M A G A Z I N E January 2018
Growing in the new year Business owner, mom and wife is learning with each year
Mind, body & spirit Private yoga instructor utilizes new studio
Featuring:
➤ Tips to a peaceful 2018 ➤ Healthy eating habits ➤ Must-read books
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Gary Fontana, FACC Physicians East is proud to announce that Dr. Gary Fontana will begin assisting patients on January 1, 2018 in the Cardiology department at our Greenville location. Dr. Fontana received his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Virginia and graduated from the Medical College of Virginia. He completed his fellowship at the University of South Carolina as Chief Resident of Internal Medicine and moved to North Carolina as the directing cardiologist at NorthEast Medical Center. Dr. Fontana came to Greenville as Staff Cardiologist at Vidant Medical Center, where he continued his decade of teaching with Cardiology Fellows. He holds three Board Certifications in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, and Interventional Cardiology. Outside of medicine, Dr. Fontana enjoys singing and playing guitar in his band, physical fitness, and raising animals.
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Contact Her
Mackenzie Tewksbury | Editor | 329-9585 Elizabeth Semple | Advertising | 329-9513 Jason Scott | Designer Email: tellher@reflector.com Her magazine is published by The Daily Reflector and Cooke Communications of North Carolina.
On the cover
Nikki Blount never leaves the house without her signature red lipstick. She is co-owner of Beauty Bar Medispa. Read more about her on page 8. (Molly Mathis/Her)
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Be kind to one another
12
Five must-read books this year
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Reap the benefits of yoga
Meet Her
8 Be kind to one another
A New You
16 Reap the benefits of yoga 24 Three tips for a great 2018
Food
22 Nutrition
Inside 12 30 32 34
Four must-read books this year Coach Chris Gardening Style File
Hi!
From the editor Allow me to introduce myself! I am Mackenzie, the new editor of Her
Magazine. I am thrilled to bring you the beautiful women of Pitt County. The women in this area are fierce; and working on my first issue has reinforced a notion I already knew: this area has no shortage of stellar women. I can’t wait to see what they all have to offer. But, in other news, January is among us. I’ll be honest, January has a history of being my least favorite month. It’s sandwiched in between two of my favorites — December is filled with warm tidings and Christmas lights, while February is jam-packed with love (I’m a hopeless romantic) and chocolate. January, to me, has always been the drab, most boring month of my year. But, not this year. While working on this issue, I’ve made a pledge to shine a light on the month of January, and I hope this issue gives you the same inspiration. It’s a new year, full of new beginnings, and, quite possibly, a new you. As I Iike to describe it, this issue is all about just becoming the healthiest version of yourself in 2018. You’ll find four must-read books recommended by book expert Christina Ruotolo, as well as her tips for a healthy year. Learn about the benefits of yoga on your mind, body and spirit. And also read about our cover woman — a business owner, mom and wife who strives for kindness in every aspect of her life. There are many tips to becoming a healthy you this year — so sit back, relax and enjoy the read! Happy New Year!
Mackenzie Tewksbury — editor
www.reflector.com/her
Meet our team Mackenzie is the editor of Her and Mixer magazines and a loving mother to a rescue pup named Ficklen. She is also a band T-shirt collector, coffee shop conneisseur and die-hard Pirate fan.
Mackenzie Tewksbury Editor
Jason Scott Layout
Juliette Cooke is a photographer for The Daily Reflector and Her and Mixer magazines. She is also a loving mother to her rescue lab, Molly.
Juliette Cooke Photographer
Rick Glosson Illustrator
Caity Barnes Contributor
Jason is the graphic designer for Her Magazine and Greenville: Life in the East and a proud dad. His dislikes are numerous but include jazz, cold coffee and anything Kardashian. Contact him at jscott@reflector.com.
Molly is a recent RCC photo grad, Carolina Panthers fan and cat enthusiast. Her favorite thing to photograph is sports.
Molly Mathis Photographer
Rick Glosson is a graphic designer for Her Magazine and The Daily Reflector. He grew up in Fayetteville and has been in Greenville since he came to attend ECU. He adores his wife and is father to three amazing adult children. He loves reading, painting watercolors and having coffee with friends.
Caity is an ECU senior, nap enthusiast and advocate for binge-watching Netflix. She firmly believes that happiness lies in chips, guacamole and queso. You can reach her at barnesc14@students.ecu. edu.
