like position and I could not lift my arms. Dr. Emhof recommended Dzugan Method and after a few weeks, I saw immediate improvement in the redness, swelling and pain, especially in the hands and wrists. Now, after about six weeks on the program, I have almost no pain in my hands and wrists, virtually no redness or swelling and just occasional pain in my shoulders. I have the energy level I had as a young man (I'm 62 now) and I feel like a new person in general.”

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FROMthepublisher

A holiday Wish from our family to yours

Living Well and Loving Life!

December 2010/January 2011 Volume 5 | Issue 6

Publisher & EDITOR Kim Rosier ASSOCIATE Editor Heather Thomas Advertising sales Director Lynn Solomon GRAPHIC DESIGN Christy Jennings Miqueli INTERNs Sarah K. Cleeland Caroline Walker Contributing photographers Adam Cohen Photography Inga Finch Photography Tallahassee Woman Magazine LLC Post Office Box 13401 Tallahassee, FL 32317-3401 Phone (850) 893-9624 Fax (850) 254­-7038 info@TalWoman.com

From L-R Sitting: Caroline Walker, Sarah K. Cleeland, Lynn Solomon Standing: Christy Jennings Miqueli, Heather Thomas, Kim Rosier

W

hen people ask me how I am able to run this magazine plus juggle everything else I have going on in my life, I am quick to give credit where credit is due—to the talented and dedicated staff of the magazine. These women give their all to make every issue the best it can be. They share the same goal and vision of highlighting the inspiring women in our community and to bring you information on the events, businesses, and organizations that make Tallahassee such a great place to live, work and play.

Although this time of the year can be especially hectic, my goal is to slow down so that I can appreciate all I have been blessed with in my life—a great family, good friends, and the honor of publishing a magazine alongside some of the most remarkable women I have ever met.

Have a wonderful holiday season—Merry Christmas and all the best to you in the New Year.

Kim Rosier Publisher 6 t a l l a h a s s e e

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Tallahassee Woman is published six times per year and is distributed on a complimentary basis throughout Tallahassee and the surrounding communities. Subscriptions are available for $15 for one year (six issues).

The information in this publication is presented in good faith. The publisher does not guarantee accuracy or assume responsibility for errors or omissions.

Advertising

For more information on advertising, call (850) 893-9624 or e-mail ads@TalWoman.com

TalWoman.com Join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter Copyright ©2010

by Tallahassee Woman Magazine LLC. All rights reserved.

Reproduction, in part or in whole, without express written consent of the Publisher is prohibited.

G i r lta l k BE AU T Y | FA SHION | SHOPPING | K NOWLED GE

Goodbye Hat Hair You want to wear your cute winter cap but the static that may result is causing you to think twice. Keep your locks static-free by taking extra care of your hair during this time of year. Make sure your hair is wellconditioned to keep fly-aways at bay. Also, spraying a light mist of hairspray on your hair and brushing through it with a paddle brush (that also has a light mist of hairspray) just before putting on your hat will help to keep static to a minimum. You can even lightly spray your hat and even your scarf to minimize static.

Once your hat comes off, freshen your style and eliminate any hat lines with a quick spritz from hairspray, or a light conditioner spray.

Spray on lightly and fluff your curls, or tousle your waves to erase any hat line.

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G i r l t a l k | F ASHI O N

The Fun and Fashionable Trend This Winter—Booties

F

ashionable boots have a place in every woman’s closet.

This season’s hottest fashion trend nod goes to the edgy and fashion-forward ankle boots or booties. Booties, which can be found in flat or high heel, leather or suede, black, gray, brown or whatever color your heart desires, are a must have to complete any look this winter.

Whether running errands around town, shopping or going to a lunch date, add a little splash to your outfit by pairing a flat-heel pair of booties with skinny jeans and a comfortable pull over. Flat heel booties will instantly give your outfit that natural and effortless look of “it only took a few minutes to pull this little number together.” Booties even fit into the work place by pairing an office-appropriate heel with a button down top and a high-waisted skirt. Take this outfit even further by adding a blazer to make this outfit professional and complete.

High-heel booties are perfect for a night out on the town and can be paired perfectly with an off-the-shoulder dress and tights to match. Take the next step and pick out a higher heel than usual for a more dramatic effect. Have you ever been on a retail therapy

Available at Macy’s trip and spotted the perfect pair of boots but were afraid to go out of your comfort zone? The funky look is just the ticket to get heads turning. Take a pair of lace-up booties and pair it with a leather jacket and patterned tights. Sensational!

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JEFFREY M. RAWLINGS, M.D., FACS

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G i r l t a l k | K N O W LE D G E

Stumble Upon What You Love Online

N

ow that Google has practically become a verb in the English language, trying to find what you want online can still be a challenge, even with the best search engines.

Many times while searching for a specific subject on the Internet, results can get cluttered by irrelevant sites or off-topic information.

StumbleUpon.com, a website with its very own search engine, is available to get the results that are generated based on your interests. After creating a profile and selecting your favorite topics, you can browse through the recommended pages, allowing you to like or dislike a page by giving it thumbs up or down. Based on your preferences, the website shows you more information of what you may be interested in and less of what you are not.

With over 500 topics to choose from, there’s something for everyone—best of all, it is free. You can even invite friends to join and share information via social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter—making it easy to share great online finds with your family and friends.

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Faves &Raves G i r l t a l k | SH O PPI N G

If you’re looking for a gift that will be a holiday hit, here are some of the TW staff’s favorite picks from local shops.

1. Michael Kors watch ($225) • Cole Couture • 1240 Thomasville Road • colecouture.com 2. Shower Burst Aromotherapy

Tick Tock

1

($4.25) • Kanvas • 1123 Thomasville Road • kanvasbeauty. com 3. Paisley patent leather cooler tote ($32) and

matching clutch ($18) • That’s Mine! Monogramming & Gifts • 1460 Market Street 4. Child’s monogrammable seersucker backpack ($38 & includes monogramming) • That’s Mine! Monogramming & Gifts • 1460 Market Street

5. Red trench jacket by Tulle ($168) • Cole Couture • 1240 Thomasville Road • colecouture.com 6. Hanky Panky Thongs

2

($18) • Cole Couture • 1240 Thomasville Road • colecouture.com

7. Firelites (in various styles $14.99-$44.99) • Tallahassee Nurseries • 2911 Thomasville Road • tallahasseenurseries.com.

Relaxing

3

4

Keeping it Cool 10 t a l l a h a s s e e

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To Grandma’s House We Go

5

Naughty and Nice 6 A Bounty of Gifts for Fall and Holiday

7

Conversation Starter

2066 Thomasville Road | 850-386-8525 | Mon-Sat 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. t a l l a h a s s e e wo m a n

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C A PITA L

C IT Y

Noteworthy events coming up in the area that you don’t want to miss.

It’s A Wonderful Life

Winter Festival – A Theatre TCC presents It’s a Wonderful Life. Celebration of Lights, This play is the perfect holiday treat for the Music, and the Arts. entire family. Performances will be held December 2-4, at Turner Auditorium at Tallahassee Community College. For show times, tickets, and other information, call (850) 644-6500 or visit tickets.fsu.edu.

Ice Skating in Tallahassee? Yes!

Get ready for fun on ice! Beginning December 4 and continuing through January 3, Tallahassee on Ice is available at Kleman Plaza. A one-hour session, including skates, costs $6. The rink will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; visit the website talgov.com/parks for a full list of operating hours, or for further information, call (850) 891-2966.

website at VocesTally.org. All concerts are free and open to the public.

The city of Tallahassee presents the annual Winter Festival Celebration of Lights on Saturday, December 4 from 3 to 10 p.m. The festival brings together the best of the holiday season, including good food, music, art, a children’s activity area, ice skating, a nighttime parade, the popular Jingle Bell Run, and performances by local talent. Fun and entertainment for all ages. For more information and event times, call (850) 891-3886 or visit talgov.com/parks/winter.

Sunday, December 5 at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Goodwood Museum & Gardens 1600 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee

Voces Angelorum’s Holiday Reflections – 10 Years of Angelic Song

Singing Christmas Tree

Friday, December 10 at 8:00 p.m.

Good Shepherd Catholic Church 4665 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee Sunday, December 19 at 3:00 p.m.

Grace Lutheran Church | 2919 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee 10th Anniversary Reception to follow.

