Hickory Living December 21 by Oasis Publishing, Inc.

Complimentary December 2021

On the Cover

Feel Your Best on the Inside, Look Your Best on the Outside

page 12

And the Winners Are...

page 25 HICKORY LIVING • DECEMBER 2021

HICKORY LIVING • DECEMBER 2021

Helton, Cody & Associates, PLLC

With the merger of law offices, Lyndon R. Helton and Blair E. Cody, III now offer a broader range of law expertise. AREAS OF PRACTICE: • Divorce • Personal Injury • Workers Compensation • Criminal Defense • Traffic Violations • Social Security Disability • DWIs • Wills & Estates • Child Custody and Support

Thank you

for voting us Best Law Firm of the Foothills! Pictured: Blair E. Cody, III (left) Lyndon R. Helton (right)

828-328-9966 827 Highland Ave. NE Hickory, NC (located near Lenoir-Rhyne University)

www.HeltonCody.com HICKORY LIVING • DECEMBER 2021

contents

DECEMBER 2021 MacAdam Smith

FEATURES 12 • COVER STORY Vitality Anti-Aging Center, Medical Spa and Vitality Surgical Center Feel Your Best on the Inside, Look Your Best on the Outside.

18 • BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Health Smart Pharmacy This Holiday Season, Our Priority is You

Publisher mac@oasisluxuryhomes.com (484) 769-7445

Kathy Wheeler Design & Advertising Sales kathylivingmagazine@gmail.com (828) 238-3224

HOLIDAY ISSUE 22 • Decorating For The Holidays 26 • Customized Gift Basket Ideas 30 • Preparing For The Holidays 36 • New Year’s Resolutions You Can Live With

Sharon Simpson Advertising Director sharon@lncurrents.com (704) 677-9159

IN THIS ISSUE 8 • Welcome To The December Issue

22 Hickory

LIVING 10225 Hickorywood Hill Ave., Unit A Huntersville, NC 28078 (484) 769-7445 HickoryLiving@gmail.com

www.HickoryLivingMagazine.com 4

HICKORY LIVING • DECEMBER 2021

31 • What’s Cookin’ Banana Nut Bread CONGRATULATIONS

To the 2021 Winners of Best of the Foothills, Hickory Living’s Readers Choice Awards

Don Forrest Advertising Sales donlivingmagazine@gmail.com (828) 244-6538

Page 25 Hickory Living reserves the right to deny any advertisement or listing. Submissions are welcome, but unsolicited materials are not guaranteed to be returned. Hickory Living assumes no responsibility or liability for the information, services, products, claims, statements, accuracy, or intended or unintended results of any advertiser, editorial contributors, company, professional corporation, business or service provider herein this publication. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited.

contributors

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kristie Darling • Kathy Wheeler

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Photography by Shane Greene Photography

HICKORY LIVING • DECEMBER 2021

Thank you

for voting us Best Aesthetic/Med Spa and Best Weight Loss Center of the Foothills!

HICKORY LIVING • DECEMBER 2021

Welcome to the

December Issue By Kathy Wheeler ©iStockphoto.com | evgenyatamanenko

ecember is truly a magical month. It is filled with lights, holiday decorations, great food, giving gifts, and spending time with people you love. Children certainly know how to celebrate the holiday, and their excitement is contagious! As for us adults, we have much to do during the month to prepare for the festivities. Our holiday issue has articles to help with the planning, decorating, and gift giving. See pages 22, 26, and 30. Hickory Living announces the winners of your 2021 Best of the Foothills Reader’s Choice Awards. Throughout the magazine, you will find businesses thanking you for voting for them. AND THE WINNERS ARE..on page 25. We are very fortunate to have a healthy economy in Catawba County. We are thankful for all the businesses who make that possible, especially the small businesses. They have adapted to the current circumstances to serve their customers and keep their doors open. Hats off to you! A large portion of retail’s yearly sales happen during December. When you can shop local!

