FACE, BREAST, BODY CONTOURING, & LASER RESURFACING
BOTOX & FILLER INJECTIONS
LASER SKIN REVITALIZATION
SKINPEN MICRO-NEEDLING THERAPY
DIAMOND GLOW RESURFACING FACIAL
AQUAGOLD MICRO-INJECTION
DERMAPLANING EXFOLIATION
MEDICAL-GRADE CHEMICAL PEELS & FACIALS
SKINCARE & MAKEUP CONSULTATIONS
COOLSCULPTING BODY FAT REDUCTION
EMSCULPT NEO MUSCLE TONING
ThriveMore is introducing a groundbreaking approach to memory care with the EverTogether Residence, opening in early 2027 at Brookridge Life Plan Community in Winston-Salem, NC.
Designed for couples facing dementia, this first-of-its-kind residence allows partners to live together in a warm, home-like setting — not a clinical one. The thoughtfully designed circular building features 12 cozy homes surrounding a shared courtyard, blending community, comfort, and expert care. Each home includes a private studio for the resident living with dementia, ensuring safety and comfort when the care partner needs time away. Residents also have access to professional healthcare and memory care support provided by a consistent caring team.
The Care You Deserve. The Life You Built Together.
This month, we’re thrilled to feature Clare Fader of Fader Realty on our cover! Clare is also the force behind Best of Winston, a phenomenal email newsletter and social media presence dedicated to sharing the very best of Winston-Salem.
Now, you may be thinking, “Brooke, isn’t that kind of a competitor to your magazines?” I’m so glad you asked.
If you know me, you know I’m a firm believer in community over competition. Over the years, I’ve shared coffee dates with other publishers, brainstormed with fellow marketers and content creators, and cheered on countless local businesses doing amazing things. Not everyone operates from that mindset (and that’s perfectly okay) but for me, we’re simply better together. I will always look for opportunities to celebrate our community, support local businesses, and champion the people who make Forsyth County such a special place to call home.
Speaking of special places, our cover shoot took place in one of the most stunning homes I’ve ever stepped inside. Nestled in Old Salem, this home completely took my breath away. The library was incredible, the colorful and eclectic design was full of personality, and the kitchen featured a perfectly placed window designed to capture a postcardworthy view of the downtown Winston-Salem skyline. It was *chefs kiss.* During the shoot, I was telling Clare about one of my favorite homes in my own neighborhood that had recently gone up for sale. As it turns out, her buyers were the ones who purchased it! It’s a small world, and one of the many reasons I love this community.
We’re also incredibly excited about this month’s Girls’ Night Out! If you’ve been around for a while, you know we never miss an opportunity to celebrate Keela and Robin. Keela (my mom) and Robin (my second mom, lifelong family friend, and former publisher of Forsyth Family) have birthdays just one day apart (July 15th and July 16th) so we’re throwing a celebration in honor of them both on July 16th at Second Harvest Food Bank.
The theme? Let’s Eat Cake!
I’ve also heard there may be a champagne bar involved, which sounds like the perfect way to celebrate. One of my favorite quotes is, “When’s the best time to celebrate? Whenever you can!” and that’s exactly what we’re doing. We hope you’ll join us for an evening of fun, friendship, a little champagne and, of course, cake. Advance tickets are required, so be sure to scan the QR code on page 27 for details. And don’t forget to follow us on social media (@forsythmags) and subscribe to our newsletter so you never miss a Girls’ Night Out event.
If you haven’t already, be sure to pick up a copy of our sister publication, Forsyth Family, this month. My other business, Washington Park CrossFit, is featured on the cover, and I couldn’t be more excited to share this story with our readers.
As always, we pour our hearts into every page of this magazine, and we are so grateful that you choose to spend your time with us each month. Thank you for supporting local businesses and supporting our mission of keeping this wonderful community connected.
Wishing you a beautiful summer, and we’ll see you at Girls’ Night Out on July 16th!
All my best,
Brooke Culler, @brooke__culler Publisher
Brooke Culler
Brooke@ForsythMags.com
EDITOR
Keela Johnson
Keela@ForsythMags.com
SENIOR ACCOUNT
EXECUTIVE
Tamara Bodford
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Robin Bralley
Jennie Hess
ADVERTISING
Advertising @ForsythMags.com
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY
Jodie Brim Creative
CONTRIBUTING
PHOTOGRAPHERS
JEJ Photos
Jodie Brim Creative
*others credited throughout accordingly
CONTENT EDITOR
Meghan Corbett
SENIOR STAFF WRITERS
Martie Emory
Carolyn Peterson
OTHER CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Debbie Barr
Jane Burnette
Olya Dadressan
June DeLugas
Amy Hill
Taryn Jerez
Tanner Johnson
Debbie Lanier
Debbie Linville
Mike McGilvary
Cooper Scurry
Renee Skudra
Joy Nelson Thomas
Sheridan Watkins
Kristin Yates
*others credited throughout accordingly
GRAPHIC DESIGN & PRODUCTION
Stefanie Lyons
SOCIAL MEDIA
MANAGEMENT
Flhy Marketing / Michelle Hyatt
WEB DESIGN/ MAINTENANCE
Next Wave Services
CONTACT
ForsythWoman.com
888-892-3204
Forsyth Woman Disclaimer: Please note that the inclusion of stories and articles in Forsyth Woman magazine does not imply endorsement of products or people. The views of the authors are presented for information and entertainment only, and may not necessarily reflect the views of Forsyth Woman. Specifically, Forsyth Woman in no way endorses any claim associated with health and/or well being with respect to any particular person. We disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. We will not be held responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any loss or damage that is caused or alleged to have been caused in connection with the use of, or reliance on, any content in this magazine. Forsyth Woman reserves the right to deny any advertisement or listing that does not meet Forsyth Woman standards. Submissions are welcome but unsolicited materials are not guaranteed to be returned. Forsyth Woman assumes no responsibility for information, products, services or statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. ©2005 by Forsyth Woman, Inc.
A team expanding to serve the city we love.
Fader Real Estate is strengthening its team, and with each new addition, we are elevating the way we serve Winston-Salem.
Our clients benefit from the support of a collaborative brokerage, the resources of a dedicated marketing team, and the reach of the Best of Winston platform.
Together, these connections allow listings to be shared with one of the largest audiences in the region and beyond.
As we grow, we remain focused on concierge-level service, innovative marketing, and a deep understanding of the people and neighborhoods that make this city unique.
“Clare understands unique properties, and perhaps most importantly, understands the conditions that allow buyers to feel comfortable making a purchase. Her local relationships with other agents, her professional standing in the community and her deep knowledge of Winston-Salem all contributed greatly to a smooth and successful selling process.” -Katy D
Considering selling your home this year or next? 336.575.7262 | Clare@FaderRE.com | FaderRE.com
by COOPER SCURRY, MD
In People magazine there are often pictures of movie stars who have had appearancechanging nasal surgery. In addition, many people are familiar with the phrase: ‘deviated septum,’ though most people may be unsure of its definition. Certainly, there are many kinds of nasal surgery, and each has its own goal, process, and outcome.
While nasal surgery can be performed solely to change the appearance of a nose, nasal surgery is often performed to improve the function of the nose. Many people have structural abnormalities such as a deviated septum which hinder their ability to breathe through their nose during the day, during exercise, and during sleep. (The septum is the wall of cartilage and bone which separates the two sides of the nasal passageway. A septum that is deviated can both distort the shape of the nose in addition to blocking a patient’s nasal airway.)
It is important to realize that different nasal surgeries can have different intentions and therefore different results. Naturally, the surgeon and the patient must have carefully discussed the intended goals of nasal surgery prior to the procedure. Some procedures intend to change appearance,
some aim to improve function, while some surgeries can do both. A nasal surgery that changes the external structure and outward appearance of the nose should be referred to as rhinoplasty. A nasal surgery that only intends to change the shape of the septum, should only be referred to as septoplasty. Not all rhinoplasty surgeries are performed for purely cosmetic purposes. Rhinoplasty can be a restorative procedure after a significant traumatic injury, and in certain circumstances rhinoplasty techniques can be applied to improve nasal breathing. Sometimes a patient may undergo a nasal procedure which includes both rhinoplasty and septoplasty. Sometimes a septoplasty needs to be performed to achieve the desired results during rhinoplasty. While these details and descriptions may have become somewhat confusing, one can summarize these statements by remembering that not all nasal surgery is the same.
Nasal surgery is commonly regarded by surgeons as the most difficult and challenging of all plastic surgery procedures. While such procedures involve a series of complicated tasks, the process should not be all that difficult for the patient. Though all patients have different experiences after similar surgeries, nasal surgery should not
be that bad of an experience. If a patient has been particularly uncomfortable after nasal surgery, chances are their nose was “packed” at the end of the procedure. Fortunately, not all noses need to be “packed” after surgery, and some surgeons do not “pack” the nose at all after these procedures. The usual ‘down-time’ after nasal surgery is one week. Like all surgeries, rhinoplasty certainly comes with some degree of bruising and swelling; however, bruising and swelling can usually be kept to a minimum. After the first week, while healing is still taking place, a patient can return to most of their normal day-to-day activities.
Every year, over half a million people seek consultations with facial plastic surgeons to discuss nasal surgery. During this discussion, a patient should share their interests and concerns and a surgeon can offer their professional advice and recommendations. Whatever the reason for having surgery on the nose, such procedures can be lifechanging experiences.
This article is meant to educate and inform about some of the details regarding the field of nasal surgery. For more information, give us a call at (336)747-3737.
by JOY NELSON THOMAS
July always makes me stop and think for a minute.
By the time June gets here, the year does not feel new anymore. For most people, the excitement of January and the new year is gone, life has gotten busy and reality has settled in. Some things worked out the way we hoped, and some things did not.
And somewhere in the middle of all of that, June reminds me to check in with myself. Not just professionally. Not just financially. But emotionally, mentally, spiritually and personally, too.
I think a lot of us spend so much time handling responsibilities, helping other people, meeting deadlines and trying to keep everything moving that we forget to ask ourselves a simple question:
How am I really doing?
Not the easy answer. Not the answer people expect. The honest one.
Am I okay or just getting through the days? Am I growing or just staying busy? Am I making room for peace or only making room for work? Am I taking care of myself the same way I take care of everyone else?
I have realized that the middle of the year can either make you feel pressured or make you pause long enough to reflect. And honestly, I think more of us need the second one.
June always makes me stop and ask myself a few honest questions, and maybe you need to ask yourself these same questions, too.
Are you building something meaningful, or have you just been staying busy? Are you leading in a way that still feels true to who you are?
This season is a reminder to check in, too.
Are you really okay, or have you just gotten used to pushing through? What has been feeling heavy lately? When was the last time you rested without feeling guilty for it? Have you been honest with yourself about what you actually need right now?
June reminds me how easy it is to move from responsibility to responsibility without ever slowing down long enough to reconnect with God.
So, maybe ask yourself: Have I made room for stillness lately? What has been getting most of my attention? Am I moving in faith or mostly moving out of pressure and survival mode? When was the last time I felt fully present instead of just productive?
I think this season reminds all of us to breathe a little.
What expectations are you carrying that you may need to let go? What would happen if you gave yourself permission to slow down for a moment instead of rushing the journey?
Maybe the middle of the year is not only about checking progress. It is also about checking in with yourself honestly before moving forward.
