Northside Woman, March 2015

MARCH 2015

Sauté Par-Tay Alpharetta cooking club shares recipes

Love & Light Local candlemaker’s funky vibe

Marvelous Marsala How to wear the color of the year

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northside women { 6 }

UNSUNG ‘SHE’RO Cissy Mathews shares hospitality

{ 20 } THE INTERVIEW

Julie Green, Suwanee candlemaker { 28 } GETTING TO KNOW

Emily Ingram, bodybuilder { 34 } MUSICAL CONNECTIONS

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4 | northsidewoman.com | march2015 march2015

the cover

{ INSIDE }

PUBLISHER

northside lifestyle { 10 } GOOD EATS

Sauté Par-tay cooking club recipes { 14 } THE NEED FOR SPEED

Mom/son adventure at

Atlanta Motor Speedway { 16 } GOOD BOOKS

Northern Oaks book club

Some people just have an inner light.

Julie Green chooses to share hers as a candlemaker. Learn more about the “funky little shack” in Suwanee where she creates her customized scents on page 20. For our cover, Julie posed at The Goat Farm in Westside Atlanta, an eclectic haven for working artists and frequent location for movie shoots.

{ 22 }

{ 26 }

HER STYLE Color of the year: Marsala ROSWELL READS “The Distance Between Us”

{ 32 } PET OF THE MONTH { 38 } MARCH CALENDAR

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unsung‘she’ro

Be My Guest

A Sauté Par-tay table setting.

Cissy Mathews shows others how to make their home a ‘warm, welcoming place’

Bill and Cissy Mathews.

Apples of Gold students prepare a group feast.

By KATIE VANBRACKLE

My favorite thing to do at Apples of Gold is to stand in the corner of a room and just see all the smiling loving faces of the women God has sent to serve with me, as well as the young ones we nurture and encourage with our life lessons.”

katie@northsidewoman.com

C

issy Mathews knows a thing or two about Southern hospitality. The Alpharetta home she shares with husband Bill Mathews is frequently filled with the delicious smells of homemade cooking and the laughter of good friends.

But it wasn’t always this way for Mathews, whose childhood home in North Carolina was not always a happy place to be.

“My mother worked all the time and I had an alcoholic father, so I never brought anyone home and my parents did not have many friends. I longed for a home that was open to friends and family – a warm and welcoming place. I wanted that badly for my own home and family,” she said.

With creativity, determination and faith, Mathews made her dream come true, and today she shares her love of hospitality with others in a variety of ways. But perhaps closest to her heart is the mentoring program she leads for 6 | northsidewoman.com | march2015

young women on the verge of starting their own families.

Apples of Gold

Through the Apples of Gold mentoring program, Mathews and several ladies from various Christian denominations in the local area host six-week programs for young women, designed to teach Biblically-based lessons in hospitality and homemaking.

“Apples of Gold is dear to me because I can show the young ladies that even if you did not see hospitality modeled in your parents’ home, you can learn and teach it to yourself for your own home,” said Mathews.

The women who attend are usually newlyweds or engaged, in the 22-35 age range.

Mathews explains the program’s mission.

“The program’s name comes from Proverbs 25:11, ‘a word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting

of silver,’” she said. And the lessons are based on Titus 2: kindness, loving your husband, loving your children, submission, purity and hospitality.

“Our mission is to encourage young women to make a rich investment in their spiritual lives and give them some new cooking and hospitality ideas to help them feel confident and comfortable in their kitchens and homes,” Mathews said.

“I have a great love for women’s Bible study, so AOG was a ministry that spoke to my heart,” she said. “We’ve been doing this ministry in my home for the past six years and it takes lots of dedicated women to make it happen. I do all of the shopping, assign recipes and set the tables in advance.

“Then ‘kitchen angels’ arrive to prepare part of the meal while our 13 students learn skills in hospitality, cooking and entertaining – things like onion chopping, napkin folding, how to read a recipe, set a table, make a bow, floral arranging, crockpot and casserole cooking, tailgating, and tips for cleaning,” she said. “It is one actionpacked hour.

“Then students and teachers all enjoy a great meal together with a theme that matches the evening’s Bible lesson,” she said. “At the end of the six weeks, we host a celebration dinner where husbands are invited to join in.”

The Apples of Gold program was started 15 years ago by Betty Huizenga and is offered all over the world in various forms. Mathews says her group “really takes it over the top, but we love it that way!”

“My favorite thing to do at Apples of Gold is to stand in the corner of a room and just see all the smiling loving faces of the women God has sent to serve with me, as well as the young ones we nurture and encourage with our life lessons,” she said. “I always tell each class – you can never out-dream God. My life is living proof.”

Sauté Par-tay Gourmet Club

Mathews makes time to practice what she preaches

► See SHE'RO, Page 8

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unsung‘she’ro ▼ SHE'RO, Continued from Page 6 by sharing her culinary talents and fun-loving spirit with friends. Five years ago, Mathews had the idea to start a gourmet cooking club.

“I started Sauté Par-tay with four other couples who love to cook. Well, maybe not all, but they have learned to love cooking as a group. At least one spouse loves cooking and the other comes along to learn,” said Mathews.

The host couple decides on the menu and theme, purchases all the food and two bottles of wine that complement the meal. The hosts also provide appetizers to eat during the cooking process. All couples split the cost of the food.

“We arrive, put on our aprons and start preparing our part of the dinner,” she said. “The host couple prints all the recipes so we have them to take home, and designates which dish each couple prepares. We have so much fun visiting while we chop, sauté, zest and cook.

“We never know till we arrive what the theme will be, so it is always fun to see how creative the host couple will be,” said Mathews. “Some of our themes have been: German, French, Chinese, Italian, Mediterranean, English and a Southern fish fry. Some themes revolve around a certain food item like nuts; with all of the dishes containing nuts.

“When the meal is ready, we sit to eat at a beautifully decorated table and stuff ourselves. Then we evaluate the recipes – how we thought they turned out, how difficult they were or what we might do differently when we prepare them at home for our family and friends,” she said. “Then the sweet memories begin with sitting around getting caught up on each other’s lives and passing the chocolate candy around the table. No worries about cleaning up, we do that all together, which extends the evening to more fun, stories and laughter. We have been known to go until 2 a.m. in the morning because we have such fun.”

1

Tidbits of Joy Blog

Two years ago, Mathews had another big idea – to share her recipes and hospitality lessons with a broader audience through her own food blog.

Tidbits of Joy was launched in the fall of 2013 after a steep learning curve.

“I knew nothing about having a blog, so I started reading online and subscribing to websites. I learned that the main emphasis was to narrow your blog down to what you love and just write your posts as if writing to someone sitting in the room with you,” Mathews said.

“I blog to encourage women to use their hospitality skills to bless others without looking for a payback,” she said. “If you look at hospitality as what is in it for you, you lose the joy of sharing it. Providing a simple meal around a pretty table allows your guests to sit and enjoy and really have time to fellowship.

“My favorite thing about dinner parties and family meals is the time afterward when we are all stuffed from a good meal (not necessarily a gourmet meal), and we sit and talk and share. Yes, hospitality is a labor of love, but done with the right motive, it is rewarding for you and especially your guests and family.”

Turn to page 10 for a sampling of recipes from Mathews’ blog, www.tidbitsofjoy.com. ■

2

3

1. Members of the Sauté Par-tay cooking club are, from left, Steve and Martha Shasteen, Dan and Susan Chamberlin, Cissy and Bill Mathews, Curt and Marcy Howard and Cliff and Terri Smith.

2. Sauté Par-tay couples hard at work.

3. A Sauté Par-tay dessert masterpiece.

4. Apples of Gold students and leaders gather for a celebration dinner in Cissy Mathews’ Alpharetta home.

4 8 | northsidewoman.com | march2015

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goodeats

Tidbits

of Joy

Local food blogger shares favorite recipes

By KATIE VANBRACKLE

katie@northsidewoman.com

W

ebster’s Dictionary defines “tidbit” as both “a choice morsel of food” and “a choice or pleasing bit – as of information.” Alpharetta resident Cissy Mathews thought it the perfect word to describe her food blog, full of recipes and hospitality tips for the aspiring hostess: Tidbits of Joy.com. Learn more about Mathews and the various ways she shares her culinary talents on page 6. Here, she shares readers’ favorite recipes.