HICKORY LIVING • DECEMBER 2021

It’s the time of year to think about the changes you plan on making in 2022. Find New Year’s Resolution help on page 36. This month our cover story is about Vitality Surgical Center and Vitality Anti-Aging Center and Medical Spa. They would like to welcome their new surgeon Dr. Broc Pratt. If you are looking to make cosmetic improvements, both surgical and non-invasive, check out their story on page 12. Also, the Anti-Aging Center will be offering specials in December on their Facebook page, so be sure to LIKE their page and stay up-to-date. Health Smart Pharmacy is our business spotlight and offers a lot of customer amenities. You will want to read their article on page 18. If you are looking to do some Christmas shopping, they have many gift items for women, men, and children. Visit them in Claremont. At Hickory Living we wish you all a very Merry Christmas filled with all the wonder and magic the holiday has to offer, and a prosperous, healthy, and successful 2022. Thank you for reading the December issue of Hickory Living. Enjoy!

HICKORY LIVING • DECEMBER 2021

on the cover

Vitality Anti-Aging Center, Medical Spa and Vitality Surgical Center

Feel Your Best on the Inside, Look Your Best on the Outside. By Kristie Darling | Photos by Shane Greene Photography

We should all feel confident in our own skin, regardless of age, shape, or size. No matter what is going on in your life, you should feel healthy and positive about yourself. With caring attention by Vitality’s professional health providers and aestheticians, your natural good looks can come to the surface—you will feel like a new person, with more energy and self-confidence. “I’ve been going to Vitality for many years. It doesn’t matter if I’m there for my annual physical, skin care, or 12

HICKORY LIVING • DECEMBER 2021

hormone replacement, the service from check-in to check-out is always awesome,” said a recent client. “I highly recommend Vitality.” This impressive rave review is not uncommon among the many women and men who have discovered Vitality Anti-Aging & Med Spa and Vitality Surgical Center. Patients return on a regular basis. The services at all of Vitality’s practices are exceptional, and the providers are dedicated to your good health, improved self-esteem, and quality of life. I recommend that you request a

consultation or make an appointment soon…no better time for looking better than ever than the upcoming holiday season! VITALITY SURGICAL CENTER “We are extremely pleased to have Dr. Broc Pratt join our team,” owner and medical provider Grace McLaurin shared. “Since we are not a franchise or conglomerate, we can take extra care in selecting our providers, and the addition of Dr. Pratt aligns perfectly with our dedication to quality care and our

philosophy of personalized attention to each individual who wants to improve how they look and how they feel.” Dr. Pratt came by his love of medicine through influence of his chemist father and his cousin and mentor, also a surgeon. While in medical school at The University of Florida, he received the distinguished Ambrose Paré Award from the American College of Surgeons. He completed his residency in general surgery at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte and then pursued a fellowship in plastic and reconstructive surgery at UNC-Chapel Hill, among the most lauded training institutions in the country. After completing his plastic surgery training in 2005, he accepted a position as a clinical instructor and faculty member in the Department of Plastic Surgery at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. In 2008, he went into private practice, focusing on aesthetic surgery, and in 2018, founded Bespoke Plastic Surgery. Now, in partnership at Vitality Surgical Center, he continues to put together the best practices he has garnered from his vast experience and provides the best possible results for his patients, from start to finish.

Vitality Surgical Center exists because of the love and energy of Dr. McCoy Moretz. We sadly lost Dr. Mac in March, when he died unexpectedly. All of us at Vitality Surgical Center strive to provide the same love, care, and excellent service that he provided to each of our surgery friends. Dr. Mac was a once-in-a-lifetime person. He is deeply missed by all who had the pleasure to have had him touch their lives. His spirit lives on through our continued focus on excellence, personal patient care, and long-term relationships. We love and miss him every day. McCoy Moretz, MD. January 17, 1957 - March 10, 2021

Photos:

On the cover–Vitality Surgical Center welcomes Dr. Broc Pratt Opposite page–Dr. Pratt with his surgical team Pictured left–Vectra 3D technology simulates plastic surgery outcomes and the team discusses those results with patients in an exam room. HICKORY LIVING • DECEMBER 2021