Holly Brenneman is a dietetic intern and graduate student from East Carolina University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Family and Consumer Sciences with a specialization in dietetics from Henderson State University. Her passions include cooking, music and spending Holly Brenneman time outdoors with her dog, Leia. Contributor
Her — January 2018
Christina is an advertising account executive, Her Magazine contributor and Hot Dish writer for The Daily Reflector; a Barnes & Noble bookseller; and an adjunct writing instructor. When not working, Christina enjoys bubble baths, drinking wine, cooking, eating and getting lost in the wonChristina Ruotolo derful world of reading. Reach Contributor her at cruotolo@reflector.com.
Christy Jones, also known as Coach Chris, is a Greenville life and business coach. Contact her at coachchris4success@gmail.com or www. coachchriscompany.com.
Christy Jones Contributor
An organic gardener of 20 years, Kimberly is enthusiastic about nutrition and seeks to encourage healthy lifestyles through education. To ask her questions or get advice about horticultural projects, email her at growinginspiration.nc@ Kimberly Newsom gmail.com.
Contributor
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201 8 Make sure your year is healthy. Getting a mammogram may not be how you’d chose to celebrate a new year, but consider this: breast cancer isMake the second cause of cancer death in sureleading your birthday is happy. American women. It’s also one of the most treatable Getting a mammogram not be early. the wayAnnual you’d chose to celebrate your are 40th birthday, but cancers when may caught mammograms consider this: breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American women. the only screening method proven to reduce cancer It’s also one of the most treatable cancers when caught early. Annual mammograms are the deaths. method So schedule yourcancer 2018 mammogram, only screening proven to reduce deaths. So schedule yourand mammogram, and makemake sure all sure the women in your do the same. all of the life women in your life do the same.
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Her — January 2018
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Offer includes daily access to electronic edition. Offer valid to households without an active subscription. Mail subscriptions excluded. Payment for services must be applied prior to start of subscription. NC sales tax and fees apply. Requires automatic draft from debit or credit card. Any past due balance may be deducted prior to subscription starting. The Daily Reflector reserves the right to refuse service to any customer. Contact Customer Care at (252)329-9505 or customercare@nccooke.com.
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Her — January 2018
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MEET
be kind to one another
business owner strives for kindness in new year Story by Mackenzie Tewksbury mtewksbury@reflector.com Photos by Molly Mathis
N
ikki Blount is always ready to brighten someone's day. She's dressed in black skinny jeans and Jane Iredale red lip stain. A bracelet is wrapped around her wrist. The black jeans make her feel confident. The lip stain makes her feel complete. The bracelet, that reads “be kind to one another,” a verse from the book of Ephesians, is a motto. Blount, a Greenville resident, is the co-partner of Beauty Bar Medispa, a full service cosmetic medical spa on Red Banks Road. The company strives to offer quality cosmetic treatment; Blount strives to be kind and gentle to everyone she meets. She never leaves the house without two things: a kind heart and her signature red lipstick.
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Her — January 2018
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Her — January 2018
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I wanted to run a successful business. I wouldn’t run a successful garbage company. I'm not into that. But, I've always loved lipstick. “Put on your lipstick and be nice,” Blount said with a warm smile. The Greenville native is a business owner, a loving mother to two teenage boys and a wife to her husband, Gray. She's her own boss, but that doesn't mean she does whatever she wants. Her key to success? Not trying to have it all. “Being a business woman, that's only part of me. Trying to balance everything is a big part of it. Finding balance is key,” Blount said. Blount graduated East Carolina University in 1996 before moving to New York City to work in marketing and advertising for Ralph Lauren. The glitz and glam of the city that never sleeps was promising, but she was missing something. 10
“I was really happy there, but I tell people I had every piece of the pie except for love,” she said. So, she closed the door on the Big Apple, moved back to her hometown of Greenville and married her now husband, had two children and opened the door of her own business. She worked a slew of different jobs before now — none of which she thought would blossom into a lifelong career. Until one day when a friend came to her with an idea: a local plastic surgeon was retiring, and he needed someone to take over his clients. Some brainstorming and a leap of faith later, Blount now works day in and day out to shine a light in someone's day at Beauty Bar Medispa – whether that's flashing someone a warm smile or enhancing their already natural beauty.