June reminds me that the journey is not just about getting somewhere. It is also about who we are becoming while we are getting there.
Because as always, it is a journey.
by DR. DEBBIE LANIER
I don’t know about you, but something about watching a sunrise sets my soul on fire. I used to live completely oblivious to it. I was entirely too rushed and distracted to notice the masterpiece unfolding each new day. But my Mama? She noticed!
For years, for her birthday, I took her to the coast, her favorite place on earth. She never required extravagance, only this: “Can the room face the sunrise?”
Every morning before daylight, Mama slipped onto that balcony with her Bible in hand and began singing praises to her Lord while the sky awakened around her. She tried not to wake me, but I’d lie half-awake hearing her worship drift through the room and into my heart. Those moments shaped me far more than I understood at the time.
At least once during each trip, I dragged my sleepy self out of bed early to sit beside her and watch the horizon catch fire. Every single time, Mama would watch like she was seeing a miracle.
Maybe she was. After she passed away, something shifted in me. Now every sunrise feels sacred.
Sometimes when the sky begins glowing brilliant gold and crimson, I feel her near. Maybe it’s because she taught me how to stop long enough to notice the glory of God shining through creation.
The older I get, the more those dawning moments take my breath away.
Recently, I stood on a balcony in Jerusalem watching the sun rise over that ancient city, morning after
morning. Light spilled across sacred ground while the city slowly awakened. I stood, so overwhelmed by the greatness and steadiness of God—as if seeing daybreak for the first time.
This God who spoke light into existence is the Same God that faithfully continues telling the sun when to appear each morning. Long before I arrived, He was bringing light to life. Long after I’m gone, the power of His Hand will still be holding all things together.
Creation reminds us that God does nothing haphazardly. This Magnificent God stays steady, ever giving, through all He created.
As I witnessed that Jerusalem sunrise, I wondered…what if the God who paints every sunrise feels the same delight when He looks at you?”
Scripture says we are His workmanship. Some translations say we are His masterpiece; others, His poetry. (Ephesians 2:10) Think about that. The God who paints the Heavens at dawn also formed you with meticulous care. (WHOA!)
Psalm 139 says we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” In Hebrew, that “wonderfully” carries the idea of being distinct and uniquely crafted. In other words, God made nobody else exactly like you. No one else carries your exact story. No one else possesses your voice or your unique design!
So why do we spend our lives comparing ourselves to others and wishing we were more like them? When we do, we diminish what God intentionally designed. We inadvertently apologize for our uniqueness instead of stewarding it, focusing on our flaws while Heaven focuses on our purpose.
Even when you drop the ball…when shame whispers you are not enough…God sees value where you see weakness. He sees purpose where you see limitation.
He looks at you with the loving eyes of a Father who has never once regretted creating you. (Did you just hear that?!!)
Maybe this is why sunrises move us so deeply. Every dawn quietly reminds us that God is still creating beauty…even after long nights.
So, stop measuring your worth against everyone else, disqualifying yourself because of misplaced insecurity. Stop talking yourself out of the value God Himself placed within you.
The Creator of Heaven and Earth knows you fully and delights in you completely.
Start seeing yourself through His eyes too!!!!
by MARTIE EMORY
Improving a patient’s daily life is a regular occurrence at Aligned Health & Wellness, as Drs. Jessica and Joshua Katz have devoted their popular practice to those suffering the effects of peripheral neuropathy.
Due to increasing demand since they opened in 2007, and the need for expansion, they brought highly qualified doctors Ronald Adams and Mark Gallant on board – each with years of experience treating neurological problems.
Aligned Health & Wellness utilizes evidence-based techniques to alleviate the discomfort of neuropathy without medication or surgery. Their customized treatment plans are designed to identify the root cause of a patient’s symptoms – which can include numbness, tingling, burning or itching
of the hands and feet, muscle spasms, cramping, loss of coordination and dizziness, shooting or stabbing pains at night, and hot or cold sensations or color changes in your extremities.
One of the ways Dr. Joshua and Dr. Jessica share their unique approach for treating peripheral neuropathy patients is through their popular “lunch-andlearn” educational seminars, which are held on most Tuesdays at the Olive Garden restaurant located at 170 Hanes Mall Circle in Winston-Salem.
For current patient Mischelle Profit, the decision to attend one of those seminars has proven to be life changing. Sixty-six year old Mischelle was experiencing tingling in her feet, along with numbness in both her feet and hands.
“I initially attended the lunch-and-learn event simply out of curiosity,” shares Mischelle, who has seen impressive results in a little less than one year. She does home-based care, but regularly checks in with the practice every 90 days.
“You leave their office really feeling like they want to help you,” Mischelle shares. Despite being in her mid-60s, Mischelle has always seen herself as an active and determined person. At the age of 49, she founded the Christian non-profit Women of Wisdom (W.O.W.), a group of women invested in the holistic well being of diverse women and girls through an empowering network system (wowwomenofwisdom.org). That’s not a commitment that allows for slowing down her daily schedule or her commitments.
By the time she scheduled her first visit to the office after learning about potential treatments, Mischelle and her husband still felt very curious about this unique treatment as well as the entire experience.
“But Dr. Joshua Katz quickly made a believer out of me – and my husband!” she adds. Both were impressed with the techniques involved in the practice’s neuropathy protocol and with how personable the staff is throughout every stage of treatment.
When asked about her neuropathy symptoms and the quest for a treatment she could totally trust, Mischelle was quick to declare, “I can’t stop now!”
That’s the beauty of the mission at Aligned Health & Wellness – bringing patients back to the activities and daily routines they cherish and enjoying their lives to the fullest without the interruption of typical peripheral neuropathy symptoms.
If tingling, numbness, cramping or pain is disrupting your daily routine or your all-important sleep schedule, learn more about Aligned Health & Wellness and their devotion to peripheral neuropathy patients at piedmonttriadneuropathy.com. The practice is located at 663 Gralin Street in Kernersville, 336.390.9400, at 765 Highland Oaks Drive, Suite 200 in Winston-Salem, 336.600.2477 and at 2929 Crouse Lane, Suite C in Burlington, NC, 336.565.1028. Reservations are required to attend their lunch-and-learn events, and can be made by calling the Aligned Health & Wellness office.
“Years
• Numbness
• Burning or Tingling
• Difficulty Sleeping
• Sensitivity to touch
• Pain when walking
• Sharp electric-like pain
• Diabetic nerve pain
• Loss of balance
BY MIKE MCGILVARY, AIF®, FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Having the financial means to purchase nearly anything you want sounds like the ultimate goal. But arriving at this point often reveals an unexpected challenge: when most options are available, how do you decide what’s worth having?
Financial freedom doesn’t automatically bring clarity about how to use your resources. Without significant budget constraints, you face a different set of questions that require deeper reflection about what you actually want from life. Should you buy the vacation home because you can, or because it genuinely fits your lifestyle? Is the luxury car purchase about enjoyment, or simply because it’s within reach?
Instead of asking “Can I afford this?” you’re asking “Does this add value to my life?” That shift requires more self-awareness, not less.
Smart spending for high-income earners starts with understanding your priorities. Consider what brings genuine
satisfaction versus fleeting excitement. A purchase that aligns with your values and lifestyle tends to deliver lasting value. One that simply fills a shopping cart often doesn’t.
Think about your time and attention as currencies too. That second home might be affordable, but does managing it enhance your life or create another obligation that pulls you away from what matters most? The high-end gym membership makes sense if you’ll use it, less so if it becomes another unused subscription.
Decision making for high earners benefits from selectivity, choosing experiences and possessions that truly resonate. This applies to everything from your wardrobe to your investment portfolio. A carefully chosen collection of items you love and use beats a closet full of impulse purchases. Fewer, better-managed accounts often serve you better than scattered holdings across multiple institutions.
Financial freedom and choices should ultimately support the life you want to live, not become an end in themselves. Some of your best “expenditures” may be charitable or providing for the next generation of your family. Spend money where it brings meaning, joy, and purpose to your life. Everything else is just noise.
This material is for general information and educational purposes only and is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.
by DEBBIE BARR
1
“I can’t even tell you how much I love this app!”
“If there is one app that I would not be able to live without, it is this one.”
“If I had to give up all apps but one, Paprika would be the one I would save.” It’s no wonder home cooks give this app rave reviews! Paprika becomes your personalized, super convenient digital recipe box, combining in one place all of your family favorite recipes along with as many seamlessly downloaded recipes as you wish from premier cooking websites like America’s Test Kitchen, Food Network and Pillsbury. You can categorize all of your recipes and organize them in folders that you name. For example, you can create broad general category folders such as Breakfast, Christmas or Slow Cooker. You can also name your folders by recipe ingredients: chicken, seafood, turkey, etc. On my phone, you’ll find folders
2
FIG
Are you allergic to shellfish? Sensitive to sulfites or lactose intolerant? Does your child have a peanut allergy? Do you want to avoid artificial food coloring? No matter what your unique food fingerprint may be, the Fig app has got you covered.
Fig stands for food is good. The mission of the Fig app is simply to “make dealing with dietary restrictions a heck of a lot easier.” And, seriously, what could be easier than this: holding your phone over the bar code on a product in your grocery store aisle? After you have created your Fig profile, in which you’ve identified your allergies and the ingredients you want to avoid, Fig’s barcode scanner lets you instantly check more than 300,000 product labels, alerting you to the products with ingredients you should avoid as well as the products that will work
for you. The feedback is color coded green, yellow or red. If your scan finds any ingredient that raises a red flag, you can drill down on that ingredient to get more information.
Fig works at most major American grocery store chains, including Publix, Food Lion, Aldi and Harris Teeter. It is available for iOS and Android. The free version provides unlimited searches and five scans a month. The upgraded version, Fig+, gives users an unlimited number of scans plus access to features like grocery store filtering and early access to Fig restaurants (“Can I eat here?”), currently in beta, which may be available soon.
If you have food allergies or sensitivities, or just want to make healthier food choices for yourself and your family, Fig may just become your one “can’t live without it” app.
for Smoothies, Pampered Chef and even one called Non-Edible Crafts where I keep recipes for cinnamon Christmas ornaments, homemade Play-Doh and potpourri.
My personal favorite Paprika features are: Grocery List
This genius feature allows you to keep a running grocery list on your phone and, if your family members or roomies also have Paprika, the list will sync to their devices. As items are purchased, you simply check them off the list. No matter who is doing the shopping, everyone always has the same up-to-date list.
Making your grocery list is nearly effortless. Choose the Paprika recipe you want to make, touch one button and the list of all the recipe ingredients appears. Delete anything you already have on hand, then select “Add to My Grocery List” and the ingredients you need appear on your running grocery list – automatically sorted by grocery store aisle! If you need to keep separate lists for different kinds of shopping, such as hardware items or pet supplies, you can create as many lists as you want.
Recipe Sharing
To share a recipe with anyone who also has Paprika, simply click “Share” and the recipe arrives ready to import to their Paprika app. To share with someone who doesn’t have the app, you can print it out or email it. If you print, you can opt for an index card size. When emailed, the recipe displays exactly as it appears in the app, including the photo of the food if you had one.
Recipe Scaling
If you want to, for example, double or even quadruple a recipe or cut it in half, Paprika does all the math for you. It can scale recipes up or down, according to how many servings you want to make.