Bradfordville First Baptist Church is pleased to announce its celebration of Christmas with the annual “Singing Christmas Tree.” Performances are December 10-12. For show times, tickets, and other information, call (850) 893-0893 or visit b-fbc.org.

Follow the Star to the Living Christmas Story Voces Angelorum is a women’s chamber choir which performs choral music in and around Tallahassee, and supports the local community by performing at community service events. Be sure to attend one of their upcoming holiday performances celebrating their ten years of song. For more information, visit their 12 t a l l a h a s s e e

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On December 10-12, beginning at 6:30 p.m., Killearn United Methodist Church will be hosting The Living Christmas Story. The outside production includes over 150 actors (all volunteers) portraying the events in Bethlehem on that very special night. Come out and join the celebration. The event is free to the public.

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c a pi ta lc i t yg e m s

“Just One More” Holiday Art Festival

This Holiday Art Festival is the perfect ticket to find unique photography, pottery, jewelry, and more handcrafted art. The event takes place on December 11 in downtown Tallahassee and includes live music, food vendors, and free admission. For additional information, call (850) 224-3252 or visit online at tallahasseedowntown.com.

The Nutcracker performed by the Tallahassee Ballet

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The Tallahassee Ballet presents The Nutcracker on December 11-12. Come and experience this timeless holiday production taking place at Ruby Diamond Auditorium at FSU. Three performances are planned: December 11 at 10:30 a.m. (children’s abbreviated performance); December 11 at 8:00 p.m.; and December 12 at 2:30 p.m.

For tickets and other information, call (850) 224-6917 or visit tallahasseeballet.org.

Elf Night at Dorothy B. Oven Park

Bring the family out to Elf Night at Dorothy B. Oven Park for some beautiful holiday lights, cookies, hot chocolate and cider and possibly a visit from Santa Claus! The free event will be held on December 16 from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. This year’s theme is The Grinch, featuring wacky-shaped trees and various decorations. Parking will be available next door at Thomasville Road Baptist Church, as no parking is allowed inside the park for safety reasons. Visit the website talgov.com for more information.

Tallahassee Symphony ORCHESTRA HOLIDAY MAGIC!

The Tallahassee Symphony will be hosting its holiday concert, Holiday Magic! on December 18, celebrating all of the classics of the winter season. For show times, tickets, and other information, call the ticket office at (850) 224-0461 or visit tickets.fsu.edu.

New Year’s Eve at Kleman Plaza — Fourth Annual Capital City Countdown

How are you ringing in the New Year? Come out for the biggest party in town on December 31 from 8:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. ringing in 2011 with friends at family at Kleman Plaza!

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The annual celebration includes music, fireworks, and food and beverage vendors.

Fun for everyone! Also, America’s Second Harvest of the Big Bend is hosting a VIP Party on Kleman Plaza—VIP ticket required for admission which includes music, dancing, buffet dinner, full bar, fireworks and fun.

VIP tickets may be purchased in advance for $75 per person or $150 per couple. For more information and to buy tickets online, visit the website FightingHunger.org.

7/8/10

5:30 PM

Page 1

introducing a full-service Aveda salon & spa

The 6th Annual Daddy Daughter Dance

The Northside Rotary Club’s Sixth Annual Daddy Daughter Dance will be held on Saturday, February 5, 2011. This dance is open to daughters and fathers of all ages.

Proceeds from the event will benefit projects supported by the club including a camp to help disabled children; the Car Seat Project to supply new car seats to mothers in need; the International Ukraine Project to help fund needed surgeries and supply equipment to an orphanage/children’s hospital and other worthy causes. Purchase tickets online at rotaryddd.com or call (850) 514-6243.

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Shop • Volunteer • Donate Helping Women in Crisis

helsea Thank you, Tallahassee, for supporting the Chelsea House, which has helped more than 200 women since 2007.

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So many needs So many ways to help

Visit www.gsncares.org or call (850) t a l l a h a s s e e wo m a n

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• D e c e m b e r 2010/J a n u a r y 2011 15

Onthecover

16  t a l l a h a s s e e

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Photography by Adam Cohen

Kristen Ledlow

Living Life with a

By Heather Thomas

When we met Kristen Ledlow, the newly-crowned Miss Capital City USA, she was everything that we expected in a pageant winner—beautiful, articulate, poised and talented. However, after talking with her we found that there was more to Kristen than we ever anticipated—so much more.

A

t just twenty-two years old, Kristen Ledlow has achieved what few accomplish in a lifetime. In just the past year, she not only won the title of Miss Capital City USA, but also was hired as the host of ABC 27’s The Good News Show, landed a coveted internship with ESPN, worked with innercity kids in the program Kids Across America, and was named as South Region’s Most Valuable Player in volleyball.

And while these credentials are impressive in their own right, what is even more remarkable about Kristen is her maturity, which she attributes to her faith as trusting in God’s plan for her life rather than her own. Kristen shared that her incredible journey all began when she started searching for the answer to the question: “What is my passion?” t a l l a h a s s e e wo m a n

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Onthecover

Furnishing

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TALLAHASSEE’S

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SHOP DENIM+ DRESSES+TOPS +ACCESSORIES +ALL YOUR FAVORITE BRANDS 850 553 3327

One of Kristen’s passions—a serious love of sports—has become a big part of her life. Growing up in Tallahassee, Kristen was active in sports all of her life, participating in volleyball, basketball and track all throughout her school years. Her involvement in sports continued through college, ultimately focusing on volleyball and excelling so much that she eventually was named South Region MVP during her senior year at Southeastern University.

Her vision of sports as a possible career opportunity occurred to her when she was in the eighth grade, after seeing a female sports reporter interviewing basketball icon Michael Jordan. After watching that interview she was hooked. “My love and involvement with sports was growing, but when I saw that interview I realized there was a job out there where I could combine it all. Since then, being in broadcast and, hopefully, one day becoming a sports reporter is all I’ve ever wanted to do.” Her idea of a perfect Saturday is turning on the television and watching ESPN’s College Gameday in the morning and then watching college football into the night.

While her passion for sports is strong, her passion to help others is also an integral part of her journey as well. Little did Kristen know how eventually that her love of sports and her desire to serve others would eventually mesh, launching her on a life-changing journey that she never anticipated in her wildest dreams. After graduating with a degree in communications and broadcast journalism, Kristen was to begin a summer internship with ESPN in Los Angeles, California.

However, she then heard about Kids Across America, a program in Missouri in which athletes from different areas of the country worked with inner-city children. Knowing in her heart that this was the path she was to take, much to the surprise of many, she turned down the ESPN internship in order to follow the tug on her heart. However, after she completed her time at the Kids Across America program, to her surprise, ESPN again extended their offer—and this time Kristen accepted. And while working with star athletes at the ESPY awards seemed a far cry from the direct assistance she provided at the Kids Across America program, Kristen

Eventually she was contacted by WTXL with the offer of an interview for a new show and ultimately landed the position as host of ABC 27’s The Good News Show. The show seems perfectly suited to Kristen’s fun and out-going personality.

“There are so many negative news reports that it is very rewarding to be able to share positive things about our community.”

However, Kristen not only wants to report on the positive things in our community— she also wants to be a part of it. By winning the title of Miss Capital City USA, Kristen sees this as an opportunity to have a positive impact in our community and beyond, as she prepares for competing for the title of Miss Florida USA in July 2011. With the crown Kristen knows there comes many responsibilities, with one of those being a positive role model for young women. After working with the children and teens from Kids Across America, she

realized that there was a lack of positive role models for young women, and the opportunities provided to her through the pageant would “enable [me] to show girls that it is possible to achieve high dreams and goals by walking in integrity and that there are role models around them worth following. Girls need, and I need, to have women that we can look up to.”

women, find theirs. “It’s an amazing feeling that you have to recognize that something greater is in charge of your life.

I know that God has pulled me out of my peers for a reason and has clearly called me to this time. Young women need to know that they do not have to compromise their integrity and character in order to achieve their dreams.”

Even though her faith is strong, Kristen realizes that there are always challenges when it comes to being in the limelight.

“Even when you don’t get to voice your faith, you can always walk every day in the light of truth, and be a light to others.

These are tough things and I know I’m not perfect and I have a long way to go, but I know that I will never compromise in order to ‘get to the top.’ If getting to the top of my career means I need to give up my values, then I guess I just won’t get there.”

Photograph by Ian Ander son

knew she was where she supposed to be, and that she was there to serve a purpose.