Cissy and Bill Mathews make Crepes Suzette together in their Alpharetta kitchen.

Cissy’s Chicken Salad Ingredients: 2 cups chicken (three breasts or one 2 pound bag of frozen chicken tenderloins) cooked and finely chopped.

1 (8 ounce) can pineapple tidbits, drain off ¼ of the juice. Use the remaining ¾ in recipe. ½ cup mayonnaise (Mathews’ favorite is Duke’s, light or regular) 1 cup sliced almonds or slivered almonds. (Mathews roasts them at 350 degrees for 10 minutes) 1 cup dried cranberries (optional) Preparation: Boil chicken for 5 minutes and then turn off and cover with lid. Let set for 20 minutes. This is a good way to cool chicken that will not overcook it or dry it out. Use small food processor to chop chicken or finely chop by hand. Combine chopped chicken and remaining ingredients in a large bowl; stir well. Salt to taste. Serve as a sandwich or over a bed of lettuce with your favorite salad items.

Southwest Black Bean Chili Chocolate Kahlua Mousse Ingredients: 2 cups heavy whipping cream 2 teaspoons instant coffee granules 1/3 cup powdered sugar 1 cup chocolate chips ½ cup hot coffee (make with instant coffee in addition to the coffee granules that go into cream) ½ tablespoon Kahlua (optional) Preparation: Whip the heavy whipping cream, instant coffee granules and powdered sugar till set – not stiff. In food processor, pulverize the chocolate chips. Add hot coffee to pulverized chocolate chips blend and then add Kahlua, if using. Keep ¼ cup of chocolate separate for garnish. Pour chocolate into cream and gently fold together. Spoon into glasses, bowls or tart shells. Pour/ drizzle ¼ cup of garnish chocolate over the top of mousse and refrigerate at least two hours.

10 | northsidewoman.com | march2015

Ingredients: ½ pound Italian sausage (hot or mild) 1 medium onion, chopped 1 can beef broth (regular soup can size) 2 cans black beans, drained (15 ounce) 1 can pinto beans (15.5 ounce) 2 cans tomato sauce (15 ounce) 1 tablespoon chili sauce or ½ tsp. chili powder 3 teaspoons cumin ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper Preparation: Remove casing from sausage and discard. Cook sausage and onion (crumbling sausage as you cook) in large saucepan over medium heat for 5 to 8 minutes or until onion is crisp-tender. Stir in remaining ingredients; mix well. Cook 10 to 15 minutes or until thoroughly heated and flavors are blended; stirring constantly.

Serve with toppings like sour cream and shredded cheese.

► See GOOD EATS, Page 12

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goodeats ▼ GOOD EATS, Continued from Page 6

Coconut Lime Chicken Soup Ingredients: 3 tablespoons butter 1 carrot, shredded (or ½ bag shredded carrots) Thai seasoning (see below) 2 cups chicken broth ½ bunch fresh cilantro 1 large can unsweetened coconut milk ½ deli-roasted chicken from grocery store, shredded 1 cup previously cooked rice (Mathews uses a blend of brown, red and wild rice) The juice of 2 limes 1 tablespoon soy sauce Extra cilantro for garnish Lime wedges (optional) Thai Seasoning: ½ teaspoon curry powder ¼ teaspoon cinnamon ¼ teaspoon ginger ¼ teaspoon chili powder ¼ teaspoon paprika ¼ teaspoon salt Preparation: Place a large pot on the stove over medium-high heat. Add the butter, carrots and Thai seasoning and cook until carrots become soft, about 10 minutes. In a blender or mini food processor, add chicken broth and cilantro and pulse a few times, then pour contents into the pot when carrots are soft. Add the coconut milk, shredded chicken, rice, juice from the limes and soy sauce. Bring to a low boil and boil 5 minutes. If desired, serve topped with extra cilantro and lime wedges.

Burrito Supreme Casserole Ingredients: 8 (8 ounce) whole wheat tortillas 1.5 cups tomato juice 1 envelope taco seasoning mix 1 tablespoon canola oil ½ pound ground beef (Mathews uses low fat 8 percent) 1 (16 ounce) can refried beans 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon chili powder Optional garnish: Diced tomatoes, chopped avocado, shredded lettuce, sour cream and salsa

Preparation: Combine tomato juice, seasoning mix, oil, cumin and chili powder. Stir well, and set aside. Cook ground beef in a large skillet until browned, stirring to crumble; drain if needed. Stir in refried beans and ½ cup tomato juice mixture. Bring to a boil; simmer 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Evenly place beef mixture down center of each tortilla. Use 1.5 cups cheese and top evenly over beef down center of each tortilla. Roll up tortillas in small packets and place seams down in a lightly sprayed 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Pour remaining tomato juice mixture over casserole. Cover and bake in preheated 350 degrees oven for 30 to 35 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with remaining cheese; bake an additional 5 minutes or until cheese melts. Sprinkle with lettuce, avocado, diced tomatoes, sour cream and salsa. ■

12 | northsidewoman.com | march2015

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PHOTO BY KATIE VANBRACKLE

herride

Bobby climbs out after his ride-along.

Katie gets ready to roll.

The Need for Speed katie@northsidewoman.com

L

ike many mothers of teenagers, I have entered a terrifying new phase in life. My 15-year-old son, Bobby, is now behind the wheel of our family car.

In the passenger seat, I often find myself sitting ramrod straight, eyes ahead, heart racing and trembling hands clutching my knees. I repeat quick, earnest little prayers over and over in my mind. And this is before we even leave the driveway.

It makes him nervous when I critique too much, so I stay pretty quiet except for two words that are repeated rather often. “Umm, sweetie…slow down. Slow Down.

SLOW DOWN!” I shouldn’t be surprised, however; he inherited his lead foot from me. I inherited it from my mother who, during her high school years, cruised around in a 1961 white Chevrolet Impala convertible named Jezebel. The need for speed seems to be in the genes.

So when I heard about the Richard Petty Driving Experience (RPDE) at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, I knew we had to give it a try. Of course Bobby was too young to actually drive one of the race cars, but RPDE also offers ride-alongs – three laps around the track with a professional driver. Maybe, just maybe, riding in a real NASCAR stockcar at 160 miles per hour would satisfy his inner speed demon, making him a calmer driver afterward.

It was worth a try.

Located just south of Atlanta in Hampton, Georgia, Atlanta Motor Speedway is a 1.54-mile quad-oval track, 14 | northsidewoman.com | march2015

G EXPERIENCE

By KATIE VANBRACKLE

RICHARD PETTY DRIVIN

A mother and son take on the Richard Petty Driving Experience at Atlanta Motor Speedway

known as one of the fastest tracks in NASCAR. “The King,” Richard On race days, the stands are packed with Petty thousands of cheering fans, but on one cool, sunny morning in February, the parking lots were home. completely empty as we drove around the perimeter of the “Cool,” murmured my 12-year-old son as we drove track looking for the entrance to the RPDE. A lone security through a short tunnel and entered the center of the guard flagged us over, saying, with a mischievous glint Atlanta Motor Speedway. He was right. It really was cool to in his eye, “Well now, y’all must be here for the Drifter’s see it in person – the track, the grandstand, pit road and, of Club!” course, the cars.

“What’s a Drifter’s Club?” I whispered to my husband.

RPDE uses custom-made NASCAR stock cars with He rolled his eyes. “Not what you are going to be doing, 600-horsepower V-8 engines. And when those babies start don’t worry.” up, you pay attention. You feel the roar in your bones. I I should stop here and point out the obvious – my couldn’t wait to get a closer look. complete and utter ignorance of the car racing culture.

