FW December 2021

December 2021

Atrium - WFBH

Windsor Jewelers

Evelyn Rose

S H O P E V E LY N R O S E B O U T I Q U E . C O M 916 Burke Street Winston-Salem, NC | Tuesday - Saturday 11am - 6pm @theevelynroseboutique

Black Mountain Chocolate

Brookridge Retirement

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PUBLISHER Brooke Eagle Brooke@ForsythMags.com

The Publisher Perspective

EDITOR Keela Johnson Keela@ForsythMags.com

ello, December!

Here we are at the end of another year.

I always take time in December to reflect and this year certainly brought me a lot of joy.

I had the privilege of spending a lot of quality time with my grandparents who have lived four hours away my whole life until this year!

My boyfriend taught me how to snowboard.

I had the honor of being the president of the LewisvilleClemmons Chamber of Commerce.

I ate more tacos than I can count.

I participated in my very first CrossFit Open.

Two of my best friends had babies.

One of my best friends got married.

Recorded over 50 episodes for the Forsyth Mags Podcast.

Got to be on the other side of the mic as a podcast guest.

Celebrated 16 years of Forsyth Woman.

Hosted our BIGGEST Tour de Boutique ever with 162 shoppers.

Walked lots and lots of miles with my dogs.

Moved into a new Home.

Published the final issue of Forsyth Woman Engaged.

Had my first Lavender and Honey cinnamon roll.

Went paddle boarding with my mom.

Raised money for the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of my Papaw.

What a year!

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

I feel incredibly blessed. Incredibly grateful. The “little” things I mentioned above brought me just as much joy as the big things. I struggle with anxiety—as I know many others do—and finding joy in the little things certainly helps to keep my anxiety at bay. After all, that is what the majority of our lives are made up of, right? The little moments.

Tamara Bodford

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Kristi Marion Heather Spivey

ADVERTISING Advertising @ForsythMags.com

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Vonda Henderson

The holiday season can be a beautiful time of year, but it can also be a sad and difficult time for some. I encourage you to remember this and always be kind. I love the quote that says, “Whatever the question, the answer is love and compassion.”

BACK OFFICE & VIRTUAL ASSISTANT The Office Nerd, Denise Heidel

COVER PHOTOGRAPHER Jodie Brim Creative

This issue has our largest ever Holiday Gift Guide! Check it out on pages 114 - 121. We’ve got something for everyone on your list. I challenge you to shop local for ALL of your gifts this year!

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS JEJ Photos Jodie Brim Creative Photo Artistry by Melinda *others credited throughout accordingly

I can’t get enough of our cover this month! How cute is Emily Davis?! She and her husband, Keith, own Fleet Feet Winston-Salem as well as New Balance Winston-Salem. Their story is an inspiring one and you can read it on page 60. I had the pleasure of participating in a shoe fitting event for Mission Feet First… and wow! What an experience. This couple is doing amazing things in our community and I am proud to know them.

CONTENT EDITORS Kim Beane Meghan Corbett (Assistant)

SENIOR STAFF WRITERS Meghan Corbett Denise Heidel Carolyn Peterson

OTHER CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jen Brown Genevieve Condon Karen Cooper Martie Emory Tabi Falcone Amy Hill Taryn Jerez Jean Marie Johnson Debbie Barr Debbie Lanier Debbie Linville Tabatha Renegar Susan Schabacker Lauren Sephton Megan Taylor *others credited throughout accordingly

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

All my best,

Brooke Eagle, Publisher

Follow @forsythmags on instagram

PHOTO BY JODIE BRIM CREATIVE

GRAPHIC DESIGN & PRODUCTION Emerson Designs

WEB DESIGN/ MAINTENANCE Nu | NuExpression.com

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.

BROOKE NOTES

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27103

@forsythmags

16 Keeping it Real + Swiss 24 Ham Sliders with a Peach-Poppyseed Glaze STORY 60 COVER How Do You Find Your Balance?

A Behind-theScenes Look at New Balance & Fleet Feet Santa, 70 Lights, Action: Kersey

36

Valley Christmas Christmas 80 Keeping Gifts Under Control Power of 108 The the Compliment Gift of 112 The Shopping Local

60

114 - 121 Holiday Gift Guide

COVER STORY

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on 134 Women the Move

20

18

50

46 December 2021 | 13

Restoration Med Spa

Keeping It Real GOING FORWARD

BY DR. DEBBIE LANIER

We’d waited six years. We were finally pregnant and having twins (yes, TWINS)! My husband and I beamed like giddy children. We’d just look at each other and start giggling. TWINS! As TWINS magazines arrived at our doorstep, we dreamed, “Will we need a bigger car? Two nurseries?”

Everything changed!

We anticipated our appointment that morning with Dr. Taylor, but his fatherly face looked different this time. Gently, he explained the test results. One baby would soon die inside me. The other child would feed off her sibling until she was born.

Numb. It’s the only way to describe that moment. We left his office and sat motionless in the car. Silent. We just looked out the windows and tried to hide our tears. We waited … prayed … then waited some more.

Thirty-six hours later, I was rushed to the Emergency Room. I’ve never known such chaos, such panic. My water broke. My panicked husband yelled, “What’s happening?”

The nurse reluctantly replied, “She’s losing the babies.”

Our daughter, Debryn Hope, entered the world first. Our son, Paul Francis Lanier IV, soon followed his sister.

They were beautiful, so perfect. Their little fingernails…I just really remember their fingernails.

As Debryn and Paul struggled to breathe, we were warned that neither of them would survive the night. We held them close…christened them…sang to them…and then gave them back to God. Paul lived about thirty minutes. His sister survived a while longer.

The day before Christmas, 1989, we buried our children. It was the coldest day of the year, but our hearts already knew that. I recall brief glimpses of the funeral, but mainly, I was too numb to feel anything.

After the prayer, the funeral director led me from the children’s grave into the limousine. Sitting alone, I began to feel it. I cried out to God (screamed really) with an anguish I still remember vividly.

“Where are You? Don’t You see what’s happening? Do You even care?”

For months I struggled to make sense of it all. I still don’t have it figured out.

But this I know: God is for me. He never left me. He never gave up on me.

God believed in my future more than I did. I do not believe for a moment that God caused our pain, but I know He redeemed it and uses it every day to heal others.

Nine months later, we did give birth.

We began a ministry called Hope. The enemy sought to bury us along with our children, but God took that very heartache and planted it in a promise!

For more than 31 years now, hundreds of people gather every week to declare the Resurrection Power of Hope.

I drive by that cemetery where the twins were buried several times a day.

It’s not cold there anymore. In fact, we can almost feel the grace flowing from that little grave.

I don’t know your story, but I know everybody’s got one. Perhaps you approach the holidays longing for a yesterday that cannot return. Maybe a seat around your table is empty this year. Perhaps memories of laughter and love dancing across the room no longer twirl there anymore.

Just the thought of how things used to be triggers a tsunami of tears that won’t stop.

Wherever you find yourself now, please believe me: God wants to redeem even the most painful pieces of your story. He never wastes anything, not even death. He loves you too much to leave you hopeless in your sorrow.

The very thing satan uses to bury you, God will use to plant you!

For comments or prayer, contact Dr. Lanier at PastorDebbie@HopeCommunityChurch.tv.

Salemtowne Retirement

Nutcracker

Fraleigh’s Boutique

BY MARTIE EMORY

When Donna Merriman opened Fraleigh’s Boutique with her mother, Mary Frances Bingham, in 1981, she knew their strong family bond would spill over into the business.

But who could have guessed they would be celebrating a 40th anniversary this year, blessed with an ever-growing client base and an amazingly bright future ahead!

This year has been one to remember for the Fraleigh’s family, explains Donna’s daughter-in-law, Ally, who now helps manage the boutique’s day-to-day operations.

“For our 40th anniversary we wanted to go BIG,” says Ally.

“You only turn 40 once! We had a three-day Anniversary Sale and a fun wheel for customers to spin at checkout and receive extra discounts and goodies – all as a thank-you for supporting us!” One especially favorite element of the anniversary hoopla – old photos of Mary and Donna from 1986 that were used in original newspaper ads – were made into canvases and placed around the boutique for customers to enjoy and reminisce.

20 | ForsythWoman.com

“It brought back sweet memories for some of our customers who have been shopping with us since we opened,” says Ally.

“For others, it was a glimpse of Fraleigh’s past.”

A large part of that past has been made up of mothers and daughters shopping together, as classic style always transcends generations.

The boutique also has many “regulars” -- groups of girlfriends and co-workers who also make it a point to shop together. From size two to 20W, the goal is simply to make customers feel comfortable.

“When we have a customer who shares their love for our store with family and friends and brings them along for the experience, that’s truly the highest compliment you can receive!” says Ally.

At Fraleigh’s, showing love to their loyal clients means a focus on customer service, and a dedication to carrying quality clothing. For those that choose the boutique experience over online shopping, the staff offers 100% effort to giving them the one-on-one service they deserve (think personal shopper!), as well as recognizing when customers would prefer to browse on their own.

40 Years & Counting!

Staying in style these days also means keeping pace with social media, and Fraleigh’s posts daily videos on Facebook and Instagram, along with emails to keep customers up-to-date on new inventory, daily specials, and other upcoming events at the shop. “Our daily videos have truly helped our business flourish, especially during the past year,” says Ally.

“We see so many trends in the marketplace and make adjustments when we’re buying in order to stay age-appropriate for our clientele.”

Throughout these amazing 40 years, the Fraleigh’s staff has seen every look and every style come and go, from skinny pants to wide legs, long jackets, short jackets, and tops in every color, always with the perfect accessories to match. Those fun accessories, from shoes and scarves to bags and jewelry, also make excellent Christmas gifts!

The achievement and excitement of 2021 will not soon be forgotten at Fraleigh’s, and these ladies are excited to continue growing and bringing their customers the very best quality. The rewards of running a successful business have been many, on both professional and personal levels.

“Our customers are our family,” explains Ally, proudly. “We celebrate with them, grow with them, and even cry together. If we have just met them that day, some time in the last few months, or maybe we have known them for 30-plus years -- either way, they are family! When you have the opportunity to spend time with your customers and get to know them on a personal level, that’s what makes it all worthwhile.”

If you’re new to the Fraleigh’s family here’s a bit of trivia: The clever shop name combines both Mary and Donna’s middle names – Frances and Leigh!