Finding her life’s passion was only the beginning for Kristen, and now she wants to help other people, particularly young

Welcoming our Newest arrivals!

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Dr. Price and Dr. Sundstrom are both board eligible in Obstetrics and Gynecology and are accepting new patients.

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D ivine Entertaining E

ach holiday season, many of us struggle with “tu be or not tu be”—a holiday hostess that is. Yes, it is often easier to sit back and let someone else do the work, but for those of you who strive to be truly TuTu Divine, you know there is something completely satisfying when you hear the compliments that come after a well-organized and fabulously decorated party. A stylish setting is always important for an unforgettable affair.

S et t h e s ce n e f o r a l ov e l y h o l i d a y p a r t y ce l e b r a t i o n b y c h o o s i n g a t h e m e a n d d éc o r that coordinates festive color s.

If you choose to entertain, preparation is the key component. The best parties are those that seem effortless and magical even though you have worked your tutu off. As with fashion, you should allow your party to show off your personality as you would an outfit, so choose a theme and décor ahead of time that reflects your own style. Your theme should then coordinate with your use of color. Just like with this year’s fashion trend, pick neutral colors and contrast them with the use of a dominant color. We always recommend shopping your home and yard before shopping the stores for decorations. Simple clippings from your yard, specifically greenery, or seasonal fruit from trees are inexpensive alternatives to store-bought flowers and can often add lots of vibrant color. Combine basic seasonal essentials, such as nuts, cranberries or tree leaves, add a splash of sparkle with candles or shiny ornaments and help keep your budget in check.

Photography by Adam Cohen t a l l a h a s s e e wo m a n

• D e c e m b e r 2010/J a n u a r y 2011 21

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As for a table centerpiece, remember to keep in mind the view your guests will have while at the table. Sit down at the table yourself before building your centerpiece and think, “What will my guests see?”

Centerpieces should always remain above or below eye level, so as not to interfere with conversations and eye contact.

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All dinnerware available from My Favorite Things 1410 Market Street, B2 (850) 681-2824 shopmft.com.

Table skirts available at Chrysalis Fine Fabrics 1410 Market Street, B1 (850) 224-2924 chrysalisfabric.com.

Clothing provided by Cole Couture and Narcissus. Hair styles by Sara McClure of Haute Headz. Hair color is by Thang Trinh of Toppers Hair Salon.

Photographed at Goodwood Museum and Gardens.

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Along with creating the scene of your party, prepare in advance for creating ambiance. Have an iPod playlist ready or specific music CDs picked out to play in the background. Check the weather and temperature to see if it is possible to open the doors of your veranda or porch for a Christmas luncheon, and take advantage of natural light. If your event is in the evening, dim your lights to set a relaxed atmosphere, but remember to light your foodservice area—your guests should know what they are being served. On that note, placing food labels in front of dishes and beverages will help those with any specific food allergies and make your delicious dishes sound even more divine.

All in all, be flexible—the best hostess is one that can adapt quickly to meet the needs of her guests without becoming flustered. The day your event arrives, relax and enjoy the party with your guests. Guests come for a good time, but they also come to see you and enjoy your company.

If you have decided to just work your way through the holiday season worrying more about what to wear at a party than how to give one, then we offer up these suggestions to keep you TuTu Divine as a guest as well. Once you’ve been invited to a party, it is your divine duty as a considerate guest to RSVP either by the date indicated on the invitation or within three days of the receipt of the invite. t a l l a h a s s e e wo m a n

• D e c e m b e r 2010/J a n u a r y 2011 25

When it comes to hostess gifts, keeping it personal is best. A simple note with your name on the gift and a brief explanation of why you love the item is a personal touch that lets your hostess know you appreciate the invitation and her hospitality. Candles are always a good choice, and other great ideas include cookbooks or a coffee table book, monogrammed napkins or any unusual kitchen tool, gadget or spice.

Of course, the most traditional gift (and occasionally most appreciated!) is wine or liquor.

If your holiday budget does not allow for spending on a hostess gift, we recommend fresh flowers from your yard (yes, you can regift a vase in this circumstance), or a holiday craft that you have made yourself. Either way, remember to add a personal touch as to why you chose any item you give. After the party, call your hostess or send her a hand-written note to say thank you for a lovely time.

D ivineHoste A lovely gift for the hostess will be the perfect way to say thank you for the hospitality.

4 1

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The holiday season does come and go in a hurry, and we hope that these suggestions will carry you through your social calendar with style and grace. We truly wish you to find and appreciate the things in your life that give you a TuTu Divine holiday season.

For more decorating, fashion, design, and lifestyle inspiration from Tallahassee‘s own TuTu Divine, visit online at TuTuDivine.com.

3 Where to buy these hostess gifts: 1. Scented Soy Candle, Aquiesse #14, ‘Shoreline’ ($23) • Sarah Jane’s • 1350 Market Street. 2. Ornament & Holder ($20.95, also personalized with no extra charge) • Coton Colors • 1355 Market Street 3. Hen House Linen Napkins ($24.95) • Vignettes • 2066 Thomasville Road 4. Various Relaxing CD’s ($18.99) • Weezie’s Cottage Living • 201 NW 1st Street, Havana, FL 5. Jardin de Rochelle Porcelain Diffuser ($46) • Vignettes • 2066 Thomasville Road 6. Various Wine Selections (prices vary ) • Cafe Cabernet • 1019 N. Monroe Street 7. Monogrammable Ice Bucket ($23.50 ) • Coton Colors • 1355 Market Street 26 t a l l a h a s s e e

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RealLife

Inspired

Three Easy Ways to Shift from Tired to This Holiday Season

By Elizabeth Barbour, M.Ed.

T

he holidays are such a festive time of year. It’s a season filled with love and laughter and families coming together.

However, it’s also a time of year that can be really stressful. There are parties to attend, gifts to buy, travel arrangements to be made — it all can be quite overwhelming and exhausting.

Remember, you can cross something off the list this year just to try it on for size. If it doesn’t feel right or you simply needed a break from a well-loved tradition, you can always add it back in next year.

Setting goals and making a game plan for the holidays is an intentional act that doesn’t have to take a lot of time but can have really big results. Here are a few tips to help you navigate the season with a little zest instead of serving up a side order of Grinch!

What can you plan ahead for? Is it really that you don’t enjoy shopping, or is it that you don’t enjoy being among the lastminute masses at the mall the last few days before Christmas and end up buying stuff just for stuff’s sake and spending way too much money?

What can you cross off of your list right now? For example, if you don’t enjoy writing holiday greetings and mailing out tons of cards, make up your mind to not do it this year. If this is a tradition you’ve done for years, it may feel a bit shocking to consider this option.

But once you settle into it and realize all the extra time you’ll have, you may just feel a sense of freedom.

A gold star solution:

A gold star solution: Pull out your calendar and create a plan.

1. Make a list of who to shop for.

2. Write in time to go shopping.

3. Create a budget (and stick to it!)

4. Take your list with you and cross each item off the list as you find the perfect gifts for your loved ones.

What can you change? Let’s say you host New Year’s Eve every year for your family and you get frustrated because you get stuck in the kitchen with the bulk of the preparation, cooking and cleaning. No wonder you dread it!

A gold star solution: Talk to your family now. “You know, (honey, kids, parents, siblings), I’ve been thinking about our New Year’s plans and want to have a discussion with you about it. Let’s talk about what we like about our tradition and what, if anything, we might want to change.” If you open up some honest conversation,

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you may find that others are ready for something new. You may find that another family member wants to host at their house or someone else suggests “What if we all go out this year?” (They may secretly not want to come to your house every year, but haven’t figured out a polite way to tell you — this gives them a chance).

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The key to really enjoying the holidays is to set priorities and be honest with yourself about what delights you and what you dread. Honor the sacred time and space of the season, and be sure to build self-care into the plan. During a hectic time of year, take time for yourself; it’s amazing what a walk in the woods or a fitness class can do to help rejuvenate you. After all, it is the holidays and you want to celebrate, and that starts with celebrating YOU!

About the author: Elizabeth Barbour, M.Ed. is a Tallahassee-based life and business coach who helps women entrepreneurs shift from tired to inspired. A successful coach for ten years, she coaches, speaks and leads retreats around the country. Learn more at elizabethbarbour.com and solituderetreats.com.

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Celebrating “Our” Way HOME

Treasured Family Traditions Contributed by Sharon L. Graham

Family traditions shared by some of our readers:

F

amily traditions are the hallmark of holiday celebrations, those things we look forward to with anticipation as the season approaches.