“Hey, wait a minute,” I said, frowning as we Sure, I’ve seen bits and pieces of NASCAR events on TV approached the cars. “These aren’t real. The headlights are occasionally. Doesn’t someone drive a yellow Cheerios just painted on!” car? But unless you count Disney’s Lightning McQueen in My husband rolled his eyes again before patiently the Piston Cup, I’ve never actually followed an entire race. explaining that race cars are built according to strict Even I, however, have heard of Richard Petty. He’s NASCAR rules, making sure the cars are all the same the guy with the big cowboy hat. The sunglasses. The to ensure a fair race. Each car has the same outer shell big smile. And quite an impressive racing record. In fact, covered with stickers to make it look like a normal car. statistically, he is the most accomplished driver in the Race cars really don’t need headlights and brake lights history of the sport, most well known for winning the anyway. It’s not like Jeff Gordon is going to drive off the NASCAR Championship seven times. People call him track and go to the store for a gallon of milk.

“The King.”

With the assurance that the cars were not fakes, my In 1992, he opened the Richard Petty Driving enthusiasm was renewed. We decided to take a peek in the Experience at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North classroom where the day’s group of RPDE drivers-to-be Carolina, giving ordinary folks the opportunity to were participating in a training course. experience a bit of the thrill he felt during his many years “As long as you are using the proper technique and behind the wheel. Now the RPDE operates on 18 tracks listening to your instructor, you can go as fast as you across the nation, and lucky for us, one of those is close to

RICHARD PETTY DRIVING EXPERIENCE

Richard Petty Driving Experience is offered at 18 speedways across the country.

like,” the instructor was saying, showing video footage of reference marks on the track for correct corner entrance and exit points. “Just remember, that wall hasn’t moved since 1960, and it’s not moving today. Keep away from it.”

Right seat instructors coach RPDE drivers through as many as 50 laps around the course, communicating through open-mike radios in their helmets. If a driver gets a bit too enthusiastic, the instructor has the ability to reduce the throttle.

Driving experiences range from $449 to $2,599, depending on the number of laps. Ride-alongs are shorter, but much more affordable at just over $100 – and more my style. No pressure, just fun.

Back on the track, Bobby and I got ready for our ridealongs by pulling on thick body suits and padded helmets under the careful supervision of our pit crew, Christian Selent and Shane MacMillan. We waited for our turn as other riders zoomed by so fast and loud that it really got the adrenaline pumping.

I texted my friend Meg in Tennessee to tell her what I was about to do.

“You know Jeff Gordon is retiring this year,” she said.

“You can take his place. We’ll get you a pink car and call you Hot Flash.”

Very funny.

Then our car, the sleek, black No. 10, pulled onto pit

road. MacMillan slipped a metal head and neck support (HANS) device around my neck, which reduces the likelihood of head and/or neck injuries during a crash.

Climbing into a car through the window is not particularly easy when you are dressed like an astronaut.

But once I managed to get both feet inside, I tilted my head back and slid right on down into the seat.

“Hey, well done!” said my driver. “You look like you know what you are doing.”

I just smiled. Guess those years of watching “Dukes of Hazzard” paid off.

Then he started the engine. And oh boy, there’s nothing like the feeling of being thrown back in your seat when the driver floors it.

Bobby said later that the initial acceleration was his favorite part of the ride. He was surprised at how quickly the cars got up to speed and how little they slowed down on the turns. It gives you an entirely new appreciation for the skill of NASCAR drivers.

But I didn’t notice any of those analytical things during my ride. I was too busy whooping with excitement.

The wind, the dust stinging my cheeks, the wall coming up so close and then falling away, the blur of the stands going by. All of it happening so unbelievably fast – 160 miles per hour! And not once did I say “slow down.”

“That. Was. So. Fun!” I yelled to my family after

climbing back out of the car. I saw Bobby walking toward me, still in his body suit, helmet tucked under his arm, smiling.

We’ve done it, I thought to myself. We’ve satisfied his need for speed, at last. Now he’s gotten it out of his system.

He will be calm and patient on the highways from here on out. Mission accomplished!

Then he called out to me, “Hey Mom, how old do you have to be to come back here and drive?”

Uh-oh. ■ Richard Petty Driving Experience Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Georgia www.drivepetty.com

march2015 | northsidewoman.com | 15

goodbooks

The themes of our lives

Northern Oaks Book Club members, from left, are Caroline Parish, Peggy Bowler, Cindy Jennings, Missy Chason and Rebecca Reilly.

By KIMBERLY BROCK

N

orthern Oaks Book Club in Cumming, Georgia, began several years ago when Missy Chason, a mother and pediatric nurse, asked some women she knew if they’d like to start reading and meeting to discuss books. What started with the idea of sharing their thoughts on books, turned into years of sharing their lives.

“Originally, there were three of us. It started with Missy, Caroline and me,” explained Peggy Bowler. “We’ve done a little bit of everything when it comes to books. For a while, we were doing something like a Bible study and then we got back into fiction. It’s sort of evolved based on what suited us at the time.”

The founders sit on Bowler’s sofa together, a comfortable warmth between them as they laugh and catch up on news about jobs, health, children, husbands and aging parents. They share inside jokes and giggle like young girls as they talk about what the book club has meant to them. Their eyes glow with something sweet like secrets. As the evening progresses, they visit with and embrace one another and the other women who have joined their ranks.

“Women have come and gone as they moved into the neighborhood or moved away,” Chason said. “Life takes us all in different directions. But it’s amazing how people seem to be here when they really need to be. It’s funny how it’s about so much more than books, how it takes on a purpose and a life of its own.”

And so it has been with their reading choices. The women each have their own reasons for loving or selecting certain books to share each month, and they’re full of enthusiasm as they share them with others.

“Book club makes me read things I never would have picked up on my own,” Cindy Jennings said. All the 16 | northsidewoman.com | march2015

People say books take us out of reality, but maybe they pull us deeper into reality in some cases. Either way, they give hope. They start a conversation.”

– Missy Chason women nod in agreement.

Caroline Parish, who grew up in England, had a daughter studying in Spain when she suggested the group read an ambitious book, “Emeralds of the Alhambra” by Atlanta author, John D. Cressler.

“I had a very different perspective on the Moors, having grown up in England,” she said. “The research the author had done, the presentation, it made me think about things differently. I felt like I had been to the Alhambra. As a bonus, the wonderful details made me feel as if I’d been there with my daughter.”

Bowler recently spent a vacation in Charleston, South Carolina, where she visited Boone Plantation. Her interest in the history of the area led her to select Sue Monk Kidd’s latest novel, “The Invention of Wings,” for the book club.

“It’s about a strong woman, pre-Civil War,” she said.

“She takes a stand against what isn’t right in her time, against her family, even. She didn’t want to live the way

they lived or to take a slave as her own, and she tried to refuse. She found ways to act, like secretly teaching the girl to read. And ultimately she freed her. She didn’t allow the way she was raised to dictate her actions. She thought for herself, and did the right thing at great risk.”

A novel called “The Orphan Train” by Christina Baker Kline, spoke to book club member Jennings’ heart.

“I really connected with the main character from the start,” she said. “I was so intrigued by the history of the orphan train, and I loved how the novel introduced the reader to the life of an orphan, then a foster child. Reading about the life of a woman who started her life on train with no family and then found a way to live a happy life really encouraged me. I foster and have adopted. I’ve seen how people can find love and belonging and be healed. I loved the redemptive ending. I needed that encouragement.”

For Chason, the book club’s founder, the compelling and timely story, “Natchez Burning” by Greg Iles, stood out.

“This book reminded me of the new Robert Duvall movie, ‘The Judge,’” she said. “We wanted a more regional book, and this novel sparked lots of conversation about issues that are so relevant today. This novel is a powerful story of a man, convicted of murder, and how that strains his relationship with his son. ‘Natchez Burning’ also deals with terrible racial tension. The story is one of family secrets and community secrets and injustices – how those secrets that can haunt us.”

On that note, the women agreed their last pick was special.

“My kids read ‘The Book Thief’ by Markus Zusak,” Bowler shared, “and that brought it to my attention.

We loved how it portrayed innocence and childhood

► See GOOD BOOKS, Page 18

KING’S RIDGE HAS PREPARED ME TO

STUDENTS FOR LIFE BEYOND THE CLASSROOM.

“Preparing students for their future is a weighty responsibility.

Providing project-based and authentic learning activities allows me to open doors to a student’s potential as they become life-long learners and adaptive leaders.”