Come visit Fraleigh’s Boutique at 2626 LewisvilleClemmons Road in Clemmons, 336-766-7440, and follow them on Instagram @fraleighsboutique and at Fraleighsboutiquenc.com. Boutique hours are Monday through Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

December 2021 | 21

BY TABATHA RENEGAR

Sit down with Taylor Hedges and Payton Beaty for five minutes, and you will know that you are in the presence of two women brimming with exceptional dedication, passion, and creativity! They are the force behind The Board Babe, Charcuterie Café and Lounge in downtown Winston-Salem.

Just in case you have somehow missed the arrival of charcuterie as a delightful social experience in the last couple of years, let me explain.

The word charcuterie is a 15th-century French term that translates to “the products of a fancy pork butcher.” Luckily that meaning has evolved to describe an assortment of curated meats and artisan breads or crackers that may also include fresh fruit, veggies, nuts, and/or baked goods, all artfully arranged on a serving board.

Offerings from The Board Babe are intentionally designed with a major focus on flavor, pairings, and visual appeal.

So how did these two close friends, Taylor, originally from California, and Payton from Charlotte, come together to create this dynamic and growing business? Like so many entrepreneurial stories of late, one word: pandemic. Taylor, a former broker, found herself with less work and more time on her hands while quarantined, so she started making charcuterie boards for fun. A few friends were invited over and their supportive reaction inspired Taylor to create an Instagram page for her boards and try to sell them. How did that go? “It just blew up on Instagram!” Taylor says. The stars continued to align when Taylor reconnected with Payton, who had been managing an event venue that was also unable to operate due to Covid. Payton was enthusiastic about the potential and the two struck up a business partnership.

Payton also owns The Intent Weddings & Events.

November of 2021 marked the one-year anniversary of The Board Babe, and it is clear that this endeavor is just getting started for these two dynamos and their staff of eight! In addition to growing their catering, “pop-up” and wholesale product business, there is also an expansion into the Greensboro market in the works. “We don’t have a space selected in Greensboro yet… we are looking for something unique, maybe with more of an industrial feel to it because we intend to cater more to men at that location. Guys should have a cool, ‘metro’ space where they can go for a beer after work, catch some sports but also feel like they’ve had a unique experience,” says Taylor.

The first year of The Board Babe has been a busy, challenging, but ultimately successful one, so I asked Taylor and Payton to give me some insight into how they think that happened. “You can do cool things with a product, but at the end of the day, you need to be grateful and happy with what you do,” Payton said. “Having a business partnership built on trust and respect is key.”

Taylor adds, “We are not afraid to show our true selves… both our strengths and weaknesses. We are learning so much while also being very intentional about our craft and about building our brand.”

Ready to experience The Board Babe for yourself? The café is located in one of Winston-Salem’s historical gems, The Rosenbacher House, one of the grandest (and possibly haunted!) Neo-Classical Revival dwellings in Winston-Salem and one of only several examples of the style in the West End. The house simply drips with character and charm and there is also ample outdoor seating and a fire pit. Currently open Wednesday’s 10 -5, Thursday-Saturday 10-9, and Sunday’s 10-3 for brunch, visitors will enjoy a variety of baked goods, tapas, and flatbreads along with local craft beer and specialty bottles of wine that you won’t find anywhere else in town. Along with fabulous essays about intentional living, sample menus for the café, brunch, and the wine list can be perused on The Board Babe website. Follow The Board Babe on Instagram and Facebook so that you won’t miss their event and workshop announcements.

I am grateful for the time I spent talking with Taylor and Payton and look forward to relaxing at The Board Babe Café very soon. Maybe I will see you there…. enjoying a glass of wine, an artful charcuterie board and soaking up the positive energy that abounds in this intentional and passionate space.

Visit The Board Babe Charcuterie Café and Lounge at 848 West Fifth Street in Winston-Salem and online at theboardbabe.net, facebook.com/ the.boardbabee, instagram.com/the. boardbabe/, or simply reach out to order at orders@theboardbabe.net.

Best Asian Restaurant & Runners Up Sushi 2020

WEEKLY DRINK SPECIALS

HakkaChow

Tuesday all moscow mule cocktails $3 off Wednesday all mojito cocktails $3 off Thursday half price wine by the glass

Friday & Saturday bottled beer $1.50 off and draft beer $2 off Sunday mimosas and bloody marys $5 half price flavored sake by the glass

Best Sushi Runner Up Winner Best Asian

NEW:

Biggest Sake Selection in the Triad.

More than 20 different Sake available.

CLOSED ON MONDAYS

(336) 893-8178 | hakka-chow.com 615 Saint George Sq Ct | Winston-Salem, NC 27103 (Right off Hanes Mall Blvd. across from the Wynnsong 12 Movie Theater)

Monday Closed Tuesday -Thursday 11:30am - 9:30pm Friday 11:30am - 10pm Saturday 12pm - 10pm Sunday 12pm - 9pm

BY LAUREN SEPHTON

. com t n e m o m w. abrightm t h g i r ww @b co oment

Hi! I’m Lauren. I’m a freelance writer, a food blogger and the official Forsyth Mags Foodie! Stay tuned each month to find everything from achievable dessert ideas to healthy, quick dinners that’ll happily feed the family.

Ham & Swiss Sliders with a Peach-Poppyseed Glaze Servings: 12 | Prep Time: 10 | Cook Time: 25 | Total Time: 35

INGREDIENTS: One 12-count package Hawaiian rolls 3/4 lb. ham, cooked, thinly sliced 3/4 lb. swiss cheese, thinly sliced 1/4 cup peach fruit spread 2-3 tsp. spicy brown mustard 1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil 1 tsp. poppyseeds 1/2 tsp. black pepper 1/4 tsp. salt INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 9x9” or 9x13” pan with aluminum foil, then lightly grease with olive oil or butter.

2. Using a large, serrated knife, slice the rolls in half so that you have two slabs (one for the tops and one for the bottoms).

3. Place the “bottoms” slab of rolls into the prepared pan.

4. Add an even layer of half of the ham over the rolls.

5. Add an even layer of the swiss cheese.

6. Add the remaining ham in an even layer.

7. Add the “tops” slab of the rolls.

8. To make the glaze, simply mix the gold peach fruit preserve, olive oil, mustard, poppyseeds, black pepper and salt.

9. Brush all the glaze over the top layer of the rolls, then cover with aluminum foil.

10. Let the rolls sit at room temperature for 5-8 minutes, then bake covered for 20 minutes.

11. Uncover and bake an additional 5 minutes.

12. Slice into individual sliders and enjoy warm!

Make it a Fraleigh’s

Christmas Fraleighs

Check out our daily videos on Facebook and Instagram!

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MONDAY-FRIDAY 10AM-5PM | SATURDAY 10AM-4PM | 2626 LEWISVILLE-CLEMMONS RD. CLEMMONS, NC 27012

‘TIS THE SEASON FOR RENOVATION

BY KALI NEWLEN-BURDEN | PHOTOS BY J. SINCLAIR

A new season of life invites new opportunities and welcomes new dynamics at home. For the Rollinses, their next season arrived when their two children moved out from under their roof. Twenty-five years of memories and traditions were preserved within those walls, but the existing layout did not match their changing lifestyle.

They craved more space to enjoy everyday life and to spend time with family and friends.

“We first explored moving to a new house, but we love our neighborhood, our neighbors, and many things about our house, so we decided to renovate,” the Rollinses shared.

They partnered with ICON Custom Builders, who transformed the existing garage and kitchen into a larger kitchen, beverage bar, mudroom, laundry room and office area. In addition, ICON increased the patio space to allow for both indoor and outdoor gatherings.

We needed the full range of expertise that ICON Custom Builders offers – architectural, construction, and interior design! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– K. ROLLINS Architect Dave Meyer stressed the importance of collaboration during a renovation of this scale. “The client is the center of the project, and we get to help guide them and help them make good decisions based on costdriven design ideas,” he shared. Meyer worked with the Rollinses to narrow the project scope and draw out a new floor plan to enlarge the footprint of the kitchen and the adjacent spaces.

“In order to make this renovation a success, we needed to pay attention to the existing details and materials,” Meyer shared. “This allows us to tie the existing and newly renovated spaces together seamlessly.”

The Rollinses’ garage – which had functioned as a playroom, exercise room, art room and storage room over the years – turned into finished space during the renovation. The design raised the garage floor to match the house floor elevation, making everything flow more naturally on the main level.

“Dave Meyer put our dreams and ideas for our space on paper to create a plan,” the Rollinses shared. “Our project manager, Craig Carter, along with the whole ICON team and their talented subcontractors, brought the plans to life, and Katherine pulled it all together and made it beautiful.”

We have a lot of in-house resources on the ICON team to offer our clients. From the initial meeting to the finished project, there many conversations, decision points, selections, and pauses to consider what might be possible. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––– D. MEYER When tackling a renovation like this, clients should be prepared to make a lot of decisions. However, project and design coordinator Katherine Yeager makes the selection

process streamlined and fun. She helps clients choose everything from lighting to plumbing fixtures to paint.

“Selection fatigue can wear on clients during a renovation of this scale, so it’s important for me to spend time on the front-end looking at photos, writing out a wish list and thinking through their overall vision for the space,” Yeager shared. “It helps me better guide them through the design phase and the renovation.”

Her design decisions centered on complementing the traditional style of this 1970s home, while making it open and bright. Crisp white cabinets and a complementary quartz countertop, combined with champagne bronze fixtures and cabinet hardware, add warmth to the neutral space. The bold navy island adds a pop of color. The open floor plan allows a perfect flow from the cozy family room into the kitchen area.

“It is true what they say, everyone congregates in the kitchen – especially during the holidays!” Yeager shared.

Design details that make hosting and gathering easy in this space include a custom built-in “drop-zone” for guests’ coats and handbags, a beverage center, and a centerpiece kitchen island.

This large kitchen island offers plenty of seating for friends and family and ample counter space for serving and enjoying meals. It is Yeager’s favorite detail: “I smile thinking about all of the wonderful memories that will be made around it.”

The new island in the kitchen has become the heart of our home. We do life at the island – we work there, we eat there, and we entertain there! ––––––––––– K. ROLLINS The Rollinses look forward to hosting their family over the holidays. In addition to a traditional Christmas meal, their family will start a new tradition. “Once our kids get home, we plan to kick off the holiday season with a low country boil, which we will enjoy serving at our new island in the kitchen!” the Rollinses remarked.

Reflecting on the nine-month project – from initial plans to final reveal – Yeager emphasized that a large renovation like this is worth the wait. “The Rollinses waited many years to tackle this kitchen renovation and didn’t feel the need to rush the design or construction process,” she said. “They wanted it to be done right and it shows!”