Family traditions often reflect heritage but also relate to ethnicity, nationality, religion, family makeup, economic levels or simply where we live. Some of our family traditions just “evolved.” Cross-stitched Christmas stockings, the candlelight Christmas Eve service, matching pajamas for my daughters and me and giving homemade gifts—these became traditions as they were repeated year after year.

My husband and I wanted our children to have a good sense of their heritages, so in our family we always give “crackers,” which are delightful paper tubes that spill out gifts and candy when pulled apart. These are an English tradition dating to Victorian times and are part of every Christmas celebration in the United Kingdom. My version of crackers is made of Christmas fabric, lace and ribbons. A gentle tug on a ribbon reveals a small ageappropriate gift: a ring, a necklace, cufflinks or even a toy car.

Every family member and guest finds a cracker at their place at the dinner table. To enhance our German background, we began hiding a small green pickle ornament on the tree; the first to find it receives an extra gift.

We try to add something new each year, but our most important “tradition” is spending the holidays together.

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“I remember how tickled I was the first time I saw English crackers appear in one of the stores here in town many years ago around Christmas. One Christmas day, with the family all around getting ready for dessert, I brought out the crackers.

We popped them and wore the silly hats, read the fortunes we each received and shared our prizes. We laughed and had a lot of fun with it, and I’ve kept up the tradition over the years.

Now even my younger grandchildren look forward to handing out the crackers to everyone. It wouldn’t be Christmas at my house without it!” –Phyllis Burkhart “We celebrate Hanukkah every year by lighting our menorah and having potato latkes (pancakes), which is a very traditional food for Hanukkah. Our older daughter was born the fifth day of Hanukkah so every year her birthday and Hanukkah would come around the same time. We would always give her and her sister a present for the eight days of Hanukkah. Even though they are older now and married, my husband and I still light our menorah and have potato latkes.” –Linda Krantz “Each year we save the trimmed piece of the tree trunk and mark the year and place we lived. We have saved about 14 or so to date. One day we will have a tree with nothing but tree trunktrimming ornaments! They are all different sizes and bring back great memories.” –Angie Avery “El dia de los Reyes” is on January 6th. Each child gets a shoebox the night before and fills it with grass to leave food out for the camels. The Three Kings, or Los Tres Reyes Magos, travel on their camels and each leaves a gift. Every child gets three gifts on Three Kings Day—one from each King (Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltazar). –Monica Medina Cervantes “Our daughter loved waffles, but we always had to borrow a waffle iron. One year, the Christmas Eve present she chose from under the tree was a waffle iron. We thought she’d be disappointed, but she was thrilled! We’ve had waffles on Christmas Eve ever since!” –Christie Kimbrel

“On Christmas Eve, my mother-in-law always told a story, “The Rag Man,” about a homeless man who gave people a rag to place on their ailing parts to heal them, taking their burdens and ailments on himself—a story of Jesus in today’s world. When she passed away, the tradition was passed on to my youngest daughter; it is awesome to see and hear Kelley carry on that tradition.” –Debbie Paxton Each year our family participates in Big Bend Care’s Holiday Angels program, where we “adopt” a child (or children) of a family affected

by HIV/AIDS. These client families live way below the poverty level and cannot afford holiday presents for the children. This program ensures that all of these children have a happy holiday season, complete with gifts. We ask for a child our son’s age, and go holiday shopping for the child and their family. There is no better feeling than knowing you helped make a child’s holiday season special, and although we’ll never meet these folks, it is a heart-warming tradition we will continue doing as long as we can. This is our way of sharing our family’s blessings with those less fortunate than us. This tradition is something we all look forward to, including our 8-year-old son. We get to play Santa Claus! –Schelley Kerr Cassidy

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HOME

Say Goodbye to Clutter Three Easy Steps to Organize Your Home

By Beth Lambert

A

re you ready to pull your hair out with all that extra “stuff” that lurks in your house? Endless toys, kitchen gadgets, shoes, clothes, books, knickknacks, accessories—the list goes on and on.

Creating a more peaceful environment is attainable for everyone.

There are three steps to help you declutter and get to a point of managing what you have so that it never gets overwhelming or out of control again.

To begin your journey to an organized home, you must have the warrior attitude—that is, divide and conquer. The most important thing to remember is to choose one area to focus on—don’t jump from room to room or thing to thing. Start in an area or room that you know you can finish quickly—this will give you a feeling of accomplishment and provide incentive to move on to another area.

Once you find the area where you want to begin, find the one thing that has taken over. It may be a pile of papers, clothes or toys.

Separate those items into three piles: keep, giveaway, and trash.

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The Keep Pile Your keep pile should include items that have been used within the last six months to one year, are not broken and are in usable shape. Be selective—instead of keeping five stuffed animals that are dogs, keep two. If you have four cookbooks for Italian food, keep your favorite two. Give away items that you think you may use—you won’t. A lot of parents feel bad about giving away their kids’ toys, but really shouldn’t. Children tend to appreciate things more when there is not as much of it. Also, holidays, birthdays and other gift-giving events are always around the corner, so they will be getting new toys. If a toy wasn’t a favorite six months ago, chances are it won’t be now. A great lesson to teach our children, no matter the season, is donating all of the unwanted toys. Take your children to the donation site with you and let them experience the feeling of helping others.

The Giveaway Pile

The Trash Pile

The giveaway pile can be donated, sold or returned to the person it was borrowed from or being held for. Items that you are hanging onto for someone else need to be returned immediately—your house is not a storage unit. Items that have sentimental value should be kept because you want them, not out of guilt. Your house should be a place of enjoyment, where you love what is in it. There are many online sites, such as Craigslist or eBay, that can help you sell your items and make a profit.

Another family lesson is to make money off of something old to purchase something new, put into a savings account or give to a charitable cause. Make yourself a promise that at the end of 30 days, any items that are still around that were intended to be sold need to be donated immediately. After all your hard work, you don’t want these items creeping back into your space.

The last pile, trash, is my favorite. Since decluttering is the main objective, then anything besides items that can be donated or recycled is trash: bags from the grocery store, junk mail, miscellaneous papers, old clothes/shoes that are severely damaged and broken toys and boxes, to name a few. These items should not be saved to possibly be used for something later or to have “extra.” The whole idea is to organize and make more space, not move items from place to place, creating the illusion that you have decluttered.

go” and keep what you will use. Be practical and smart so your home can be the peaceful environment you have always dreamed of.

Beth Lambert is the local owner of OCD: Organizing, Cleaning Out and Decluttering and helps her clients take the agony out of the organizing process. For more information, visit ocdtally.com.

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• D e c e m b e r 2010/J a n u a r y 2011 33

Heart and Soul for the Garnet and the Gold

s p or t s & F i t n e s s

A

By Sarah K. Cleeland

Florida State University’s first head cheerleader’s love for garnet is still vivid after sixty years and her heart is truly golden. A 1949 graduate from FSU, Maggie Allesee has led the way and far exceeded what it means to be a true Seminole.

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Sculpture Society, the nation’s oldest and highly prestigious professional sculptors organization. Maggie also charitably administered a 1.5 million dollar donation to FSU’s School of Visual Arts and Dance, that endowed the creation of the Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography.

Since the Center’s opening in October of 2004, it has flourished and remains the nation’s only choreographic research center within a university setting.

T

he first woman at the university to receive a varsity letter, Maggie has witnessed the enormous growth of her school’s tribe of students and faculty, as well as the increasing number of new buildings and larger class sizes. Most of all, however, she has witnessed the vast evolution of the football stadium.

“FSU is just so much bigger,” recalls Maggie. “Our team played on the Leon High School football field because we didn’t have one. We didn’t have a stadium then, either, and we didn’t do the recognizable stunts seen today. We just waved our pompoms and cheered for the team. But we certainly did have a lot of fun.”

Alongside Maggie’s undying enthusiasm on the field, she generously demonstrates her philanthropic desire to support the university off the field. Her first major donation to the university, the Sportsmanship Statue, presented in 2000, proudly stands on the west side of Doak Campbell Stadium and is regularly and nostalgically snapped in treasured pictures at every home game. Graciously donated in memory and honor of her father, Al D. Strum, the bronze statue was showcased in the special exhibit, Sports Sculpture in 2002, by the National

Currently a resident of Detroit, Michigan, Maggie has unselfishly dedicated her life to benefiting others. Acquiring numerous distinguished accolades is nothing new to this philanthropist. She has procured such honorable awards as the Michigan Humanitarian of the Year Award, the Project Hope Lifetime Achievement Award, and the National Dance Education Organization President’s Award.