PLASTIC SURGERY FOR BEAUTY AND HEALTH Cosmetic plastic surgery can enhance or rejuvenate your body, but an honest assessment is the first step in a successful procedure. Dr. Pratt’s surgical approach goes beyond technique. It starts with being an exceptional surgeon. Your experience can actually be fun, easy, and real, he says. Dr. Pratt is honest, engaging, and at the top of his game with recognized surgical skills and a firm belief that decisions made before the operating room are equally important for transforming patients into the look they desire. Vitality Surgical Center offers many procedures, like face, neck, and eye lifts, breast reduction and augmentation, tummy tucks, mommy make-overs, and liposuction. Dr. Pratt’s skillset in these and other surgeries ensures a positive outcome. Dr. Pratt said, “Our facial procedures, breast improvements, fat removal, body contouring, and other treatments create a look that is refined, natural, balanced—an improved version of you. For men and women, we see remarkable, life changing results.” A recent patient shared her experience, “Beyond pleased with my results…Dr. Pratt is a master at what he does. I will recommend him religiously.” PERSONAL, CUSTOMIZED HEALTH AND BEAUTY Vitality Anti-Aging Center & Medical Spa was created by Grace McLaurin, a leader in our community, as well as a recognized, award-winning pacesetter in her field of integrative health and aesthetics—regionally and nationally. She has been owner of Vitality Anti-Aging Center since 2006 and in practice since 1995. Todd Hinceman, a certified nurse practitioner since 2002, is co-owner of Vitality with Grace. He sees men and women for weight management, nutrition, fitness, metabolic syndrome, male hormone imbalances, laser facial rejuvenation, and facial augmentation utilizing various dermal fillers. Vitality Anti-Aging & Medical Spa truly complements the surgical side of Vitality. A team of exceptional providers and aestheticians who believe that you must be healthy to look healthy and achieve a complete sense of well-being offer effective, sought-after procedures and products. “Our primary focus

Photos:

At a consultation, the patient addresses the issues they wish to change and Dr. Pratt can manage patient expectations with simulations of what they will look like after the procedure. Grace McLaurin, PA-C, owner of Vitality Surgical Center, Vitality Anti-Aging Center, ACT Aesthetic Consulting & Training, and V-Infusion Hydration Center. She is also a primary care provider, non-surgical aesthetics provider, and certified instructor for Allergan. 14

HICKORY LIVING • DECEMBER 2021

Photos:

The client relaxation room at Vitality. Grace pictured during a Morpheus8 treatment.

full medical component ensures that health and safety are primary. Our patients are pampered, comfortable, and pleased with their outcome.” LOVING YOURSELF If you’re looking to partner with an exceptional healthcare practice that truly focuses on you as a whole person—as an individual—Dr. Pratt, Grace, Todd, and her entire team fill that bill. “We bring to the table a team of certified professional who believe that your health, appearance, and vitality—your sense of complete wellbeing—means that you feel alive on the inside and look alive on the outside,” Grace told me. “We want you to have the energy, sparkle, passion, and get-up-and-go to be your best possible self.”

is on you, your experience while you are here, and your amazing results,” Grace explained. “Our clients feel well cared-for, heard, and appreciated. We’re all about cutting edge integrative and aesthetic medicine using the best technology available.” New aesthetic treatments at Vitality Anti-Aging Medical Spa include Morpheus8, an FDA approved cosmetic technology that addresses cellulite, acne scarring, dark spots, large pores, uneven skin tone, stretch marks, and signs of aging; Tetra CoolPeel, is a one-of-a-kind laser that rejuvenates skin without the downtime of traditional CO2 lasers. It is a fully customizable skin resurfacing treatment that improves signs of aging, and Deka laser resurfacing significantly improves in skin tone— marks fade and disappear after one or two sessions and deep wrinkles can be treated, as well. In addition, skin care, dermal fillers, facials, cosmetics, waxing, makeup, and more are Vitality’s calling cards. “The products and therapies we prescribe are effective, exceptional quality, medical grade selections; every product and treatment is results-driven,” Lori Winstead, office manager, explained. “Our

Vitality Surgical Center and Vitality Anti-Aging & Medical Spa is a convenient, welcoming place for both women and men to achieve rejuvenation easily and comfortably. If you have ever wanted to make improvements to your looks, health, and self-esteem, call for a consultation. Get your questions answered. Many people have achieved a younger new look, better health, perhaps a new dress or pants size, and all in a beautiful, restful setting. Questions are free…results are priceless.

Where Health and Beauty Meet (828) 322-1498 74 8th St SE #101 Hickory, NC 28602 www.vitalitymedicalspa.com www.vitalitysurgicalcenter.com

HICKORY LIVING •DECEMBER 2021

HICKORY LIVING • DECEMBER 2021

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HICKORY LIVING • DECEMBER 2021

business spotlight

Photos,

Left–Kristan Sigmon and Andrea Ramsey with HealthSmart Pharmacy. Opposite page, top to bottom: • Morgan Loza, a new addition to the HealthSmart staff, helps someone at the drive-thru. • Stuffed animals and Warmies Hugs heatable and scented plush animals by Hallmark • Check out their beauty products including Glo Skin Beauty’s line of Mineral makeup and skin care. • Bath products including handcrafted artisan soaps by SoapGirl makes a perfect holiday gift basket.