With a renovation designed to last, the next season of memories is only just beginning.

The ICON team took our vision and utilized their wealth of skills, knowledge, and creativity to add design elements, functionality, and beauty that completely transformed our space. Everyone at ICON is dedicated to perfection, and they cared as much about our project as we did.

K. ROLLINS

Icon Builders

Carrying on the Legacy

BY LAUREN SEPHTON

Second-generation farmer Mark Anders started Anders Family Farm out of a passion for producing a high-quality harvest on the land he grew up on. For many years, Mark grew field vegetables like other farmers until he became captivated with the knowledge of water purification and the health benefits of hydroponics. But never could he have imagined leaving behind a legacy that would carry on through his wife, Anna, and three young daughters, Ashlyn (20), Madison (16), and Abby (13).

After extensive schooling and research, Mark built his first homemade hydroponic system in a small greenhouse, not thinking much of it. Little did he know that friends and family would be keeping him busy with an appetite for his fresh lettuce!

And while he continued to expand in that greenhouse, it didn’t take long for others to taste the difference and notice the quality.

Shortly thereafter, Mark was invited to be a vendor at the Greensboro Curb Farmers Market and began to attend on Mother’s Day weekend of May 2018. Within just two hours of each

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market opening, Mark would be wiped clean from all hydroponic lettuce and microgreens. He knew that to meet the high demand, it was time to take a leap of faith. It was in the summer of 2019 that Mark and his family broke ground on their land to build a 134-foot greenhouse that they are now quickly growing out of today. The greenhouse is operated year-round with seasonal produce that is non-GMO and pesticide-free.

Over the years, the Anders Family grew to spend every waking moment outside their regular work and school schedules in the greenhouse together. And after Mark’s passing away in August 2021, his wife and daughters were determined to keep his legacy alive and continue sharing the joy of the harvest with their community.

“At the farm we have an awesome team of four! Our daughters Ashlyn, Madison, and Abby do various jobs around the farm, from planting the seeds to planting the babies in the grow troughs.

They harvest the hydroponic produce, pack orders, and help me

at times attend the farmer market,” says Anna. Their oldest, Ashlyn, is making big moves in the lives of our children as she’s a preschool teacher by day and a farmworker by evening. “Madison is our farmhand, as she loves learning all the science behind growing and planting the hydroponics. And Abby is our smiler; she enjoys meeting our customers and helping in any way needed around the farm.” And of course, Anna handles all operations and oversees the daily activities while being a newly single mother.

“All of our produce is fungicide-free, non-GMO, and pesticidefree. We offer living hydroponic lettuce varieties, from green and red romaine heads to large leaf spinach and buttercrunch bibb.”

They also offer a full line of hydroponic microgreens that “pack a huge nutrition punch in a very small plant. Their flavor is also intensified on your palate, so a little goes a very long way.” Their lettuce heads are harvested the night prior to market and are sold with the roots still attached so that they will stay fresh for up to two weeks or longer! One of their popular items is their Hydroponic Spinach that they grow in the fall, winter, and early spring. They also have a variety of fresh, flavorful herbs year-round, from dill to cilantro, parsley, and basil.

“What you put into your body really does matter. For months now, we have had one customer who has taken her young son to a holistic doctor for his autism, and the doctor recommended broccoli microgreens. When she first sought us out at the market, she would purchase our hydroponic greens weekly. And now, she has told us that she is seeing changes in him and will continue to modify his diet for hopes of the better.” Anna also explained how she has a customer that recently underwent a lung transplant and had to be extremely cautious when picking out ingredients, but comes by weekly to purchase their hydroponic greens as he doesn’t have to worry about the microorganisms of regular store-bought produce grown in the field.

You can shop their hydroponic greens on their website for local pick-up at the farm or say hi to Anna in person at the Greensboro Curb Farmers Market on Saturdays. They are also available throughout the week in local stores and restaurants listed on their website (www.andersfamilyfarm. com). You can contact them at (336) 403 9420 or email at andersfamilyfarm@gmail.com.

December 2021 | 29

On the Road Again: Arkansas

BY AMY HILL

Never expected to take a trip to the quiet state of Arkansas?

You’re not alone. In fact, many travelers are quite surprised by the nature and history that this patriotic state has in store. Read more to find out how to spend seven days in Arkansas.

Day 1: Drive to Northwest Arkansas Fortunately, due to the relatively smaller size of Arkansas in comparison to longer or wider states, only a round trip plane ticket and car rental in and out of Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) in Little Rock, Arkansas, will be necessary for your journey.

After landing in Little Rock, take a three-hour drive northwest to Bentonville, a city notorious for being the birthplace of Walmart. Avid Walmart shoppers might find that The Walmart Museum in Downtown Bentonville is worth a quick visit and self-guided tour. To start your week off on a high note, have dinner at Tusk & Trotter American Brasserie and order the restaurant’s signature pig ear nachos (yes, the dish does contain actual pig ears).

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Day 2: Pea Ridge National Military Park

Day 5: Hot Springs National Park

Only half an hour east of Bentonville sits Pea Ridge National Military Park, a superbly preserved 4,300acre Civil War battlefield and national park. Many visitors hike the Williams Hollow Loop Hike to take in the history of the park, while others may choose to tour the park on horseback. The Visitor’s Center offers a short orientation video to provide visitors with context to some of the historical sites and monuments they will see throughout the park.

Spend your fifth day in Arkansas at Hot Springs National Park, only an hour southwest of Little Rock. Bring an empty water bottle and fill it up with water from the thermal springs fountains throughout the park to drink, as the water in the park has been protected since 1832 by Congress.

Dip your toes in the park’s thermal springs at the Display Spring or Hot Water Cascade, the only two locations in the park where the water has cooled enough to touch.

Day 3: Hobbs State Park Conservation Area After spending a full day learning about the history of Arkansas, drive 20 miles east of Bentonville and explore Hobbs State Park Conservation Area. Packed with trails for hiking and biking, bring the family for a picnic lunch or take a guided tour of War Eagle Cavern, Arkansas’s only lakeside cavern entrance. War Eagle Cavern is fun for all ages with additional activities for children such as gemstone panning and navigating through a wooden maze.

Day 4: Head to Little Rock Check out of your home away from home in Bentonville and make the long drive back to Little Rock for the remainder of your trip. Spend your first day in the city exploring Downtown Little Rock and take a stroll along the Arkansas River. Mosey on down to MacArthur Park, where locals and tourists can visit the Arkansas Korean War Veterans Memorial. A short drive away from MacArthur Park is Lost Forty Brewing to grab a glass of Arkansas’s finest craft beer while you snack on Hoppin’ John Black Bean Dip after a day of city strolling.

Day 6: Pinnacle Mountain State Park Finish off your last full day in Arkansas with a picnic on top of Pinnacle Mountain. Just 25 minutes west of Little Rock, this hiking destination is home to the Big and Little Maumelle Rivers, and is also a certified Trail of Tears National Historic Site, where Cherokees, Choctaws, Creeks, Seminoles, and Chickasaws were uprooted and forced to travel through.

Day 7: Head Home Enjoy your short drive to the Little Rock airport to catch your flight home, but not before stopping for a cup of Joe at Little Rock’s Fidel & Co. Coffee. Satisfy your morning sweet tooth with a piece of Fidel & Co.’s cardamom coffee cake and sip on a cappuccino before returning your rental car at the airport and fastening your seatbelt for takeoff.

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HAIR & HOLIDAY SHOPPING:

ALKALI HAIR STUDIO’S CURATED RETAIL

BY JEN OLENICZAK BROWN, PHOTOS BY PHOTO ARTISTRY BY MELINDA

I don’t know about you, but when an incredible stylist and business owner tells me about a product that she loves so much that someone will have to pry it from her “cold dead fingers” I’m going to listen. And when that woman is Amber Woodall from Alkali Hair Studio, I’m going to see what else she’s brought into their new expanded retail space just in time for holiday shopping.

Before you wonder about the connection between “shopping” and “hair studio” don’t worry – you aren’t alone. “People don’t think to come a few minutes early before their appointment to look around,” said Amber, stylist and owner of Alkali. “Clients will compliment a nail polish I’m wearing and I will say ‘we sell it here’ and they are always surprised by the variety of things we carry.”

The expanded retail space at Alkali is carefully curated by Amber herself, complete with recommendations from the stylists. “Now that we have more space at this location, I can carry the things that the stylists were constantly recommending to clients,” said Amber. “I kept thinking, why are we recommending things like sleep bonnets, Velcro rollers, and satin pillowcases, and then sending people over to Amazon?” The offerings at Alkali started expanding when Amber was out earlier this summer with a leg injury, “I had to do work while I was recovering, so I had the time to make sure products we were looking at aligned with our philosophies at Alkali – and were things that there was a need for.”

This has always been the case with the hair products at Alkali: Oribe has been a personal favorite of the stylists (and mine – if you haven’t used the Dry Texturizing Spray, you haven’t lived) and Davines is another Alkali aligned and approved hair product.

“While they [Oribe and Davines] are different quality products, they are both environmentally friendly and employee focused companies – things I truly value within my team and business.”

Amazing quality is a non-negotiable with Amber, “We are always looking for new and high-quality products that people need.

A good example of this is a micro needling roller,” Amber said.

“You can tear up your skin if you randomly choose it over the counter or off Amazon. We want to do the research for people and help them find the best one.”

Aside from hair products and the medical-grade skincare line Environ, Alkali carries hair accessories like barrettes, clips, scrunchies, and bridal hairpieces. “You couldn’t get these things at local places – people are going to look to Target over an independent local place. I wanted to offer the things that our customers need and honestly, some of it is a bit selfish. If I see something that’s cool and that we like, I want to bring it in,” said Amber. One thing she wants clients to know – buying a product from a local business like Alkali allows you to support small business: “People think that the company is going to provide it cheaper, or they are going to get a better deal on Amazon, but because it’s such high quality, everything is price regulated. It will be the same price wherever – if you get it from us, you are keeping money in the community.”

And of course Amber has some top gift picks from the carefully curated selection: “David Aubrey jewelry is fun, timeless, art deco and geometric. Their earrings are a great friend piece. We have cotton reusable face wipes that are excellent for the person that doesn’t want to keep buying disposable wipes. If you’d like to splurge, grab one of the Oribe Holiday Giftsets – they teamed with a wallpaper artist from Paris this year – and the box sets are so nice. Also a box of the micro needling rollers. Even if you’re not using Environ, it’s a big treat that takes skincare up another level.”