If you cook, trust me, you will love Paprika!
by CAROLYN SHORE PETERSON
For two decades, The Shalom Project has been a place of hope for Winston-Salem residents facing food insecurity, healthcare challenges, and financial hardship. As the nonprofit celebrates its 20th anniversary and settles into a new home, Executive Director Monique Farrell said the mission remains as vital as ever.
"The Shalom Project walks alongside our Winston-Salem neighbors, meeting essential needs like food and healthcare while helping people build more stable, connected lives," Monique said. "Together, we are creating a more equitable community where everyone belongs and is treated with dignity."
That commitment is reflected in the organization's name. While "shalom" is often translated as peace, Monique said its meaning runs much deeper.
"Shalom represents completeness, soundness, welfare, and peace. We see each person we serve as a full person. We care about the food on their table, their
medical and mental health, financial stability, and overall well-being, commented Monique.
Over the past 20 years, The Shalom Project has become one of the area's longest-running food pantries and developed a free medical clinic and pharmacy that removes barriers to care. The organization also played a key role in the acquisition and demolition of the former Budget Inn on Peters Creek Parkway, helping pave the way for affordable housing that opened last fall.
Today, the needs of the community continue to evolve.
"The need for our services seems to change weekly these days," Monique stated.
Recent interruptions in SNAP benefits, rising food and gas prices, healthcare funding concerns, and economic uncertainty have increased pressure on many local families. Transportation costs alone can prevent people from accessing needed services.
(continued on page 28)
(continued from page 26)
Every Tuesday, The Shalom Project's food pantry serves approximately 80 households through partnerships with organizations such as Second Harvest Food Bank and Wake Forest University's Campus Kitchen. The pantry also distributes USDA foods through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).
Meanwhile, the organization's Medical Clinic and Pharmacy continue to provide healthcare access for uninsured and lowincome residents. Last year alone, the clinic filled more than 2,700 prescriptions, providing medications valued at approximately $3.8 million based on average wholesale pricing.
Another cornerstone program is Flourish, a year-long initiative that combines financial education and mental health support for women seeking greater financial stability. A second cohort, Florecer, serves Spanish-speaking Latina women in Forsyth County.
As the organization enters its third decade, it is doing so from a new home.
After 20 years at Green Street United Methodist Church, The Shalom Project recently moved into its own facility, allowing programs to expand and operate more efficiently.
"Our pantry is now laid out more efficiently, with accessibility being a clear priority," Monique said.
"Flourish also has a dedicated classroom and childcare space that better suits the work we are doing."
The move has been embraced by the community. Through an Amazon Housewarming Party and a spring open house, supporters donated everything from cleaning supplies to décor, helping transform the building into a welcoming space.
That same spirit of community will be on full display during The Big Chill, the nonprofit's signature fundraiser, scheduled for July 18th from 1-4pm.
The event features "Cold Callers" who sit on blocks of ice while raising donations from friends and family. Once they meet their fundraising goals, they can finally get off the ice. Attendees also enjoy homemade ice cream prepared by local churches and community organizations, voting for their favorites through donations.
This year's event will be hosted by Knollwood Baptist Church and organizers hope to raise more than $60,000 to support The Shalom Project's programs.
"We were overwhelmed by the love, generosity, and shared excitement we felt," stated Monique.
The new location also provides opportunities for future community meals, conversations, and gatherings that bring people together in meaningful ways.
Looking ahead, Monique envisions expanded wraparound services, additional community partnerships, and new opportunities for the organization's facility to serve as a gathering place for neighbors.
"There is hope and there is help," Monique said. "We believe we are here to take care of each other, and we know our community does too."
For Monique, that hope is rooted in the volunteers, donors, staff, and clients who make the work possible every day.
"In the midst of everything going on around us, there is still a core desire to help others and treat those around us with dignity and compassion," stated Monique. "That gives me tremendous hope for the future."
As The Shalom Project celebrates 20 years of service, one thing remains unchanged: its commitment to creating a community where everyone is welcomed, valued, and given the opportunity to flourish.
The Shalom Project is located at 726 N. Cherry Street. For information, visit www.theshalomprojectnc.org. or call 336.721.0606.
"The
In addition to ice cream and fundraising, organizers are planning local entertainment and a few surprises to help celebrate the organization's 20th anniversary.
In their ongoing mission to provide hope, healing and security to Forsyth County residents who are victims of domestic interpersonal violence, Family Services recently partnered with World Champion Boxer Heather “The Heat” Hardy to help raise awareness for their new emergency domestic violence shelter.
A former World Boxing Organization Champion, Heather held the female featherweight title from 2018 to 2019 and is a member of the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame.
She’s also a survivor of domestic violence.
As the keynote speaker at the Family Services Foundation Women’s Luncheon in May, Heather shared honest words of encouragement based on her unique brand of empowerment. What she shares – as she approaches the topic of domestic violence –is that resilience isn’t something you’re born with, but something you build one hard day at a time.
“I know what it feels like to be in situations where you feel trapped, scared or alone,” she shares. “I also know how hard it is to ask for help, and I want women to understand strength comes in different forms. Sometimes strength is leaving. Sometimes it’s starting over. Sometimes it’s surviving one more day until you’re ready.”
Heather says she once thought strength meant taking a punch and still being able to stay standing.
“Now I know real strength is choosing yourself, choosing peace and choosing a better future, even when it’s scary,” she shares. “What Family Services is building here goes way beyond four walls. It’s safety, dignity, hope and a fresh start for women and children who need it most. If this new shelter helps even one woman realize she has somewhere safe to go – that matters deeply. And, if sharing parts of my story helps another woman realize she deserves better, then it’s worth it. No one deserves to live in fear.”
Heather was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, the place she still calls home. “It shaped me, toughened me and made me who I am. There’s an energy to Brooklyn that stays with you. You learn how to fight for yourself early, how to work hard and how to keep showing up no matter what life throws at you. That mindset carried me through my entire career,” she adds.
That career began when her sister presented her with a gift certificate to a kickboxing gym. She quickly found her niche, and three weeks later, she stepped into her first fight. “The second I got in the ring, something clicked for me. I knew this
was what I was meant to do – and that one day I’d become a world champion,” she shares.
The origin of her nickname “The Heat” is twofold – representing the first part of her name, as well as how she approaches every fight. “I’m a pressure fighter. I come forward. I bring the heat.”
At approximately 30,000 square feet, the new domestic violence shelter will double the current shelter capacity – from 75 residents to 150 – and will allow accommodations for women with three or more children. Designed around trauma-informed architecture with input from survivors, the shelter will also feature onsite transitional pet housing – addressing a key barrier that keeps many survivors from leaving abusive situations. To learn more about the ongoing capital campaign for the new shelter, visit giveonestepcloser.org. most – her daughter, Annie. “Everything I fought for was about building a better life for her. Boxing gave me opportunities I never imagined, and being able to give my daughter stability, experiences and a beautiful life means more to me than any title ever could. Being her mom will always be the greatest thing I’ve ever done.”
Heather currently trains clients by appointment at the historic Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn and travels the region for private sessions and classes. Her training techniques place a heavy emphasis on endurance and stamina, using the mind to push the body past where it wants to go. She’s also found a passion for speaking to young girls and women’s groups – encouraging them to fight for their dreams. “There’s something powerful about watching people realize they’re stronger than they think,” she adds. “Sometimes boxing has nothing to do with throwing punches. It’s about confidence, discipline and believing in yourself again.”
Looking back on her career, there’s an easy answer for what has inspired Heather
Some difficult lessons learned through her own life have taught Heather to never stop fighting – a mantra she hopes to impart on others. “No matter how hard things get, keep moving. Life is going to hit you sometimes. People are going to doubt you. You’re going to doubt yourself. My grandmother used to say, ‘God brings you to it, because He’s going to bring you through it.’ Strength isn’t always about fighting back. Sometimes it’s just refusing to quit.”
For more information on Family Services – which has served the area for 120 years –visit familyservicesforsyth.org or reach them at 336.722.8173. Follow Heather’s own empowering mission at heather-hardy.com.
by RENEE SKUDRA
“And suddenly, you know: It’s time to start something new. And trust the magic of beginnings.” ~ Meister Eckart
In August of 2016, my world crumbled around me. What I experienced as a cataclysmic shift, including the sudden loss due to a stroke of my long-term partner, Bill, the inexplicable defection of a close pal who claimed he could no longer be my friend, job instability which catapulted into a financial danger zone and the stinging criticism of my family who had never understood me anyway. My son, the Civil War historian, had applied for graduate school to the University of North Carolina and received his acceptance that same week. In the midst of a crippling despondency, I pondered the implications of a move from the San Francisco Bay Area to what I judged to be the hinterlands of Greensboro. All the neighsayers lined up to say, “moving would be a huge mistake to that hillbilly land full of rednecks and social backwaters,” but one person (my therapist) said – give yourself (and your boy) a second chance and start again. That graduate school acceptance is an opportunity to justify a relocation and, as the old maxim says, grow where you are planted.”
Several days later, we were on the road with a car full of most of our belongings and a 3,000-mile ride before us. We landed in The Gate City at 3:00 a.m. in the middle of a fierce thunderstorm in a landscape that looked pretty much apocalyptic. I did a lot of learning that first month as I adjusted to my new environment. As terrified as I was
of leaving California and all that implied, the concept of a second chance made me realize the opportunity before us to rebuild our lives which had been shattered by overwhelming experience, the death of a loved one and the betrayal of a dear friend and family members. Taking a chance to reinvent ourselves in new terrain did not mean erasing the past, but rather finding a new way to emotionally live with it.
The reality is that second chances come along for us all of the time if we just recognize them. They may evolve out of hardship and darkness, and one may need a sort of passion as a propellant to move forward and traverse that foreseeable bridge of anxiety. If we can take a second chance to reconstitute and repopulate our lives, that essentially means we are not held hostage by the past. The idea of second chances reminds us that our past does not define us. The fact that I worked for 22 stressful years in the legal profession on the west coast simply did not mandate that I had to do that for the rest of my life. I began to contemplate a career as an elementary school teacher and found eventual happiness in that choice. My son’s graduate school admission gave us both a shining, improbable chance to live in an entirely mysterious and unknowable physical and cerebral continent so to speak where we were no longer bound by former native hometown prejudices and outlooks. At the core of the second chance conceit is
nothing less than believing in the power of the human spirit to adventurously pursue new dreams with vigor and determination.
Taking a second chance is an essential catalyst for personal growth and a recognition that each individual is a continuously evolving work in progress. Taking that second chance doesn’t mean we have made mistakes which we somehow want to hide or extinguish – it means giving oneself the grace to negotiate any new obstacles they are certain to confront and allowing one’s imagination some free rein. When a colleague recently asked me what I thought about taking a second chance on finding a partner, I found myself confiding to her that I had, by happenstance, met (when I least expected to) a man on the train to Raleigh who turned around in his seat and began talking to me. It has been three months, and we are still talking and becoming friends. We have emotional intimacy, we laugh and it feels wonderful not to have the yoke of expectation about my neck. I don’t know what that connection between us means, but I realize the correctness of author Stephen King’s statement that “life always offers you a second chance.” I am not by nature a brave person, but Wayne Gretzky, the legendary NHL hockey player, was right: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” I’m so grateful we decided to take the North Carolina shot.
by RENEE SKUDRA
“For me, serendipity, coincidence and chance are more interesting than any pre-conceived construct of our human encounters.” ~ Charles Traub
Serendipity is defined as the occurrence of events by chance which have happy or beneficial outcomes. I daresay each of us has experienced what seems like surreal happenings that have no logical basis. I think of a recent situation where I went into a supermarket, threw a bunch of items into my cart and suddenly realized I had left my wallet at home. Feeling very embarrassed, I mumbled an apology to the store clerk, retraced my steps and returned everything to its original place. As I opened the refrigerator case door to return some milk, I almost slipped on something that was under the heel of my shoe. Bending down under it, I saw a $20 bill which seemed to have appeared magically. My mom raised an honest daughter, so I proceeded to customer service so the employee could go on the loudspeaker and announce the lost money. He laughed and said “Nope, that $20 is yours. It’s your lucky day.” I grabbed all the items I had previously gathered, went up to the same teller and said, “I can pay for my purchases now! The universe just helped me!” The bill was $19.77, and I waltzed out of that store thinking I had been touched by an angel or, at the very least, a magical act.