CLAREMONT

This Holiday Season, Our Priority is You By Kristie Darling | Photos by Shane Greene Photography

Celebrating 21 years of pharmacy ownership and a well-earned reputation for family values and home-town customer service, HealthSmart Pharmacy, family owned and operated, provides exceptional personal health products and services. Under the same roof is Claremont’s hidden gem—a fabulous gifts, toys, health and beauty products boutique…all neatly packaged conveniently off I-40, at exit 135. Manager Andrea Busbee Ramsey has been working in this field for the past 21 years. In fact, HealthSmart Pharmacy is her family’s business. “I can’t imagine doing anything else,” Andrea said. “I love seeing our customers and talking with them, knowing all about their families and what is going on in their lives.” 18

HICKORY LIVING • DECEMBER 2021

PERSONAL CARE, EXCLUSIVE SERVICES With a focus on individualized care in a “we know everyone’s name” kind of way, it’s no wonder that Andrea and her team offer unique, helpful services that make customers’ lives easier—and healthier. “We provide free delivery to almost all areas of the county,” Andrea explained. “Lots more customers use this service these days.” MedSync is another convenience service. It aligns your medication schedule so you can pick up everything in one monthly trip.

seniors—medications are packaged by morning, noon, supper, and bedtime meds—making it very easy to get it right and pack your medications on the go. “Pill packaging also helps us, as their pharmacist, make sure patients are compliant—taking everything they need, on time, every day,” Andrea said. HealthSmart’s mobile app allows customers to text or email their prescriptions and request online refills. You can also see your profile and list of medications at any time.

HealthSmart Pharmacy offers compounding—preparing unique forms of medications based on preferences and/or restrictions. Examples include dye-free, preservative-free, alcohol-free, and/or sugar-free forms of medications. For an extensive list of conditions that benefit from compounded medications, including fibromyalgia and pain management, to autism, infertility, hormone With HealthSmart’s free pill packing serreplacement therapy, visit www. vice, individual Dispel packs of prescribed healthsmartnc.com/compounding. medications help patients easily keep track throughout the days and months. Insurance coverage and medicaDispill packs are especially helpful for tion costs can be a challenge.

HealthSmart can help you understand Medicare Part D and manage your policy by comparing your prescriptions with various insurance plans to determine what’s covered, what’s not. “And, we take all insurances,” Andrea said. As a money saving service, HealthSmart pharmacists utilize generic medications and coupons for branded drugs. Searching for a generic alternative or a coupon— without the patient even asking—is a perfect example of HealthSmart taking care of you. Of course, immunizations, including Covid, flu shots, shingles, and pneumonia can be given, and you can get swabbed for strep or flu. “We have people who have moved out of our area, but still drive here to get their medicine,” Andrea commented. “It’s because of our level of customer service. That makes all of us feel good about supporting our community and the work we do.” THERE’S MORE TO LOVE You don’t need to drive to the city to find unique healthy products all under one roof! You’ll love discovering exclusive natural brands for beauty, wellness, and health. The private label, Health and Wellness, includes pharmaceutical grade vitamins and medicines with evidence-based therapeutic dosages so your body utilizes and properly absorbs what it needs. Elite, top-trending products with natural and organic ingredients encourage a holistic approach to taking care of yourself, becoming healthier, looking and feeling your best. Exclusive skin and face lotions, creams, essential oils, soaps, makeup, and more line the shelves. Glo Cosmetics is an effective and very popular skincare and makeup line. Along with supplements and beauty products, you’ll find wellness products like EO essential oils and Herbalogic homeopathic drops to help breathe easier, relieve allergy symptoms, and promote sleep. Consider trying CBD cream and oil for pain relief and lowering cholesterol. And the men’s skin care product lines can’t be found elsewhere—very popular and reasonably priced. SHOP THE GIFT STORE For the holiday season, the gift side of the pharmacy lights up. “We’re having holiday specials throughout December! We have some pretty cute stocking stuffers this year—for all ages,” Andrea said with a smile. Plan a visit to check out the assortment of unique holiday gifts, especially for kids and teens, as well as lovely home decorating pieces, jewelry, specialty items, and seasonal treasures. Looking to indulge in some excellent bath and body treatments? Treat yourself or your gift-listers to Barr-Co, Salt of the Earth, Farm House Fresh, or Mistral’s elegant French soaps. And the list goes on… The holiday season at HealthSmart is lots of fun, and getting your health and prescription needs in order is the perfect way to start a new, healthier year! www.healthsmartnc.com • 828-459-2149 3119 N Oxford St, Claremont HICKORY LIVING • DECEMBER 2021

