M A G A Z I N E December 2017
LIFE of the PARTY Blogger, event planner Azanique Rawl plans the perfect soiree
Cultural Exchange Chinese student adapts to life in North Carolina
Featuring • Her Panel • Coach Chris • Nutrition
• Holiday Traditions • Gift Guides • DIY Ornaments
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Her — December 2017
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Contact Her
Holly West | 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
Azanique Rawl is the woman behind Lots of Sass, a fashion and lifestyle blog at www.lotsofsass.com. Read her tips for holiday party planning on page 8. (Molly Mathis/Her)
8
Throw an epic party
12
Exchange student
16
Greenville gift guide
Meet Her
8 Throw an epic Christmas party
Style
16 Holiday gift guide 24 DIY ornaments
Food
26 Nutrition 27 Four essential holiday foods
Inside
12 Exchange student adapts to life in eastern North Carolina 22 Puzzles 30 Coach Chris 32 Gardening 34 Style File
From the editor t truly is the most wonderful time of the year, but this December I have some mixed tidings to bring you. This is my last issue as the editor of Her Magazine. That’s a hard sentence to write. I have put hours and hours of thought, work and tears into this publication, and in a lot of ways I feel ownership over it. Luckily, that’s not really true. Like all publications, this magazine is a collaboration between many people who will still be here after I leave. I know Her Magazine will continue to thrive because, as I said in our redesign issue, it’s the women of Pitt County who make this publication special. If you told me last November that in just a few short weeks, I would become the editor of two publications (this one and our sister publication, Mixer), I wouldn’t have believed you. I never could have imagined the incredible people I would meet, the touching stories I would have a hand in telling or the many, many lessons I would learn. I want to extend a big thank you to our contributors, many of whom write for this magazine just for the fun of it and all of whom are passionate about what they do. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to our designer, Jason Scott, who was the driving force behind our beautiful new look and has always challenged me to do things bigger and better. Additionally, we have a great team of advertising salespeople who make the publication of Her possible and are super nice to boot. Finally, I want to thank you, the readers, for being so kind, interesting and willing to tell your stories. The women of Pitt County are always doing great things — and I can’t wait to keep reading about them in the pages of Her!
Meet our team
Holly West Editor
Holly is a clearance rack fashionista, wannabe DIY queen and proud Tar Heel. When she’s not writing about the fabulous women of Pitt County, she can be found listening to true crime podcasts or watching HGTV. Email her at hwest@reflector.com.
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
Rick Glosson is a graphic designer for Her Magazine and The Daily Reflector. He grew up in Fayetteville, NC, 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.
Happy Holidays!
— editor
www.reflector.com/her
Molly is a recent RCC photo grad, Carolina Panthers fan and cat enthusiast. Her favorite thing to photograph is sports.
Molly Mathis Photographer
Alice Marie George is a nutritionist at the Pitt County Health Department.
Holly West
Jason Scott Layout
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.
Alice Marie George Contributor
Her — December 2017
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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Her — December 2017
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Angie Fontana, RN Executive Consultant (252) 717-2474 angiefontana777@gmail.com Products: angelafontana.myrandf.com
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MEET
How to have a
HOLLY JOLLY PARTY Blogger gives best tips for a mingling, jingling good time
By Azanique Rawl Her contributor
With the holiday season in full swing and a new crispness in the air, hosting friends and family in your home is at a peak. So, if you are preparing to plan a party and don’t know where to start, I’ve put together my basic tips as a guide to begin. The first thing I always do when party planning is set a budget. No matter how big or how small, it is important that a budget is set before you begin doing anything else. Though it may seem easier to go with the flow as you plan and not stick to a specific number, the risk is always there that you may run out of money in the middle of your party planning, 8
which could ultimately change the entire direction of your planning vision. Secondly, select a date. This step is possibly the most difficult, especially between the months of October and December. Not only are holiday parties and events happening, but we are in the season of two major sports, daylight saving time, autumn festivities and more. Ultimately, any date you pick will not work out for some people on your guest list, but is important to check your community calendars to see if there are any major parades, races, fundraising events or holiday shows that will conflict with your event. Next, we move to your invite list. The first part is planning your space. It is important to know how www.reflector.com/her
How are you choosing to decorate? Are there any colors that you must include or dishes that you have to have?