The term “serendipity” was coined in 1754 by an author named Horace Walpole. Its invention was based on the Persian fairy tale “The Three Princes of Serendip” whose heroes were always making discoveries by accident of things for which they had originally not been searching. Similarly, I think that all of us have experienced some of life’s greatest blessings when we least expected them. In my own case, I traveled with my son to Raleigh to see about a property to buy. Suddenly, the man next to me on the train started talking and mentioned he was a realtor. He gave me his business card and, out of that encounter, a friendship and maybe a future business relationship has formed. At a concert for Irish music, a young woman sat down next to us and, after talking, we realized we all share a love for Celtic music. I told her that my son had recently lost his piano teacher, and we were looking for a new one. She looked me in the eye and said, “I’m from Winston-Salem, and I may be that piano teacher you’re looking for.” Talk about stumbling into the right person and opportunity at the right time!
In the article, “Serendipity: The Joy of Unexpected Discoveries,” the writer, Sameer Gudhate, mentions that there are numerous stories of successful individuals who attribute their achievements to embracing serendipity. He alludes to Alexander Fleming for instance and “his accidental discovery of penicillin while studying bacteria (which) changed the course of medicine forever.” He jocularly mentions that the invention of Post-It Notes evolved from a failed experiment at 3M. By encouraging a culture that embraces serendipity, we have a chance to enhance our own creativity and problem-solving abilities. By cultivating a serendipity mindset, one can let go of the need to force outcomes, welcome the unexpected and trust that the universe will provide what you need.
Many faith traditions in fact view serendipity as the hand of a higher power orchestrating your steps behind the scenes, reminding you that there is a larger design in force. I like to think of this as a kind of divine nudge, a sign from the universe, a manifestation of grace which defies the usual logic which holds us in its normative thrall. The well known philosopher Deepak Chopra phrased the spiritual interpretation of serendipity quite aptly when he said, “The coincidences or little miracles that happen every day of your life are hints that the universe has much bigger plans for you than you ever dreamed of for yourself.”
Some time ago, a failed romance made me lose my faith in love. That week, I was going through some family things I had inherited and found an old silken hatbox with a letter in it. The painstakingly written missive turned out to be a passionate love letter from my father to my mother. It was as if I was being given a sign that his love, which had been so enduring, was showing me not to take the path of despair. I am certain I was meant to find that letter (serendipitously) and use it as a blessing to reconfigure my own life –possibly with the inclusion of that Raleigh man on a south-bound train.
Triad Cushion Factory, a family-owned business established in 2013, began with a small, dedicated group of seamstresses in a corner of the family’s furniture store. Through years of perfecting our techniques and commitment to excellent craftsmanship and quality control, we’ve grown into Winston-Salem’s premier cushion specialist.
Our passion is bringing life back to your outdoor space by replacing your old, faded cushions with beautiful, comfortable new sets.
• We have perfected the art of replacing any cushion you bring to the store with a brand-new set, custom-made to fit perfectly.
• We use only the highest quality fabrics designed for enduring beauty and durability, including:
• Sunbrella®
• Ultraleather®
• Phifertex Sling Material
• Support your local business. Meticulously crafted in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Custom Cushions: Guaranteed fit for any piece of furniture, bringing new life to your space.
Replacement Slings: We replace worn-out patio slings with premium materials, restoring the look and function of your outdoor seating.
Window Benches: Beautiful, comfortable custom cushions for interior seating areas.
Throw Pillows: The perfect finishing touch, available in custom sizes and fabrics.
Monogramming: Personalize your cushions or pillows for a unique, custom accent.
Pet Beds: Durable, comfortable, and custom-sized comfort for your beloved pet.
by OLYA DADRESSAN
photo by YASMIN LEONARD PHOTOGRAPHY
The day I was diagnosed with cancer, my first reaction was grief. My mind immediately leapt to the moments I feared I might miss – my children’s graduations, future weddings, grandchildren I may never meet and the ordinary family moments that suddenly felt unbearably precious. In an instant, life split into “before” and “after,” and fear threatened to consume everything else.
But, somewhere beneath that fear, another voice remained. It reminded me that long before this diagnosis, I had spent years building a life grounded in faith, gratitude, discipline and hope. I had practiced turning to prayer during difficult seasons, choosing trust over panic and believing that even life’s hardest chapters still contain meaning and beauty.
Looking back now, I believe healing begins long before illness enters our lives. It begins in the way we care for our emotional and spiritual well being every day – through the thoughts we nurture, the books we read, the habits we build and our willingness to keep choosing hope over fear. A serious diagnosis can be terrifying, but it can also reveal unexpected strength, clarity, connection and gratitude. I slowly began to understand that healing is not only about surviving, but also about learning how to live fully even in uncertainty.
Over the past two decades, I coached entrepreneurs building businesses in financial services. I often noticed that the same qualities that helped people succeed professionally were also the qualities that sustained them during personal hardship: discipline, accountability, faith, service to others and a connection to something greater than themselves. Those principles became essential in my own healing journey.
One of the most important realizations for me was understanding how much fear affects the body and spirit. My husband and I initially went from planning family vacations to researching survival statistics and mortality rates. The more we immersed ourselves in frightening information, the more anxious and emotionally exhausted we became.
Eventually, we made a conscious decision to focus on health rather than disease.
I am a Baha’i, and in the Baha’i Faith, there is a teaching that evil is the lack of good, and more goodness diminishes or eliminates evil just like darkness is simply the absence of light. That idea inspired a powerful shift in perspective for me – perhaps illness could also be viewed as the absence of health. Instead of centering all of my energy on “fighting disease,” I began focusing on creating more health within my body, mind and spirit.
That mindset naturally led me toward practices that reinforced healing and peace rather than fear. I stepped away from many cancer-focused online communities and instead immersed myself in podcasts on holistic wellness, prayer, guided meditation, breathwork, yoga, Tai Chi, intentional nutrition and spiritual writings that reminded me of hope and resilience.
One surprisingly transformative practice emerged almost accidentally. My husband and I decided we would never discuss cancer while sitting still. If we needed to talk about difficult test results or treatment decisions, we would do so while walking.
Movement changed the emotional energy of those conversations. Walking brought perspective, calm and even hope.
Living in Winston-Salem, we are fortunate to have access to beautiful trails and green spaces. We committed to walking outdoors every day, regardless of weather – through snow, icy sidewalks and spring rain. Inspired by the Japanese practice of “forest bathing,” we learned to walk mindfully and without distractions, fully present in nature. What began as a wellness practice gradually became something much deeper. Those walks strengthened not only our physical health, but also our connection as a family.
During heavy snowstorms, when roads became nearly impassable, we would walk to
the grocery store bundled in layers, laughing as we carried supplies home in backpacks. Those moments felt unexpectedly joyful and grounding – reminders that even in difficult seasons, there are still glimpses of beauty everywhere. Joy itself became a form of resilience.
I also became intentional about reducing stress wherever possible. I stopped watching the news, limited social media, reduced screen time and filled my afternoons with restorative activities like walking, gardening, baking sourdough bread and crocheting.
Crocheting, in particular, became deeply therapeutic. The repetitive movement created an almost meditative calm and helped improve my concentration, memory and emotional balance. It also gave me something equally important during treatment – creativity and a sense of accomplishment.
Throughout this journey, I consistently returned to prayer, meditation, music, breathwork and spiritual reflection. These practices were not secondary to healing –they became part of healing itself.
If there is one lesson this experience has taught me, it is that emotional and spiritual well being should never be treated as an afterthought. The thoughts we nurture, the energy we surround ourselves with and the daily practices we commit to all shape how we move through life’s most difficult chapters.
Healing is never only physical. It is emotional, spiritual, intellectual and deeply human. And sometimes, the most powerful part of healing is learning that, even in uncertainty, hope still has the ability to light the way forward.
by TARYN JEREZ
A monthly column that keeps its finger on the pulse of Forsyth’s artists and their inspiring stories!
This month’s featured artist, Rebecca Scherbak, views her art as both healing and hope as she continues to paint with passion through Parkinson’s disease, proving the power creativity has to transform us through every stage of life. Her rich colorful brushwork fills its viewers with warmth and joy as the movement of each piece radiates from the canvas.
How would you describe your work?
Most of my paintings are full of primary colors, warmth and movement. I seldom use a cool or neutral palette. I work in varied mediums and am always eager to try new techniques, but I usually return to oils.
What was your journey to developing your artistic skills like?
I enjoyed a long career as a liturgical designer, working with churches around the country to ensure their spaces of worship were spiritually inspiring and functionally suited. I looked forward to retirement and was ready to have the freedom and time to paint for myself. My mother has always been an inspiration for me. She still paints at the age of 104!
How have you grown, personally, as an artist?
My creative craft is a testament to the powers of art and healing. I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease almost 15 years ago. I am convinced that engaging in art, as well as music and movement (specifically the Rock Steady Boxing program), has helped me to better face the challenges of this degenerative neurologic disorder. When holding a paint brush, my tremor disappears!
What is your secret for carving out time to truly be creative?
My husband, Bill, is also retired and a talented painter. We support and encourage each other while keeping painting a priority over yardwork and chores.
Do you have a favorite story behind one of your projects and why?
Years ago, I was working on a mural project at a psychiatric hospital in California which required research into the therapeutic use of color in a rehabilitation environment. Research shows how different hues can actually help heal the body and spirit. I used this information in my years as an interior designer, and, to this day, still reflect on the emotional power of color when painting.
What are you working on that excites you right now?
I am proud to serve on the Lewisville Public Art Advisory Committee. The energy and support for new artistic programs and installations in our local area is exciting. We will be holding art shows throughout the year and invite local artists, young and old, to share their work.
What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with fellow artists, especially those at the start of their careers?
So many people say they have no artistic talent, but I believe that everyone can create original art (and without AI)! Just put the cell phone down and know that it’s okay to color outside the lines.
If you are interested in learning more about this month’s artist or desire to reach out regarding her work, you may email her at scherbak@yahoo.com.
by DEBBIE LINVILLE
While Winston-Salem now boasts many excellent hotels – like the Historic Brookstown Inn, Graylyn Estate and the Kimpton Cardinal Hotel – in the late 1800s, as tourism began to flourish, upscale accommodations for wealthy visitors were scarce. The city’s rapid growth, fueled by the booming tobacco industry, sparked a wave of development in the 1890s, with at least seven companies formed to take advantage of the construction surge. Among these was the West End Hotel and Land Company, led by tobacco magnate William A. Whitaker and a board of directors that included some of the area’s most influential industrialists including R.J. Reynolds, P.H. Hanes, James A. Gray and J.W. Fries. On May 29, 1890, they convened to plan a luxurious, state-of-the-art hotel that would further boost local tourism. By July 2, 1890, the company had acquired 180 acres on West Fourth Street (near present-day Grace Court on Glade Street) and envisioned a resort city crowned by a luxurious hotel atop one of Winston’s highest points.