In addition, she has served as a board member to copious organizations, including the American Lung Association.

year to attend homecoming. She once again was able to share her passion for school pride, her lifelong spirit, and enjoy one of her favorite things, Seminole football. Seated atop the backseat of the silver convertible in her 1949 cheerleading ensemble, Maggie once again traveled up College Avenue in the annual Homecoming Parade. “Surprisingly enough,” she says “Westcott looks exactly the same now as it did then, and that brings back so many fond memories for me.” United then and united now, this ardent supporter of FSU has changed and has also witnessed many changes to her alma mater. Still, however, her colors shine brightly and her charitable heart echoes FSU.

A measure of garnet and gold, of contemporary and of old, and of traditions to come characterize this lifelong volunteer and humanitarian.

At 82, Maggie returned to her beloved FSU for homecoming weekend in early November. This marked her thirtysecond consecutive t a l l a h a s s e e wo m a n

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s p or t s & F i t n e s s

Get Fit in 2011

Tallahassee fitness experts reveal the way to get healthy and fit—for good.

A

new year brings the opportunity for a new beginning. Almost every woman sets some sort of goal for the New Year. Some resolve to save more or spend more quality time with family; but many women are thinking about shedding those extra pounds. We sought out the advice of some of Tallahassee’s top fitness experts that will help you keep that resolution!

“Set specific goals and plan steps on how you are going to get there. BE REALISTIC. The more you practice, the better you get, and you must be forgiving. There is no such thing as failure, only feedback! Always have goals and write them down. Celebrate all successes!”

– Kim Bibeau, Sweat Therapy

“Never get stuck on the same routine; do different exercises each time you work out.”

– Taylor Jacobs, American Fitness

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“Incorporate exercise with every activity that you do; park further away at the grocery store, take a walk instead of watching television, use an exercise ball while at home.”

–Jan Verhagen, Fitness Proaction

“When doing weight training, it can benefit to work with a personal trainer who can help you do it the correct way and to reach your specific goals.”

– Kim Jones, Women’s World

“Find something you enjoy. If you hate running or lifting weights, don’t do it. Find an exercise program you love and one that you will be more inclined to stick to. Find a sport to play, take dance lessons, do strenuous work. Tallahassee has lots of great diverse fitness programs. Make it a quest to try a new one every week.”

– Laurel Blackburn, Boot Camps to Go

“Work out with friends or in a group: it creates a fun atmosphere and is more motivational with whatever exercise you are doing.”

– Allie Merzer, Good Friends Fitness

• D e c e m b e r 2010/J a n u a r y 2011

“Have a balanced diet, eating all the right nutrients daily. A good website to visit is mypyramid.gov to see what amounts are needed from each food group.”

– Michelle Miller, Premier Fitness

“If your results are not happening fast enough, don’t quit. You might need to adjust your timeline a little bit.

Age, genetics and gender can each affect your progress.

Work diligently on the things that you have the ability to be in control of. Eating nutritiously and varying your intensity, duration, and frequency of exercise are all great examples.”

– Phil Amsellem, Ability 1 on 1 Fitness

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• D e c e m b e r 2010/J a n u a r y 2011 37

F LAV O R S

It’s Wine Time Choosing the Perfect W ine f or You r Hol i day Ta bl e

By Michelle Nickens

V

isiting a winery is a unique experience. Some are extravagant castles, such as Castillo de Amorosa. Others, like Ledson, rise up like magnificent mansions. Yet others are intimate and small, like Amista, or snuggled into cottages or log homes, like Sequoia. But don’t be fooled. Whether large or small, grand or prudent, these wineries offer wines that please the palate. Don’t judge a book by its cover.

As art is in the eye of the beholder, so is wine. Even within varietals, you may favor one winery’s product over another. Not all chardonnays are created equal. It’s about finding what you enjoy and exploring new smells, tastes and experiences. Like any aroma, wine creates memories of celebrations, of love, of adventure. The possibilities are endless.

Just as every winery looks and feels different, every wine is equally different. According to CellarNotes.net, there are more than 600 varieties of grapes, but only a certain few are suited for wine making. Some of the common white varieties include chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, pinot gris and riesling. Red grape varietals include merlot, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, malbec, zinfandel and shiraz/syrah. In addition, there is also sparkling wine or champagne as well as dessert wines.

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So how do you know which wine to have? The short answer is— whatever you like. But, there are some basic steps to take when tasting wines. When you pour a glass of wine, first look at its color.

Is it a light sun tone or a deep butter? Is it burgundy, eggplant or dark plum?

Next, swirl the wine. This oxygenates the wine and opens the bouquet. A little trick is to smell the wine before you swirl and then after. The difference in the power and depth of the bouquet is incredible.

Now, smell the wine. This step is as important as tasting the wine.

Put your nose just inside the glass and breathe in the aroma. What do you smell? There’s no right or wrong answer—apple, citrus, butter, oak, plum, blueberry, nut or smoke. These are just a few of the aromas you might find when sampling different wines.

And now taste the wine. What flavors pop in your mouth? Pear, oak, chocolate? Trying wines at a tasting is a great way to discover which wines you like and which ones you don’t like. And if you go to a wine tasting and don’t like something, don’t feel obligated to finish it.

Did you know that you can serve wine throughout all courses of your holiday dinner, including dessert? The website TheNibble.com provides a number of suggestions to complement your favorite desserts with an appropriate wine.

Chocolate desserts are always a hit at holiday gatherings—surprise your guests with delicious chocolate cupcakes from Lucy and Leo’s Cupcakery and serve them with Vintage Port or Late Harvest Zinfandel. Serving a dessert with apples as the main ingredient? Then try Anjou wines—Quarts de Chaume or a Bonnezaux.

Simple desserts such as petit fours or cookies work well with lightish Commandaria from Cyprus or Vin Santo. Delicious desserts can be selected from a number of local bakeries including Au Peche Mignon, The Cake Shop, and Tasty Pastry.

Tallahassee has a number of locations that offer wine tastings. The Wine Loft in Midtown has free wine tastings on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The wines at the tastings change weekly. The Wine Loft’s owner, Jamie Christoff, encourages customers to sample wines to learn about their likes and dislikes. Everyone’s palate is different, she says, so one person may find a wine appealing but the next person may prefer something completely different. If it’s a good wine to you, then that’s what matters.

Another great place for wine tasting in Tallahassee is Café Cabernet’s The Wine Cellar, which hosts tastings every Thursday starting at 5:00 p.m. Jay Burleson at Café Cabernet suggests that when you find a wine you like, snap a photo of the label with your phone camera. Then it will be easy to find it again or tell a wine shop what you are looking for.

You’ve got your wine. Now what to eat? A sauvignon blanc balances nicely with sushi and seafood. Chardonnays go well with barbeque chicken. Try a merlot with tuna or salmon. The website foodandwinepairing.org provides a list of different wines and offers suggestions on pairings. Also, if a recipe calls for wine, use the wine that you are planning to drink with the meal. The flavors come together brilliantly.

The bottom line is that wine was meant to be enjoyed, so drink what you like. Try new things and don’t worry about rules. Sitting down with a good book (or iPad), a glass of cabernet and a roaring fireplace sounds like a great way to spend an evening.

Cheers.

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T R av e l & L e i s u r e

Girls’ Gathering is a Gift of a

By Heather Thomas with Kim Jameson

Leave the guys at home, grab your best gal pal and head to Rosemary Beach, Florida, for fun and laughter at the Girls’ Getaway Weekend.

W

hen the girls gather in Rosemary Beach during Super Bowl weekend on February 3-6, football will be the furthest thing from their minds. The sounds of laughter, music and singing will be the only fanfare and there is always much to celebrate. Girls’ Getaway Weekend is in its sixth year and provides a fun and relaxing way to spend time with friends and family and also helps to raise money for those less fortunate.