ROBIN DAUGHERTY KRCS Lower School Faculty

PREVIEW DAY Sunday, January 25, 2015 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM RSVP to admission@kingsridgecs.org 2765 Bethany Bend [ Alpharetta, GA 30004 [ 770.754.5738 www.kingsridgecs.org King’s Ridge Christian School practices a non-discriminatory policy of admission.

march2015 | northsidewoman.com | 17

goodbooks ▼ GOOD BOOKS, Continued from Page 16 friendship, but gave us a girl who could hold onto moral values even in the face of danger. This girl faced up to something so much larger than herself and chose to face that danger, to risk everything to protect another person.”

“As lovers of books,” Caroline added, “we also all agreed we were inspired by the message that a book has the power to give someone a purpose and an identity. A book, or our stories, can give life-changing courage.”

Themes of courage, tolerance, bravery and love make this group smile knowingly.

They are the themes of their lives, as well.

“People say books take us out of reality, but maybe they pull us deeper into reality in some cases. Either way, they give hope. They start a conversation,” Chason said.

The women lean in, clearly connected, supported.

“They bring generations together, create relationships and friendships,” she said. “They help us form bonds and remind us we aren’t alone in our experiences.”

Emeralds of the Alhambra

by John D. Cressler John D. Cressler is a historical novelist and professor at Georgia Tech. This first book in Cressler’s Anthems of the

al-Andalus series reawakens the era in medieval Spain when Christians, Muslims and Jews lived together in peace for hundreds of years, spawning one of the great intellectual and cultural flowerings of history. William Chandon, a wounded Christian knight brought to the Sultan’s court in Granada develops a forbidden love for strong-willed Layla al-Khatib, who is on a quest to become the first female Sufi Muslim mystic in a male-dominated society. Chandon’s choice between love and honor, war and peace, life and death, will ultimately seal Granada’s fate as the last surviving stronghold of Muslim Spain.

The Invention of Wings

by Sue Monk Kidd Heddy “Handful” Grimke, an urban slave in early 19th century Charleston, yearns for life beyond the suffocating walls that enclose her within the wealthy Grimke household.

Heddy is handmaid to the Grimke’s daughter, Sarah, who knows she is meant to do something large in the world, but is hemmed in by the limits imposed on women. For 35 years, each woman strives for a life of her own, dramatically shaping

each other’s destinies and forming a complex relationship marked by guilt, defiance, estrangement and the uneasy ways of love.

be found. But these are dangerous times.

When Liesel’s foster family hides a Jewish fist-fighter in their basement, Liesel’s world is both opened up and closed down.

Orphan Train

Natchez Burning

by Greg Iles Southern mayor and former prosecutor Penn Cage’s father, beloved Natchez family doctor Tom Cage, is accused of murdering Violet Turner, the beautiful nurse with whom he worked in the dark days of the early 1960s. The quest for answers sends Penn deep into the past—into the heart of a conspiracy of greed and murder involving a vicious KKK crew headed by one of the most powerful men in the state. With everything on the line, including his own life, Penn must decide how far he will go to protect those he loves.

The Book Thief

by Markus Zusak In 1939 Nazi Germany, Liesel begins a love affair with books and words, and is soon stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor’s wife’s library, wherever there are books to

by Christina Baker Kline This is the captivating story of two very different women who build an unexpected friendship: a 91-year-old woman with a hidden past as an orphan train rider and the teenage girl whose own troubled adolescence leads her to seek answers to questions no one has ever thought to ask.

As a young Irish immigrant orphaned in New York City in the 1920s, Vivian Daly was put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other children whose destinies would be determined by luck and chance. Years later, Daly receives help cleaning out her attic from Molly Ayer, a troubled teen who is months from “aging out” of the child welfare system. Theirs is a story of second chances, upheaval and resilience. ■

CALLI NG ALL bo ok clu bs on the norths

ide!

We want to hear from you!

Share your group’s story and favorite books with fellow readers through Northside Woman’s She Reads.

Contact editor Katie VanBrackle at

katie@northsidewoman.com

Capri was even more breathtaking than I imagined, and I thought to myself: remember this.

Remember the incredible picnic at the Colosseum that our Destination Concierge arranged just for us.

The poolside talks we had on board about first crushes and best friends. And, how just being together (even without a hot air balloon) is enough to make your spirit soar.

It’s funny; I don’t remember a single thing from our Celebrity cruise—I remember everything.

Alaska • Asia • Australia/New Zealand • Bermuda • Caribbean • Europe • Galapagos • South America Visit celebritycruises.com/atl, call 1-888-283-7275, or contact your travel agent. ©2015 Celebrity Cruises Inc. Ships’ registry: Malta and Ecuador.

18 | northsidewoman.com | march2015

march2015 | northsidewoman.com | 19

theinterview

FunkyLittle Shack Juls Green’s secret formula for memories, love and light

By KIMBERLY BROCK

DEVON MORGAN/PHOTOSYNTHESIS ATLANTA

D

20 | northsidewoman.com | march2015

iscovering the little farmhouse that holds Juls’ Candles, an eclectic gift shop and chandlery sitting just off a busy highway in Suwanee, Georgia, is like stepping inside a bohemian kaleidoscope for the senses. And at the center of everything is Julie Green, the freespirited dynamo who dreamed it all up. Colorful scarves and twinkle lights hang from the ceilings, and upbeat music welcomes wide-eyed customers as they duck inside. But it’s the combination of the playful energy and that first inhale of the complexly scented candles that keeps customers coming back, bringing their friends, and becoming what Green calls “Juls’ Junkies.”

“I often say that through the flicker and flame of our product, I bring happiness to other people,” she said. “That’s the essence of my business.”

The business started in the Green family’s suburban home in 1999, among her two young daughters, two 6-month-old puppies and a husband who worked his week 400 miles away.

With the desire to own her own business, Green and her husband made a trip to Vermont to visit a candle company, and she found what she calls her destiny. They came home with a secret formula, ready to take a risk. With his background in business, paired with Juls’ background in chemistry, they seem fated to concoct the perfect candle.

“Our basement became where we mastered our pouring technique, packed orders and cried many tears,” she said. “I remember wondering what we’d gotten ourselves into! I was selling candles at craft shows, and my mailing lists included my home address. People started showing up at my house to buy more candles.”

Fifteen years later, her kids are proud of their mom and what she’s brought to the community. Green’s daughters are now 21 and 17 years old, but she is quick to point out that it’s not all warm wax and pretty scents. A lot of hard work and persistence goes into bringing the good juju every day.

“It’s a lot of physical labor and mentally exhausting Photo left, Julie Green, owner of Juls Candles.

Photo right, Juls Candles is located at 1577 James Burgess Road in Suwanee.

at times,” Green said. “I’m the buyer, the one receiving and carrying in deliveries of raw materials, selecting decorative containers, handling social media, marketing and emails. I put in some long days and extra hours and a lot of that time is very solitary.

“Starting something and bringing a dream into reality takes focus,” she said. “But I did it and I hope more than anything that someone else will look at that and find encouragement. I believe it’s possible for anyone. I’ve kept my eye on a definitive purpose, a singular goal – to bring joy and comfort to people.”

Creating scents to bring into someone’s home is just the kind of personal touch that makes the work meaningful for Juls.

“I love offering that service, being invited into someone’s home to get to know them, learn what they love and bring that into creating an exclusive scent that means something special just for them,” she said. “Scent is powerful. Bringing peace or cheer to a space. There’s nothing more powerful for evoking memory than scent.”

Recently, her efforts have taken on more meaning than even she anticipated.

“Since April, I’ve lost 13 friends. Nine out of the 13 of those families have come to create a candle in memory of their loved one,” she said.

“That’s such an honor.”

For all the heart that goes into her candles, Green is also a consummate artisan. She’s adamant about using all natural essential oils

and waxes, dedicated to the highest quality and she has a gift for creating complex blends. Green spends time combing everywhere from antique stores to odd lot shops for unique containers as well as working with a regular glass supplier. She helps him unpack his crates in return for getting first pick of the merchandise.

“I’ll also pour candles in containers customers bring in to me,” she said.

“We’ll pick a scent and create something really individual.”