Her — January 2018
It was a decision that Blount didn't plan on, she said. She had never worked in the aesthetics business before, but she grew up with a mother who said, “Beauty is pain, darling,” and Blount has always been one to try to look her best. “It was a natural fit. I fell into it, but it was meant to be,” Blount said. “I wanted to run a successful business. I wouldn’t run a successful garbage company. I'm not into that. But, I've always loved lipstick.” Her business offers a plethora of different services — traditional facials, body contouring, skin care consulting, botox and more — but to Blount, her business simply makes others feel better about themselves, a notion that has the power to change someone's day. From the moment a client walks through the doors of www.reflector.com/her
Beauty Bar Medispa they are greeted with kindness, and by the time they leave, they feel even better. “I’ve had lots of interactions with clients and they say this place makes them feel good,” Blount said. “We're not doing brain surgery. We're not saving the world. But we do help a little. We put a little pep in their step, they feel better and they pass that on.” However, Blount's kind spirit doesn't run dry when she walks out the door of her office. She tries to pour kindness into the hearts of many through differet outlets. Blount's favorite? Serving others through food. Her family spent Thanksgiving Day serving meals to the homeless at a local homeless shelter, an idea very close to Blount’s heart as it helps teach her family to be thankful and love others. She loves to cook dinner for her family — just one of her ways to show them she loves them. “I'll make dinner, it might not be the best dinner, but I had so much fun doing it. I feel like my love is in that,” Blount said. “I always tell my children, 'Come get your love, dinner is ready.'” A new year means a lot of different things for different people. Blount said she’s been learning about herself and how to www.reflector.com/her
be kind and gentle to one another year after year. This year, Blount plans to ring in 2018 the same way. “I think I am reinventing myself every single year. I'm becoming a better person, growing in my respect and knowledge. That's the 'new you' I want to be,” Blount said. “If I had one pledge for the new year, it would be to strive to be a better person in the way of kindness.”
Her — January 2018
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Celebrate National Book Month books
Grab a book
& READ By Christina Ruotolo
A
cruotuolo@reflector.com
s many of you know, I am a proud book lover. When not working my full-time job, you can find me working at a local bookstore helping other book lovers or teaching creative writing to eager students. When we open up a new book, we are stepping into the unknown. Books have the ability to show us a new world, a new adventure or a new perspective. With books, there is no shortage of possibilities and all of us could use a new possibility this year. January is National Book Month where we celebrate the wonder of books. I have compiled a list of five books to get you engaged in 2018, so hop on the book mobile with me and let's get lost in the magic and wonder of reading.
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COMING OF AGE: “The Great Alone” By Kristin Hannah For those of you who fancy a fiction novel with depth and redeemable characters, then Kristen Hannah is the perfect choice. Coming soon to a bookstore near you in early February is her new fiction novel, "The Great Alone." I had the pleasure of reading the advance copy of this lengthy book and it does not disappoint. It is set against the desolate and breathtaking backdrop of Alaska in 1974. Leni Allbright, the main character, is a precocious 14 year old who struggles with her hippie mother, Cora, and father, Ernt, who is dealing with his own post-war demons after coming home from Vietnam where he was a POW. Add a remote stretch of land in Alaska, a cast of eccentric characters — Genny, Mad Earl, Tica and Large Marge just to name a few — and a winter that will prove itself ruthless and one haunting beast.
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WHO DONE IT?: “Expelled” By James Patterson & Emily Raymond Known as a master storyteller who publishes on average three books a year, Patterson gives us characters and stories to fall in love with. This past October was no exception. “Expelled” starts with one viral photo, four teenagers expelled and everyone is a suspect. Theo Foster, exhibit A, used to have a Twitter account but after a revealing photo shows up on his feed, he is expelled. With his tail between his legs, he starts working at a handy mart and runs into Sasha Ellis who also was expelled for a crime she did not commit. They form a bond and try to find out who set them up. You will meet a quarterback, a computer hacker, a mean girl, a vice principal and Theo’s best friend. Read the book to find out who done it.
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KNOW IT ALL: The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2018 Edited by Sarah Janssen We all have that one friend that knows everything and can throw down at some Jeopardy. Well, it’s probably because they have read the annual highly information and addictive reference book of facts that has sold more than 82 million copies since its inception in 1892. 2018 marks the 150th anniversary edition and it’s evident that we have come a long way since then. From horse and buggy to smart cars and a dozen different wars and presidents later, it’s a fun way to outsmart your friends, loved ones and co-workers. From history, trivia, sports, pop culture and much more facts to ponder, this book is my smart pick for 2018.