many people can comfortably fit in your home for three hours or more. Naturally, people will change where they gather in your home and where they choose to sit, but keeping your invite list to comfortable number of guests is key. The one bit of popular advice I urge against is inviting more people than can fit in your home. Most of the time, there will be a few people who cannot attend your event and there will be room to spare. However, if your home can hold 30, you invite 35 and all of them show up, you have now crowded your space. To avoid running into this problem, never invite more people than you know will be comfortable in your home at one time. When creating your invite list, keep in mind your budget. Maybe your home can hold 50 people comfortably, but your budwww.reflector.com/her
get only allows you feed and cater to 30 – stick with 30. During this time, consider your options for parking. If you have a garage, consider parking your car on the street and allow your guests to use the garage and driveway. If you have limited parking options, encourage your guests to carpool to avoid any parking hiccups. After you have analyzed your space and budget, it is time to get your invite list together and your invitations out. Handwritten notes as invitations are always a sweet gesture but if that is not your strong suit, there are companies such as Minted and Zazzle that allow you to customize invitations and use premade templates. Check over your invites to be sure they have outlined the main components: date, time, location, theme/
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attire, RSVP date and special instructions, as needed. Once you have tackled your budget, space planning and invites, you now have room to get creative. How are you choosing to decorate? Are there any colors that you must include or dishes that you have to have? This is the perfect time to start thinking about these items. A great way to stock up on party dishes is to shop local sales. During this time of the year, plate settings, silverware, napkins and table arrangements can be found everywhere. Keep in mind that these items could be costly, so I always suggest getting party decor that you can use all year around and is easy to pair with other colors or themes. To be safe, white or silver serving dishes are a great place to start. If your home is already decorated for the holidays,
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If gift bags are not for you, think about having a gift exchange instead. This route eliminates your need for buying all the gifts and creates a built-in game time with your friends.
Her — December 2017
you can focus your energy on getting the perfect table decor pieces and gift bag items. When I plan for holiday-themed parties, I make some of the party favors part of the gift bags. This could include special wine glasses or hot chocolate mugs that are necessities for the event, but can be a special treat for your guests when they leave. This way, you are not left with 30 new sets of glasses or mugs that you may never use. If gift bags are not for you, think about having a gift exchange instead. This route eliminates your need for buying all the gifts and creates a builtin game time with your friends. If you choose a gift exchange, make sure that detail is noted in your invites with an ideal budget allowance. A budget up to $25 is usually perfect but depending on your guests, www.reflector.com/her
you may be able to increase that to $50 or $75. Now, you can begin shopping. With your budget in mind and your store list in hand, clear out time to hit multiple stores to find what you need. Stores such as Target and Belk are great for table-setting needs, small gifts and decorations. If you are choosing to have a drink bar, you can grab items such as a shaker, muddler, special glasses and displays, from these same stores. When preparing your grocery list, always include at least one dish that is vegetarian or vegan, so all of your guests feel welcome and comfortable with the food options. Create a checklist of the main food categories/sections you want, including hors d’oeuvres, a main dish, two to three sides and sweets. A way to keep your budget low is to include heavy hors d’oeuvres without a main dish and make your own desserts, instead of buying. A great way to include food as a fun activity is to have a cupcake or ice cream bar. By doing so, you are only purchasing the main ingredients for your budget, but empowering your guests to create their own sweet treats. Pull together any loose ends such as going through your RSVP list, adding custom details such as name tags or seat cards, getting photo props or a special backdrop for photos, creating a special hashtag and so on. Now, it is time for the main event! On your special day, be sure to give yourself more time than you think you will need to prepare. Enlist help if needed and don’t be afraid to ask for assistance if needed. Remember that this is a time for fun and memories, so if something small goes wrong, try your best not to let it impact the mood of the party. Well, there you have it — a very basic guide for party planning this season. No matter what, the goal of any party is to enjoy your company and gather in the mood of celebration. www.reflector.com/her
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education
CULTURAL EXCHANGE By Holly West | Photos by Molly Mathis
I love art and I like painting. In China, we don’t have enough time to paint.