Individual might be the best word to describe the next adventure she has in mind for the shop.

“As we grow, I have plans to increase production by using new ways to orchestrate and hand pour our candles,” she said. “I would also like to employ more people to support our quality candle-making process versus going to machines.”

Specifically, in Juls’ style, she’s looking into opportunities to bring special needs youth, displaced teens or battered women on board, with a vision of providing a safe and creative workplace, sharing her purpose and success, paying it forward.

“I love this business most for the excitement it brings to others, customers who discover the store for the first time or return and are delighted with changes and new products,” Green said.

She smiles, a twinkle in her eye, a reflection of the crazy quilt of jazzy sounds and sumptuous smells that make her shop nothing less than magic.

“It’s about the relationships, you know,” she said. Like she knows a secret she’s just dying to tell, one of her customers and friends comes seeking out the glow of her funky little shack. “It’s all about the connections that are created.” ■ www.julscandles.com

march2015 | northsidewoman.com | 21

herstyle

Embracing

the color of the year:

Marsala

By LORI WYNNE BridalMusings.com

U

pdating your wardrobe this spring is easy to do by incorporating the color of the year: Marsala. It is an earthy brownish red that has a peaceful, grounded feel about it. This is a color that is easily adapted into home décor, men’s wear, cosmetics and women’s wear.

I love this color and you will too when you learn how easy it is to use with items you already own in your closet.

Marsala is a bold neutral that looks great with variety of colors. Wear marsala head-to-toe in a sheath dress and add goldtoned accessories. It makes gold jewelry “pop.” Marsala’s burnished undertones make a wonderful statement when paired with more vibrant colors like scuba blue or teal. Marsala looks great with dark denim and olive green.

Try marsala in your own closet this spring by pairing it with items you may already have in chambray, blush, ivory, light gray, camel, olive and custard (a soft yellow). Wear a marsala-colored shell with

All items are from Nordstrom.com. Topshop jacket ($110), Erdem trousers ($390), Topshop Moto denim shirt ($38), rag&bone jeans ($187), Lucky Brand scarf ($47), Topshop floral blouse ($135), Topshop miniskirt ($45), Stuart Weitzman bootie ($273), Free People tunic ($88), Gypsy 05 peasant blouse ($210).

22 | northsidewoman.com | march2015

your camel or light gray suit for business attire. Or an asymmetric hemmed blouse in marsala with your favorite pair of white skinny jeans or blush colored chinos for a casual look. Marsala-colored ankle pants with a chambray shirt, custard-colored belt and animal print flats or heels is an easy updated classic outfit for everyday wear or lunch out with friends.

Many floral and geometric patterns are incorporating this warm, inviting color this season. Update your wardrobe by adding a blouse, scarf or dress in a pattern that includes marsala. Mixing patterns is still very fashionable and easy to do by remembering the 5 to 1 ratio. If five of one pattern can fit into one of the other, you have the proper combination. For example, a small gingham or polka dot and a larger floral or striped pattern.

Marsala is a warm earthy tone that is popular in makeup as well. Lipstick, nail polish and cheek color in this

► See HER STYLE, Page 24

All items are from Nordstrom.com. Michael Kors shirt ($90), Karen Kane capris ($88), Sam Edelman flat ($130), Kelsi Dagger Brooklyn bag ($133), Burberry watch ($995), Chan Luu bracelet ($240).

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herstyle

Truly Madly Deeply V-neck top ($59 UrbanOutfitters.com), ModCloth dress ($60 ModCloth.com), Pocket T-shirt ($11 NewLook.com), Echo scarf ($68 Nordstrom.com), Tory Burch bag ($291 Nordstrom.com), Ray-Ban sunglasses ($226 MyTheresa.com), Vintage glasses ($30 ShadesDaddy.com), Girls on Film chiffon top ($39 DorothyPerkins. com), Lucky Brand scarf ($47 Nordstrom.com), Isabel Marant top ($400 FarFetch.com), Dolce & Gabbana rose print tote ($1,095 Nordstrom.com), Bajra Shawls scarf ($450 MarissaCollections.com), Diane von Furstenberg tote ($448 DVF.com).

▼ HER STYLE, Continued from Page 22 complimentary tone are staples in many women’s makeup drawers.

If you don’t feel that marsala is the most flattering color against your face, wear it on your lower body in an updated cut for 2015, such as a box pleated midi skirt or a slim pencil pant.

Marsala is a hot wedding color this year as I mentioned in last month’s bridal issue of Northside Woman. Brides are using it as a

complementary color with blush and oyster. Some brides are adding it subtly in their bouquets with small flowers, or boldly embracing it by having their grooms wear a jacket in marsala.

Still unsure about wearing marsala? Go subtle, by using marsala accessories such as a purse, belt, camisole or jewelry for an updated, current look. Remember the Secret of 3’s by wearing three items with the color of marsala in them for a “pulled together” look.

Color trivia: Who chooses the color of the year? The color experts at Pantone. According to the website www.pantone.com, “The Pantone name

All items are from Nordstrom.com. Adrianna Papell dress ($158), La Fiorentina scarf ($148), Ivanka Trump sandal ($135), Tory Burch clutch ($425), Moon and Lola bracelet ($88).

is known worldwide as the standard language for color communication from designer to manufacturer to retailer to customer.”

After reading the creative names given to this year’s colors (scuba blue, strawberry ice, glacier gray and custard), I would love a chance to visit their offices to revel in the creative juices that must surround them. ■ As a personal wardrobe consultant and owner of Alpharetta-based Fashion With Flair, Lori Wynne helps people look their best.

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shereads

Ten yearsof community reading in Roswell Roswell Reads 2015 choice: ‘The Distance Between Us’

I

t’s an intimate book club on a grand scale. Based on the “One Book…One City” community reading programs held across the country, Roswell Reads celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Ten years of gathering hundreds of Roswell residents together around a single book, building a sense of community and promoting the fine art of reading and literary discussion. Books chosen have strong characters and present themes that address the human condition, with a focus on authors from the Southeast.

Each year, a Roswell Reads literary luncheon is held, where the author of the selected book is invited to speak to residents about his or her novel, encouraging discussion and insights.

This year’s luncheon will be held Saturday, March 14, at 11:30 a.m. at the Roswell Adult Recreation Center, 830 Grimes Bridge Road. Tickets are $20 and may be purchased online at www.

RoswellReads.com or in person at the Friends of Roswell Library Bookstore inside the Roswell Library, 115 Norcross St. At the luncheon, award-winning author Reyna Grande will talk about “The Distance Between Us,” her personal, heart-wrenching and ultimately triumphant memoir about her journey from Mexico to the United States as an undocumented child immigrant, where she learned that the separation between a parent and child can be measured as much in emotional distance and abandonment as it can be in miles.

Born in Iguala, Guerrero, Mexico, Grande was 2 years old when her father left for the U.S. to find work. Her mother followed her father north two years later, leaving Grande and her siblings behind in Mexico to be raised by her grandparents. In 1985, when Grande was going on 10, she entered the U.S. as an undocumented immigrant to live with her father.

Grande was the first person in her family to graduate from college with a master’s of fine art degree in creative writing from Antioch University. An active promoter of Latino literature, Grande teaches creative writing at UCLA Extension, speaks at high schools, colleges and universities across the nation and is at work on her next novel. Learn more at www.ReynaGrande.com.

Roswell Reads has arranged some exciting free community programs in connection with the 2015 book selection.

26 | northsidewoman.com | march2015

Reyna Grande, author of “The Distance Between Us.”

On Tuesday, March 10 at 7 p.m., the Roswell Library will welcome StoryCorps, who will share a few powerful immigration stories from their impressive library of interviews with Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs. They will also moderate a panel of local people who have emigrated from foreign countries to Roswell.

On Friday, March 13 at 10 a.m., a memoir-writing workshop will be held at the Roswell Adult Recreation Center, 830 Grimes Bridge Road in Roswell, hosted by Jessica Handler, memoirist and author of “Invisible Sisters and Braving the Fire.” Registration is required.

Please call 770-640-3075 to register.