HICKORY LIVING • DECEMBER 2021

Decorating For The Holidays Decorating

By Kathy Wheeler

can be an overwhelming task for some, but have no fear; you can create a space that looks beautifully put together with a few general tips. It can be tempting to use all of the decorations you have collected over the years, but refrain from temptation! Instead choose a color scheme of about three colors and only use those ornaments and decor that fit your scheme. Repeat color, ribbon and ornaments throughout your spaces for a cohesive look. For themed trees, choose ornaments and accents that relate to each other. You may like a more rustic, natural themed tree with snow, cinnamon ornaments, pine cones, twigs, acorn balls, berries, and even antique looking toy ornaments. Keep it simple and don't fill every available space– maybe a large tree in the great room and dress up the mantel; a centerpiece on the dining table or some mixed greenery draped on the light fixture with ribbon and berries tucked in. Move furniture if necessary to keep rooms open and airy. Lighted houses and villages are perfect for placing on top of

kitchen cabinets, and provide mood lighting at night. No countertop real estate is lost and the extension cord can be hidden between cabinets with a simple DIY project using an electrical plug repair kit. When using a centerpiece on the dining table, don't block the view of people sitting at the table. Either move the centerpiece to your buffet or keep your centerpiece low so people can see over it. Consider switching to LED lights over incandescent. LEDs require a more costly investment initially, but use 85% less power than traditional holiday lights. They don't generate much heat, making them safer, and last 10 times longer. All LEDs are not made equal. If you want LEDs that look similar to the traditional lights, purchase the warm white. They also make a cool white, which has a blue tint to them, and a pure white, which is white without the warm cast to it. Super Bright LEDs generate more light than regular LEDs. If using outdoors, make sure the strand is rated for outdoor use. By layering different types of greenery, with plenty of ribbon, lights and ornaments, your decorations will provide a warm holiday glow for you and your guests to enjoy throughout the season.

©Jill Chen | iStockphoto

Shop Local

This

Holiday

HICKORY LIVING • DECEMBER 2021

HICKORY LIVING’S READER’S CHOICE AWARDS 2021

Best of The FOOTHILLS HickoryLIVING

We want to thank all of the businesses who participated in the Best of The Foothills. You are the reason our community thrives! We appreciate what your business brings to our area. Also, we would like to thank our readers who shop local on a regular basis and who took the time to vote for their favorites!

the winners of the 2021 Best of The Foothills Are...

READER’S CHOICE AWARD

Best Auto Repair Services

Best Weight Loss Center

Best Home Builder

Conley Motorsports

Vitality Anti-Aging Center & Medical Spa

Moss Marlow Building Co. Inc.