inth-grader Cathy Li may be from the other side of the world, but her host mom sometimes mistakes Li for her own daughter. “She and my daughter have similar personalities,” Greenville resident Wanda Carr said. “I’m like, ‘How are y’all sisters when you grew up on different continents?’” Li is attending The Oakwood School for the next four years as part of a cultural exchange program. She will spend the summers in her hometown of Beijing and return to Oakwood each fall until she graduates. Li said she’d also like to attend an American university. 12
Carr, the assistant business manager at Oakwood and a professor at N.C. Wesleyan College, said she heard host families were needed for Oakwood’s exchange program and decided to give it a try since she’s an empty nester. Her daughter, Anassa Thompson, graduated from North Pitt High School in 2012, then attended Winston-Salem State University. She now works as an accountant for a New York City brokerage firm. Li decided to attend school in America because she said Chinese high schools don’t provide many artistic opportunities. That was a problem for
Her — December 2017
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Cathy Li and Wanda Carr
Li, who wants to study art and design in college. “I love art and I like painting,” she said. “In China, we don’t have enough time to paint.” Carr said she thinks Li’s future is bright. “She’s very gifted,” Carr said.” She can sit down and just doodle.” Before moving to Greenville, Li had visited America twice, spending time in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Naturally, living in Greenville is a bit different than her previous experiences. “It’s small; it’s relaxed,” she said. In their free time, Carr and Li travel across www.reflector.com/her
North Carolina. Li especially enjoys visiting Carr’s family in Lewiston for Sunday dinner. “My mom has a big Sunday dinner with all the kids and grandkids,” said Carr, who is one of seven siblings. It’s a departure for Li, who, like many Chinese people, is an only child. From 1979-2015, the country had a one-child policy. Now, there is a limit of two children per family. Li said that as urban dwellers, her family rarely cooks at home. When they do, everyone eats out of communal bowls. “We have different dishes on the table,” Li said. “We don’t have our own plates.”
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When Chinese people do go out to eat, Li said there is no check splitting. “We eat with Ms. Wanda and her mom and they will pay their own bill,” she said. “In China, if you eat with friends and family, one person will pay.” Despite their different upbringings, there’s one dish Li and Carr can always agree on — fried chicken. Bojangles has the best fried chicken, Li said. She also enjoys eating at fast food restaurants like Wendy’s. Attending an American school has also been an adjustment for Li. At her Chinese school, the students wore uniforms, while Oakwood students get to wear what they want. Additionally, Li said Chinese school days are much longer and teachers are very formal toward their students. “They are not funny,” she said. “They are very serious.” Since starting at Oakwood in August, Li has joined the school’s band, something she was hesitant about at first. “It is very small. It’s just like 20 people or less,” she said. “Ms. Wanda and my headmaster said I could get help if I needed it. I tried it and found out it was fun.” Li said she can’t wait to continue learning about America and teaching her new friends and family about China. “We just bring culture here. We exchange cultures between the two countries.” 14
CATHY LI, an exchange student from China, talks about her experiences in America so far from the living room of the home she is staying in on Oct. 10.
CATHY LI, right, shows a purse she made in art class at The Oakwood School while her host mom, Wanda Carr, looks on.
CATHY LI, a ninth-grade student at The Oakwood School, shows off paintings she made in art class.
Her — December 2017
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style
GREENVILLE
GIFT GUIDE
Find the perfect present for everyone in your life By Caity Barnes barnesc14@students.ecu.edu It’s the most wonderful time of the year… but it can also be the most stressful when you want to find the perfect gift for your loved ones. Here are some picks from local stores to inspire you. Time to shop, drop and be merry!
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Whether it’s your brother, dad or
For him
significant other — finding a gift for him can be a difficult task.
TROLLINGWOOD LOGO SHIRT $20, Trollingwood Brewery For the beer lover: drink local, wear local.
YETI 30-OUNCE RAMBLER $29.99, Shimmer Have him sip in style with the year’s most popular tumbler. Shimmer offers customizable Yetis, too.
CLEERELY STATED MEN'S SCRIPTURE CARDS $34, It's Sew Wright
This set of 52 scripture cards comes on a hand-stained wooden stand, perfect SCOUT POCKET ROCKET
for his office or bedside table.
IN BEE'S KNEES
ZOOTILITY WALLET KNIFE
$46, It's Sew Wright
$10, It's Sew Wright
Teachers will love this six-pocket tote to
More than just a pocket
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For the teacher
FRAME $32.95, It's Sew Wright Make it personal! Add a picture of your child and
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their teacher, along with an attachment for the
They do so much
frame of your choice. The best part about this col-
for your kids, so
lection is a new attachment for the frame can be
they deserve some
your go-to gift from now on for the lucky receiver.
bonus points.
Her — December 2017
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For your gal pals FILL-IN-THE-BLANK BOOK $12, Francesca’s
Tell your bestie how much they mean to you with this fill-in-the-blank. It’s super easy to put together, but is sure to be a treasured memento.