To learn more about Roswell Reads and this year’s events surrounding “The Distance Between Us,” visit the Friends of the Roswell Library website, www.forl.net. ■

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getting to know her

getting to know...

Emily Ingram

Cumming resident crowned middleweight world champion in recent event

By CANDY WAYLOCK

candy@northsidewoman.com

Northside Woman: How did you get started with weightlifting?

Emily Ingram: I have always loved being strong and was always very competitive – even as a small child. In high school, I ran track and started lifting weights when I was 14. I fell in love with weightlifting the second I started. My father was a premier athlete who broke records in pole vaulting, and even qualified for the Olympic trials the year we boycotted. My father was my hero, and I wanted to be just like him. I learned to set goals, be determined, stay strong and never give up on my dreams.

He taught me many things before he died when I was 19.

28 | northsidewoman.com | march2015

DAVID BANKS

O

n any given day, in any given gym or fitness center, women can be found lifting weights, pumping iron and sculpting their bodies into premier shape. But in the world of elite bodybuilding, the room is a little less crowded. Cumming resident Emily Ingram, 35, stands among the select group who have taken the sport to the next level.

Unlike the sect of bodybuilding that focuses on development of massive muscles, the 5-foot-6, 147-pound Ingram competes in the “physique” competition, which emphasizes form and style over mass. In 2014, she was named middleweight world champion at a competition in Boston.

Ingram describes bodybuilding as her “sanity turned passion.” It underscores her busy family life with four kids ages 7 to 15 with husband Paul and her work as a personal trainer, motivational speaker and work with charitable organizations.

In between training, working and family time, Northside Woman caught up with Ingram to find out more about her life as professional bodybuilder.

Emily Ingram wins the title of middleweight world champion.

Judd Biasiotto encour aged Emily Ingram to become a bodybuilder.

At what point did you decide weightlifting was going to be more than a hobby, and that you would focus on bodybuilding?

I was 119 pounds, slender, fit and working out at a gym in Albany, when Judd Biasiotto, a world champion athlete, author, great friend and father figure, told me day after day I needed to compete.

He knew I would be a world champion [bodybuilder]. Finally one day, I decided I would take him up on the challenge. I took a few years to prepare myself physically and mentally, because I knew that I didn’t just want to compete, I wanted to become the best.

What was the first event you entered? What was the result, and what did you learn?

My first few competitions were with NPC in women’s physique. I took second, but was getting a lot of pressure to use

steroids, which I vowed never to do because I believe with hard work and dedication, I can achieve anything. At one of my competitions, I met Penny Ruff, from Dallas, Georgia, an allnatural professional bodybuilder.

She told me about the natural stage, and I was very excited! I took time off to build more muscle and in March 2013, Penny coached me in my first competition as a bodybuilder where I won the heavyweight class and the overall, which earned me my Pro card. With that win, I knew I was in the right place.

Speaking of steroids, it seems to be a big part of weightlifting, even among teenagers. What are your thoughts on this trend?

Ah, steroids. The natural competitor’s worst enemy. I don’t agree with using steroids and don’t agree with others using them either. I hate hearing of teenage boys using at such a young age. Their bodies are so full of testosterone that abusing steroids is absolutely unnecessary and extremely dangerous. They are damaging their bodies more than they can even comprehend. When they are in their mid-20s, they will surely regret what they have done. It is a dangerous drug and if any teen feels pressure to use – whether

from a peer or a coach – they need to find someone to confide in immediately. There is no trophy worth risking your health over.

Tell me about your training regimen and your typical day.

I weight train six days a week, between one to two hours a day, depending on what body part I’m working out, how much cardio I’m doing and of course how many people talk to me! I prefer to lift at 5 a.m., because I can get it out of the way. The gym isn’t crowded, and I can work out quickly. I break up all my days into different body parts so I can make sure to hit them all and grow evenly and keep my symmetry. I love the gym more than any other place on earth...lifting is the easy part for me. The hardest part about bodybuilding for me is eating the proper amount of food. I eat six to seven full meals daily with the proper amount of protein, carbohydrates, fruits and veggies.

I drink a gallon-and-a-half of water daily.

Gaining muscle is not easy. As a 100 percent natural bodybuilder, it takes time, persistence and years of dedication. Today, I weigh 147 pounds, but it has taken six years of nonstop hard work and eating

► See GETTING TO KNOW, Page 30

march2015 | northsidewoman.com | 29

▼ GETTING TO KNOW, Continued from Page 28 clean day after day to gain 30 pounds of quality weight.

And in between all the training and workouts, you had four kids. The question for all working moms…how do you balance your life?

(Emily and her husband, Paul, a CPA for Dixon Hughes Goodman, have been married for 15 years and have four children Lex, 15, Indie, 12, Tadhg, 9, and Olive, 7, along with dog, Rufus.)

I haven’t always had a gym to work out in, so sometimes I would have to improvise. I would do workout videos, study magazines, and write my own workouts. I would often use my children as weights, and they loved it. When I had my third child, we would go to the football field and I would roller blade around the track pushing my 6-month-old in a jogger stroller while the other two raced me on their bikes. After two or three miles, they would play in the field while I put the baby in a backpack carrier and ran the stadium stairs. It was killer! After my fourth child was born, I bounced back very quickly because I stayed active and ate healthy. I have an incredible support system in my family.

Body building is a traditional “man’s” sport. How are women accepted in this world, and what challenges did you face?

You don’t have to be manly or give up your feminine qualities to be muscular. I have been lucky and have been accepted and encouraged by many Emily Ingram stays fit in a variety of ways. in the profession of bodybuilding. But I also have a rule I always live What are your short-term and by...focus on the ones that support and long-term goals? Where do you encourage me and ignore the ones that don’t. I don’t waste any time worrying see yourself in five years, 10 about what others may think of me or years and beyond? whether or not they support me. I have Short-term goal this off season is to get my an amazing family, friends and fans who weight up to 155 pounds of lean muscle encourage and support me daily, and I before dieting again this fall. In five years, find if you focus on the good and positive I will absolutely be at the top of my game, in life, it will leave very little room for the and in 10 years, I hope to be a coach for negative. other competitors and an international figure for natural women bodybuilders.

I would love to write a book and teach What motivates you? others how to accomplish their goals My goals motivate me, my children motivate me, my fans and supporters motivate me. But most importantly, God If someone wanted to start motivates me, because I know I have a bodybuilding, where do they greater purpose than winning trophies – and that is to help encourage and motivate start? Is there a happy medium others to get active and healthy. Our between couch potato and body bodies are temples, and we should treat them as such. builder?

TRACI HENRY

getting to know her

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There are many levels of fitness, and finding what type of look you want to have and maintain is really the place to start. You don’t have to be a bodybuilder to lift like a bodybuilder. Everyone should lift weights. Everyone. Too many women are afraid to lift heavy weights for fear of getting “too big,” and that will never happen. You will, however, get fit and toned, which I think most will agree is ideal. The most important thing to remember is get active and eat clean.

Avoid sugars and processed foods, drink plenty of water and get enough rest. Take the time to educate yourself on how to reach your goals successfully and stay focused. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a fit body. Stay honed in on that goal and push yourself daily. Stay positive and find ways to keep yourself encouraged on a daily basis. Keep progress pictures of your journey, and don’t get hung up on that scale! ■

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woman's best friend

Ask the vet

How to foil those pesky fleas

T ME P O AD

QUESTION:

My pets love to play outside, but how can I keep them from bringing fleas back inside the house?

ANSWER

M

PET OF THE MONTH: Tanya

T

anya is a gorgeous silver tabby with beautiful green eyes and a shy, sweet nature. She is about a year old and currently living with a foster parent who says she loves to sleep in a hammock by the window or play with her toys. Tanya has never been around children – just other cats, which she loves – but would likely do well in any setting once she gets over her initial shyness. To meet Tanya, or to make her a part of your family, please email Angels Among Us Pet Rescue at catinquiry@angelsrescue.org or fill out an application at www. angelsrescue.org/adopt. ■

Leading Adult Senior Day Care in Johns Creek Since 2006.

Exciting times are just around the corner for SarahCare. We are spreading our wings, to provide more and be more, all for you. Keep an eye on SarahCare in the coming months.