Everett Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac

Best Day Spa

Bumblebee Interiors, LLC

Best Insurance Company

Best Hair Salon

Best Landscaper/Lawn Service

Catawba Valley Insurance Agency

Le Grande Salon & Day Spa

Scenic View Landscapes

Best Breakfast

Best Women’s Boutique

Best Plant Nursery

Café Gouda

Aqua B Boutique

Settlemyre Nursery

Best Sandwich Shop

Best Dentist

Best Real Estate Agency

Hatch Sandwich Bar

Growing Smiles Pediatric Dentistry

Realty Executives of Hickory

Best Dinner Restaurant

Best Orthodontist

Backstreets Bar & Grill

Small & Piers Orthodontics

Best Consignment/Thrift Store

Best Golf Course

Best Chiropractor

Rock Barn Country Club & Spa

Hilton Family Chiropractic Clinic

Best Auto Dealer

Rock Barn Country Club & Spa

Best Place for Cocktails/Wine Best Veterinarian Backstreets Bar & Grill

Startown Veterinary Hospital

Best Fitness/Gym

Best Pet Groomer

Burn Boot Camp Hickory

Paw Tales Lodge & Day Spa

Best Aesthetic/Med Spa

Best Law Firm

Vitality Anti-Aging Center & Medical Spa

Helton, Cody & Associates, PLLC

Best Art Gallery

Killians Hardware

Trade Alley Art

Best Hardware Store

Best Interior Design

Safe Harbor’s ReSource Warehouse

Best Wedding Venue The Laboratory Mill

Best Jewelry Store Oz’s Jewelers

Best Caterer Liazzo’s Catering

Best Cosmetic Surgery Center Piedmont Plastic Surgery & Dermatology

Best Art Studio Wine & Design

HICKORY LIVING • DECEMBER 2021

Customized Gift Basket Ideas By Kathy Wheeler

made ones. Although those offer an attractive presentation, they have very little content. It’s a workout to get to the goodies, by the time you get through all the cardboard, tape, and fluff. If you are stumped about what to give someone on your list, consider making them a gift basket. You usually get a lot more product for the same amount of money if you DIY. They are easy to make, and the options on a theme are unlimited. You can customize a basket to fit any person’s interests and likes. For example, if your recipient loves Italian food, specialty pastas, sauces, herbs, oils, and cheeses from a gourmet shop would make a delicious basket. Add a personalized apron or a bottle of wine! One Christmas, my husband and I flew home from out west. His job required us to travel, and many times we were in a different state each week. That year, my sister put together a large tin of homemade sausage balls, fudge, and cookies for our Christmas present. When we flew back west, we landed in the middle of a huge snowstorm. Driving into Montana through that terrible weather was an ordeal. Those snacks came in handy and made that stressful drive bearable. We were too terrified to stop for food until we reached our destination, and ate almost the whole tin of goodies by the time we reached our hotel. Whew, that was an adventure with a lot of stress eating! From that point on, I’ve been a big fan of personalized gift baskets. Not the ready26

HICKORY LIVING • DECEMBER 2021

For those who like movies, gourmet popcorn and boxes of candy paired with a gift card from a movie theater or a Netflix subscription would make a perfect gift. Are you perplexed about what a college student would like? A taste of home is just what they need. Consider a basket of your home-baked cookies, breads, or cakes. Or a crock pot filled with spices and seasonings for their favorite roast, along with a recipe card explaining how to fix it. Slip in a grocery store gift card for the win. Baskets don’t have to be filled with food. Gardeners would love a nice pair of gloves with a clean new set of tools, along with a tube of healing hand

cream. Add in some slate garden stakes and a spray bottle. To finish it off, wrap the contents in a cellophane bag and put it all in a new watering can. Tie a bow on the handle, and you have a gift any gardener would love. Don’t forget the container. Choose something that will be useful once the contents are gone. Look for a crate, basket, bucket, decorative box, bowl, or watering can. I usually start with the container and take it with me when selecting the goodies…that way, I know I’ll fill up every nook and cranny. If you wind up with a weird, empty space, fill it with shredded paper or tissue. Clear cellophane and wired ribbon are your friend when it comes to presentation. The cellophane adds height to the gift and the ribbon adds color. To make it even more festive, include a Christmas ornament and pretty gift tag. Fruit baskets have always been a popular holiday gift. Once again, you can buy them ready-made, but they are so much nicer when you choose the container yourself. Take it with you to the grocery store. Many times, if you purchase the fruit from them, they will cellophane the basket for you. However, you want to ask them to do it before leaving the store. Keep in mind that if you are hand-delivering several, fruit baskets can be very heavy, so take some muscle with you. With a little inspiration and thoughtful planning, you can put together a gift basket for any hard-to-buy people on your list. They will totally love it!