And that product that Amber can’t live without? Oribe’s Royal Blowout. “This product cuts down on my drying time, extends the life of my blow-dry, adds oils to keep my hair hydrated, and gives me 10 minutes back in my day – and anything that gives me time back is amazing.”

Visit Alkali Hair Studio at 407 W. End Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC 27101 or online at studioalkali.com.

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Smart Shopping During the Holidays

BY BRANDON JAMES, FINANCIAL ADVISOR

The holiday season brings us good food, family time, decorations, parties, and Santa Claus. It also brings a great deal of stress for some people.

One of the leading stressors of the holiday season is gift buying. There is a certain level of expectation (usually self-inflicted) that some people feel about buying presents and making sure they give everyone on their list that “perfect gift.” I prefer the holiday season be filled with family, friends, and making memories, but ultimately, shopping madness seems to take over for many folks. Therefore, here are a few things you can do to make sure your holiday shopping doesn’t wear you down and break the bank: Have a list and identify a budget. Make sure everyone is on your list that you intend to buy a gift for and then decide how much you will spend on each one of them.

• The list and the budget are the easy parts. Sticking to it can be the difficult part. Save receipts and keep a constant calculation of how much you are spending on each person. This will help you stay within the budget you created for yourself and ensure that you do not dip into other dollars that are designated for other things. More importantly, this keeps you from piling up unwanted credit card debt. It is frightening the number of parents who are willing to go into debt during the holidays just so their children will be able to open every gift on their wish list.

• Find those deals! Who doesn’t love a good deal? There are plenty of deals and specials this time of year. Finding things on sale can really help make your holiday budget a reality. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are both days that you can capitalize on the best sales of the year.

• Shop online and save time (and gas). Speaking of Cyber Monday, online shopping is becoming more and more popular as shopping malls and strip mall stores have begun closing their doors. Not to mention the impact the pandemic has made on in-person shopping over the last two holiday seasons. Be sure to do your online shopping early enough so you can avoid overnight shipping costs. Don’t forget to check out your favorite local stores and shops, as they have made it convenient to do your shopping online while still supporting your community.

One advantage of having gifts delivered to your doorstep is that it allows for more time for what the season is all about…quality time with family and friends.

• How about an experience instead of a gift? The gift of time is more important than material things because it creates a memory. If you polled a large number of people and asked them what they got for Christmas in the year 2005 (or any year before last year, for that matter), you would probably get a lot of guesses and “I don’t know.” However, that same group of people probably remember that weekend trip to the mountains, the tickets to a show or event, or even a membership to the local zoo or nature science center that can be enjoyed all year long.

We hope your holiday season is full of fun, great food, and quality family time. Try these tips to ensure your holiday shopping doesn’t overwhelm you and your bank account this season.

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A Passion for Seafood & a Passion for the Community: Forsyth Seafood Market & Café’

The mother-daughter team of Virginia Oden Hardesty and Ashley Hardesty Armstrong, owners of Forsyth Seafood Market & Café,’ share their passion for seafood with the Triad community. “We are passionate, consistent, and love our community.” This message comes across loud and clear from these business leaders who have built a legacy of bringing happiness to their customers through more than simply great food.

Virgina and her late husband Charles started this family business over 37 years ago. Originally from Beaufort, NC, where they learned about the seafood business from their family, Virginia and Charles moved to Winston-Salem after graduating from North Carolina A & T and Elizabeth City State University, respectively. Though successful in corporate America, they made the brave decision to “go with what you know” and try their hand at running a seafood market. They grew Forsyth Seafood from a weekend truck outside Cook’s Flea Market to the current market and 100-seat restaurant on Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.

As the business grew, the Hardesty family made sure the community grew with them.

They assisted members of the community who desired a college education, served on multiple community development boards, mentored those trying to start a small business, and were active in their church.

The Hardestys passed on their business talents and love of community to their daughter Ashley who is a co-owner and works in the family business. Ashley joined in 2014 after working in the textile industry in Charlotte, where she applied her degree from North Carolina State University in fashion textile management. “You should love what you do,” says Virgina, and Ashley did not love threading textile machinery, so she returned home to discover that she loved helping bring innovative ideas to Forsyth Seafood. She graduated from Johnson and Wales culinary school in 2018 and completed a prestigious internship at Kindred, the award-winning restaurant in Davidson, NC. Ashley uses her culinary talents and experience in

marketing to expand the business model of Forsyth Seafood. They now have a food truck that frequents the Cobblestone Farmer’s Market on Saturdays, as well as visits to breweries and food popups. She has strengthened their social media presence and visibility across the Triad. Virginia, armed with an MBA from Wake Forest University, and Ashley, garnering marketing and culinary degrees, have big plans for expansion. Heinz X Lee Initiative recently awarded this team with a $20,000 grant to explore potential retail products and distribution models for dishes like their Eastern NC gumbo & seafood breaders.

While several small businesses suffered during the Covid pandemic, Forsyth Seafood never closed, except for holidays.

Virginia’s motto, “from street people to the judge,” reflects the love and respect they have for all of their customers. Their customers are shown respect and are considered blessings. The customers returned that love and support during the pandemic. “We all have more similarities than differences,” says this dynamic duo who lift up every customer with a kind word and a plate of NC seafood.

Small business owners face financial challenges, especially in the food industry, but Virginia and Ashley face the additional challenges of being business leaders, female and African American. The food industry is a male dominated business arena and diverse female business owners are rare. “It takes longer for us to prove ourselves and get recognized for excellence.” Their consistent goal of making customers feel important has helped to overcome the challenges of achieving success as African American entrepreneurs.

Their passion for the community will help their customers overcome the challenges of finding joy while living through a pandemic. Some of their most popular menu items include the shrimp burger, oyster burger, and Eastern NC coleslaw that requires five hundred pounds of hand-chopped cabbage per week.

Now that is dedication to making other people happy!

Forsythseafood.com @forsythseafoodws

Piedmont Federal Savings Bank

Holiday Magic is in the Air I don’t know about you, but I am getting really excited about Christmas this year. It is that time of year when we start thinking of friends and family that are coming home for the holidays. Decorating is an important subject and starting early will be less stressful. A list of the rooms you want to spruce up or redecorate is important. With the High Point Market behind us and fresh in our minds, we are swimming in new creative designs and products. We are excited to implement these new designs and styles with our clients for the holidays and for their everyday living. Most of us are aware of the supply and demand issues, so that is another reason to start early.

We have been blessed with many complete turn-key projects this past year. With more and more people moving here from other states, we have had many opportunities to redesign, remodel, and furnish homes.

They leave or sell all their old furnishings and start over.

It is an amazing trend. People ask me what style is on the horizon. I see traditional in a reborn way. Reborn is what I think of when mixing multiple styles together.

The colors of pillows, rugs and other pieces change the overall feel of any setting. Designers are making cabinets in kitchens more interesting by mixing white, light wood, and colors. Mixing gold metals, black and other metals is becoming acceptable in one room. There was a time when all the metals had to match. Go figure. We have had a blast at reinventing classic homes. We desire to make these homes beautiful and comfortable just in time for the holiday season.

Christmas is on the tip of our tongues with Holiday Magic in the air and just around the corner. I focused on items for our retail showroom at market that clients and customers need this time of year to complete a room from start to finish. New lamps, mirrors, bedding, artwork, and accessories have been ordered. Starting early with a plan to furnish your home, remodel a bathroom or a kitchen is where it all begins.

God Bless!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

PHOTO COURTESY OF © THIBAUT

June

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2018, 2017, 2016, 2016, 2013

The Perfect Holiday Guest Room

PHOTO COURTESY OF © THIBAUT

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TURNKEY REMODELING AND INTERIOR DESIGN! FROM START TO FINISH AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN! LIGHTING • FLOORING • FURNITURE • WINDOW TREATMENTS • AND MORE!

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Your Go-To for Local Fashion this Holiday Season

BY AMY HILL

Christmas might be just around the corner, but there’s still time to get your last minute holiday shopping done. Why not skip large retailers like Target and Amazon this year, and shower your loved ones head to toe with unique apparel and accessories? Located in Advance, South + Main Boutique touts stylish, local garb that is certain to turn heads this holiday season.

Truly a rags to riches tale, boutique owner Thim Phommavanh transformed her career path after losing her job as a bar manager at Hickory Tavern to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. While she had previously worked for a boutique and has always been interested in fashion and home decor, owning her own boutique wasn’t in the cards for her until her devastating lay-off. With the support and encouragement of her boyfriend, Thim used her dining room to open South + Main, and was elated when online sales began picking up. Soon, Thim moved the boutique into a second-floor location in Advance/Bermuda Run that was previously used as an office space.

As the boutique continued to grow, however, Thim realized that a larger, more accessible retail space was needed. Just a year after losing her job, Thim and her boutique moved into a brand new location in Advance in March 2021.

South + Main’s new location has been nothing short of successful, with Thim and her team seeing new customers daily. What makes South + Main stand apart from other boutiques in the Triad is its family-oriented atmosphere that shoppers feel while browsing the boutique floor.

Thim is adamant about being honest with customers and selling only what she believes makes for a good product - not just what’s popular.

Since supporting local businesses is near and dear to Thim’s heart, items sold in-store and online at South + Main come primarily from local vendors. Aside from clothing, many unique accessories, shoes, and decorative items are handpicked and sold at the boutique. Thim

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and her team consider social media to be the bread and butter of their business, or at least the icing on the cake to their top-notch customer service and inventory. The South + Main team does a phenomenal job of keeping up with the latest, rapidly changing TikTok trends, and inventing lighthearted and entertaining content to post on a regular basis. Social media engagement, along with word of mouth in the community, has helped the boutique grow in popularity and notoriety in such a short amount of time. This month, Thim and her team are excited to be participating in Charlotte’s Girl Tribe Pop Up Event on December 12th and 13th. In addition, keep your eyes peeled for social media updates on the shop’s upcoming Christmas Open House as well.

Stop by South + Main to shop new seasonal items before they sell out, such as the ever-popular “shacket,” or shirt-jacket, which the boutique is selling in nearly every color. More hot items in-store for the winter season include chunky lug sole boots, embellished denim jackets with heavy distressing, and preneLOVE’s neoprene, machine washable, and trendy totes.

If you love fashion, have ample availability, and want to work in a lively, fun boutique, the South + Main team is ready for you. Ready to apply to become part of the team? Email your resume and cover letter to info@southandmainnc.com.