Day Center • Home Care Visit us online at www.sarahcare.com/johnscreek or call (404) 410-1510 for more information.

4265 Johns Creek Pkwy., Ste B • Johns Creek, GA 30024 32 | northsidewoman.com | march2015

arch comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. March also welcomes spring. Spring temperatures mean warmer weather, which in turn, makes it easier for fleas and ticks to survive and spread to dogs and cats.

Luckily, flea and tick prevention can be very simple.

The most important thing to remember about fleas and ticks is that they are much easier to prevent than to get rid of. This means that once these bugs have found their way inside our homes, they lay hundreds of eggs a day, resulting in an infestation. There are several different products that can very effectively control and prevent infestation.

Some of the products that we recommend in our clinic are Frontline Tritak and Revolution. These are topical treatments that you apply on the pet’s skin. The contents of one tube of Frontline Tritak or Revolution can protect your pet for one entire month.

We also recommend an oral version of flea and tick prevention for dogs called Nexgard. This product is a soft chew that they can also have once a month. This chew will protect the dogs against fleas and ticks for an entire month.

For cats, we usually recommend Revolution, which also protects them against heartworm infection.

As veterinary professionals, many

times we hear of the difficulties some pet owners have experienced in getting rid of fleas in their home. So if you are ever in this situation, please do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian. They will be able to best recommend solutions and treatments for controlling fleas and ticks in your home. ■

Dr. Beatriz Segarra is the owner and veterinarian at the Village Animal Hospital on Abbotts Bridge Road in Johns Creek. www.thevillageanimalhospital.com

herstyle

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orth Atlanta is a hub for trendy-yet-refined interior decor. With plenty of brick and mortar stores to choose from, the difficult part is picking which styles best reflect your personality and taste. Below, experts offer their views on the staples and fads.

Gracious Living is Always in Style!

G

racious living is always in style!

One of the most frequent laments I hear from my clients is “we never use the dining room”, my response is why not! This can be the most welcoming room in your home, the gathering place where family and friends are made to feel special and comfortable.

Most of us do not have the luxury of a “Downton Abbey” staff to assist us, however, we can still wow our guests with a beautifully appointed dining room. Choose furnishings that reflect your personality and style.

The table and chairs must be scaled appropriate allowing for easy mobility for your guests and allow you to move about the room after they are seated. A rug should be large enough to fit under the table and accommodate chairs being slid in and away from the table without getting caught by the edge of the rug!

The chandelier, be it simple or ornate

sets the mood, if you have to look up at it, it’s hung too high, if forced to look through it then it’s hung too low. A dimmer will allow you to create the ambiance you want to achieve.

Only use a buffet or side board when space permits, hang art work or a mirror above it, and select slender lamps for the buffet or install wall sconces which complement your chandelier.

Table cloths are wonderful for formal dinners but are discouraged when the dining table is not set. Most tables have beautiful finishes, show them off! They can be protected with custom made felt pads when being used for dinner or board games.

Peter Benedetto, an accomplished Interior Designer I have many fond memories of Sunday with Tuscany Fine Furnishings, Offering Life Style dinners in our dining room followed by a Fine Furnishings, Decorative Accessories and game of cards after the table was cleared.

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KITCHEN REMODELING

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ealtor.com and other sources emphasize the power of an updated kitchen for home resale. Kitchen updates can reap anywhere from 50% to 80% ROI. The kitchen always sells the home and it’s the most important room a buyer looks at. But doesn’t it make sense to enjoy your home improvements before you sell?

Snappy Kitchens will evaluate the right changes for your kitchen.

Your home is an asset and we’ll find the right products that work with your style and today’s changing trends. At Snappy Kitchens, our design proposals will help you make a better, educated decision on your home. ■

Mary Jo Alton, Owner, 2612 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Ste 110, Alpharetta, GA 30022 470-268-7787 SnappyKitchens.com/showroom/snappy-kitchens-atlanta

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Visit or website at www.beautifulskinesthetics • Call for appointment 404.528.4500 march2015 | northsidewoman.com | 33

hermusic

Musical Connections A local string quartet helps kids discover a new way to learn The Kazanetti String Quartet, from left, are Julie Rosseter, Michele Mariage-Volz, George Butler and Elizabeth Alvarez.

By KATIE VANBRACKLE

katie@northsidewoman.com

E

lizabeth Alvarez’s love affair with music began in the classroom.

As a sixth-grade student in East Cobb, she was given the choice to learn either the violin or the cello. She chose the violin, and by the time she graduated from Lassiter High School, Alvarez knew that music would play a major role in her career and her life.

Now an avid chamber musician with over 30 years of experience, Alvarez is raising her own family in Crabapple and sharing her talents as second violin in the Kazanetti String Quartet (KSQ), a group she co-founded in 1996 with collegiate pal and fellow musician Julie Rosseter, who plays viola. George Butler on cello and Michele Mariage-Volz on first violin complete the award-winning quartet, which has performed across the United States and Europe.

In 2008, upon receiving the appointment of artists-in-residence at The Plaza Arts Center in Eatonton, Georgia, the KSQ began sharing musical programs with children in primary and elementary schools. This put Alvarez and her friends back in touch with their own musical beginnings by sharing the power of story and song with eager young ears.

Each half-hour “kazanetti4kids” program contains a story and discussion around a central academic theme such as history, math, astronomy or literature.

The powerful and adaptable tool of music brings the subject to life.

The lesson might have a St. Patrick’s Day theme, with Rosseter’s daughter performing Irish dance steps while kids 34 | northsidewoman.com | march2015

tap their toes to rhythmic jigs and reels, interspersed with discussions on math, Irish culture and making your dreams come true.

Or students might learn about Civil War history by hearing the story “Follow the Drinking Gourd,” and learning the African American folk song of the same name that taught slaves to use the Big Dipper in the sky to navigate their way north to freedom on the Underground Railroad.

“By telling a compelling story and pairing it with music, we practice what we call stealth teaching,” explained Alvarez. “The kids are absorbing a bit of history, a bit of astronomy, without even realizing it. Maybe Kazanetti4kids performs at Crabapple Crossing Elementary School in Milton. they will find themselves humming the Drinking quartet.

In late February, kazanetti4kids Gourd song, or looking in the sky for the Eight-year-old Aidan Allegro of visited the Chattahoochee Nature Center Big Dipper or wanting to find the book Marietta eagerly raised his hand during a (CNC) in Roswell to participate in a in the library to read it again. Something quiz show after the performance, correctly special themed event “For the Love of always sticks, and it’s usually something sharing the names of groups of birds such Birds.” Alvarez and her fellow musicians unexpected. as a “murder” of crows and a “charm” of performed their latest original program, “We are always surprised at finches.

“The Best Nest,” created especially for the how curious the kids are about us as “I liked it,” Allegro said of “The Best CNC, where themes of natural science and musicians,” said Alvarez.

Nest,” noting that his own favorite bird English folklore tales took center stage.

When the quartet performs their is a peregrine falcon. Or an owl. So many “The Best Nest” features the story “Introduction to Strings” program for choices. of a magpie who teaches other species of preschoolers, they bring along a “musical “As a quartet, we love collaborating birds how to build a nest, accompanied by petting zoo” of small instruments, just the with a wide variety of groups to discover fun bird facts and the music of Austrian right size for little fingers to grasp and how we can engage a wider audience,” said composer Joseph Haydn’s “The Bird” explore.

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Alvarez, who remembers visiting the CNC as a young girl.

“What we love about CNC is they look at nature a little differently and present a unique experience to the individual, yet also emphasize the essence of community, that eventually everything is connected,” she said.

Perhaps the same could be said of the members of the Kazanetti String Quartet, who present music a little differently, blending their individual instruments with eager imaginations to create a unique experience for the young mind. ■

Atlanta’s Premier Boutique Experience Wedding Angels Bridal Boutique 395 South Atlanta Street • Historic Roswell, GA 30075

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Elizabeth Alvarez plays second violin. march2015 | northsidewoman.com | 35

women in business

Grow outside your comfort zone!