HICKORY LIVING • DECEMBER 2021

Preparing For Christmas The Holidays PREPARING FOR

By Kathy Wheeler

I am all about Christmas and love every aspect of it, but adding the holiday to an already busy schedule is a major challenge. So how do you complete what you want to do AND still enjoy the season? After all, you don’t want people saying to you what Linus van Pelt said to Charlie Brown, “You are the only person I know who can take a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a problem.” Here are some tips to tackle holiday business and still enjoy it: Get into the Holiday Spirit Before you start, sit down with a cup of hot chocolate, build a fire in the fireplace, watch a Christmas movie or listen to some Christmas tunes. Look through magazines for examples of decorated rooms for the holiday, and imagine that your to-do-list is done, and you are enjoying the festivities. Getting into the 30

HICKORY LIVING • DECEMBER 2021

spirit will go a long way toward achieving the momentum you need to finish your holiday preparations. Making Your List, Checking it Twice It can be overwhelming to look at all you want to get done at once, but you need a master plan! Make that initial list of gifts to buy, decorations to complete, baked goods to make, and entertaining events that you will host and attend. Once the list is made, you can break it down into smaller steps to help you manage one thing at a time. By narrowing your focus, you can enjoy each to-do as you complete and mark it off the list. For example, maybe you will decorate the Christmas tree one day and the mantel the next or maybe the inside of your home one day and the outside the next. Just finish one item at a time before moving on to the next.

Christmas Shopping If you don’t like the hustle and bustle of the shopping season, you have options. Shopping online can be convenient if you know what you want, but it only supports our local economy if you purchase online from local boutiques and stores. Most are now offering to ship items or curbside pickup. Visiting a big box store’s website and printing out the item you want can help sales associates locate it quicker in the store. There are other ways to avoid the crowds, like shopping mid-week instead of weekends. Take a day off from work or shop late at night. Do your research before shopping. Call stores to make sure the item you want to purchase is in stock. Ask if you can pick it up at the customer service desk. Also, boutique and spa owners are more

than happy to help. If you need suggestions, call ahead and ask shop owners for ideas to check out on your lunch hour or preorder gift certificates to be ready for pick-up. While you’re shopping don’t forget hostess gifts or items you need for entertaining. Maybe it’s a new dress for a party or a serving platter for the entrée. Any staple items you need for baking goodies can be purchased ahead of time–put it on the shopping list! Make it a Family Affair Don’t try to do it all yourself. Enlist the help of family members and paid professionals to help. Putting lights on a tree is much easier with two people and much more fun! Ask for assistance or pay someone to help you clean. If a guest offers to bring a dish to the party–let them. Consider baking with a group of friends. Everyone bakes one goody–enough for their own gifts plus extra to share. Host a get-together to exchange baked goods and share recipes. Extra baked goods are great for gift baskets or mixed in a tin for an easy, homemade gift. No matter the length of your list, I hope at the top is to enjoy the festivities! Hickory Living Magazine wishes you all a Merry Christmas!

HICKORY LIVING • DECEMBER 2021

What's Cooking?! Banana Nut Bread

There is nothing quiet as comforting as warm, buttered banana nut bread. It’s great for breakfast, a snack or dessert. This recipe is a perfect, homemade holiday gift for friends and neighbors or as part of a gift basket! I like pecans in mine but walnuts work as well.

Banana Nut Bread

Makes 1 large loaf (9” X 5”) or two small loaves.

1 cup of sugar 2 cups of plain flour 2 eggs ½ teaspoon of salt 1 teaspoon of baking soda 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

½ teaspoon of baking powder 3 overly ripe bananas mashed ½ cup of shortening ½ cup of chopped pecans Directions: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease loaf pan. Beat eggs in a large bowl. Add shortening, sugar, and vanilla. Mix well. Sift flour, salt and baking soda into the bowl. Mash bananas on a plate. Fold bananas and pecans into the batter. Pour into greased loaf pan and bake for one hour at 350°F. If you are making mini loaves for Christmas baskets, fill the individual loaf pans to 2/3 full. Reduce baking time for smaller loaves. If you are baking batches of these loaves, and need lots of ripe bananas, 34

HICKORY LIVING • DECEMBER 2021

you can freeze your bananas as they ripen. Just thaw before placing them into your batter.

Microwave Peanut Butter Fudge 1 cup of butter (2 sticks) 1 cup of smooth peanut butter (not natural) 1 pound of powdered sugar 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract Directions: Grease an 8”X8” dish with butter and line it with parchment paper.