Construction of the Hotel Zinzendorf began in the spring of 1891, and by May 1892, the elegant four-story, shingle-style wooden hotel, with its expansive 18-foot-wide front porch, opened its doors. Perched on the knoll of West Fourth Street, 1,100 feet above sea level, the Zinzendorf was quickly hailed as one of the south’s finest hotels. Named for Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf, who founded the Moravian settlement of Salem, the hotel instantly became the heart of Winston’s social scene, hosting meals, meetings, dances and parties. It was the place where everyone wanted to be seen.
Historical records offer a window into the vibrant social scene at the Zinzendorf Hotel around the turn of the century. One particularly memorable occasion was a Leap Year banquet, hosted by the affluent single women of Winston and Salem on Friday, November 18th. Forty-four prominent bachelors made their way together down Fourth Street to the hotel, where they were welcomed by 37 bachelorettes and about 30 chaperones – married couples, widows and widowers. Among the bachelors, Richard J. Reynolds, considered Winston’s most eligible bachelor, stood out as the oldest attendee at 42. Despite the festivities and plethora of available ladies, he left without a match and remained single for nearly 13 years before eventually marrying his 25-year-old first cousin once removed, Katharine Smith.
In the late 19th century, Winston’s leaders established the Winston-Salem Street Railway Company. Known as one of the first cities in North Carolina to adopt electric streetcars, the system connected the formerly separate towns of Winston and Salem. The first streetcar line ran north to south from the courthouse in Winston, down Main Street, and through Salem. A second line extended west from the courthouse, reaching the newly constructed, three-story Zinzendorf Hotel. As time passed, the trolley system gave way to buses. After 46 years of service, Winston-Salem’s electric streetcar made its final journey on December 29, 1936. To commemorate the occasion, the Chamber of Commerce organized a “Romance of Transportation” parade, showcasing every conceivable mode of transit and gave residents a chance to bid farewell to the streetcars that had served the city since 1891. By September 1938, gasoline-powered buses had fully replaced the electric trolleys, and the last tracks were removed from city streets.
After a highly successful summer in 1892 at the Zinzendorf Hotel, disaster struck just months later on Thanksgiving morning. A fire ignited on the western side of the building, starting in the boiler and laundry rooms, and quickly spread to the dining hall. Fortunately, everyone escaped unharmed, and the staff even managed to rescue some of the furniture, sitting outside as they watched the flames consume the wooden hotel. Fire engines from both Winston and Salem rushed to the scene, only to find that the hydrants lacked sufficient water pressure to fight the blaze. Within two hours, the hotel was reduced to ashes, and with it, the aspirations of becoming a resort destination were dashed. However, in 1905, several of the original shareholders regrouped to form the Forsyth Hotel Corporation and announced plans for a new, six-story Zinzendorf Hotel on Main Street between Second and Third Streets – a project that was part of a broader urban renewal effort. The new Zinzendorf Hotel opened its doors in 1906, featuring 120 rooms, a lobby adorned with terrazzo floors and elegant English oak furnishings. It underwent expansion in 1917 and continued to serve guests until 1970. The following year, the hotel was demolished to make space for new development, and by 1976, a nine-story Federal Building stood in its place. This building was officially renamed the Hiram H. Ward Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse in 1999.
MONDAY
Monday Reset - Dinner for Two + Dessert $30 (3pm - close)
Mimosa Monday - $7 any flavor mimosa (all day)
TUESDAY
Taco Tuesday - Select tacos + side $12 (3pm - close)
Two’s Day - Buy one specialty coffee drink, get the second for only $2 (all day)
WEDNESDAY
Kids eat free with the purchase of an adult entree (limit to one kids’ meal per adult entree purchased, 12 and under) all day
Wine Down Wednesday: Half-price wine by the glass (all day)
THURSDAY
Burgers & Brew - $12 Burgers + side
$2 Domestic Beer $3 Craft Beer All Day
Sweet Finish - Add any dessert slice for only $4 with the purchase of a comfort food entree (3pm - close)
FRIDAY
Fish Fry - Select flounder and shrimp combo plates (3pm - close)
Key Lime Pie & Lemon Bars only $4 (3pm-close)
Flight Friday: $12 Bubbly Flights (all day)
No time to cook?
Order online on our website or through Door Dash.
by AMY HILL
Spotlighting successful and stand-out women in the community is important to Forsyth Woman. With the help of LEAD Girls of NC, the Exceptional Young Women in the Community column helps spread the word about local youth and their positive impact on the world around them.
Jonovia Riley is the 2025 Community LEAD Girl of the Year at just 14 years old. Throughout her time spent learning about herself and her community in LEAD, she has gained confidence in her personality and abilities. LEAD has taught her that being authentic and staying true to yourself is nothing to be ashamed of. Outside of LEAD, she is involved in Crosby Scholars, specifically the SHE Program (Show, Help, Employ), which aids in inspiring young women not to shy away from pursuing interests in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, where women have historically been underrepresented. In fact, Jonovia’s favorite school subjects are science and Spanish, and she frequently volunteers to assist her Spanish teacher during and after class.
Out of all the memories to choose from, Jonovia looks most fondly upon making bracelets, which is one of the activities in the evidence-based curriculum that encourages girls to connect with each other despite differences. As an aspiring STEM woman, she hopes to one day become a marine biologist but also has a passion for designing clothes which she can be found doing in her spare time when she isn’t busy with LEAD, Crosby Scholars and making art. In addition to her career aspirations, she would love to eventually take a trip to Greece or Jamaica but can be found dining at Young Cardinal Café in Winston-Salem or browsing her favorite stores at the mall in the meantime.
When asked about what advice she would give fellow young women, Jonovia reiterates the importance of not backing down when it comes to your beliefs and standards, and to not
fear being yourself. She looks forward to what her future holds, with her friends and LEAD team members expecting a promising path ahead for her.
Learning Everyday Accomplishing Dreams (LEAD) Girls of NC is Winston-Salem’s beacon of hope for local young women as a nonprofit organization supported by dozens of sponsors and grant making organizations, including The Women’s Fund, Winston-Salem Foundation, J.H. Walker Legacy Foundation and others. LEAD supports girls in order to propel them to succeed academically, professionally and personally through its numerous programs available. Young women involved with LEAD grow in confidence, social skills and leadership skills, setting them up to become successful entrepreneurs and fulfilled members of their community.
LEAD offers school-based programs at partner middle schools as well as community-based programs that are attended in person in downtown Winston-Salem, available for any middle school girl. Topics covered through LEAD’s evidence-based curriculum include The Importance of Empathy, Dealing with Authority Figures, Exploring my Goals and Dreams, and Connecting with Each Other. These sessions encompass awareness, communication, leadership and perspective –which LEAD touts as its four core fundamentals. According to the LEAD Girls of NC website, “After one semester with LEAD, 90% of participants recognize their good qualities, 87% feel confident about their future and 100% believe they can be entrepreneurs.”
Each year, LEAD hosts numerous events to support the community and is always looking for new volunteers, welcoming all support from the community. Read more about LEAD’s mission and the programs the organization offers at leadgirls.org.
Designers have long obsessed over flooring and wall colors, but the most transformative shift in recent years has been looking up. The “fifth wall” — the ceiling — offers an unexpected canvas to add depth, rhythm, and personality to a space. The way we achieved this was through a faux coffered ceiling, where applied trim creates a grid of recessed sections without the need for full structural beams. When those inset panels are lined with wallpaper or a subtle textured finish, the effect becomes layered and dimensional—adding softness within the structure while still maintaining crisp, tailored lines. Framing it all with crown molding completes the look, giving the ceiling a polished transition that feels both classic and intentional.
What makes this approach especially compelling is how it works in harmony with the rest of the room rather than competing with it. The repeating pattern overhead can echo shapes or tones found in furniture and décor, creating a quiet sense of cohesion. At the center, a statement chandelier becomes more than just lighting—it interacts with the grid, casting gentle shadows that highlight the depth of each coffer. The result is a room that feels taller, more curated, and undeniably refined. It’s proof that sometimes the most impactful design move is simply remembering to look up.
Our portfolio is listed on our website, junedelugasinteriors.com, under “Design Projects.” You can see some of our projects from the past 10 years and how we specialize in giving every home a timeless and elegant look that will last for years to come. The first step is picking up the phone and reaching out to our design team, who will serve as your designer and licensed general contractor, for a consultation. We look forward to discussing your dream design with you.
God Bless,
by MARTIE EMORY
While Clare Fader is connecting clients with their perfect homes, she’s also selling all the things we love about Winston-Salem!
Clare now calls Winston-Salem home herself, but she’s well-versed on the deeper meaning of “home” as she feels enormous affection for her actual hometown — the village of Kinvara in western Ireland.
Her love of true community is the absolute heartbeat of her career as owner of Fader Real Estate — and as owner of the area’s largest digital marketing platform — Best of Winston.
Started in 2015 by local content creator, TeriLyn Adams, Clare purchased the marketing platform in 2023 after being a loyal sponsor for years.
It now serves as a savvy resource for both residents and tourists, showcasing the finest Winston-Salem has to offer and generating approximately four million impressions from its top 10 reels alone. Clare says it’s a personal goal to use this small business to improve and nurture the local community overall — and the innovative platform also gives Fader Real Estate’s home listings incredible exposure to potential homeowners.
“It means the world to me when a small business owner tells us about the impact one of our Best of Winston reels has had on their business,” she shares. “Or, when a local arts organization shares that people showed up because they heard about it through our platform.”
Their weekly newsletter features events, local news, and business and community organization spotlights, while promoting local businesses, and elevating the beauty of Winston-Salem. As a real estate professional, Clare knows selling community and lifestyle — as well as a beautiful house — is essential.
“I feel so lucky that I get to see our city through fresh eyes on a nearly daily basis,” Clare explains, as she shares the key elements on clients’ minds when they arrive here.
“Our hospitals and universities recruit people from all over the country, and many of these people know nothing about our city,” she explains. “People mention they had no idea how pretty the Triad is, commenting on the gently rolling hills and widespread green spaces. They are pleasantly surprised.”
Clare’s home listings typically include a wide variety of neighborhood styles – one of the beautiful things about Winston-Salem.
“We offer some amazing options, from small cottages in West Salem to grand mansions in Buena Vista, and everything in between. There is also still value to be had, in comparison to the historic neighborhoods in other North Carolina cities,” Clare explains.
What does she see clients looking for most — in terms of community and connection?
“I think more and more people are looking for walkability and access to bike trails — that’s something I hear more and more every day,” Clare shares. “We have a growing number of people relocating here from Florida and Texas, and they appreciate the climate and beauty of our surrounding areas. So many people say they wish they could safely walk or bike to a café.”
She believes there’s opportunity for smart development in surrounding areas — not just downtown — in order to accentuate walkability. And, she would absolutely love to see more rails-to-trails conversions in Winston Salem as well!