CANDLE IN CORAL CAY $32, Pink
Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean your decor has to be drab. Put a little spring in your girlfriend’s step with this Lilly candle.
RUFFLE SLEEVE GRAPHIC TEE $24, Francesca's
For the new mom, the mom who does it all or the mom who just loves being a mom.
MERMAID BLANKET $38, Francesca's
What’s better than being cuddled up on the couch binge-watching Netflix? Binge-watching Netflix as a mermaid.
ALEX AND ANI FRIEND CHARM BANGLE $32, Bailey's Fine Jewelry
Alex and Ani bangles. Need we say more?
S'WELL PALM LEAF WATER BOTTLE $35, Monkee's
There’s no cuter way to keep your drink cold for 24 hours.
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For you
MIGNONNE GAVIGAN MADELINE EARRING $225, Monkee's
Fly high with these fierce earrings, which will go perfectly with a red dress for the office holiday party.
TUMBLED WOOD NECKLACE $60, Anchor Beads
SHEILA FAJL EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE HOOP $73, Catalog Connection
This Raleigh-based company gives 10 percent of its proceeds to childhood cancer research. ‘Tis the reason for the season, after all.
These look like a bling-tastic stocking stuffer. (*Hint*Hint* Spouses/ partners/parents.)
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HOLIDAY SHOPPING ON A
BUDGET By Christina Ruotolo
This year, let’s celebrate all the hard-working small businesses in the area that provide Greenville with an array of glitzy, glittery, artsy and tasty options for everyone on your holiday gift-giving list. Here are my top five affordable gifts to give this year with prices ranging from $18-$90: ARTISTICALLY GLAZED
I have the perfect gift for the artsy person on your shopping list. Buy them a three-month adult painting club membership at Painted Peacock, located at 631 Red Bank Road. The package, available to anyone age 13 or older, includes three months of unlimited studio time, 10 percent off regularly priced pottery, a free tote bag for first-time members, a free month for you when you refer a friend and the ability to store your works in progress for free — all for $45. A children’s members for ages 12 and younger is available for $30 for three months.
GLITTER & SPARKLE
The majority of the people on our shopping list have busy lives. Francesca’s Boutique, located at 511 Red Banks Road, offers a wide variety of clothing, shoes and charming gifts. Gift the go-getters in your life with Pinch Provisions Fitness Essentials or a mini emergency kit for bridesmaids. The Fitness Kit, $22, includes 15 essential items, including dry shampoo, bandages, earbuds, deodorant, towelettes, blister balm, breath drops and a hair tie. The genius emergency kit, $18, for bridesmaids includes 21 essential items, like safety pins, hair spray, stain remover, double-sided tape, earring backs, mending kit and extra wedding bands. At those price points, you can fill a lot of stockings and make each one of your bridesmaids or any one of your friends very happy this holiday!
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SILVER & BLING
Are you looking for a handcrafted, artfully designed gift that tells that special person in your life how much they mean to you? Jenni K Jewelry, located at 727 Red Banks Road, is known for its handmade silver and gold jewelry designs. There, you are sure to find the perfect gift that says, “I love you,” including the new Love You Forever Bracelet. This handcrafted bracelet, $90, features a heart encased by an infinity symbol.
GASTRONOMICAL DELIGHTS
For friends that love to cook and eat, I found a unique gift that fits their food bill. 692 Olive, located at 692 E. Arlington Blvd., specializes in extra-virgin olive oils, aged balsamic vinegars and other unique gifts to make the foodie in your life happy. For friends who love the presentation just as much as the cooking itself, get the Himalayan Salt Block made by True Salty. Himalayan salt is highly popular right now and known for its health benefits. Use chilled to add a salty, mineral flavor to your foods, or heat it up and sear meats and veggies. Either way, it’s a beautiful presentation and easy to clean with a quick rinse since Himalayan salt is anti-microbial. This cool new gadget costs $26.50.
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GOLD & BOLD
There is nothing better than giving the gift or receiving the gift of gold this holiday season. It’s Sew Wright, located at 801 Red Banks Road, offers a wide variety of gift decor and other unique finds, including the Lisi Lerch Ginger Gold earrings. These modern, rope-entwined dangle earrings offer sophistication and class and feature pierced post backs. These are the perfect gift for your mom, sister, best friend or any special lady in your life. With a price tag of $68, you can buy two pairs and keep one for yourself.