Interested in seeing what all South + Main has to offer? Browse the racks in person, or shop online at southandmainnc.com. Check out the boutique’s Facebook page and follow @southandmainnc on Instagram to stay up-to-date on the latest arrivals, business hours, and updates from Thim and her team. Need to shop on the go? Download the free South + Main Boutique app in the App Store or Google Play, where you can participate in the team’s weekly live streams every Thursday.

For any other inquiries, call the boutique directly at (336) 941-9744.

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December 2021 | 41

BACK TO NORMAL WITH EXTRAORDINARY PIZZA

BY DENISE HEIDEL

Pie Guys Pizza includes a great selection of mouthwatering pizza, including (but not limited to): White Pie –Topped with Basil, Mozzarella Cheese, Oregano, Roma Tomatoes.

Pie Guys is a culmination of a lifelong love of pizza, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a genuine love for community.

Owned by real estate agent and pizzaaficionado Robert Wiley, Pie Guys has been a favorite for many since it opened in 2018.

“We serve New York-style pizzas exactly like those served in the Big Apple,” said Robert. “I love New York style pizza, and I take pride in bringing the taste of Manhattan to WinstonSalem by curating the finest meats, cheeses and ensuring our dough and tomato sauce are made fresh daily.”

This attention to detail and commitment to high-quality ingredients have created some menu issues for Robert in 2021. “The supply shortages are no secret – virtually every industry has felt the frustration of not being able to get products. But as for me, I’m not going to sacrifice

42 | ForsythWoman.com

quality in my shop just to get a lesserquality alternative. With supplies being more difficult to find, I regrettably had to eliminate some subs and salads from my menu this year. Supply shortages and the fact that the labor shortage finally caught up to us made it such a hard decision. But first and foremost – we are a pizza shop. I had to make sure I could procure what we needed so our team could do what they do best: make the best pizza in town.”

Despite Robert’s angst about pulling certain menu items, his Facebook post was covered with understanding support from those who are Pie Guys regulars. “I was so thankful for their kind words. But it’s certainly not the first time this community has shown us support.

When our restaurant was temporarily closed in 2021 due to arson, our return to business was met with a tidal wave of support from our community. I’m still blown away by it. I love this town, and I’m so grateful that I get to own and operate my dream business here in the Winston-Salem / Clemmons area!

“And as grateful as I am for everyone’s support, I do have good news! We anticipate adding our subs and salads back to the menu in January, and even better, we plan to reopen our dining room around the same time! I don’t have exact dates, but I hope everyone will follow us on social media and stay tuned for the announcements.”

Robert shared, “It’s hard to believe that we’ve been in business for four years already. And between COVID, a fire, and these supply issues, we’ve had our share of trials. But we are resilient, and we continue to show up, operating Pie Guys from a heart of gratitude for all who have embraced our pizza and staff, and shown us their tremendous loyalty. I am grateful.”

Pie Guys’ Pizza is conveniently located at 3425 Kinnamon Village Commons (Food Lion shopping center) on the corner of Hwy158 and Kinnamon Road. Delivery is available for some areas of Clemmons and Winston Salem.

For more details, or to order online, visit www.pieguys.com or call (336) 893-7331.

Carnivore Pie (Meats) –Pepperoni, Sausage, Ground Beef, Canadian Bacon, Meatballs, Mozzarella.

Herbivore (Veggie) – Roma Tomatoes, Mushrooms, Onions, Green Peppers, Mushrooms, Black Olives, Mozzarella.

Works –Pepperoni, Sausage, Ground Beef, Onions, Green Peppers, Mushrooms, Black Olives and Mozzarella.

Big Kahuna Pie – Canadian Bacon, Pineapple, and Mozzarella.

Margherita Pie–Roma Tomatoes, Basil, Oregano, Mozzarella.

BBQ Chicken Pie– BBQ Sauce, Red Onions, Grilled Chicken, Bacon, Basil and Mozzarella.

Budget Blinds

Using a Hot Mess to Share His MESSage 1. WORK ON YOUR THOUGHT LIFE Does anyone else have a crazy mind? Mine can go here, there, and everywhere! Proverbs 4:23 says, “Be careful what you think because your thoughts rule your life.”

Don’t let your thoughts control you!

Take your unhealthy thoughts captive and redirect them to something more positive.

Do you sometimes feel like a mess? Many of us deal with a whole myriad of issues that make us feel that we don’t have it all together. We walk through our lives trying to put on a good front but feeling like a mess inside.

Leslie Speas is an author from Winston-Salem who is a self-proclaimed “Hot Mess.” Her book, Confessions of a Hot Mess: From Mess to MESSage – 90 Days of Messages for the Hot Mess in You was released in November.

She claims that she is not the typical MESSenger. She compares. She tries to control. She worries. Her sense of humor is a bit off-color. She drinks wine. She didn’t know Jesus until later in life. But she says that she honestly doesn’t know how she would have survived the last few years without her faith.

Leslie says that she felt led to share her mess to help others with theirs. She uses stories, humor, Scripture, and tips to provide ninety days of lessons on various topics she has grappled with, such as comparison, control, impatience, insecurity, guilt, and forgiveness.

When asked to share some takeaways from the book, Leslie shared five tips to help you move from hot mess to success.

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In the Bible, we are told to “renew our minds” (Romans 12:2). The single best way to do this is through a steady intake of God’s Word. Satan is always tempting and troubling us by getting up in our minds. Recognize and reject Satan’s lies and replace them with God’s truth.

Sometimes I even say, “Get away, Satan!” (to myself, of course). Also, consider the things that you are filling your mind with – television, social media, news, music, books. You may have heard, “garbage in, garbage out.” It works the same way with your mind. Fill it with good things, and better things will come out of it!

2. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF You can’t care for others if you aren’t taking care of yourself! We know it’s important to take care of our bodies, but what about our souls? First and foremost, a close relationship with God is critical because your soul was made for Him and, without Him, will always be restless. Some suggested activities for caring for your soul include spending time with God, reading, enjoying nature, laughing, and resting. Where you can, you may also need to let go of negative relationships and mindsets to keep your soul in tip-top shape.

3. LET GO AND LET GOD! Does anyone else have “control freak” tendencies? We aren’t in control, so why try to be? COVID-19 illustrates that our best-laid plans can easily be thwarted.

To trust God to take care of things, we must confess and surrender our need for control.

Second Corinthians 5:7 tells us to “walk by faith, not by sight.” When you are tempted to get in there and fix situations, say “not my will, but yours be done” and turn it over to Him. Are you noticing that I talk to myself a lot?

4. FIND WAYS TO SERVE AND HELP OTHERS Do you spend a lot of time thinking about yourself and what you want or need? Getting your mind off yourself and focusing on others will undoubtedly enrich your life. We all have gifts and talents that we are called to use for good in this world. First Peter 4:10 says, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” So, what’s holding you back? Look for and pray about opportunities to serve others, and then do it!

5. BE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU HAVE In the past, I wanted to be more, do more, and have more. We often desire what we do not have and believe that we will be happy once we get it. The truth is that we might be satisfied for a few weeks, but then we are on to the next thing.

It’s important to focus on what you DO have instead of what you don’t. Don’t compare yourself or your possessions with others. Be grateful for the people and things in your life, and most importantly, for God. Bonus - research shows that when we practice gratitude, we get a measurable boost in happiness that uplifts and energizes us.

Confessions of a Hot Mess: From Mess to MESSage is available for purchase on Amazon and Kingdom Winds website.

You can follow Leslie on her website, lesliespeas.com, and her Facebook page, Hot Mess to MESSage.

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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, A.K. Landreth, celebrates beauty through original and abstract art, allowing viewers the power to translate the story each piece is telling only to them in that exact moment.

A.K. Landreth | Abstract Expressionism Artist

How would you describe your work?

I would describe my art as thoughtful, spontaneous, vulnerable. Each piece has a story to tell, built with layers of paint that bypass the mind and speak straight to the heart. Which is what I love most about abstract art, it has the ability to give to each viewer, collector, and thankfully myself, exactly what is needed in any given moment. Most people describe my work as peaceful, dreamy, bright, whimsical, and powerful, which I love.

What influences your art most?

Meditations of the heart influence my work the most. It’s those deep conversations within myself that make their way onto the canvas to then become a visual offering to the world: a safe space to converse, question, observe, accept, nurture, and inspire hearts and spaces. That, and also travel plus nature. I am constantly inspired by and looking for color, line, and texture patterns in the world around me.

How have you evolved, personally, as an artist? It’s fun to look back on past work and see the ways I have grown quite literally with my work. I started painting in 2009 and since then there has been a dramatic shift in the way I think of myself and therefore how I view my work.

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I am an intuitive painter, so much of what I create comes from instinct. Through the years, I have learned to lean into that and trust my gut more deeply! It’s amazing to see how my art speaks on such a personal level not just to me in my seasons of life, but for others as well. The gift that keeps on giving!

What do you enjoy most about selling at community Pop Ups and art shows?

I LOVE art shows! Like, genuinely adore them. I love getting to meet so many of you in person, hear your story, how you connect with the art, and make new friends! Plus, getting to experience art in person is just so special anyway, and I love that I get to offer that through in person Pop-Ups. I hope to see you there in the future!

How do you carve out time to be creative? Because I work MondayThursday at a chiropractic office during the week, I paint mostly on the weekends currently. I find that I am most energetic during the mid day hours from 12-4 pm so I try and keep that time open and available for creativity. On days where I have certain work to get finished, I keep those days as sacred and don’t allow for any other dates to be scheduled during this time! It boils down to being intentional and I’ve found that creating a list for the day really helps to keep me on track!

What are you working on that excites you right now? Right now I am working on three very large original commissioned paintings for a couple of collectors of mine. It’s always such an honor to get to create a one-of-a-kind piece for someone. They have given me total creative freedom within a certain color palette to work with - it is truly so exhilarating, special, and I can’t wait for them to add these pieces to their homes!

What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with fellow artists? Something that I have to remind myself of often is this: the world needs what you have to offer. Your history, your dreams, your heart, your voice - it matters so much. I truly believe the best thing we can do for the world is to be unapologetically ourselves. Be brave, create good work, stay consistent, and the best is yet to come!

If you are interested in learning more about A.K. Landreth, you can follow her on Instagram @artbyaklandreth as well as find her work online at www.aklandreth.com. You can also check out her work this month locally at the Sayso and Friends Winter Market Located at 400 S. Green Street WS/NC. She will be at Sayso Market on Saturday, December 4th from 9-2pm.

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Can’t get Simply Southern Cuisine’s mouth-watering chocolate chess pie off your mind? Or, maybe you’re more a fan of their wellknown chicken pie, and let’s face it, who isn’t?