“There’s also the idea of ‘third spaces’ — informal, inclusive gathering spaces besides home and work — that is really growing,” Clare adds. “I think while we are spending more time scrolling on our phones, we are also hungry for authentic, face-to-face interactions with our neighbors.”
Winston-Salem is definitely a ‘15-minute’ city — which is another common conversation these days. But she hopes residents will be mindful of how our city is growing, and what we want it to look like in 20 years.
Clare admits her own easy, ‘15-minute’ life here is something precious — and she is grateful!
“You can live in such a variety of neighborhoods — all within 15 minutes of most of the places you need to be — from schools to banks and hospitals. When I’m helping recruit people to the area, this is one thing I always highlight. It doesn’t matter what stage of life you’re in — this is something we all appreciate as humans,” she shares. “We are at a powerful inflection point where it’s critical we look around and identify our strengths. Thanks to philanthropy in the past, we have some precious gems here — from Wake Forest University and the School of the Arts to incredible parks, historic districts, and a hospital and medical school that now play a critical role in the fourth largest medical system in the country.”
Deeply rooted in the community and passionate about supporting the people and places that make the Triad special, Clare hopes Best of Winston will be a powerful part of the storytelling of Winston-Salem — imagining where we are going, and what can be.
“Let’s trust in the things that make us unique and authentic — and run with it!!”
Reach Clare Fader to start your own new home journey at 336.575.7262, or email her at clare@faderRE.com. Fader Real Estate at ERA Live Moore is located in Winston-Salem, NC at 751 W. Fourth Street, Suite 110. Learn more about their agents and current listings at FaderRE.com.
Her Fader Real Estate team covers mostly Winston-Salem and the surrounding areas, but also includes agents who focus on Greensboro, High Point, and Charlotte.
by KRISTIN YATES
It hurts, I know. Your pain is profound. But so is your healing, so is your strength.
You may not feel strong. You may feel too weak to continue, too soft to carry even your own body. But you are water. You deluge, you trickle, no matter how hard the circumstances. You flow, until you soften even stone.
Do you remember how water makes stone? How it uses the brute force of its body to move the earth? The weight water carries doesn’t weigh it down; it gives it the weight needed to get through, to find its way into cracked rock, to move stone, to see a path forward in the break.
And water, it finds whatever necessary to chisel stone’s surface, to wear away that which stands in its way. Pebbles, sand or gravel, they’re all tools no matter the size. But floods? Melting glaciers? That’s when water recognizes its power. That’s when water screams. That’s when water sculpts canyons.
But there is a time for force and abrasion, and there is a time for persistence.
Water also hollows stone by trickling gently, patiently, knowing that, over time, even the smallest whisper leads to a more livable landscape. Stalagmites and stalactites, crystal caverns that make even cavers’ jaws drop in awe.
You do the same. After all, you are water. You are more than half water, which means you already know your power; you just may not remember it right now. But, you make a difference. Wherever you go, there is your power.
If you feel broken, just remember, you know what to do, you know how to turn fragments into recovery.
If you feel like no matter what you do, nothing will get you to your dream, to sanctuary or peace, remember. Remember the water of you. There was once a time when you were all water, a time where you took however long necessary to find your way through stone and create your own canyons.
And that wall you feel every time you try moving forward? It’s just another stone; you already know how to get through it. Carve a cave, craft the next national park, protect your power to create the life you want.
Trust yourself, your strength, the water of you. Whether trickle or deluge, you create and you continue to create. You make a difference regardless of which path you take, which path you choose to make.
You may not always see your progress, but that stone, that wall? It does. It feels it. And, once you make it through, once you more freely flow, so do you.
Even in a single drop of water, there’s energy. An explosion of impact upon landing. And it’s this energy – your energy – that makes an impact wherever you are.
Keep touching stone, pouring or dripping effort, until what’s hard and what hurts becomes places you’ve been, places you’ve smoothed, places in which you’ve engraved your freedom.
Keep going. Remember the water of you.
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by AM Y HILL
n January, I was fortunate enough to have been given an amazing new job opportunity with an ideal remote setup for someone like myself. I had already been working in the legal industry full time since 2019, but my role was largely based in writing and research. I have been working from home since 2020, which was always a dream of mine, and my new job opportunity at a different law firm also allows me the luxury of working remotely. With better pay, I have been able to breathe a bit more, but I don’t believe I was prepared for the challenge of transitioning from a writing-based role where I was comfortable and had gained seven years of experience and social rapport to an accounting-based role where I am a small fish in a big pond of coworkers who already know the ropes.
Starting a new career path in your mid-30s is exciting but nothing short of intimidating. With thorough training and patient colleagues, I am gradually getting the hang of things and couldn’t feel more fortunate to have been given a chance in a new field at such a great company. However, these first few months have been psychologically challenging in ways I didn’t fully anticipate. I expected to be a bit nervous, feel a smidge of imposter syndrome and feel less confident in the beginning, but what I have found most frustrating is the pressure I put on myself to learn more quickly than anyone has truly asked me to learn.
As someone who struggles with perfectionism and cares too much about what others think, a large majority of the anxiety this career transition has conjured up is self inflicted. While some could say my anxiety is healthy motivation, others could say I am headed for burnout if I don’t stop expecting my capabilities to match those with 10+ years of experience in the field.
Having worked multiple jobs in multiple fields since I was in college, I know growing pains are par for the course of any new career. I even went through a brief period of feeling inadequate when I moved to
the Wilmington area and began working at a restaurant last year on nights and weekends with people much younger than myself, but with years of experience in the food service industry. My writing and research-wired brain didn’t process the flow of a restaurant in the same way as those who had worked in multiple restaurants throughout their lives. I was completely out of my element, but I eventually excelled and learned to enjoy myself more than I initially expected.
As a newer employee in my current profession, I find myself frequently asking for help or asking questions (as expected), which takes a toll on my self esteem. I long for the days when I am finally able to work a full day without having to interrupt one of my coworkers for a quick question, in addition to the days when I can hear the Microsoft Outlook email notification without panicking a little each time an email makes it to my inbox. I’m proud of myself for pushing through and working hard to excel at whatever pace excelling is possible as a newcomer, but I would be lying if I said my identity hasn’t been lightly shaken in the process.
If this were occurring in my early 20s, I would be crying on the phone with my parents, convinced that I was never going to make it through and that I would feel clueless forever. While I’m not thrilled with the fine lines and slight knee pain my mid-30s are currently gracing me with, I am grateful for the perspective I now have that I lacked when I was younger and joint pain-free. I’ve seen this exact scenario play out before. I’ve overcome job obstacles numerous times and have faith that this too shall pass. One day, months from now, I’ll be working away and will suddenly realize that I’m no longer a nervous wreck. The anxiety will subside. I’ll feel more secure. Not every email will raise my blood pressure. I’ll have added another set of tools to my toolkit, and my confidence will have increased as a result. Until then, I’ll take the job one day at a time.
by DEBBIE BARR
But, what if you don’t yet know the name of the chemical or preservative that’s making you itchy or giving you watery eyes? Consumers like you are turning in droves to Yuka.
ou’ve probably noticed that many product labels carry words of caution such as stop using if rash or irritation occurs. Those caveats are necessary because hair dye, eye makeup, soaps, fragrances, deodorants and other cosmetics may trigger allergic reactions in some people. An allergic reaction means the person’s immune system is overreacting to a substance that may be harmless to others. Adverse reactions can range from slight to severe. Hives, rash, eye irritation, facial swelling, runny nose, wheezing and sometimes even life-threatening symptoms can occur when a certain product ingredient triggers the immune system.
If you’ve experienced an allergic reaction to your makeup, hair color or another product, you know how uncomfortable and frightening this can be – an experience you definitely do not want to repeat. The very best way to prevent another allergic reaction is obviously to avoid coming into contact with the ingredient that triggered your immune system.
Here are three tips for helping you avoid the offending ingredients:
GET TESTED. If you’ve suffered an allergic reaction, but you’re not sure what caused it, give serious thought to getting tested. It’s important to find out what you’re allergic to because some allergic reactions get worse over time.
READ LABELS. When we’re shopping for cosmetics, we almost can’t help but read the label on the front of the package. That’s where we see words like hypoallergenic, fragrance-free or for sensitive skin. However, it’s not enough to just check for those reassuring words. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), “there is no federal standard or definition that governs the use of these terms in the U.S.” So, it’s very possible that what a manufacturer means by “sensitive skin” may turn out not to be gentle enough for your sensitive skin!
If you know the name of the substance(s) you’re allergic to, become a back-of-thepackage label reader. (That’s where you find all the multisyllabic words that defy pronunciation!) If you find your offending substance listed there, look for a different product.
LET YUKA HELP. With 80 million users, Yuka has clearly taken social media by storm. Yuka is a free mobile app that scans product bar codes to detect allergens or potentially harmful ingredients. Yuka gives each product a safety rating between 0 and 100. It also uses a traffic light scoring system (red = poor, orange = moderate, green = excellent). The color that pops up when you scan the bar code either assures you that it’s safe or alerts you to take a second look at what’s in the product. If you know the ingredients you’re allergic or sensitive to, or ones you just want to avoid, Yuka can be an incredibly helpful tool.
I decided to give Yuka a test drive while writing this article. It was a simple download to my phone, and I was eager to scan the products I use daily. Some of the results were reassuring. For example, Yuka gave an instant green light to my coconut oil moisturizer and awarded it 100 out of 100 points. Risk free! Some of my other product scans were quite disturbing. Scariest of all was the famous name, pricey shampoo recommended by my hair dresser (front label tag line: “sulfate-free gentle color care, pH balanced formula” ). It scored red with a horrifying zero out of 100 points – in other words, the absolute worst possible ingredient safety rating. Yuka flagged two high-risk ingredients (one was methylchloroisothiazolinone, a highly allergenic compound banned in other countries). It also flagged two moderate-risk ingredients, and 21 low-risk ingredients! All the other ingredients were deemed risk free.
Yikes! Should I throw this shampoo in the trash? Maybe. Experts advise evaluating Yuka scores with caution because Yuka falls short in some important ways. While a Yuka scan can certainly inform your decision making, it doesn’t factor in details that might rescue red or orange scoring
products from the trash can. Yuka can’t tell you mitigating factors such as:
• Does the product contain a trace amount or a significant amount of the ingredient?
• Is the ingredient harmless in trace amounts?
• How long does the ingredient linger on the skin or hair, and how long is too long?
• What if you only use the product once a week or once a month instead of once a day?
If you’d rather not worry about questions like these, one nice thing about Yuka is that when it gives a product a bad score, it recommends similar products that are safe. In the case of my abysmal-scoring shampoo, it recommended 10 alternative products that have earned their “excellent” rating.
Allergic reactions are no fun, but by getting tested, becoming a savvy label reader and making good use of Yuka, you can avoid what triggers them!
by TARYN JEREZ , OF GOFORITCREATIVE.COM
This column is meant to serve as a resource for readers who seek inspiration and knowledge for building their own small business brands. Through actionable advice, find the encouragement to help you keep living your life with hustle and heart.
Somewhere along the way, business owners – especially women – were told that if their businesses and lives didn’t look like a certain picture on the internet, they weren’t successful.
The six-figure screenshots, the “hustle” filled calendar, the perfectly curated home office, tropical weekends away “unplugged”...even though they clearly took their phone out to take that selfie.