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CLUES ACROSS 1. Holds candles 7. In possession of 10. Rodents 12. Type of cofactor (Brit. sp.) 13. Hard candy on a stick 14. Animal of the weasel family 15. Things that should not be overlooked 16. “Silence� author 17. Dried, split lentils 18. People native to Ghana 19. Barros and Gasteyer are two 21. British thermal unit 22. Large oblong hall 27. Ethnic group in Asia 28. Holiday decoration 33. Milliliter 34. Open 36. Health physics concept (abbr.) 37. Tantric meditation 38. Where golf games begin 39. Birth swine 40. Rip 41. Remove 44. Puts together in time 45. Rotary engines 48. Skeletal structure 49. Member of a labor organization 50. Japanese classical theater 51. Undergarments
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CLUES DOWN 1. “Snake Tales� cartoonist 2. Religious group 3. Singer Redding 4. __ and tuck 5. Head honcho 6. Second sight 7. Composer 8. About aviation 9. Senior officer 10. Forecasts weather 11. Seasoned Hungarian soup 12. Town in Hesse, Germany 14. Thought to derive from meteorites 17. Hit lightly 18. Seemingly bottomless chasm 20. Title of respect 23. Warms up 24. Man and Wight are two 25. Type of scan 26. Atomic mass unit 29. Article 30. Incriminate 31. Passes by 32. Most nerve-inducing 35. David Alan Grier sitcom 36. Achieve 38. Freshwater fish 40. Beginner 41. Dark brown or black 42. A newlywed wears one 43. DiFranco and Vardanyan are two
44. Diego, Francisco, Anselmo 45. Ancient Egyptian King 46. Old name (abbr.) 47. Brazilian city (slang)
Puzzle solutions on page 33
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Her — December 2017
Visit www.BillClarkHomes.com to view all our communities in Pitt County. Call 355-5805 For Appointment
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illustrated
D.I.Y. to build a
Snowman Illustration by Rick Glosson
Light bulb
24
Steel Wool
Rubbing Alcohol
Masking Toilet White Chalk Tape Paper Roll Paint
Craft Paint, Black & Orange
Do you wanna build a snowman? No snow? No problem. Let’s make a snowman ornament instead — just in time to go up on your tree. Follow these instructions and get crafty!
Paint Brushes
Her — December 2017
Scissors
Ribbon
Hot Glue Gun
Knit Gloves
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Using black acrylic craft paint, add eyes and a mouth (you may want to draw the face lightly in pencil first). You can add buttons to the front, and use orange craft paint to put on a “carrot” nose.
Take the toilet paper roll, and fold the top inch inward to form a stand for your bulb. Paint the bulb white. Use two to three coats to make sure the bulb is covered well.
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Get a used light bulb. Cover the base with masking tape. Lightly sand the bulb, then wipe it down with rubbing alcohol (to help the paint stick to the bulb).
4 Remove the masking tape from the base. Take a length of ribbon (about 9 inches long), and tie the end in a knot, forming a loop. Glue the loop to the back of the metal base.
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5 Cut off the finger of a child’s knit glove. Use your scissor blade or a craft knife to poke a hole in the top. Roll the bottom of the glove finger up to form a knit cap. Poke a hole in the top of the cap, then thread the ribbon through the hole. Hot glue the hat over the base of the light bulb.
Cut a strip of fabric about 7 inches long, about a three-quarter inch wide to use for a scarf. Use a glue gun to hot glue it into place.
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Be creative! You can add googly-eyes, twig arms and pom-poms for earmuffs or buttons. You can paint on rosy cheeks, a vest and add a bow for a tie. Have fun!