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Her — January 2018
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COOK YOURSELF HEALTHY “The How Not to Die Cookbook: 100+ Recipes to Help Prevent and Reverse Disease” By Michael Greger M.D., Gene Stone There is no shortage of great cookbooks — from baking, Paleo, diet, Italian, barbecue and a multitude of other helpful cookbooks. Why not learn to cook and when doing so, keep your body healthy in order to prolong your life and live disease free? Sounds good to me! This informative and comprehensive cookbook has more than 120 plant-based, lifesaving meals and drinks to keep you healthy for years to come. Some examples include Superfood Breakfast Bites to Spaghetti Squash Puttanesca to Two-Berry Pie with a Pecan-Sunflower Crust. This book is written by Dr. Michael Greger, M.D., FACLM, a physician, author, and internationally recognized speaker who speaks on important public health issues. You’re sure to find recipes to love and enjoy for all those years you got left to live.
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BANNED BEAUTY: “Fahrenheit 451” By Ray Bradbury Books can sometimes be controversial and once read and reviewed they find themselves on the notorious banned book list. This dystopian novel published in 1953 was one of the most influential books I read during my college years. Many college and high school English students have to read it. Imagine living in a society where fireman go around the city and burn any book they find. Fahrenheit 451 is the temperature at which a book burns. The goal of the leaders is to remove knowledge. One fireman, Montag grapples with his job and when you read the book, you will go on a journey with him as he sheds his persona and reveals his true self. This book will make you remember when you were a kid and hid under the covers with a flashlight and your favorite book hoping your parents wouldn’t come in and take your book away. Reading this book, you feel the dismemberment of the society. It’s a powerful read and will make you treasure the book in all of its forms.
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Her — January 2018
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advice
DON’T FAIL FROM THE START W By Christy Jones Her Contributor
ell ladies, it is January 2018! A new year! A new beginning! A fresh start! I am super excited to see all that this year will bring. I want to give you a few tips that I think will help you as you posture yourself for an amazing 2018. We all know that January is typically the month where most have set major goals or made New Year’s resolutions or drawn lines in the sand, so to speak on what they are committing to give up or start doing during this new year. It is a known fact that most gym memberships increase during the month of January because people are making a serious effort to increase their physical activity. I think these are wonderful things to do — however, being an
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executive coach for leaders, one of the things that I have found is this: a lot of us fail before we start. Let me share with you what I mean by this statement. Many of us set these really elaborate goals in the beginning of a process and we start running fast toward our end result. However, we often neglect to sit down to count the cost to see if we will really be able to reach our desired goal. I have seen it time and time again and it can be overwhelming and cause many to throw in the towel too early. Here is how I like to encourage the leaders that I am privileged to coach: start small so that you can gain momentum and feel a sense of success. Once you set a small goal you know
Her — January 2018
you can achieve, you are more likely to get what I call that “gold rush” and set a bigger goal and keep going until you reach the full picture. In other words, identify the end result; then back all the way up to the very first small step you can take and do that first. It may seem insignificant and almost silly to set such a small goal but there is something about feeling successful and building upon it. So this month, ladies, I want to challenge you to set a very small goal, accomplish it, then repeat it until you are able to accomplish your very big goal! You want to make sure that you do not fail from the start…so start small! Until next time, have an awesome month and let’s stay connected!
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201 8 Make sure your year is healthy. Getting a mammogram may not be how you’d chose to celebrate a new year, but consider this: breast cancer isMake the second cause of cancer death in sureleading your birthday is happy. American women. It’s also one of the most treatable Getting a mammogram not be early. the wayAnnual you’d chose to celebrate your are 40th birthday, but cancers when may caught mammograms consider this: breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American women. the method proven reduce cancer It’s also oneonly of thescreening most treatable cancers when caughtto early. Annual mammograms are the deaths. method So schedule yourcancer 2018 mammogram, only screening proven to reduce deaths. So schedule yourand mammogram, and makemake sure all sure the women in your do the same. all of the life women in your life do the same.
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Physicians East is proud to announce that Dr. Gary Fontana will begin assisting patients on January 1, 2018 in the Cardiology department at our Greenville location. Dr. Fontana received his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Virginia and graduated from the Medical College of Virginia. He completed his fellowship at the University of South Carolina as Chief Resident of Internal Medicine and moved to North Carolina as the directing cardiologist at NorthEast Medical Center. Dr. Fontana came to Greenville as Staff Cardiologist at Vidant Medical Center, where he continued his decade of teaching with Cardiology Fellows. He holds three Board Certifications in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, and Interventional Cardiology. Outside of medicine, Dr. Fontana enjoys singing and playing guitar in his band, physical fitness, and raising animals.