Good news! It’s time to place your holiday orders – and go all out this year with ham, turkey, and a few servings of each family member’s favorite sides. Go one step further, and in this delicious season of sharing and giving, remember how rewarding it is to give the gift of something you truly love yourself!

Share your love for Simply Southern Cuisine with a gift that will warm the hearts of everyone on your holiday list – as well as warm their tummies! A gift card from this Clemmons favorite is like sharing the very same goodness that brings your own family together at the dinner table throughout the year.

It’s true that family-size favorite dishes from Simply Southern can ease the stress of balancing the holiday rush with getting dinner on the table, always with a guarantee of only the freshest ingredients.

“Our dishes are simply a tradition,” says owner, Lisa Miller, proud of the business celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. “Nothing beats the feeling of having a delicious homemade dinner, picked up hot and ready to serve. Or, purchase your favorite dish frozen and ready to cook on your own schedule!”

If you’re still social distancing this Christmas, it’s also a perfect way to at least be dining on the same flavorful food, even if you aren’t together. The menu at Simply Southern Cuisine is a delicious mix of favorites for all ages – reminiscent of the flavors you remember from childhood, or your first holiday home after going to college, or the first family recipe you introduced to your children. Every dish comes with its own memories of home.

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Besides long-time favorites of chicken pie, baked spaghetti, Swiss chicken, and macaroni and cheese, traditional turkey and ham are added to the menu for the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas, with special packages of a “Dinner for 6” or “Dinner for 15” that includes ham and/or turkey, three sides, and dessert for a package price, or your own personally chosen favorite mix of entrees and sides. You can find these packages easily under the holiday tab on the website, and simply order online! Under the holiday tab you’ll also find the Christmas Catering Menu – complete with sample menus and pricing – if you’re planning an office holiday luncheon or other larger gathering for 10-plus people.

For the week of Christmas, however, no hot orders or online orders will be accepted, but you are welcome to call for availability and see what’s ready to pick up on your way home! The cut-off for holiday dinner orders and online orders will be Saturday, December 18.

Their selection of mouth-watering desserts also needs no introduction – cherry yum yum, chocolate chess pie, chocolate éclair, or pecan pie. And besides treating your family to a yummy sweet touch, these desserts are popular choices to pick up for neighborhood gatherings or office holiday parties. (Pick up a gift card for your boss as well!)

Simply Southern Cuisine is located at 3570-C Clemmons Road in Clemmons. Call 336-712-4636 for more information or visit mysimplysouthern.com. Normal hours are Monday through Friday 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Saturday 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. but for December 20 through December 23 hours will be 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Christmas Eve 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and closed December 25th through December 27th.

Simply Southern Cuisine

Make your holiday dinner simple!

Enjoy quality time with your family and leave the cooking to us. Along with our family size meals and sides, we also offer complete Christmas packages, including turkey and/or ham, 3 sides and a dessert, ready for you to pick up and bake.

Check out the holiday menus tab on our website or give us a call at 336.712.4636 for more details.

Voted Best Chicken Pie in the Triad!

336.712.4636 | mysimplysouthern.com | 3570 Clemmons Road, Suite C | Clemmons HOURS: M-F 12-5 Sat 12-4

The Triad’s Staple for Staying in the Know

BY AMY HILL

If you’re a Triad local who uses social media, there’s a high likelihood that you’ve seen the Explore WinstonSalem Instagram and Facebook pages within the last year, and have likely become a follower. If so, you happen to be one of thousands of locals and visitors who look to Explore Winston-Salem to find out what’s happening at your favorite local bars, breweries, and boutiques. Although Explore Winston-Salem started out as a social media success story, it has now transformed into a booming business with a popular website, newsletter, and biweekly updates on WXII 12 News. Pretty soon, locals will even have the opportunity to attend events hosted by Explore Winston-Salem as well.

Christy Bellis, the wizard behind the social media curtain, fell in love with Winston-Salem when she and her husband moved to the area after leaving a large city. Accustomed to dealing with heavy traffic and difficult downtown parking in cities such as Charlotte and Washington D.C., she and her husband were pleasantly surprised to find that a seemingly small city carried the charms of a slower lifestyle without sacrificing the fun and excitement of living in a metropolis. She and her husband were ecstatic when

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they discovered that local hotspots such as Wise Man Brewing in Downtown Winston-Salem had a parking lot onsite, which was a breath of fresh air to the pair, as they were prepared to park blocks away.

When Christy realized that there was more to Winston-Salem than initially meets the eye, she saw a need for resources informing locals and outof-town visitors of everything that Winston-Salem has to offer. Instead of residents constantly checking each business’s website or events calendar online, Christy decided to create the Explore Winston-Salem Instagram account to compile and curate all upcoming events in the area, along with a newsletter that she releases each Wednesday evening at 9:00 p.m. The newsletter notifies subscribers of food truck lineups, large and small local events, festivals, and live music for residents and visitors to enjoy.

The Explore Winston-Salem newsletter was first created in December 2020, and is celebrating its one-year anniversary this month.

After leaving her full-time job and putting all of her energy into her social media venture, Christy’s hard work paid off in record time.

In just less than a year, the Explore Winston-Salem Instagram page gained over 10,000 followers, and has accumulated a whopping 12.3K followers and counting as of October 2021. Not only has the Instagram account and newsletter become a staple for WinstonSalem dwellers, but it has also been a fulfilling venture for Christy, who feels more connected to the community than ever. In fact, she has met numerous close friends through Explore Winston-Salem. Whenever Christy receives messages from new residents or individuals preparing to move to the Winston-Salem area who have been inspired by Explore Winston-Salem, she takes solace in the fact that her goal in sharing her love of the greater WinstonSalem area has proven effective.

Much of Explore WinstonSalem’s success can be attributed to Christy’s educational background in psychology and marketing, allowing her to tap into the minds of others. Christy ensures that the majority of the events she advertises will be engaging to her followers and newsletter subscribers, with announcements of new bar and brewery events, local trivia, festivals, and live music in the greater Winston-Salem area being most prevalent. Making sure to show love to nearby towns such as Lewisville, Pfafftown, Kernersville, and more, Explore Winston-Salem takes advantage of the diversity of the Greater Winston-Salem area. Lewisville residents can reach Downtown WinstonSalem in a matter of minutes, while Kernersville events might even draw in the participation of Greensboro locals as well.

When Christy first started her business venture, she was still

working a full-time job and found herself working countless hours. As Explore Winston-Salem continues to grow in popularity, she continues to find herself working around the clock, but enjoys being the boss of her own schedule. In the future, she hopes to grow her team and hire copywriters, ambassadors, and offer marketing internships for college students within the next year. Of course, Christy is grateful for her fantastic sponsors who have helped grow Explore WinstonSalem, and is thankful to be a part of such a wonderful community of fellow Winston-Salem enthusiasts.

If you haven’t already subscribed to the Explore Winston-Salem newsletter, you can find the link to sign up by visiting the explorewinstonsalem Instagram page. For more information and other inquiries, follow Explore Winston-Salem on Facebook and Twitter, and visit explorewinstonnc.com. You can also catch Christy sharing local updates with viewers on WXII 12 News.

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BY AMY HILL PHOTOS BY PHOTO ARTISTRY BY MELINDA

As the holiday season is approaching, ditch the box dye and seek professional help in transforming your hair this winter. Don’t show up to the holiday party with uneven bangs and a botched bleach job. Instead, book an appointment with the highly trained and professional color expert hair stylists at Clemmons’ brand new Beautifully Hypnotic Hair Salon in the heart of Clemmons. Stylists at Beautifully Hypnotic Hair Salon are well-versed in leaving their clients with healthy, shiny hair, and countless smiles.

Open since April 2021, salon owners Debi Marion and Nicholas Pettenati set out to create a warm, welcoming environment for clients and stylists alike. The pair believes that when your hair looks good, you feel better overall. In fact, making clients happy is what Debi loves about her work as a salon owner, hair stylist, master colorist, and barber. As a master colorist with going on 24 years of experience, Debi moved to North Carolina from New York seven years ago and has been working as a hairstylist in the Clemmons area since. Beautifully Hypnotic Hair Salon being located in Clemmons, she enjoys the small-town, friendly feel of her surroundings, helping the salon feel even more comfortable for everyone inside. Debi always says that her clients are her walking-talking sculptures. With the many years of experience she has, it doesn’t matter what kind of hair you have - whether it is curly, straight, wavy, or even damaged, Debi is able to fix your hair and make you feel beautiful again, giving you the desired look you have always been searching for. Debi loves being able to help teach her clients how to style their hair at home, helping them to have salon perfect hair every day.

Prior to opening Beautifully Hypnotic Hair Salon with Debi, Nicholas worked as a land surveyor before jumping head-first into his new business venture. With his fiancé Debi serving as inspiration, Nicholas has decided to create another career path in becoming a licensed stylist along with his goal of becoming a professional land surveyor. With his entrepreneurship, he is on track to becoming a licensed hair stylist and is excited to explore his artistic side in the workplace, along with being able to interact with the salon’s warm and welcoming clients.

At Beautifully Hypnotic, clients are offered a wide variety of services, from top-notch color, conditioning treatments, perms, up-styles and makeup for weddings, along with hair extensions, highlights, keratin treatments, and hair tattoos. Additionally, barber services such as men’s haircuts and beard and mustache trims are provided, in addition to a hot towel treatment. Need to bring your lashes to life? Schedule an appointment for lash extensions or a brow tint to give your face a glow-up. Interested in having hair as healthy as it was when you were a kid? Try the Botox conditioning treatment, which is an amino filler that will heal damaged hair and make it feel light and silky-smooth, lessening the amount of time you spend styling your hair.

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As the winter season is among us, many clients are choosing to darken their strands in anticipation of the shorter days and colder weather. A popular trend Debi and Nicholas have seen for the fall and winter season is a “meltdown,” in which highlights or balayage are gradually blended into the client’s darker root color, leaving the client with a natural, effortless color that is low-maintenance and shiny. Beautifully Hypnotic Hair Salon clients can rest assured that their hair is being treated with the highest-quality products such as the Wella color brand. Debi and Nicholas help lead clients to finding their desired look by assisting them in choosing which hair products they are most comfortable with, and which products are best suited for their lifestyle and profession.