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Start the holidays right
Don’t skip
BREAKFAST! T
he holidays are a time of celebration. They also tend to be a time where high-fat, high-calorie foods make up a large portion of each meal. However, whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa or New Year’s, you can participate in the festivities without sabotaging your healthy lifestyle. An easy way to do that is to start every day with a nutritious breakfast. You may have heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but many of us are so rushed in the mornings that we have to eat what we can grab on the way out the door. This is one of the reasons that the holiday season is so special — it gives us the chance to slow down and have a family meal at a time of the day when it is usually not possible. Include at least one fruit or vegetable and some protein, such as eggs or nuts, in your morning meal. This will help stop you from overeating high-calorie snacks while you wait for the big holiday lunch or dinner to be served! Happy Holidays! Alice Marie George is a nutritionist at the Pitt County Health DepartAlice Marie ment. George 26
SOUTHWESTERN OMELET Makes two servings Recipe adapted from http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/southwestern-omelet
Ingredients: • 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro • ¼ tsp salt • 4 large egg whites • 1 large egg • ½ c canned black beans, rinsed and drained • ¼ c chopped green onions • ¼ c (1 ounce) reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese • ¼ cup bottled salsa • Cooking spray
Instructions:
omelet with a spatula and fold in half. Cook one minute or until
Nutrition Information: 181 calories, 5.5 g fat, 2.3 g sat fat, 20.2 g protein, 13.8 g carbo-
Her — December 2017
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4 Christina’s
Holiday Foods for a Bountiful Table By Christina Ruotolo
T
he holidays are just a few short weeks away. The trees are shedding their leaves getting ready for winter, the air is cooling and the days until Christmas are becoming fewer and fewer. Thanksgiving is about family, friends, togetherness and food. One look at the bountiful spread at my table reminds me not only of the wonderful tastes, textures and colors that fall and winter offer, but the love that goes into the making of each shared meal. We wrap ourselves in the comfort of food and memories. A few years ago, both my parents passed away, so my holiday dinner table is no longer as full and bountiful as it once was. My dad is no longer there to christen the turkey with his 1970s-style green electric knife and mom is no longer in the kitchen showing me how to make her
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Yankee bean bake. However, they still guide me through the holidays thanks to the vast library of memories and recipes handed down from generation to generation they left me. This year, instead of focusing on the centerpieces, plates or glasses, focus on This year, instead of focusing on the centerpieces, the people making memories at your taplates or glasses, focus on the people making ble and the food that memories at your table and the food that sustains sustains you physically, mentally and spiryou physically, mentally and spiritually. itually. Come with me on a holiday food journey where we can all step into the same kitchen — whether our family is large, small or exists only in memory — and sit down to a table with four tasty foods that we can offer up in celebration.
Her — December 2017
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President John Adams drank cider every day and he lived to be 90, and as the doctor says, an apple a day keeps the doctor away.
BABY RUOTOLO helps her dad eat a pie. (Contributed photo)
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Her — December 2017
Apples Every fall growing up, I vacationed in my mother’s home state of Vermont. Fall had its hands on every tree, leaf, field and mountain. New England in the fall is the most intoxicating place. Nature sheds its offerings in the most beautiful displays of color. One place we always visited was an apple orchard with rows of hearty trees weighty with crispy red and green apples. We climbed into the trees and dropped apples in large wooden baskets. Then, we took our harvest to the pulp mill and watched as our pristine apples were cold pressed and made into an opaque apple cider. They added a whole cinnamon stick and warmed it up. It was one of the most nostalgic flavors and remains a steadfast memory on my tongue. President John Adams drank cider every day and he lived to be 90, and as the doctor says, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Maybe they are right. Why not add some warm apple cider, a fresh baked apple pie or stuffing with chopped apples to your holiday table? Sweet Potatoes How many of you love the warm and creamy sweet potato casserole topped with melting, gooey roasted marshmallows? Most of us, I think! It is the side dish that graces 95 percent of holiday dinner tables. They are readily available and easy to prepare. North Carolina is the largest producer of sweet potatoes, supplying an estimated 60 percent of the national crop, and they are our state vegetable. The majority of sweet potato farms are here in eastern N.C. Who knew we are sitting right smack in the middle of sweet potato heaven! I usually make pumpkin pie, but after learning of N.C.’s starchy bounty, I decided to think outside the pumpkin patch and use sweet potatoes instead. I followed the Taste of Home time-tested and trusted recipe. My first pie turned out better than expected and my work family loved it. One thing to remember is that sweet potatoes are sweetest at the end of the harvest, so to ensure my pie was sweet www.reflector.com/her
SWEET POTATO PIE RECIPE (from Taste of Home) Makes 6-8 servings • 1/2 c sugar • 1/3 c butter, softened • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten • 3/4 c evaporated milk • 2 c mashed sweet potatoes • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg • 1/4 tsp salt • 1 unbaked pastry shell (9 inches) Directions: In a bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs; mix well. Add milk, sweet potatoes, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt; mix well. Pour into pie shell. Bake at 425° for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350° and bake 35-40 minutes longer or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool. Store in refrigerator.