While helping a great cause, women who attend the event have a really great time. The event begins on Thursday night in the Rosemary Beach town hall with an Earlybirds’ Songwriters in the Round, featuring Nashville hit-makers singing their favorite tunes while revealing the stories behind the songs, in an up-close and personal setting. Friday morning is the time for the creative juices to flow, with hands-on instruction by the featured artist of the weekend, which results in every participant leaving with a timeless keepsake. Women gather again in the town hall on Friday evening to pick up their goodie bags and attend the Registration Reception, which features a boutique-style shopping experience, local merchants featuring their wares and scrumptious hors d’oeurvres and beverages from nearby restaurants. Saturday gives attendees the chance to learn everything from making good lifestyle and health choices to making Southern dishes, with plenty

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Getaway

of time left over to peruse the shops of Rosemary Beach, take a home tour, visit the spa or simply spend time with your toes in the sand on the spectacular beaches of Rosemary.

Clearly, food is a major player during the event and Saturday evening is no exception. Shades at the Loop has hosted the event for the past five years, closing its doors to the public and, more important, the male species. After dinner, the entertainment begins, and over the years attendees have tapped their toes to wonderful musicians and laughed at the witticisms of women comedians. On Sunday, everyone gathers in the town hall for breakfast before heading home.

Entertainment and pampering aside, the real playmakers of this super weekend are the attendees themselves, who give their time and hearts to each other and to a good cause, which makes this getaway a winner for all. For more information on the event and accommodations, call (850) 231-1861 or visit online at rosemarybeach.com.

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• D e c e m b e r 2010/J a n u a r y 2011 41

T R av e l & L e i s u r e

Make a New Year’s Resolution —to Learn Something New!

By Caroline Walker

Handler’s Kitchen. Cooking can also include creating edible homemade gifts for friends and family. Are you looking to create something instead of just buying a prepackaged item?

Pan Handler’s also offers the ability to explore this topic.

If you’re interested in exploring the world of appetizers, desserts, wine and cheese and unique dinner meals, Publix Apron’s Cooking School can be your solution. If you’re a fan of Italian cuisine and wants to explore creating delicious cuisine beyond the basic spaghetti and meatballs, La Lanterna Market and Deli’s cooking classes are just the place. Wedding cakes, even birthday cakes, can be very expensive. Are you interested in learning how to decorate your own cakes or even want to pursue it as a career? Classes are offered at Michael’s Arts and Crafts that can help expand your dream.

Most women can remember doing arts and crafts back in the days of summer camp and elementary school, including making jewelry. If you are looking to jump back into the craft of making your own bracelets and necklaces, Blue Abaco is the place. Are you interested in taking up the skill of quilt making or sewing? How about creating pottery and other hands-on activities, including stained glass and paper mosaics? The Lafayette Arts and Crafts Center provides these activities. If you’re looking to pick up a paintbrush again or attempt oil or watercolor painting for the first time, again, check out the Lafayette Arts and Craft Center or the Brush and Palette Studio.

If dance was a passion of yours as a child, and now you’d like to get back into the routine, tap, jazz, ballet and lyrical are all offered for adults at The Dance Studio. After watching Dancing With the Stars, many of us imagine ourselves gliding across the dance floor. If you are game to learning to salsa, mambo, or even tango all of these dances and more are taught

Classes in dancing, art, cooking, and more— Tallahassee has it all for the woman who is ready to expand her horizons.

M

any women enjoy taking part in extra activities outside of the workplace or the home, giving them the ability to learn a new set of skills or pick up where they left off many years ago. The Tallahassee area offers a number of options to pursue a passion, learn a new skill or indulge your creative side.

We all wish we could come up with new and interesting dishes to serve either ourselves or our families. Are you looking to expand your abilities and find new recipes to whip up? If you’re a lover of international food and want to learn how to create dishes including sushi, Indian and Thai, check out Pan 42 t a l l a h a s s e e

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at Fred Astaire Dance Studio. Ever since Riverdance, Irish step is very popular. Killearn Performing Arts offers adult classes for every lucky lady.

Children’s Books by Carol Hair Moore

Call or go online for details on upcoming classes.

Available in Local Stores & Museums

Pan Handler’s Kitchen | (850) 575-4308 panhandlerskitchen.com Publix Apron’s Cooking School | (850) 893-3480 publix.com La Lanterna Market and Deli | (850) 878-9738 lalanternaitalianmarket.webs.com

Marvin the Magnificent Nubian Goat

Michael’s Arts and Crafts | (850) 878-5622 | Michaels.com Blue Abaco | (850) 325-2323 | blueabaco.com Lafayette Arts and Crafts Center (850) 891-3945 | talgov.com Brush and Palette Studio | (850) 893-1960 brushandpalette.com Killearn Performing Arts (850) 443- 7512 | killearnpa.com

Busy Bumble Bee Rides the Waves

Delight the young child in your life with these amazing books written by author Carol Hair Moore and beautifully illustrated

by Michael Harrell.

Order on amazon.com or cypresspublications.com Visit Carol on facebook at Carol Hair Moore Children’s Books www.iwishyouicecreamandcake.com

The Dance Studio | (850) 562-9556 dancestudiotallahassee.com Fred Astaire Dance Studio (850) 681-8884 fredastairetallahassee.com

V E R I TA S M U S I C Training People to B ecome Successful Musicians

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(850) 321 2910 t a l l a h a s s e e wo m a n

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c omm u n i t y

When

Angels Shop

A Happy Holiday for All Through the Christmas Connection

T

he holidays are a joyful time of the year for families to get together and celebrate, but for many families, the possibility is much harder.

Christmas Connection is an annual charity run by Catholic Charities that provides food, toys, clothing and other basic essentials for needy families in the Northwest Florida region. Created over 30 years ago, the charity has grown greatly over the years to helping 600 to 800 families have a happier holiday season in the Tallahassee area. There are many ways to help within the charity; donations and volunteering by the community make this event possible each year, and the charity is always looking for more to help needy 44  t a l l a h a s s e e

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families. The most important items needed are food, cleaning products and toiletries. Other items include baby food and formula, diapers, personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies, new clothes, underwear and socks, new or like new winter coats and gifts for teens. Adopting a family is even possible; this process allows you to deliver the gifts that you donated to your new family. This year, the gift collection site will be 2818 Mahan Drive in Tallahassee. For more information on how to donate, volunteer or adopt a family, visit online at thechristmasconnection. org or call Catholic Charities at (850) 681-9164.

Providing Comfort to Families and Friends The Family Lounge at TMH

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and the TMH Foundation Dedicate the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Family Lounge

The support of families and friends is important when a loved one is ill or injured. Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and the TMH Foundation recognized the need for a place where parents and families of critically ill babies can gather comfortably. Recently, they dedicated the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Family Lounge at the hospital. The Family Lounge was funded with matching grants by Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tallahassee and Ronald McDonald House Charities Global. Two other major donors to the project are Ingram Enterprises and Carpet Studio. The Family Lounge will serve both the physical and emotional needs of parents and families of critically ill babies and provide a peaceful environment for relaxing. t a l l a h a s s e e wo m a n

• D e c e m b e r 2010/J a n u a r y 2011 45

AROUNDTOWN Special Events • Speakers • Benefits • Activities

Cards for a Cure The 5th annual Cards for a Cure Charity Casino Night and Auction took place in October at the Antique Car Museum. Each year Cards for a Cure honors a woman who is confronting the challenges of cancer with dignity, style and grace. This year’s honoree was Sarah Nan Haney, who as a survivor not only advocates for women with cancer but is also the Director of Be The Solution, a non-profit organization that helps pay for spaying and neutering of pets. The Cards for a Cure charity event celebrates all cancer survivors and honors the memories of those who have passed, while benefiting Tallahassee Memorial Hospital’s cancer programs.

Mark and Sarah Nan Haney, Robert and Laura Hosay

Kay Cable & Randy Cable

Ben Gluesenkamp & Lauren Gluesenkamp

Covenant Hospice’s “A Chocolate Affair” Fundraiser “A Chocolate Affair” fundraiser included a silent auction and a light-hearted dessert competition. Winners included: third place, Canopy Rose Catering and Culinary Arts Studio; second place, Jacob’s on the Plaza of the Doubletree Hotel, Tallahassee; and first place, Sunny Days Bakery, LLC. Mozaik Restaurant and My Secret Chef were the “People’s Choice Winners!” The event helped to raise funds for their “cherry on top” services that Medicaid, Medicare, and Tricare do not reimburse.

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Kena Lawson & Keith Lawson II

Marina Keel & Mark Logan

Comprehensive Breast Center Opening Capital Regional Medical Center celebrated the opening of the Comprehensive Breast Center, an intimate and relaxing center that caters to a woman’s specific breast health needs.