Although the salon is less than a year old, Debi and Nicholas are already looking to the future of the salon, hoping to continue to thrive and expand in the years to come. Interested in joining the team at Beautifully Hypnotic Hair Salon? Debi and Nicholas are in search of stylists as the salon continues to grow. If you’d like to apply, send your resume to beautifullyhypnotichairsalon@gmail.com, or call the salon directly to speak with Debi or Nicholas at (336) 955-2766. To book an appointment or consultation online, and to view a list of services offered, visit the salon’s website at www.beautifullyhypnotichairsalon.com. To keep up with the latest news from the salon, follow @beautifullyhypnotichairsalon on Instagram and check out the team’s Facebook page. Walk-in appointments are also welcome. Visit the salon in person at 6353 Cephis Drive, Clemmons, NC 27012.

JAMES STEWART PHOTOGRAPHY

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December 2021 | 57

Mistletoe: Christmastime has more plants with fascinating legends and symbolism than any other U.S. holiday season, and undoubtedly the kissing ball is best known for its link to love and romance. If it is December, and there is a sprig of mistletoe hung in a doorway, chances are you will find a couple smooching underneath.

While decorating the home with mistletoe is a popular Christmas tradition, many people are unaware of its origins and how stolen kisses became a U.S. holiday phenomenon.

THE PLANT There are over 1,300 species of mistletoe globally, but only two are native to America. – the one commonly associated with our kissing tradition is the Phoradendron (Greek for “tree thief”). This whiteberried ball-shaped greenery grows in abundance high atop hardwood trees like hickory and oak, along the east coast from New Jersey to Florida and west through Texas.

Mistletoe is a hemiparasitic plant which means it can independently carry out photosynthesis, but it also sends out root-like structures that steal water and minerals from the branches of the host tree. When a tree is heavily infested with mistletoe, it can become weak or disfigured to the point that removal of all affected limbs or the entire tree is required.

THE LEGEND Historians disagree about why the custom of kissing under the mistletoe began, but there is general consensus on the origin of the custom itself. In Norse mythology, Frigg (goddess of love and fertility) is said to have taken an oath from every living thing growing on or in the earth that they would not become weapons used against her son, Baldur. Frigg failed to acknowledge the unassuming mistletoe growing high above the forest floor. When the trickster god, Loki, realized the plant had been overlooked, he promptly carved a spear from it and shot young Baldur. Frigg raced to her wounded son, revived him, and promised that anyone who passed underneath the mistletoe would not only receive protection from death, but also a kiss.

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An Im-PECK-able Christmas Tradition

BY DEBBIE LINVILLE

THE KISS Eighteenth-century English literature expanded upon the legend by portraying a smooch under the kissing ball as having a magical, romantic appeal. If a couple exchanged a kiss under the mistletoe, it was interpreted as a promise to wed with a guarantee for a long and happy marriage. But, if a young lady refused a kiss, it was understood that bad luck would follow her the rest of her life. Historians credit early 19th-century writer Washington Irving with bringing the holiday kissing custom across the Atlantic Ocean to America. On the heels of Irving’s trip to England, he wrote The Sketch Book, which recorded various yuletide traditions he had observed. One such custom was stealing a kiss under the mistletoe.

He wrote, “The mistletoe is hung up in farmhouses and kitchens at Christmas, and young men have the privilege of kissing the girls under it, plucking each time a berry from the bush. When the berries are all plucked, the privilege ceases.” (Irving, 1820). Centuries later, puckering up under the mistletoe is still a popular U.S. holiday tradition!

THE HEALTH BENEFITS Although there are health risks to eating various parts of the mistletoe (e.g., diarrhea, vomiting, weakness, blurred vision, and nausea), many ancient cultures revered this plant for its healing properties. The Romans used it as a balm against ulcers and epilepsy, and the Greeks used it as a cure for everything from menstrual cramps to spleen disorders. Today, the leaves, stems, and berries of the European mistletoe (Viscum album) are harvested to make teas and extracts reported to boost the immune system, improve cardiovascular health, relieve anxiety, enhance the quality of sleep, balance blood sugar, lower blood pressure, and reduce inflammation. It is a common complementary and alternative therapy for cancer treatment used by naturopath healers, and while the U.S. FDA has not approved mistletoe as a treatment for cancer or any other medical conditions, there are clinical trials underway at Johns Hopkins to learn about the impact of mistletoe injections on cancer patients.

It’s the most beautiful time of the year Lights fill the streets spreading so much cheer I should be playing in the winter snow But I’mma be under the mistletoe! ~Justin Bieber – Mistletoe

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How Do You Find Your Balance?

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at New Balance & Fleet Feet

BY DENISE HEIDEL, PHOTOS BY JODIE BRIM CREATIVE

Keith and Emily Davis are the owners of Fleet Feet and New Balance. As a family-owned business, they’ve invested much in our community and have become recognized leaders for their commitment to excellence and service. However, the road hasn’t been easy.

Keith shared that, “Most people look at us today and think we’ve figured out this whole ‘working with your spouse’ thing. It’s not perfect, but it’s a whole lot better than it used to be! At one time – it was a real struggle. We shared a common goal and vision, but we approached things so differently. In many ways, since we both felt equally equipped to lead the business, we were competing with one another for the business’s success. We were fighting to win, and not in the good way.”

Emily agreed. “We started the business in 2006, and we were starting a family at the same time. Our first seven years in business were so challenging. We were trying to find the balance between home and work…. Marriage and business partnership…. Parenting…. Faith…. And self-care.

Everything was overwhelming, and many times, we felt like we might lose our balance entirely.”

So how did the Davises do it? How did they find their balance?

FAITH FIRST

“Trusting in God for our business was one thing,” Keith said, “But trusting each other in business decisions, especially when we disagreed with each other, was another. I had to learn that just because Emily did something different than I would – different didn’t mean she was wrong.

And she had to learn the same lesson about me. We had to trust that we both have the best interest of the business and employees in mind, and in order to grow, we had to talk about things, not argue about them.”

Emily chimed in, “For instance, I had to learn that I was not responsible for Keith’s relationships with other people. If he handled a situation differently than me – I did not need to be frustrated, irritated, or embarrassed. It was his situation to manage, not mine. Learning this helped me to stop internalizing situations that weren’t mine to fix or change.”

AT HOME TOGETHER “One of the other things we had to learn to do is balance work life and home life,” said Keith.

“This was a real source of contention for us. As soon as we started the business, there was an instant blur between home and work. I would try to ask Emily questions at night while she was trying to get our kids to bed, and that never went well.”

“It started with a foundation of faith,” shared Emily. “We knew the balance couldn’t come from us. We needed something stronger than us.

Our faith today is very different from what it was when we started the business. Over the years, we have learned to trust God to lead and guide us as we navigate our business, decisions, and staff. It’s as the Bible says – the house built on the rock can weather the storm. When we started, we were trying to build on sand. Things were constantly shifting through the winds of discord and the storms of mistrust. So when we decided to prioritize our faith, we moved the foundation of our business to Jesus and it made all the difference.”

Emily laughed, “I would get so irritated. We were business partners, and it was so consuming that home often felt like work. We desperately needed some boundaries. Thankfully, our counselor helped us establish some balance and framework for when it was time to wear work hats and when it was time to wear the family hats. It enabled us to be at home when we were at home…. And at work when we were at work.

That doesn’t mean work doesn’t often show up. When you own two stores – it’s bound to happen. But that doesn’t mean that work gets to monopolize family time anymore. We are able to be a couple in addition to being business partners.”

WORKING TOGETHER

PARENTING

As part of their commitment to building their business on faith, the Davises knew they needed some wise Christian counseling. “We decided to seek help from a Christian counselor who helped us navigate the challenges and battles that we were dealing with,” said Emily. “Mostly – we learned to fight in a productive way. And we learned how to relate to one another in a more positive way.”

“Learning how to balance family life and home life has been vitally important for our girls,” said Emily. “We didn’t want our children to think the business is our #1 priority. Keith and I have worked hard to make sure our children know that faith is first. Family is second. And then, there’s work. Our girls hear about business, of course, but they know that first and foremost, we’re Mom and Dad.” December 2021 | 61

Keith shared, “That has been so freeing for me. This balance has allowed me to be a husband to Emily and a dad to our daughters.

Priorities are such a key ingredient to finding balance.”

MINISTRY “Over the years, as we’ve built the business on our faith, our business has evolved to be far more than shoes and athleticwear,” said Keith. “We’ve become a ministry. It started in 2010 when we started Mission: Feet First. We thought we might be able to occasionally provide a pair of shoes to someone in need…. Maybe occasionally help a family. But as we’ve learned through our foundation of faith – you can’t underestimate or outgive God.” Emily shared, “Since we started Mission: Feet First, God has opened the door for us to fit thousands of people in the local homeless community and elementary schools over the years.”

Keith said, “I remember participating in a triathlon that really shaped that decision to be bold about our faith in business.

I got to the finish line to hear praise and worship music playing, and I called Emily and told her – we need to do this at the store.

I thought it was amazing.

“At the time,” Emily continued, “I wasn’t ready to be bold in our faith. I was concerned that it would hurt our business. But God got me over that and just the opposite happened. We hear all the time from customers who appreciate us for being strong in our faith and refusing to shy away from it.”

“We often play Christian music in our store,” Keith continued.

“Plus, Emily designs a line of faith-based shirts that we sell at our Fleet Feet store. We call it the Eternal Apparel line, and it’s one of the fastest turning brands in the store.”

Emily said, “We even hosted a Bible study at Fleet Feet. God has really worked on our hearts and convinced us that He will honor us for honoring Him. And even if He didn’t – we’ve learned to praise Him in the ups as well as the downs.”

CONTINUING TO LEARN, GROW, AND HOPE Keith and Emily’s story is still being written, and they continue to grow. “We’ve been working together for over 15 years. For a while it was really rough – there were times I didn’t think our marriage would be able to withstand working together, ” said Emily. “Keith and I are both imperfect people, but our lives, marriage, and business is a testimony to the grace and goodness of God. We are still learning and growing every day. We’ve learned that our hope isn’t based on profit margins or how many customers we have, but solely on the hope we have in Jesus Christ.”

“Of course,” said Keith, “We have customers who disagree with us. Just as our Christian counselor helped us understand that we are not responsible for each other’s decisions and reactions – similarly, we have learned that each person is responsible for their own relationship with God. We don’t need to worry about offending people. The only approval we need to care about is God’s. He is in control of my life, Emily’s life, our marriage, our family, and our business.”

Fleet Feet is located at 278 Harvey Street in Winston-Salem. Visit the store online at FleetFeetWS.com or call 336.722.8477. Be sure to like Fleet Feet Winston-Salem on Facebook and follow them on Instagram.