enough, I used two fresh sweet potatoes and mixed it with canned yams. It was the perfect taste and a new addition to my holiday recipe book. Cranberries Turkey and fresh cranberry sauce go together like marshmallows and hot chocolate. As a child, I remember opening the can of congealed cranberry sauce, thick and curved with lines from the inside of the can. My mom let me plop it on a plate and use a butter knife to cut it into round disks of sweetness. The pop of vibrant red was a natural centerpiece for our dinner table. As we got older, my mom experimented with fresh cranberries and made a cranberry compote with crushed pineapple and chopped pecans. She reinvented the nuclear family cranwww.reflector.com/her
berry mold of the past and brought the underestimated cranberry into the 21st century. Every holiday meal, I make her compote and remember sitting at my dinner table eating a forkful of turkey topped with this sweet and sour sauce that completed the entire meal. Why not add these beautiful, healthy bites to the table? Cranberries are harvested from mid-September until mid-November, so it’s easy to add this flavor to your table straight from the farmers’ market. You can make a compote, add some dried cranberries to your salad or bring back the past and use the canned kind. Acorn Squash Many people have never tried squash, or if they have, they aren't fans — despite the many shapes, sizes, textures
Her — December 2017
and tastes. There are large, melon-colored butternut squash; small, smooth yellow squash that most people fry up with onions; and hearty spaghetti squash, just to name a few. My favorite is the bright green, ridged winter acorn squash. Instead of mashed potatoes, why not try a harvest-style baked squash dish to bring warmth to your holiday table? On cold winter nights, my mom would cut an acorn squash in half and let me scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Then, she added a tablespoon of cold butter to the dome-shaped center, a tablespoon of pure Vermont maple syrup, a touch of brown sugar, a few chopped walnuts and sprinkle the top with cinnamon. She baked them in the oven for about 30 minutes until the inside flesh was soft and the butter and maple syrup were pooled in the center, glossy and sweet. Its unique taste is like a cross between pecan pie and a candy apple. It’s a winter vegetable that offers you tender and sweet flavors as well as providing you with potassium, vitamins C and B and magnesium. Not only is it a tasty alternative, it’s healthy, too. If you want to make it more hearty, add a rice and ground beef mixture and top with cheese or glaze with some olive oil and salt and serve as a side with any meat. Make sure you make room on your harvest table for the acorn squash. Who knows? It may end of being a dish that stays on your food playlist. No matter how you slice the apples, make the pie, dollop the cranberry sauce or bake the squash, remember that cooking is adding to your family traditions. Try new flavors and side dishes with your family, and you will be sure to carve new memories at your dining room table for years to come. May your table be bountiful, your belly full, your heart warm and your memory book filled. Happy Thanksgiving from my table to yours! Christina Ruotolo, 39, is an advertising account executive and Hot Dish writer for The Daily Reflector. She also works at Barnes and Noble Booksellers and teaches creative writing. 29
advice
LEAVE YOUR PRINT
Y
ou have officially made it to the last month of 2017! Congratulations to you! Celebrate!! I am super excited because you can stand in this day and look back over all this year has handed you or you created and say with confidence, “I made it!” I want to give you an inspirational message that I hope will help you as you approach 2018: Leave your print. You may be saying “Okay, Coach Chris, what do you mean?” Glad you asked. Here is what I mean: Find your place in this world and then leave your print. Figure out what really matters to you and then go after that, your thing, with all that you have on the inside. Dream big. Set goals. Make connections. Don’t take no for an answer. Follow the path. Create a new path if you have to. Inspire someone. Influence for the better. Encourage others. Be nice. Be free. You only get one life, so make the most of it. I have made up my mind that I am going to live on purpose. I am going to make every interaction with every person I meet count. When people leave my presence, they are going to feel like that they can do anything. 30
By Christy Jones Her contributor
They are going to be strengthened and supported. I am not going to get caught up in a bunch of he said-she said-they said. I am going to intentionally encourage and inspire others! I am on a mission to leave my print on the lives of others. You see, when I leave my print, it says “Coach Chris has been here.” I want to do things in such a way that long after
I want to do things in such a way that long after I am gone, people are still using the words I wrote, still singing the songs that meant something to me and still living out the legacy that I leave. I am gone, people are still using the words I wrote, still singing the songs that meant something to me and still living out the legacy that I leave. I read this anonymous quote and thought it was absolutely amazing: “Life is about getting up out of your chair and doing something. Doing nothing. Making a mess. Moving your hand and moving your body. Leave your
Her — December 2017
mark. It is about doing. Action. Finishing. Experimenting. Trying something new. Immersing. It is about absurdity. A creation. A destruction. It is about fun. Doing the opposite. Breaking the rules. It is about ideas. Getting dirty. Making mistakes. I am going to ask you to make a mark and it is going to be messy. Don’t worry about that. That’s the point.” I absolutely love this, because what it says to me is this: Life is going to be full of ups as well as downs. We will get it right sometimes and other times we will get it wrong. We will succeed and we will fail. We will be on track and we will run off the track. Don’t worry about all of that… Just leave your print! Do your thing and do it well. Share your gift with others. Do not be afraid to get involved. Do not be scared to love with your whole heart. Open yourself up and touch somebody else with your print. Will Fetters and Judy Blume said it best: “Our fingerprints don’t fade from the lives we touched!” May your 2018 be full of your fingerprints! Christy Jones, also known as "Coach Chris," is a Greenville life and business coach. Contact her at coachchris4success@gmail.com. www.reflector.com/her
PUZZLE SOLUTIONS Solutions from page 22
Give Her All That She Wants!