Whether you’ve attained your professional goals or are well on your way, Spend a fantastic afternoon with other professional women and Susan Nethero, CEO of Intimacy as she shares her wisdom for creating strategies for balancing a robust professional life with a meaningful personal life.

Do something good for yourself, while you support families in need in your own community by bringing new or nearly new children’s spring and summer PJ’s, which will be contributed to Foster Care Support Foundation.

March 25, 2015 11:30am – 1:00pm

The Metropolitan Club

5895 Windward Pkwy • Alpharetta, GA 30005

In thanks for your contribution, every guest will receive: • A special gift bag valued at over $100 • Everyone will be eligible to win over $10,000 in door prizes including the grand prize of 5-star accommodations for four anywhere in the world!

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Selecting the right realtor makes all the difference.

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Direct Office: 770-594-4900 | www.TheKlosterGroup.com march2015 | northsidewoman.com | 37

todo

6

Library Book Sale in Johns Creek 1 – 4 p.m. Continues Sunday, March 7, 1 – 3 p.m. The Friends of the Northeast Spruill Oaks Library will sell a wide range of children’s, teen’s and adult fiction in a variety of media. Northeast Spruill Oaks Library, 9560 Spruill Road, Johns Creek.

“Jerry Finnegan’s Sister”

by ACT1Theater 8 p.m. Shows continue through March 29, Fridays/Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Brian Dowd has spent 10 years wrestling with an unrequited “something” for his best friend’s sister who lives next door. With recent news that Jerry Finnegan’s sister is getting married, the time has come to make his move. In a series of fast-moving, hysterically funny scenes, two actors play Brian and Beth from childhood through their early 20s, charming audiences of all ages. Alpharetta Presbyterian Church theater, 180 Academy St., Alpharetta. Order tickets online at www.act1theater.com

7

MARCH Holloway, South Carolina’s First Lady of Song. Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell. More information at Get.org.

13

American Craft Council Show 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Continues through March 15. Featuring more than 225 of the country’s top contemporary craft artists presenting their handmade creations in jewelry, clothing, furniture and home décor, the American Craft Council Show draws nearly 10,000 visitors during their three-day event at Cobb Galleria Centre, 2 Cobb Galleria Parkway. Purchase online tickets at www.craftcouncil.org/Atlanta

14

Roswell Reads Literary Luncheon

11:30 a.m.

“The Distance Between Us” by Reyna Grande will be read by hundreds of Roswell residents as part of the annual Roswell Reads community program. The book is Grande’s triumphant memoir of her journey from Mexico to the U.S. as an undocumented child immigrant. On March 14, the author will join local residents for a luncheon and book discussion, held at the Roswell Adult Recreation Center, 830 Grimes Bridge Road in Roswell. Tickets are $20 each, which includes a meal. Tickets may be purchased at the Friends’ Bookstore, just inside the Roswell Library or online at roswellreads.eventbrite.com.

High Heels High Times High Heels High Times is an afternoon of fashion shows, raffles, food and shopping to help support girls’ self-esteem in our community. This networking event raises funds for the Junior League of Gwinnett and North Fulton Counties’ charity programs. Atlanta Marriott Alpharetta, 5750 Windward Parkway, Alpharetta. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at www.jlgnf.org.

Georgia Daffodil Society Show in Roswell Noon – 5 p.m. Kingfisher Hall at the Chattahoochee Nature Center will bask in the gold, yellow, white and pink glow of hundreds of daffodils as the Georgia Daffodil Society presents its annual show. Exhibitors come from all over the Southeast. Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell. www.chattnaturecenter.org

“Sounds of the Big Band Era” in Roswell 8 p.m. Come take a trip down memory lane as Joe Grandsen and his 16-piece big band recreate the stylings of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw and many more. Featuring Loretta

Scots-Irish Cooking Class in Alpharetta 7 – 8:30 p.m. Judith McLoughlin’s “The Shamrock and Peach” is not only a cookbook that explores Scots-Irish cuisine, but also the tale of an immigrant’s journey to the American South. Join McLoughlin

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38 | northsidewoman.com | march2015

19

Art in Bloom Exhibition and Gala 7 – 10 p.m. Come experience art and flowers in a fresh way when the Johns Creek Arts Center pairs the art of floral design with two-dimensional art pieces. A benefit for the arts center, “Art in Bloom” is held at Gallery Events, 10700 State Bridge Road in Johns Creek. Tickets are $75 each. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.johnscreekarts.org “Mary Poppins” by Milton Theatre Company 7 p.m. Come experience Milton High School’s dynamic, award-winning theater program as they present “Mary Poppins,” March 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28 at 7 p.m.

The troublesome Banks children are put in order by the “practically perfect” nanny Mary Poppins and her chimney sweep friend Bert. Purchase tickets and reserve seats online at www.miltontheatrecompany.com

21

Shamrockin’ for a Cure 7 p.m. Shamrockin’ for a Cure returns to Alpharetta to rock your night with great food, amazing bands and, of course, dancing. Help cure cystic fibrosis with a night filled with music that will rock the stage at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta. Tickets are $85 ($33 tax deductible). Learn more at Shamrockinforacure.com

8

to create Irish fare with a Southern twist.

Cost: $45. Publix Apron’s Cooking School, 4305 State Bridge Road, Alpharetta. www.Publix.com/aprons/schools/ Alpharetta

17

Water Drop Dash 5K and Festival 8 a.m. The Water Drop Dash 5K, presented by the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District, follows a fast and flat course along the banks of the beautiful Chattahoochee River. The family fun event begins with the Water Drop Dash 5K at 8 a.m., followed by a kids’ fun run at 8:45 a.m., then a family water festival at 9 a.m. full of prizes, kids’ activities and utility mascots. All race participants receive a swag bag and enjoy free admission to the nature center all day on race day.

Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell. www.northgeorgiawater.com/ water-drop-dash/ Free Photos with Easter Bunny in Alpharetta 10 a.m. – noon. Stop by the Alpharetta Welcome Center, 178 South Main St., for an individual or family photo with the bunny of the hour and have the photo emailed to you to share with friends and family. This is a free event and refreshments will be served. No reservations required. www.awesomealpharetta.com

Digital Scavenger Hunt in Historic Roswell Noon. During the Roswell Historical Society’s second annual digital scavenger hunt, teams will race through the city searching for clues, answering questions about Roswell’s fascinating history and posing for photos at scenic key locations.

The race ends exactly at 3 p.m. when all teams head to Mac McGee for scoring and prizes. $15 per person, $10 for kids 10 and under. Up to six people per team. Meet at the Roswell CVB, 617 Atlanta St., Roswell.

To learn more, email SocietyRHS@bellsouth.net or call 770-992-1665

27

“Alice in Wonderland” by Atlanta Dance Theatre 7:30 p.m. Atlanta Dance Theatre’s spring show opens with the story of “Alice in Wonderland.” Then the spotlight shifts to a unique contemporary performance of “Chapters of Love.” Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell. Purchase tickets online at www.atlantadancetheatre.org

28

Children’s Easter Eggstravaganza in Alpharetta 10 a.m. – noon. Hop over to North Park for inflatables, photos with the Easter Bunny and face painting. There will not be a hunt area for children under 2, or for 7 and older. The first 300 children in these age groups will receive a special goody bag.

North Park softball fields, 13450 Cogburn Road, Alpharetta. www.awesomealpharetta.com Roswell Beer Fest 2 – 6 p.m. The annual Roswell Beer Festival in Historic Roswell will be bigger and better this year with more premium craft beers brewed just for this event, great live music by The Free Byrds and Highbeams and more food choices. $50 tickets.

Admission only for those 21 and older.

Historic Roswell Town Square, 610 Atlanta St., Roswell. More information at www.roswellbeerfestival.com

29

Johns Creek Easter Egg Hunt 1 – 3 p.m. Children can hunt for filled eggs “hidden” on Newtown Park’s athletic fields.

Special prize eggs in each age group are part of the fun. Post-hunt activities include face painting, moonwalk and photos with the Easter Bunny. Please bring your own basket and camera. Food will be available for purchase. Egg hunt begins at 1 p.m. sharp. Newtown Park’s main soccer field, 3150 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek. www.johnscreekga.gov

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40 | northsidewoman.com | march2015