Chunk up the butter and add peanut butter into a microwave safe bowl. Place a paper towel over it and microwave on high for 2 minutes. Stir and microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring between, until it mixes smoothly together. Mix in powdered sugar and vanilla. Pour into the greased dish and let it cool. After it cools, cover it with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours. Flip the pan onto a cutting board, take off the parchment paper and cut into small pieces. The fudge will keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

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HICKORY LIVING • DECEMBER 2021

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

You Can Live With By Kristie Darling

We’ve all probably said—or thought of—enough potential New Year’s resolutions this year to make us dizzy. Remember that 3 AM moment when you swore you’d kick Facebook? The party where you consumed more than one too many cocktails or chips with dip? Ever declared you’re throwing out all your clothes…the diet starts tomorrow? Are giving up bad words, bad thoughts, too scary? These proclamations beget common resolutions. But…will these intentions take hold? I think a decision to change ourselves works better when based on something we’re already passionate about…an idea that’s already gotten our attention. How would adopting a personal plan rev up your success as you tackle your makeover list? Instead of struggling to lose weight, quitting fast food, or becoming Wonder Woman., let’s start with becoming our best selves from the inside out.

FIND YOUR PASSION Consider focusing on what makes you happier. What are those activities that make you smile and keep you going? Is it being able to play tag football with the family before Christmas dinner? Is it a better golf game? Would you like to spend more time working in your garden next spring? How do you get yourself ready for this type of activity? One step at a time. While I’m not super passionate about my elliptical machine (it’s kind of dusty right now), I do know that starting it back up will prepare me when I need more energy and stamina. A walk, a swim, some yoga each day can do the same. I’m passionate about doing what I love, so I can prepare now.

HICKORY LIVING • DECEMBER 2021

CREATE A THEME FOR YOUR YEAR A theme, you say? What does that look like? Sit quietly and contemplate your life like it’s an open-ended story. What theme or thread would enhance it? Be concise—Helpfulness…Honesty…Activity…Compassion. Need more guidance? How about Pay It Forward? Caring for Self and Others? Love Is All There Is? Make your theme meme the screensaver on your smart phone! Pick one, write your own, get started. Enjoy!

LOVE WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETEHER? Remember that resolutions are not just rules you’re obligated to follow. A carefully thought-out personal to-do list is a gentle reminder that this new year can bring new life to your passions. Create self-talk and personal suggestions that, in turn, become your plan for finding yourself exactly where you want to be. Fill in the blanks, write down a start date, maybe an end date. If you work the plan with positive intention, the end date will likely extend into a good habit. Give yourself a private reward when you feel your plan making a difference…those times when you observe yourself behaving better, acting more like the person you want to be.

SWITCH YOUR OUTLOOK TO POSITIVE I know there are days (weeks?) when I’m not the most fun person to be with. How do I know? I find myself acting grumpy with people I love, live with, work with. I say mean things. Or, I just don’t want to say anything to anybody. Sound familiar? We all have our days but discovering

what triggers negative thinking can be the start to creating a habit of calming yourself—centering yourself—when difficult challenges pop up. By rethinking, you’ll turn yourself around. Becoming an observer of yourself is the easiest way to develop appropriate responses when negativity wants to overwhelm.

WRITE DOWN WHAT YOU’RE GRATEFUL FOR When you end each day with gratitude and thankfulness, your world becomes a better place. Restful sleep, not tossing and turning, will follow when the day is done. Keeping a gratitude journal is possibly the most profound practice that brings more positivity into your life. Writing it all down, you begin to see the abundance in your world, and this makes you want to share fulfillment and joy in other people’s lives. Heartfelt gratitude fills you up…so you have more to give.

PASSIONATE ABOUT SEEING THE WORLD? Stepping outside our comfort zone is a powerful way to feel better and improve your outlook on life. Consider doing something daring. Travel someplace you’ve never been, take a vacation by yourself, or simply create more adventures, more often. You’ll develop appreciation for how the world turns and likely meet people you wouldn’t otherwise come

to know. Travel widens your view, opens you to new ideas, puts exciting opportunities in your path. Traveling on a small budget can be a challenge with a big payout—don’t wait until your wallet is full!

To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark. — Victor Hugo

READ A BOOK! Develop a passion for books! Reading is good for the soul and brain. It’s a stress-reliever, an eye-opener. Plus, books give you fabulous topics of conversation for your next family get-together or party. Reading can fill you with joy and sadness alike…it expands your sensitivities in a good way. Read to the kids and grandkids as often as you can…everyone gets more engaged in life! NEW RESOLUTIONS…NEW PASSION People who are passionate—people who plan with intention and feeling—are much more likely to be happy moving into each new year. Start with this and keep on going!

HICKORY LIVING • DECEMBER 2021