We Will Be Open December 23rd from 10am-8pm and December 24th from 10am-2pm! Pink a Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store | Lynndale Shoppes | 505 B Red Banks Road | Greenville, NC
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garden
DRYING HERBS 101 There are only a few rules for drying herbs that are implemented to retain the oil, color and flavor of the plant. • Do not crush the leaves • Keep out of sunlight • Protect from moisture, dust and insects
The drying process begins with harvesting your herbs before the first heavy frosts. Pick your stems in the early part of the morning for the freshest leaves.
No-fuss method for drying your own garden herbs Story and photos by Kimberly Newsom Her contributor
When looking through garden magazines or websites you might have noticed those rustic photos of herbs drying in bundles on a line, hung in some barn, wooden shed or attic. (Or a realistic photo backdrop of rustic wood paneling walls.) While those images make great traffic for Pinterest, drying herbs in that manner has gone the way of candlestick making and churning butter. There are quicker, cleaner and much simpler methods for achieving a dried herbal bouquet. Here is a terrific recipe for the herbal blend Herbs de Provence: www.theloghomekitchen.com/makeyour-own-herbs-de-provence. 32
Take your gathered cuttings and gently rinse by placing them in a sink full of water and submerging them a few times. Dry the herbs by placing the cut stems down inside a colander and place the colander uncovered inside a refrigerator. It will take between 15 to 30 minutes for the leaves to be dry to the touch.
Her — December 2017
Once the herbs are no longer damp, place the stems together in a bunch and wrap a ribbon or rubber band around the base of the stems. Slip the bunches, leaves down, into lunch-size paper bags. Staple the top of the bag closed and hang the bag to allow drying to take place. The kitchen or a spare room are suitable for this drying method. An unused kitchen cabinet or pantry can work as well. The paper bag will ensure the plant dries evenly,
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prevent dust or insect damage and protect the drying leaves from sunlight. Allow one to two weeks for full drying to take place. Once dry, untie the stems, separate the branches and carefully separate the leaves from the stems. Avoid crushing the leaves to preserve the oil and flavor of the plants. You can store your dried herbs in glass jars, plastic ziplocks or small tins. Choose collectible jars and add a homemade la-
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bel to share as gifts with friends and family. Depending on your selection of herbs available to you, you can create herbal blends for a unique bouquet of aroma and flavor.
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style file
Azanique Rawl 23, Greenville Hometown: Mays Landing, New Jersey Job: Medical education intern at the Brody School of Medicine My personal style of dressing is: Eclectic, romantic, casual, punk, preppy. Preppy 90 percent, casual 10 percent. Favorite color to wear and why: Blue! For sure. I love blue because depending on the shade and hue, you can change the tone of a room Fashion/style motto: “You can never be overdressed or educated.” – Oscar Wilde
Signature scent: Dolce & Gabbana “The one”
Best fashion splurge item ever: Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM
Key pieces in my wardrobe: Green Anorak jacket, dark ripped jeans, taupe booties, sweaters Everyday accessories: Watch (Jord or Kate Spade), monogram necklace, LV purse Favorite lipstick (brand and color): Raspberry Red L’oreal Flats or heels? Heels Dress or jeans? Dress I’m never fully dressed without my: Statement earrings Item on my fashion/beauty wish list: Leather jacket, Black Christian Louboutin heels, Dagne Dover workbag
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Beauty product My style icon:
I can’t live without:
Michelle Obama
ELF hydrating bubble mask
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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