Dr. Roy Schwartz, Curtis Richardson, Angela Hardiman-Cole, Bud Wethington and Marie Johnson.

Leah Stoetzel, Mart Hill

Terrie Ard, Kim Rosier, Kathy Brooks

Jeppa Ribaudo, Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda

Debra Eby, Kathy Langston, Spencer Stoetzel

Calynne Hill, Marietta Graham

Tiffany Vause, Allison Whitney

POWER of the PURSE (POP) members gathered for the 5th Annual

POP Kickoff & Women’s Luncheon. POP provides a collaborative forum for women of all ages, joining forces to be a strong, united voice and make a difference in the community through volunteering, advocacy, and leadership giving.

Virginia Glass & Sue Odham

Jennifer Langford & Gloria Yaun Megan Earnhardt & Kelly-Ann Fasano

Grace Prete & Katherine Colombo Cline Pam Higden & Chris Klena t a l l a h a s s e e wo m a n

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wom e n t o w a t c h

Women to Watch

is a listing of women with new jobs or promotions, business openings and changes, awards and installations, or a woman who is reaching out and making a difference in our community.

E-mail information for Women to Watch to listings@TalWoman.com.

Anne Galivan

Anne Galivan has launched a website, HomeSchooling911.com, devoted to helping prospective and current home-schoolers find answers to their questions about home-schooling and the resources to do that effectively.

Shannon Black, a Tallahassee resident for 13 years, is excited to announce the opening of Shannon Black Photography, LLC, specializing in families, seniors, professionals and brides. She is a member of the Tallahassee Professional Photography Guild and Florida Professional Photographers Association.

Shannon Black

Stephanie Brandt Cornais

Stephanie Brandt Cornais is teaching baby and tot yoga through her business Itsy Bitsy Yoga.

She has also registered as an independent distributor for a health supplement product with LifeVantage.

For the third consecutive year, Jolynn Greenhalgh’s business, Silhouette, LLC, has been selected for the 2010 Best of Tallahassee Award in the Hair Removing category by the U.S. Local Business Association.

Jolynn Greenhalgh

Courtney Asztalos

Alice Englert Bonn

Courtney Asztalos, a previous Tallahassee Best and Brightest recipient for Art, was part of the Bachelor’s of Fine Arts Senior Exhibition at the FSU Museum of Fine Arts. Courtney also started her own independent book press, Dark Spring Press, named after the beauty of the local springs, and has made several artist books that document the local people, celebrating the uniqueness of every individual. Courtney is endeavoring to turn Dark Spring Press into a small business and will be interning next summer with a major photography company in California.

Alice Englert Bonn, a Tallahassee native, joins Bonn Marketing as president, responsible for new business growth. Most recently, she was vice president of public relations at The Zimmerman Agency.

Christy Harrison

Lisa D. Brown

Christy Harrison, RN, Tallahassee Memorial Cancer Center Administrator, was invited to speak at a conference held in Minneapolis by the Association of Community Cancer Centers.

The convention centered on the ACCC’s Prostate Cancer “Best Practices” Project, for which Tallahassee Memorial Hospital served as a pilot site in 2009. Christy had the opportunity to share a synopsis of TMH history, as well as discuss the hospital’s achievements, goals, challenges and opportunities in relation to the ACCC’s Prostate Cancer “Best Practices” Project.

Lisa D. Brown, has recently assumed her new role as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Tallahassee Leon Federal Credit Union.

Silvina Jover-Cirillo

Silvina Jover-Cirillo recently relocated her business to Tallahassee. She is the founder and owner of Around The Globe Translations, through which she offers English, Spanish, and Italian translations as well as Cultural Consultancy and Market Research services.

Calbrail L. Bennett is happy to announce the opening of Girls & Pearls Event Planning Company LLC, offering event planning, event management and public relations. Although she is busy with her new business, she still finds the time to contribute her skills to the local community by volunteering at local elementary schools as a reading and writing tutor.

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wom e n W E A D M I R E

Patrice Minor-Floyd

By Angela Howard

I

n 1981, Patrice Minor-Floyd began giving private music lessons to children from three, four and five years of age up to college undergrads. Nearly 30 years later, those private lessons have exploded into a life devoted to the art.

“In times like these, we need music that drives what’s good out of us and what’s bad out of us too.”

Patrice began her musical endeavors in the late 1960s, playing the violin in the Strings Program in school. At just eight years old, Patrice studied with instructors from the prestigious Julliard School of Music in New York City. She continued on, studying under a number of big names.

Her biography touts her studies with the likes of Leander Kirksey, one of FAMU’s first band directors; violinist Howard Boyagen at the University of Kansas and Robert Sedore at FSU. Currently, Patrice is the director and founder of Javacya Arts Conservatory in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, but she has made many other stops along the way.

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Inga Finch Photography

In years past, she served as the music director for FAMU’s Youth String Ensemble. She’s also worked with the Big Bend Youth String Orchestra, the Quincy Youth String Orchestra, the North Florida String Institute and the North Florida Conservatory of the Performing Arts. To say Patrice is busy is an understatement, as she often teaches seven days a week.

She also works at FAMU, assisting Dr. Shelby Chipman with the collegiate strings program at the university.

But she’s more than a musician, more than a teacher. Patrice is also a composer, a minister, an author, a wife, a mother of

four and a grandmother to a sweet little violinist named Evan. The talent didn’t skip a generation though. Her son, Ashanti Floyd, also plays and is known as the “Mad Violinist.”

But when asked who she’s inspired most over the years, Patrice did not say the “Mad Violinist.” Instead, she named former student Joshua Henderson— whose performance can be seen on the conservatory’s website—and her daughter Achia, calling her a “music machine.”

Patrice’s teaching and traveling take a lot of time, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. She loves what she does, and her greatest hope is that her students take what they’ve learned and use it throughout their lives. “I’m trying to situate programs so they can run without me,” she said. “We need to leave something. If it doesn’t stop with us, then it will go on for generations.”

“In times like these, we need music that drives what’s good out of us and what’s bad out of us too.”

Some of the students she’s had over the years do continue to hone their skills with the strings, and that’s how she teaches every one of them. “I’m there to develop an artist that could go on to be a professional one day,” she says. But many others put down the instruments, instead taking with them the discipline and drive their teacher instilled in them to become something else—something great. And great they are. Former students are doctors, lawyers,

businessmen, accountants, engineers, ministers as well as professional artists.

Patrice is accomplished, to say the least.

Among her greatest achievements are performing as a soloist for then President Bill Clinton and as a soloist at the memorial service for the astronauts who died on the Challenger mission. Yet, she still enjoys working with little ones the best. “Kids will do whatever you ask of

them as long as you give them praise,” she said. And she’s amazed at the “phenomenal things” some three- and four-year-olds can do with a violin.

Looking toward the future, Patrice says she’d love to do more mentoring in other cities, and she hopes to never stop passing on her love of music. “Somebody inspired me, and I have to inspire other people,” she said. “My students love me because I inspire them.”

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CALENDAR OF

EVENTS 52 t a l l a h a s s e e

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Art Exhibits December 4 Holiday Open House Museum of Florida History (850) 922-2459 or Museumoffloridahistory.com December 11 15th Annual Holiday Art Festival Ponce de Leon and Bloxham Parks (850) 224-3252 January 4-23 Art Across the Ages FSU Museum of Fine Arts (850) 644-6836 or Mofa.fsu.edu

Theatre & Dance

December 2-4 It’s a Wonderful Life Turner Auditorium (850) 644-6500 or Tickets.fsu.edu December 3-5 and 10-12 Scrooge the Musical The Quincy Music Theatre (850) 875-9444 or qmtonline.com December 9 Fiddler on the Roof Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center (850) 222-0400 or Tlccc.org Jingle All the Way Presented by South Georgia Ballet Thomasville Victorian Christmas (866) 577-3600 Southgeorgiaballet.org December 11–12 The Nutcracker Presented by the Tallahassee Ballet Ruby Diamond Auditorium (850) 224-6917 or Tallahasseeballet.org The Nutcracker Presented by South Georgia Ballet (866) 577-3600 Southgeorgiaballet.org December 12 Children’s Parade of Sweets Tea Presented by South Georgia Ballet (866) 577-3600 Southgeorgiaballet.org December 19 The Snow Queen Killearn Performing Arts (850) 434-7512 or Killearnpa.com January 7 The Color Purple Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center (850) 222-0400 or Tlccc.org January 28–29 Dance Repertory Theatre FSU School of Dance (850) 644-6500 or Dance.fsu.edu

• D e c e m b e r 2010/J a n u a r y 2011

Music

December 2 The Morgenstern Trio Thomasville Cultural Center (229) 226-7404 or tefconcerts.com December 4 Pam Laws Angels We Have Heard John Paul II Catholic High School (850) 201-5744 or Sstrohl@jpiichs.org December 5 Voces Angelorum Tallahassee Women’s Chamber Choir Goodwood Museum and Gardens Vocestally.org December 7 Thomasville Music & Drama Troupe Christmas Show Thomasville Municipal Auditorium (229) 558-9470 December 10 Voces Angelorum Tallahassee Woman’s Chamber Choir Good Shepherd Catholic Church 4665 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee Vocestally.org December 12 Tallahassee Youth Orchestra Winter Concert Leon High School (850) 224-8966 or Tallahasseeyouthorchestra.org December 18 Holiday Magic!

Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra Ruby Diamond Auditorium (850) 224-0461 or Tallahasseesymphony.org December 19 Voces Angelorum Tallahassee Women’s Chamber Choir Grace Lutheran Church 2919 Miccosukee Road Vocestally.org January 20 Unity Concert Tallahassee Community Chorus Ruby Diamond Auditorium tcchorus.org January 27 Linda Eder in Concert Thomasville Cultural Center (229) 226-7404 or Tefconcerts.com

Special Events December 3 Maclay Garden’s 22nd Annual Holiday Celebration: Camellia Christmas Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park Floridastateparks.org/maclay December 4 The Winter Festival Downtown Tallahassee (850) 891-3866 or Talgov.com December 4 24th Annual Alternative Christmas Market John Wesley United Methodist Church 1689 Old Saint Augustine Road (850) 877-4484 or Johnwesleyumc.com December 4–5 Market Days Tallahassee Museum North Florida Fairgrounds (850) 8684 or Marketdays.org December 9–10 Victorian Christmas Downtown Thomasville (229) 227-7020 or Tallahasseedowntown.com December 10 and 11 “Living Nativity,” 6-8 p.m.

A family drive-through event, complete with animals, to be held by Wakulla United Methodist Church.(Enter off Woodville Highway and exit onto Old Woodville Highway). For more information call (850) 421-5741.

December 10-12 Singing Christmas Tree Bradfordville First Baptist Church 6494 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee (850) 893-0893 or B-fbc.org December 10-12 Living Christmas Story Killearn United Methodist Church (850) 893-1116 or Kumconline.org December 11 “Just One More” Holiday Art Festival Downtown Tallahassee Tallahasseedowntown.com December 16 Elf Night 5:30-9:00 p.m.

Dorothy B. Oven Park For information visit talgov.com December 18 2nd Annual Breakfast at Tiffany’s Raymond C. Sutting Hall Kleman Plaza Tallahassee.momslikeme.com

Other Activities

December 4-5 Alternative Christmas Shopping Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday 1-5 p.m.

John Wesley United Methodist Church December 4 Colonial Crafts for Children: Whirlygigs Mission San Luis (850) 245-6406 December 7 Community Shopping Night: Pilot Club of Tallahassee Hosted by Ten Thousand Villages Tallahasseepilot.org December 10-11 Alternative Christmas Shopping Friday 6-9 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Christ Presbyterian Church December 11 Alternative Christmas Shopping Noon to 4 p.m Crawfordville United Methodist Church Crawfordville, FL December 11 Fall Farm Day Tallahassee Museum (850) 575-8684 or Tallahasseemuseum.org

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December 11 Second Saturday Space Mission Simulations Challenger Learning Center (850) 645-777 or Challengetlh.com January 8 Goodwood Gardens Propagation Workshop Virginia Mckee Greenhouse (850) 877-4202 or Goodwoodmuseum.org January 16 7th Annual Bridal Extravaganza Tallahassee Automobile Museum Tallahasseebride.com

tallahassee woman online Now you can keep up with Tallahassee Woman online!

Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook.

To submit an item for the calendar, please be sure to include the event title, date of the event, contact name, telephone number and e-mail or website address. Submissions are subject to approval. Send the information to us at info@TalWoman.com.

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P erfect Gift

F u nn y G i r l

The

By Karen M. Morris

Christmas is the world’s biggest birthday party, and this year, I treated it like I was dead last in a marathon with the clock ticking. Fortunately, God has a sense of humor, and this Christmas, He shared a little of it with me.

I’d spent the entire year looking for the perfect gift. In January, I started taking notes on what people said. My husband, Wayne, “said” he wanted a Powermatic planner. And, for the next three months, I searched for that exact model. Twelve stores later, I found the Powermatic at Handyman Depot and bought it.

Then I hid it in a secret room that only I knew about—the laundry room.

In April, Wayne changed his mind and began drooling over a drill press. The Powermatic was too heavy to hoist out of the basement, so I kept it and used the box to set stuff on. By December, Wayne had lusted after a reciprocating saw, an air compressor, a drill press and a plunge router. I now owned enough tools to open up my own Handyman Depot, and Wayne was dreaming of a boat.

The week before Christmas, I was desperate and bought Wayne whatever I could get delivered by the 25th. It turned out to be a wireless mouse, which was a good thing. I might have strangled him with the cord, otherwise. When the mouse arrived, I hurled it under the tree unwrapped. One of the cats must have claimed it, because we never saw the mouse again.

I started the Christmas season off by complaining it had snuck up on me. I even began asking people if Christmas had come early this year. Why I was caught off guard was a mystery. I owned a calendar and Christmas was clearly marked on Dec. 25—exactly 365 days from the last Christmas that had snuck up on me. I panicked and started baking—a practice handed down by my ancestors who didn’t own calendars.

After baking for weeks, I assembled ten trays of cookies and candy to give to our friends. My refrigerator couldn’t hold all the trays, so I set them outside on the deck where they’d stay cool.

The next day, I discovered the plastic wrap on every tray had been nibbled through and all the pecan bars were missing. The chipmunk I had thought was so cute when he stole food out of Wayne’s bird feeders had raided my trays. Worse yet was seeing all my other cookies strewn around—rejected by a rodent. It made me wonder what our friends did when they got their trays.

Now every year, we set aside a day and devote it to setting up the tree and decorating. With our used equipment, we needed a whole day. Wayne hauled out the artificial tree. It had lost most of its needles and looked anorexic. So we put a spotlight on it to 54 t a l l a h a s s e e

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give people a clue where it was. None of the twinkle lights were functioning, and the ornaments were all stuck together like a lab model of DNA. Exhausted from all of my baking, I took a nap during the stringing of the tinsel. When Wayne wrote our annual Christmas letter, he asked me to help him remember some of our more exciting adventures during the last year. All I could think of was that we fixed the oil leak in the car and our 20-year-old TV had lost its ability to reproduce the color blue. I suggested we e-mail a card to everyone on our buddy list. With one click, all of our friends (including some strangers named “Blenderhead” and “Tingletoes”) would know just how much we cared. Didn’t Wayne realize it was Christmas and we didn’t have time to get personal?

As we celebrated Christmas this year, everyone was jabbering and ripping open their packages. But not me. I collapsed on the couch like a drama queen. I definitely needed an attitude adjustment.

And that’s when God showed me His sense of humor.

I noticed the Christmas tree was leaning at a 90-degree angle—it was imperfect, just like me. But God still thought I was precious.

My cooking was so atrocious that even a starving member of the rat family refused it. Yet, God saw me as a fixer-upper with heavenly possibilities. And the gifts were all wrong. But it didn’t matter because my family already possessed the greatest gift of all. Today was Christ’s birthday.

Christmas is about the perfect gift and sharing it with others.

It’s about getting personal with those you love. I looked at my children as they tossed wrapping paper at each other’s heads and my husband as he shook the empty wireless mouse box. And I laughed. Tomorrow may be another day, but the joy lasts forever.

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Clockwise from left to right: Bud Wethington, CEO; Josh Lee, M.D.; Katherine Langston, M.D.; Neenad Shah, M.D.; Stephen Carr, M.D.; Jeffrey Rawlings, M.D.; Marie Johnson, ARNP and Chief Nursing Officer; Amer

Comprehensive Breast Center

Rassam, M.D.; Roy Schwartz, M.D.; Mahesh Desai, M.D. t a l l a h a s s e e wo m a n

• D e c e m b e r 2010/J a n u a r y 2011 55

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