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Her — January 2018
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advice
THREE
WAYS to be the
BEST
YOU
2018 in
By Christina Ruotolo
cruotolo@reflector.com
BEFORE THE BALL DROPS ON NEWS YEAR’S EVE and the party is wrapped up, we automatically get in mode for the new year. We make our bucket list of things we hope to accomplish in the new year. Our laundry list consists of many unrealistic expectations we put on our self in the quest for the ultimate crown; being 10 pounds skinnier and filled with a soul of contentment. Well, my friends, I’m sorry to bust your new year's bubble, but in order to get to the mountain top of enlightenment, you must first walk through the real world — the world where you hit all the red lights on the way to work, you lose your keys, spill coffee on your white shirt 10 minutes before a presentation or you forget to pick your child up from school. Daniel Defoe once said, “The soul is placed in the body like a rough diamond, and must be polished, or the luster of it will never appear.” Why not find a few minutes every day or a few times a week to work on your inner core and soul polishing? And once your inner core is solid and you have your bearings, you can then start on the outside physical part. I’ve created a list of three things you can do in 2018 to become your best you, no diet necessary.
1 MEDITATE In 2014, after the death of my mom and dad, it was safe to say my life was a bit topsy-turvy. I was on a spinning fair ride and needed to get off the ride before I got sick. I decided I needed time away from my real life in order to heal emotionally and internally. I attended a two-week meditation, yoga and writing retreat in northern France with the purpose to rejuvenate my weary soul. In two weeks, we only left our compound twice — once to go to Paris for the day then once to spend the day in Chatilly. The rest of the journey was spent with 12 other people attending yoga classes in the morning, writing sessions overlooking a 16th century Chateau de Verderonne during the day and meditating and rewww.reflector.com/her
laxing the mind in the evening. I came back with an open heart, a rejuvenated soul and brighter outlook on my future. Meditation is the practice of training your mind to promote relaxation, building internal energy and essentially clearing the inner cobwebs. Meditation has also been known to help ease depression symptoms, lower blood pressure and reduce anxiety. Meditation taught me to stop and breathe and relax my mind. To do this in your own life, take a pillow or yoga mat and find a quiet place in your home and sit quietly in Indian Style with your hands palms up lightly resting on your knees. It’s believed by placing your palms up you are allowing yourself to receive the energy in your body better.
Her — January 2018
You can play soft music or turn the lights down in order to find your inner sanctuary. When I am feeling a little off balance, I find my quiet spot, light a lavender candle and breathe out negative and breathe in positive. Purple Blossom Yoga Studio located at 302 Evans St. in downtown Greenville offers meditation classes every Sunday at 5:30 p.m. It's free to sign up, but they are requesting a $5-10 donation to attend the class. The money collected goes to support The Joy Soup Kitchen. This will help you walk into 2018 with a clean and softened soul and you will be able to feel calm return to your bones. And who knows, maybe once your stress is reduced, the extra pounds won’t be too far behind. 19
2
BECOME A LIST MAKER
OK, so I know this does not sound like the most enjoyable or relaxing of tasks, but it has proved beneficial for those people who are spinning 10 plates all at once and need to make sure they don’t forget anything. When you make lists of things you need to do on a daily basis or set goals, you are setting yourself up for success now and in the future. You become more organized, it helps with you with memory retention and helps you prioritize your duties. Go out and buy yourself a pretty notebook and your favorite colored pen and get to list making. I
make a list every day of things I need to accomplish that particular day. Although you may not be able to check every item off your list, you can see success and measure it by seeing just how much you can get done when you have a game plan. Set your lists up into three groups: the master list of things to accomplish over a longer period of time, a today list and a later or monthly list. Once you can see all your ducks in a row and count them, your inner self will thank you with less stress. Feeling accomplished is a great gift to give your inner self a boost in 2018.
The Daily Reflector is there.
For all of life’s important moments.
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ACADEMY PARROTT SCHOOL ARENDELL IFTON HIGH SCHOOL AYDEN-GRCOVENANT T SCHOOL OL CHRIS EY HIGH HIGH SCHO D.H. CONL CENTRAL ACADEMY FARMVILLE E CHRISTIAN OL HIGH SCHO SCHOOL GREENVILL J.H. ROSE OLIC HIGH OL II CATH SCHO PAUL JOHN PITT HIGHSCHOOL NORTH OOD SCHOOL THE OAKW TY HOME SCHOOL COUN HIGH PITT CENTRALTIAN SCHOOL SOUTH CHRIS TRINITY
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to The
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Refle
A supp
Local news you can trust.