Dreaming big is beautiful, and there is no shame in that game; but if your definition of success feels like it’s competing with what the world is shouting, it’s time to reevaluate.
DON’T QUIETLY LOSE YOURSELF. QUIETLY CELEBRATE INSTEAD.
Your dream doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s in your industry. In fact, when you let others define success for you, you end up having the wrong benchmarks to reach. Your dream can be more flexibility in your schedule instead of European travel. You could want a small team and one intern instead of a business that scales to a team of 20. Your vision might look different than what you see plastered on social media, and that’s a good thing – it’s specific to you!
that’s leading me closer to my short and long term goals for my life? Do the small, everyday tasks on your list equal stepping stones towards the alignment you are craving? Are you filling your business with tasks that are pulling you away from the version of success you want? Your business needs to support the life you want, not consume it.
We all want the big confetti and balloon drop, but some goals aren’t the ones everyone is going to recognize as a big deal. The problem here is that you can’t skip over them either! The big wins will be there, but don’t forget to celebrate the smaller ones that are quietly building towards the life you want. Maybe it’s taking a random Friday off to go out with a friend or being able to be generous and donating something from your business to a special cause. Did you hit your sales goal this launch without reaching the burnout zone? Those things are absolutely special and aligned with your bigger goals, so stop to celebrate them.
systems that save them time…this is where success is located! When you focus on building something that can support you long term with stability and purpose, you don’t get caught up in the flashy looking version of success.
Your version and vision for success is going to evolve the same way your life does. The healthiest thing you can do as a business owner is mute the noise of external validation, and lean into what you want and need to feel successful. You’re the one who decides if you’re meeting the criteria. Even better news? You’re also the one who gets to pivot when you’re not.
This month, jot down three moments from the last six months that made you feel genuinely proud or fulfilled in your business and ask yourself: What do these moments reveal about my true definition of success? 1 2 3
It’s easy to get confused when someone asks you what success looks like because your mind immediately recalls every version it’s been bombarded with since childhood. A vision board is a great place to start, but you need to get intentional about goal setting. Ask yourself: Am I doing the work in my business right now
You probably don’t realize that some of the most successful businesses you know are the ones making quiet moves behind the scenes to become more sustainable. The loud success is what’s in your face and giving you comparison. The quiet success is what you really should be going after! Businesses that create rituals that protect their peace, increasing pricing by betting on themselves, creating repeatable
by JANE BURNETTE healthcoachjane.com IG @coachjanebb FB @coachjanebb
We’ve all been there, stuck in a pattern we can’t seem to break. The diet that falls apart by Thursday. The inbox that never gets to zero. The sleep routine we swear we’ll start “next Monday.” We try harder, hire help, read the books. And still, something doesn’t shift.
Here’s what most of us miss: we’re solving the wrong problem. We keep adjusting our circumstances (our schedules, our environments, our habits) when the real leverage point is something far more interior. It’s our thoughts.
A coaching tool called the Self Coaching Model, developed by The Life Coach School, offers a surprisingly elegant way to see this clearly. It goes by five letters: C, T, F, A, R standing for Circumstances, Thoughts, Feelings, Actions and Results.
The premise is simple and a little humbling – your circumstances don’t create your results; your thoughts do.
A circumstance is a neutral fact, something everyone could agree on and that could hold up in a courtroom. “My mother didn’t call” is a circumstance. “My mother doesn’t care about me” is a thought. The distinction matters enormously because the circumstance is the one thing in this model that you don’t control. What you do control is the sentence you put on top of it.
Thoughts are exactly that – sentences in your head. They often carry opinions, judgments or interpretations disguised as facts. “I’m not the kind of person who
exercises consistently” feels true, but it’s a thought, not a fact. And thoughts, unlike circumstances, are changeable.
From that thought flows a feeling, a oneword description of what you experience in your body. Not “I feel like nobody appreciates me,” but simply unappreciated, deflated, resigned. Naming feelings with precision matters because feelings are what fuel your actions. If you feel apathetic, you stay in bed. If you feel energized, you lace up your shoes.
Actions (and inactions and reactions) produce your results. The whole chain runs from thought to feeling to action to result.
What makes this model so useful is that the result almost always reflects and reinforces the original thought. Think “it won’t matter anyway,” feel apathetic, avoid the effort, confirm to yourself that nothing changed. The thought wrote its own ending.
Write C, T, F, A and R in a vertical column. Start with the line you know. If you’re frustrated that you haven’t been consistent with something, write that in the A line. Then ask yourself, what was I feeling right before I didn’t do the thing? What thought was underneath that feeling? Work backward until the whole model fills in.
What usually surfaces is a thought you didn’t know you were running. And awareness, even uncomfortable awareness, is what makes change possible.
The model also shows you the path forward. Once you find the thought driving an unwanted result, you can begin to shift it. But, here’s the important part, you can’t leap from a limiting belief to its opposite. Going from “I’ll never be consistent” to
“I’m incredibly disciplined” doesn’t work because you don’t actually believe it. Instead, you ladder your way up, finding a thought just slightly more generous than your current one. “It’s possible that small changes could add up.” That’s believable. That’s where real movement begins.
Women are socialized to manage circumstances, to rearrange, accommodate and optimize the external. The Self Coaching Model is a quiet revolution against that. It says – your inner world is the territory. Your outcomes are the result of how you think, not what happens to you.
That’s not a dismissal of real challenges. It’s an invitation to stop waiting for circumstances to improve before you feel better, act differently or create something new. The five letters are always available and so is the power to use them.
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Jamie Oswell is the co-owner of Cotton & Color, where she combines her passion for creativity, customer service, and entrepreneurship to help customers bring their ideas to life through custom apparel and branding solutions. In addition to her work with Cotton & Color, Jamie is a full-time nurse and holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA), allowing her to blend healthcare, business expertise, and creative design in meaningful ways. A devoted wife and mother of two, Jamie draws daily inspiration from her family, including her special needs son and daughter. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, reading, and watching psychological thrillers. Jamie believes custom apparel should be both comfortable and meaningful, helping individuals, businesses, teams, and organizations express their unique identities. Through Cotton & Color, she is proud to help customers create products that celebrate milestones, build brands, and make lasting memories.
Alyssa White is the co-owner of Cotton & Color, where she combines her love of creativity with a passion for helping others bring their ideas to life through custom apparel, embroidery, and DTF transfers. As a stay-at-home mother in a blended family of four children, Alyssa understands the importance of balancing family, creativity, and community. Her youngest daughter’s special needs inspired her decision to dedicate herself fully to caring for her family while pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities. With a lifelong love of arts and crafts, Alyssa has found custom apparel to be the perfect outlet for her creativity and attention to detail. She enjoys transforming simple ideas into meaningful designs that customers can wear and enjoy. Outside of work, Alyssa loves reading, watching true crime documentaries, and learning new creative skills such as sewing and embroidery. She is proud to help make Cotton & Color a place where creativity and personalization come together.
Nadiya Debnam serves as Program Coordinator for LEAD Girls of NC, where she is dedicated to empowering young women through leadership development, mentorship, and community engagement. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership in the Public Sector from North Carolina State University and is passionate about creating opportunities that help youth build confidence, develop leadership skills, and reach their full potential. Through her volunteer leadership with Top Teens of America and Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., Nadiya has spent years mentoring young people and supporting impactful community initiatives. She believes every girl deserves access to positive role models, meaningful experiences, and a supportive environment that encourages growth and success. In her role with LEAD Girls, she works to inspire the next generation of confident, purpose-driven leaders. Outside of her professional and volunteer commitments, Nadiya enjoys fashion, travel, spending time with family, and creating memorable experiences.
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Sandy Bowen is the co-owner and founder of Haven Lane Senior Solutions, a senior living placement agency serving families throughout North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad. With more than seven years of experience helping seniors and their loved ones navigate transitions into senior living communities, Sandy is known for her compassionate approach, local expertise, and unwavering commitment to advocacy. Her passion for serving seniors was inspired by her grandmother’s journey with dementia and eight years in a memory care community, providing Sandy with firsthand insight into the challenges families face when making care decisions. A graduate of the University of North Carolina Wilmington with a degree in Business Marketing, Sandy has called the Winston-Salem area home since 1999. She and her husband, Matt, have been married for more than three decades and are proud parents of two sons. Today, Sandy works alongside her oldest son to help families find the right senior living solutions with confidence and peace of mind.
Asianna Myers is a Business Administration and Management student at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University with aspirations of becoming a well-rounded business professional and leader. She is passionate about organizational success, team development, and continuous professional growth, and is committed to building the skills needed to thrive in leadership and management roles. Through her academic studies and involvement in professional development opportunities, Asianna continues to expand her knowledge of business strategy, communication, and organizational leadership. She values meaningful connections, lifelong learning, and experiences that challenge her to grow both personally and professionally. Dedicated to excellence and service, she looks forward to making a positive impact in the corporate world while continuing to develop as a future business leader.
Shelly Barnes serves as Director of Athletics at Forsyth Technical Community College, where she leads the institution’s growing athletics program and oversees its participation in the National Junior College Athletic Association. A former two-sport student-athlete at High Point University, coach, and longtime athletic administrator, Barnes brings decades of experience and a strong commitment to student success. Under her leadership, Forsyth Tech’s inaugural athletics programs achieved early success, including a Region 10 regularseason championship in men’s basketball, a national title in Esports, and a strong inaugural volleyball season. Equally committed to academic achievement, Barnes has helped foster a culture where student-athletes excel both in competition and in the classroom. She is passionate about leadership development, community engagement, and creating opportunities for students to thrive. Outside of work, Barnes enjoys spending time with her family and being outdoors.
by KRISTIN YATES
Have you ever gotten henna?
Until recently, it was something I’d never tried. But I always wanted to try it, even as a kid. I’d see pictures of henna’s intricate designs and think of how elegant it makes someone look. And I wanted to experience that.
So, that’s what I did.
I went to Winston-Salem’s Alley of the Arts, which is an art market held every Saturday downtown. One Saturday, I visited the colorful and quaint alley with the intention of getting henna, since I’d seen that Rebecca from Buena Henna would be there.
Before even looking at other tables, I walked to Rebecca’s and started the conversation. I knew what I wanted, it was just a matter of doing it – of trying the new thing I’d wanted to try for years.
I asked Rebecca how henna works, if I chose designs from templates and what colors she uses. Rebecca answered my questions saying she uses true henna, a brown paste from the Lawsonia inermis plant that includes essential oils like eucalyptus, and that she takes an intuitive approach and free hands her tattoos.
So, I shared the general theme I wanted for my tattoo – a lotus with celestial elements, and I left the rest for Rebecca to decide. She first sketched on my hand in white gel pen, but once we’d gotten a sense of direction for the tattoo, she got out the piping bag and began.
I’ll be honest. I was nervous.
I knew the design would stay on my hand for a week or two, so I wanted to like it.
But I also wanted henna to be a fun experience, not a worrisome one. It’s temporary, not a lifealtering decision.
I grounded myself by focusing on each mark as Rebecca drew them. It was meditative watching my tattoo come to life and seeing my hand change. I could feel the slightly cool paste on my skin, the fine lines of the design coming together. And I realized, I didn’t have a reason to worry.
I didn’t know the full design, and it turned out beautiful anyway.
The experience shocked me. It showed me just how much I feel like I have to know the unknown,
and quite frankly, what can’t be known, before a commitment.