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Her — January 2018
www.reflector.com/her
3
JOURNAL FOR STRESS REDUCTION
For those of you battling the inner clamor of life, the best way I have found to shed the unwanted internal chaos is to get it out. I’m a writer, so the best way I can get rid of negative thoughts and feelings is to literally write them down. There were many times in my life particular things have hung heavy on my heart or I have battled negative thoughts from time to time. Journaling is a great way to express to yourself what is bothering you and when you can see those feelings on paper, you are removing the negative clutter from your inside. Think www.reflector.com/her
of this like purging yourself of unwanted energy that creates stomachaches, headaches and anxiety. Once you let go of the negative, you make room for the positive. You can even keep a daily prayer or gratitude journal. Write a few things each day that you are thankful for and try to focus your day’s energy on that one gratitude. Here’s an example: "Today, I am thankful for the sunshine that will warm my soul." Then, add to your daily list to go outside and enjoy 15 minutes of sunshine today. I bought a five-year journal a few years ago. Every
Her — January 2018
day you are asked a different question and you can see your responses from a five year period once you complete five years. I’m on year four this year and it’s neat to see how my answers change over the years based on what was going on in my life. No matter how you write down your thoughts and feelings and hopes for the future, you will find that the sheer act of writing, even if it’s a few words a day, releases healthy energy inside yourself and is a great way to send you down a path of enlightenment for years to come. 21
Tips for the New Year
Eating
healthy on a
budget W
ith New Year’s resolutions in full swing, consumers are exposed to misleading information regarding their newfound diets. Don’t get me wrong. It’s delightful that so many of us are concerned and eager to make changes to better ourselves. However, often what the consumer pays extra for is simply a label that makes an item sound more appealing. Although healthy food can be more expensive, it does not have to be. Here are some tips to consider when shopping with nutrition in mind:
Think twice before you spend more on low-fat, fat-free or sugar-free labels. These labels might appear to be healthy, but many times if fat is reduced or removed, flavor is replaced by added sugar, salt or vice versa. Before you put that fat-free salad dressing in your shopping cart, read the nutrition label to compare amounts of fat, 22
sodium and sugar between dressings. Reduced sodium or no salt added products are encouraged to promote heart health. Keep eating your favorite tasty treats, but do it in moderation. Not many people are willing to cut desserts completely out of their diet, and that is OK. Instead of spending more on specialty/healthy desserts, try cutting down on portion size or frequency of the ice cream you know and love. Your favorite guilty pleasures are known as discretionary calories. They are the extra allotted calories once you have met your nutrient needs. Peanut butter and almond butter are both healthy but peanut butter is usually less expensive. Both nut butters are rich in protein and healthy fats. Almond butter is slightly higher in vitamins, minerals and
Her — January 2018
fiber, but is also higher in price. Unless you prefer almonds, peanut butter is an excellent healthy choice. Regardless of which nut butter you choose, remember to consume in moderation. Choose one with reduced sodium, no added sugars and no partially hydrogenated oils. Try making your own nut butter in a food processor to cut down on cost. REMEMBER: There is no magic diet or product to keep you healthy. The key is to eat real foods! Holly Brenneman is a dietetic intern and graduate student from East Carolina University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Family and Consumer Sciences with a specialization in dietetics from Henderson State University. Her passions include cooking, music and spending time outdoors Holly Brenneman with her dog, Leia. www.reflector.com/her
OVEN BAKED FAJITAS Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 35 minutes Servings: 4 Calories Per Serving: 316 Recipe adapted from www. deliciousmeetshealthy.com/ oven-baked-chicken-fajitas/
Ingredients • 1 onion, sliced • 1 green bell pepper, sliced • 1 red bell pepper, sliced • 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken - breasts, sliced • Cooking spray • 1 lime, juiced • 2 tablespoons of reduced sodium taco seasoning • 4 whole wheat tortillas
Directions
References: eatrightpro.org
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place onion, peppers and chicken in 9-by-13 inch glass baking dish. Lightly coat with cooking spray. Sprinkle taco seasoning over the dish and toss to coat. Roast in the oven for 25-30 minutes, stirring once halfway. Warm tortillas in a stove-top skillet on medium heat, for about two minutes on each side. Place a generous spoonful of chicken and veggie mix in a warmed tortilla. Top with lime juice and your favorite fajita toppings such as salsa, avocado slices or plain Greek yogurt as an alternative to sour cream.
Nutrition Facts Oven Baked Fajitas Amount Per Serving Calories 316 | Calories from Fat 72 % Daily Value* Total Fat 8g
12%
Saturated Fat 2.6g
13%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.4g Monounsaturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 109mg
22%
Sodium 733mg
29%
Total Carbohydrates 22g
25%
Dietary Fiber 4g
16%
Joy
Sugars 3.3g Protein 38g
39%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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fitness
MIND, BODY
â–˛
Kelly Boutilier, owner of Moxie Pop, poses in her yoga studio where she offers private, small group yoga sessions. She also hosts small parties, art shows and other events in her office on Fourth Street.
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Her — January 2018
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AND SPIRIT Yoga: a “life changer” for local private instructor By Mackenzie Tewksbury | Photos contributed by Kelly Boutilier mtewksbury@reflector.com
An office once home to supplies from Tavern on 4th would perhaps seem barren to most, but to Kelly Boutilier, it held a world of promise and the inspiration for a new business idea. The Starlight Cafe manager and private yoga instructor had her eye on the spot for quite some time, but had never been inside. It had been occupied by the owners of Tavern on 4th for the past eight years – it was a storage closet and even a watch shop at one point – until a couple of months ago when it was available for rent and Boutilier scooped it up right away. “My husband and I have always loved this building, always intrigued by it. When it came up for rent, we kind of jumped on it. We had no idea how big it was. When
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Her — January 2018
we got inside, it just had such good energy, great light,” Boutilier said. She rented the space in May, and alas, began her newest business idea. Moxie Pop started as a private yoga studio, but quickly transformed into something much bigger. Boutilier hosts small, private yoga sessions, but also opened her studio doors to other outlets as well. She was using the studio for yoga practice, but didn't want the beautiful, creative spot to sit idle for the rest of the day. She held some senior art shows when she first opened in the spring and also has hosted bridesmaid brunches, where bridal parties can come and do yoga and brunch is provided by Starlight Cafe. She's also hosted jewelry trunk shows and a girls' night out.
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As for the yoga, though, Boutilier said the practice changed her life. “It's the yin to my yang. It gives me an outlet to focus on myself. It helps with being more patient and leveling my stress levels,” she said. Sunlight now shines through her Fourth Street studio window, pouring natural light onto the hardwood floors and crisp white walls of her studio room. It's trickled with greenery from Plant and See Nursery in Winterville, and each detail is on purpose; accents of gold and blue surround organic plant books on the bookshelf and indigo geode bookends. Each detail spills creative energy onto the floors of her studio – making it the quintessential spot to practice and grow. Boutiler said she first began yoga to get more flexible and lean, and she was at first unaware of the
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indirect benefits of the practice. As a restaurant manager, Boutilier runs a busy lifestyle. She said yoga is a perfect way for her to channel her busy life and transform daily stressors into productivity, and also allows her fast-paced lifestyle to slow down once in a while. “Being able to turn your focus inward, take time for yourself and be present, be in the now is so rare. We live in a society that's just go, go, go. It's a time to tune out and tune in to yourself,” she said. Boutilier began teaching yoga six years ago, totaling an 11-year journey with the practice. She said yoga impacts all aspects of her health and urged everyone to at least give it a try once. “Yoga is essential to health, not just body, but mind and spirit. The three of them are so crucial to mental health and physical health,” she said.
Her — January 2018
▲ A creative corner of Moxie Pop Studio on Fourth Street.
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illustrated
Make your own
Whipped Winter Lotion
INGREDIENTS: 4 Tablespoons shea butter 2 Tablespoons coconut oil 2 Tablespoons jojoba oil 1/2 ounce Vitamin E oil 10-15 drops lavender essential oil
Before We Begin: Make sure there are no ingredients you are allergic to. You can do a ‘patch test’ on your inner forearm to make sure.
1
Optional: 1 ounce Aloe
Put all the ingredients into a mixing bowl.
2
Blend all the ingredients using a mixer until it is whipped to an airy consistency.
3
Store it in a glass jar with a lid.