But I trusted Rebecca to do what she does – to make art that makes you feel beautiful.
And I did. I felt beautiful.
It was beautiful to not be in control of every little detail, to not know every little design. It was beautiful looking at myself and seeing art.
For a long time, I’ve wanted tattoos, but I’ve always gotten in my head about it wondering if I’ll like whatever I choose two years later, even two days later. Have you ever felt like this? Wanted something but never let yourself have it for fear it’d be a mistake?
Henna has shown me I would like tattoos, maybe even some that look like henna. The plant’s stain is a good steppingstone for something more permanent.
Because whatever makes me feel like art, how could that ever be a mistake?
When I first heard of the concept of pruning, it didn’t sound fun. I heard it in the Bible first in John 15:1-2, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
It sounded harsh. I thought, why would He mess with something that’s already bearing fruit?
How can cutting it bear more fruit?
In my walk with God and my journey in business, I’ve realized that the calling He’s placed on my life requires me to flourish. I now understand that the pruning is to eliminate what is unnecessary to the call.
At least once a year, I will go through my old business notes to see what I can still implement and what I can throw away because it no longer applies. I don’t take purposeless notes, so when it was written, there was good intent to execute. But time goes on, things change and now it’s clutter. Growth can create clutter if you don’t regularly examine what still aligns with where God is taking you.
Entrepreneurs often hold onto ideas, commitments, habits and opportunities because they once worked well. But healthy growth requires maintenance. A tree that is never pruned can become overcrowded and weighed down. The unnecessary branches steal nutrients from the fruit-producing ones. The same thing can happen to us, both spiritually and professionally, when we refuse to let go.
Pruning may look like simplifying your workload, restructuring your routine, ending partnerships or even
Sheridan C. Watkins is a journalist and the owner of Perennial Peaces, a jewelry and gifts brand focused on transcending human understanding of God’s love and being a source of peace on Earth. Her true work began after victory over depression, and her calling is to provide peace through her Divine gifts to help women heal and transform their lives. Follow the mission on Instagram, Facebook & TikTok: @perennialpeaces.
by SHERIDAN C. WATKINS
stepping away from opportunities that no longer serve you. Hebrews 12:11 says it will feel uncomfortable, but God is interested in developing a sustainable character in you. Pruning can feel (and look) like loss before it feels like growth. When letting go feels counterproductive in a culture that praises “more,” but you have peace, rest assured, you are being pruned for greatness.
Sometimes you’re prepared for this and sometimes you’re not, but God will remove what no longer needs to be in your life regardless of whether you agree. The mind is often the last thing to realize when it’s time to move on. We become emotionally attached to environments, relationships and old versions of ourselves because they brought comfort or stability. But growth requires movement, and movement requires release. Remember the phrase, “reasons and seasons.”
God will call you away from habits that once protected and comforted you, business strategies that once worked and relationships that once encouraged you because they will no longer support where He’s taking you.
It’s confusing, and you may grieve, but do not associate it with failure. God rarely expands people while allowing them to remain completely comfortable.
When you understand the process of your own pruning, you’ll begin to develop deeper discernment. You’ll stop assuming that every opportunity placed in front of you is automatically from God. Opportunities will arrive simply because you’re talented and capable! Vet them well, and don’t allow them to quietly pull you away from
your divine mission. That’s a sneaky way for the enemy to attack and delay your blessings.
Jesus’ ministry displays this well – He did not heal every person in every town or respond to every demand placed on Him. There were endless needs surrounding Him, but He was intentional and moved according to the Father’s direction. Read the gospels, books Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, often to keep His guidance in your heart.
As you continue growing, ask God to sharpen your ability to distinguish between what is merely available and what is actually assigned to you. Every “yes” costs something – time, energy, attention, creativity or peace. Wisdom is knowing what deserves access to those things and what needs to be lovingly declined. You are being pruned for greatness, and I have faith in you.
by TANNER JOHNSON
My favorite type of food is Asianinspired, so I wanted to share my take on grilled Asian marinated chicken thighs! This recipe is super versatile and can be paired with easy sides for a quick weeknight dinner or dressed up with more elaborate dishes for something extra special. I usually serve it with simple jasmine rice, an Asian cucumber salad and sometimes marinated carrots or sautéed zucchini.
• 1 package chicken thighs
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 teaspoons fresh grated ginger
• 1–2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon chili oil
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
• Salt & pepper, to taste
1. Combine all ingredients with the chicken in a large bag or container. Marinate preferably overnight for the best flavor. I use a chamber vacuum sealer with a marinate function to speed up the process when needed, but overnight in a zip-top bag works perfectly as well.
2. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat and place the chicken on the grill. Sometimes I add a little extra Salt, Pepper and Garlic seasoning right before grilling for even more flavor.
3. Once the chicken naturally releases from the grill grate, it’s ready to flip — usually about 5–6 minutes.
4. Flip and rotate occasionally until you get a nice char and the internal temperature reaches around 175°. I always cook chicken thighs a bit beyond the standard 165° because they become more tender and flavorful.
5. Let the chicken rest for a few minutes while you prepare the rest of your meal. Serve with rice and vegetables for an easy Asian-inspired dinner that will definitely leave you wanting seconds!
by AMY HILL
It’s no secret that cats and dogs can provide therapeutic benefits to their owners and form strong bonds with their human counterparts along the way. Horses are also utilized to boost mental health through equine-assisted therapy. Whether you’re dealing with a mental health condition, chronic loneliness, grief or in search of a companion for an elderly loved one in your life, below are a few unconventional emotionally supportive animals that might surprise you.
I stumbled across a New York Times article from 2019 discussing llama-assisted therapy being utilized in nursing homes, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that the article featured an opinion by my former psychology professor Dr. Hal Herzog of Western Carolina University. Dr. Herzog didn’t seem too surprised by the usage of llamas and alpacas in providing emotional support, with patients and llama owners insisting that their llamas are attuned to emotions and can sense emotional distress or illness. These wooly mammals’ soft coats keep them cozy for patients, but not all llamas make the emotional support cut. Llamas must display positive attributes to be registered as an emotional support animal, such as calmness around human visitors and mild temperament, a low flight response (the llama is unlikely to run away or react aggressively due to a perceived threat) and the ability to be trained.
In fact, North Carolina is home to the Llamas of Hot Springs, a company promoting llama-assisted therapy. According to the Llamas of Hot Springs, the benefits of spending time with llamas include learning self-care skills through grooming llamas, improving memory and self-confidence through learning information about llamas throughout the therapeutic process and sharpening planning and problemsolving abilities through learning training skills in handing llamas. Can’t make it to Hot Springs, NC, but still curious about these wooly creatures? Take a day trip to Divine Llama Vineyards in East Bend to get a taste of just
how entertaining and enriching llamas can be – and even more so after a glass or two of wine.
After my llama article find, I also found an article discussing parrots as another great emotional support animal option. Hearing a bird confidently mimic the sounds and words of humans has always fascinated me. When parrots mimic spoken words, it’s almost impossible not to laugh – or at the very least, crack a smile. While birds have gotten a bad reputation through coined terms like “bird brain” to insinuate someone is lacking in the intelligence department, parrots are savvy and possess quirky personalities that perk owners up without the dander or slobber from a fluffy dog. Like llamas, parrots also possess the ability to attune to their owners’ emotions and be very loyal and entertaining additions to a household.
Parrots’ mimicking abilities can be attributed to their high intelligence; however, with high intelligence comes the need for excessive mental stimulation to keep these birds content. It would only make sense that parrots’ personalities would be just as striking as their colorful feathers. On the flip side, parrots are not widely recognized as valid emotional support animals; in other words, good luck sitting at Buffalo Wild Wings with a winged creature of your own perched on your shoulder without being questioned by the manager and potentially asked to leave without proper paperwork for registered emotional support animals.
Before you head to the pet store to find a parrot, it’s important to keep in mind the upkeep parrots require. They have specialized diets and cage-cleaning routines that are difficult for many adults to invest in providing long term, regardless of their parrot’s dazzling personality. Surprisingly, parrots can live for decades, meaning becoming emotionally attached to your ESA parrot is a safe bet. However, if you’re looking for a low-maintenance companion and don’t have a lot of time at home to spend doting on your pets, a parrot may be more costly in the care compartment than you can afford.
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by REBECCA COOPER
There comes a point in life when friendship stops being about who is the most fun at dinner or who always remembers your birthday first.
Instead, friendship quietly becomes the person who answers the phone when your voice sounds shaky. The one who says, “I’m coming over,” instead of “Let me know if you need anything.” The friend who sits beside you in silence when words feel too heavy to carry.
As women, we spend so much of our lives being things for other people…dependable, organized, encouraging, nurturing, capable. We become experts at holding everything together.
But, every strong woman eventually has a season where she needs someone to help hold her together, too.
That’s where real friendship lives.
Not in the polished social media moments. Not in perfectly posed brunch photos. But in ordinary Tuesdays filled with honest conversations and “Are you really okay?” check ins.
The older I get, the more I realize that friendship is one of God’s gentlest gifts.
Most women have mastered the art of saying “I’m fine” while carrying enough stress, grief, exhaustion or worry to flatten them emotionally.
A true friend hears the hesitation behind the words.
She notices when your sparkle dims a little. When your texts become shorter. When your laughter sounds forced. When you suddenly go quiet.
And, instead of waiting for an invitation, she reaches anyway.
There is something sacred about friendships where pretending isn’t required.
The kind where you can show up without makeup, without polished answers, without pretending your life is all together.
Because, let’s be honest, adulthood is hard sometimes.
Parents age. Children grow up.
Relationships shift. Dreams change. Loss enters unexpectedly. Health scares happen. Loneliness visits even crowded rooms.
And, in those moments, friendship becomes less about entertainment and more about emotional shelter.
We live in a world that keeps everyone busy but not necessarily connected.
People scroll constantly, yet still feel unseen.
We communicate all day long, but often skip real conversation.
We tell everyone we’re “good” while privately running on empty.
That’s why meaningful friendship matters so much.
Women need women who remind them who they are when life tries to convince them otherwise.
Sometimes your best friend becomes the voice reminding you:
“You’re stronger than you think.”
“You’re allowed to rest.”
“You don’t have to carry this alone.”
“You are still yourself underneath all this stress.”
Those words matter more than most people realize.
Because encouragement can breathe life back into someone who has quietly been drowning emotionally.
One of the most beautiful things about friendship is that it rarely requires perfection.
It simply requires showing up.
Send the text.
Make the call.
Invite the friend to lunch.
Drop off the flowers.
Write the handwritten note.
Pray for the person who crossed your mind at 2:00 a.m.
Small acts often become the very things people remember during difficult seasons.
And, if you’re the one struggling right now, let this be your reminder that needing people is not weakness.
Even the strongest hearts need safe places to land.
Sometimes healing begins with coffee across a kitchen table and someone saying, “Tell me what’s really going on.”
At the end of life, most of us will not remember the laundry, the deadlines or the endless to-do lists.
But, we will remember who walked beside us.
The friends who celebrated our joys without jealousy.
The ones who stayed during heartbreak. The people who made us laugh until we cried when life felt unbearably heavy.
Those are the friendships worth protecting.
So, check on your people.
Love them well.
And never underestimate how much one sincere conversation can change someone’s day or even their life.
Because sometimes the greatest gift we can give each other is simply this:
“I’m here.”