4
Apply once or twice daily to skin. If applied while skin is damp, it will help seal in moisture.
garden
Grow Your Potential Story and photos by Kimberly Newsom
G
Her contributor
rowing Inspiration� has been my vision after years of experience taught me gardens are full of life lessons. One of the greatest lessons I learned was no matter how small the seed, there is always potential for growth. Potential is defined as latent qualities or abilities that may be developed and lead to future success or usefulness. The key word here is latent. A seed is nothing but potential; latent stores of growth, blooms, fruit and more seeds.
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POTENTIAL GROWS AND THRIVES INTO SUCCESS UNDER SPECIFIC CONDITIONS: • Vision – the ability to see potential • Decision – turning potential into action steps • Motivation – implementing a plan of actions with desire • Focus – Care and Attention – behaviors needed for growth
Your Garden of 2018 To reach your goals and dreams, start with your vision. Decide what it is you really value: for a garden, is it plentiful blooms for adding beauty to your life, harvests of healthy homegrown food for the table or a beautiful outdoor space to restore your peace of mind? When you know what you value you will be inspired to make your vision happen. Taking your vision and making it real through action begins with decision. This is the turning point in all substantial and lasting change. A vision is not realized without action and winter is the ideal time to collect the materials and knowledge you need to improve and grow a new garden this new year. Collect inspiring photos, order seed and bulb catalogs, and draw a plan on paper. Gather your resources and move forward with your decision. Motivation gives us the emotional energy to take a plan through to the end, www.reflector.com/her
to keep pushing past pitfalls, setbacks and roadblocks. It’s the ‘why’ — it’s the reason for your desire to achieve. Do you want a pantry full of canned produce to keep your family healthy? How about dozens of bouquets to share or be a host to wildlife in a naturalistic, organic garden? The garden is the achievable, tangible goal. Motivation is what gives you aspiration to achieve it.
“Where focus goes, energy flows.” — Tony Robbins A garden requires care and attention to thrive, as do most things in life. We put our greatest care and attention on the areas of life that receive our most consistent focus. While you might think this means more time spent working would create a successful garden, remember, time spent does not equal focused care and attention. For example, you might have spent two hours weed-
Her — January 2018
ing one weekend when five minutes of weeding three times a week would have achieved the same goal. It’s consistent focus that begets achievement. This New Year you likely have many plans for improving your life and a garden may not make the top of your list of priorities. Keep this in mind, though: small steps of achievement in one area of your life have a way of spreading to other areas. Even small achievements in your garden will brighten your enthusiasm for other improvements in your life. The nature of gardening is that it rewards the gardeners with the clearest vision, the decisive and motivated and the most focused - these are the gardeners that believe in their potential for success.
“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” — Robert Louis Stevenson 29
style file
Nikki Blount Greenville
Date of birth: June 14 Town where you live: Greenville, N.C. Hometown: Greenville, N.C. Job: partner, Beauty Bar Medispa Family: Husband Gray, two sons: Reading (11 years old) and Will (14 years old) School: Graduated from ECU Organizations you belong to or volunteer with: Making sandwiches for soup kitchen, serving at homeless shelter on Thanksgiving Day My personal style of dressing: casual with elegant touches - always earrings and sunglasses Favorite color to wear and why: I wear black most days - it makes me feel confident Fashion/style motto: I wear natural fabrics like silk and cotton. I will not buy synthetic fabrics. Key pieces in my wardrobe: I love Missoni, Johnnywas Everyday accessories: Always have on my sunglasses, gold earrings, anchor beads and red lipstick Favorite lipstick: Jane Iredale in Passion Flats or heels: Flats Dress or jeans: Jeans but I love dresses I’m never fully dressed without my: lipstick Beauty product I can’t live without: EltaMD tinted sunscreen My passion is: Helping others feel good about themselves through skincare, smiling and kindness I am inspired by: Acts of kindness - love giving gifts/flowers My guilty pleasure is: Netflix - I have a running list with ratings! My favorite show to binge-watch is: Shameless My favorite book is: “To Kill a Mockingbird” My hidden talent is: I am good dancer, especially salsa dancing. It embarrasses my kids. The best advice I’ve ever gotten: From my grandmother! She said to always smile at people - “It may be the only gift they receive that day.”
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WINTERVILLE
3750 Sterling Pointe Dr. (beside New River Pottery)
252-756-5304 GREENVILLE MALL (near the food court)
252-756-1900 www.facebook.com/theshimmerboutique www.instagram.com/theshimmerboutique