New Balance Winston-Salem is located in Thruway at 202 S. Stratford Road in Winston-Salem. Visit the store online at Stores.

NewBalance.com/shop/Winston-Salem or call 336.893.7908.

New Balance

December 2021 | 63

Andragogy: How to Teach Grown-ups

BY DEBBIE BARR

Andragogy? Chances are, you may never even have heard of it. But if you teach, sell to, or speak to adults in any capacity—as a salesperson, educator, corporate trainer, or even as a Sunday school teacher—you’ll make a greater impact on your audience if you understand something about andragogy.

Andragogy is “the art and science of teaching adults.” It’s the “secret sauce” of getting your information to resonate with adults. Andragogy is different from pedagogy (“the art and science of teaching children”), because adults learn for different reasons than kids do. An understanding of andragogy can mean the difference between a presentation or lesson that really hits home and one that falls short.

PEDAGOGY VERSUS ANDRAGOGY: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

One basic difference between pedagogy and andragogy is the direction in which knowledge flows.

In pedagogy, information flows in one direction: from the teacher to the student, in the classic didactic fashion. Thus, child learners must depend upon the teacher to lead the way. By contrast, adult learners are independent. That is, the learning process depends on the adult learners themselves.

Effective teaching of adults allows for a two-way flow of knowledge, a cooperative learning exchange between student and teacher.

Another big difference between pedagogy and andragogy is that child learning is focused on content. Adult learners are focused on problemsolving rather than on content. Child-focused subject matter is taught via a prescribed curriculum. Adults seek out a “curriculum” of useful, practical, real life information in hopes of bettering their lives. In other words, children learn what adults choose for them to learn; adults make their own decisions about what they need and want to learn.

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HOW ADULTS LEARN

Malcolm Knowles, an American theorist of andragogy, believed that adults learn best when they…

• Know the reason for learning something • Have experience, including mistakes, that forms the basis for learning activities • Take responsibility for their decisions on education and are involved in the planning and evaluation of their instruction • See immediate relevance to their work and/or personal lives • Center on problem solving rather than on content • Are internally versus externally motivated Let’s drill down on some of these ideas and compare them to pedagogy.

Motivation. We know that child learners are mostly externally motivated. Kids must compete with classmates for grades and must pass tests before they can advance to the next learning level. They are also driven by the desire to avoid both the academic and parental consequences of failure.

Adult learners are internally motivated.

When adults seek out opportunities to learn new skills or acquire more knowledge, it often translates to a better job, more recognition, or a better quality of life for themselves and their families. Other times, adult learning is driven by the desire to master a task that boosts their self-esteem, or makes life easier, or moves them toward something on their “bucket list.”

Life Experience. Children bring to the classroom very little life experience upon which to build.

Therefore, the teacher assumes full responsibility for both the subject matter and the manner in which it is taught. Adults, by contrast, bring vast life experience to the classroom, enabling them to be self-directed and responsible for their own learning experience.

Choice. While child learners have little choice about the subject matter they must learn, it’s not that way for adults. Adults choose their learning opportunities based on their assessment of the gap between where they are now and where they want to be. Their mindset is practical: “Does this help me solve my problem? Can I use this information right now?” As equal partners in the learning process, adults evaluate what is helpful and relevant to their lives and what is not, and choose accordingly.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

Any time you speak to an audience of adults, keep these two andragogy-based ideas in mind: 1. Adult learners are goal-oriented, practical, and looking for relevance. Craft your presentation or pitch to address the questions your adult learners will be asking: Why do I need to know this? How can this help solve my problem?

Is this something I can use right now? If you weave the answers to these questions into your message, your audience will pay close attention.

2. Adults need a welcoming learning environment, not a structured classroom.

An informal, collaborative environment is more conducive to adult learning than a didactic, structured one. Invite your learners to join you in a “two-way, cooperative learning exchange” that is less focused on communicating content and more focused on practical problem solving.

Forsyth Medical Supply

Gingerbread Houses…a Spicy Past!

BY DEBBIE LINVILLE

No confectionary treat symbolizes the holiday season quite like the spicy, candyladen, edible gingerbread house. The modern-day U.S. Christmas tradition of gathering friends and family members to assemble and decorate these fantastical houses actually has roots (pardon the pun) in China. The ginger root srigavera (Sanskrit) is translated “root shaped like a horn” - a fitting name for its unusual appearance. It was first cultivated in ancient China about 5,000 years ago as a tonic to treat countless illnesses including common digestive ailments, a practice many in the healthcare industry still use today to reduce nausea. From there, ginger made its way along trade routes to India, Asia, and Africa, and by the 1st century, it arrived in Europe. Food historians generally agree that it was the Greeks who discovered the spice’s usefulness as a preservative, but there is great debate about who lays claim to the first known gingerbread recipe. Some say credit goes to the Greeks around 2400 AD, while others insist it originated in France in 992 AD. Interestingly, the term gingerbread initially meant preserved ginger and did not apply to the scrumptious desserts we enjoy today.

Around the turn of the 15th century, German bakers began making hard gingerbread cookies that were often shaped like animals, kings and queens, gilded with gold leaf.

These heavily adorned gingerbread treats, known as “fairings’’, were served at medieval fairs across Europe and became synonymous with all things “fancy and over the top.”

However, it would be another 2,000 years before the ornamented gingerbread houses we are familiar with came onto the scene in Germany. Reportedly, the popularity of the ginger spiced biscuit-walled houses (lebkuchenhäuschen) soared on the heels of the (not-so-Christmassy) Grimms’ original fairytale of Hansel and Gretel, in which the little boy and girl stumbled upon a house made entirely of treats deep in the forest. Exactly how the link was established between this fairytale where two children almost got cooked and eaten by the witch until they turned the tables and cooked her instead, and the beloved Christmas tradition of decorating gingerbread houses, remains unclear.

66 | ForsythWoman.com

“When they came nearer, they saw that the house was built of gingerbread, and roofed with cakes, and the window was of transparent sugar.” ~Hansel and Gretel, 1812 Gingerbread houses arrived in the New World with the German settlers, and Americans have been practicing increasingly complex and recordbreaking feats of confectionary engineering ever since. The former gingerbread fairs of Europe in the Middle Ages paved the way for our “sweet and spicy” U.S. gingerbread house competitions of today. In 1992, a small group of locals from Asheville, N.C., built a few gingerbread houses to usher in Christmas at Grove Park Inn as a one-time endeavor, but three decades later it has become one of the nation’s most celebrated and competitive holiday events. The Traditions Club in Bryan, Texas, holds the title of the “nation’s biggest gingerbread house.” This nearly 2,500 square feet marvel is 60 feet in length, 42 feet wide, and over 20 feet tall at its highest point. To put this into perspective, the house (which required a building permit) consists of 1,800 pounds of butter, 1,080 ounces of ground ginger, 7,200 eggs, 7,200 pounds of flour, 3,000 pounds of brown sugar, 225 gallons of molasses, and 22,304 pieces of candy for decoration. Wow!

BEST CANDIES FOR DECORATING • Gumdrops and Dots • M&Ms • Holiday Hershey’s Hugs and Kisses • Mini Candy Canes • Peppermints • Sprinkles and Pearls • Twix Chocolate Bars • Red and Green Licorice

ROYAL ICING RECIPE Royal icing is perfect for decorating gingerbread houses and cookies. This sweet, hard icing makes piping and intricate designs easy. (thespruceeats.com) Ingredients • 4 large egg whites • 1 lb. powdered sugar • 1 tsp. lemon juice • food coloring, if desired Directions 1. Beat the egg whites on high speed until foamy.

2. Switch to low speed and gradually sift the sugar into the egg whites until it’s completely incorporated.

3. Add the lemon juice and beat on high speed until the icing is very thick and forms stiff peaks, about 5 to 10 minutes.

4. At this point, you can add the food coloring if you’re only going to need a full batch of one color. If you need more than one color, separate quantities of icing into individual bowls and just stir in the coloring you want.

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7 Feel-Good Things to Try in December

BY LAUREN SEPHTON

‘Tis the season of cozying up with a warm blanket and watching classic Christmas movies until your eyes can no longer stay open. And to help spread the holiday cheer all month long, we’ve compiled a short list of activities for this December that we recommend giving a try. Some may merely make you laugh, but overall, we hope to inspire you to find joy in the simplicity of life.

1. SEND HOLIDAY CARDS TO SOLDIERS Personalized holiday cards that show our gratitude and respect to our deployed U.S. Troops are a great way to spread cheer and start the holiday season off in an ‘others-focused’ state of mind. By letting them know how much you appreciate their service, you are reminding our be-loved Warriors that they are not alone this winter season. There are many nonprofits that or-ganize and send out these letters that can be easily found online, but please keep in mind that volunteers need ample time to organize and send the letters. So, the sooner you write, the bet-ter chances are that they receive it before Christmas!

2. READ A NEW NOVEL Research shows that reading regularly may improve brain connectivity, increase your compre-hension and vocabulary, as well as help empower you to empathize with other people. Reading can transport you to faraway lands, empower you to pursue your passions, encourage your soul, or help put you in other people’s shoes to be more empathetic. It can also set a good example for children, reduce stress, and help you sleep more soundly at night.

3. SET CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS UP EARLY According to Psychologist Deborah Serani, “Decorating can definitely lift your mood.” For many, Christmas decorations are one of the best ways to reconnect with their childhood, bringing fa-vorable nostalgia, and uplifting spirits. In 2017, a study confirmed that people who decorate early are tapping into the excitement of the holidays in the simplest manner, making them happier than others who wait.

4. PLANT SPRING BULBS Gather the family outside in the garden or around the house exterior to plant pots of spring bulbs while it’s still cold. And in just a few months, at the first signs of spring, you’ll find beau-tiful flowers bursting by bunch.

5. PERSONALIZE YOUR GIFT WRAPPING Wrapping your holiday gifts in bright, fun paper or decorating with small novelty is half the fun of giftgiving! You can write unique messages, include the kids to decorate with hand draw-ings, and even lace the ribbon through nostalgic items like a mini nutcracker, very small branches from the local Christmas tree seller/farm, or plastic ornaments.

6. GRAB THE APRON AND A JAR OF SPRINKLES! Baking can be a very calming activity that results in the most delicious kind of memories! It can create comforting feelings, bring out your creative side, and make other people just as happy when you drop off a freshly baked loaf of sweet bread or tin of holiday cookies at their door-step.

7. DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF It’s time to take back control and not allow the little things to take over your life. Letting your-self get stressed over the small stuff is the biggest cause of unnecessary grief, depression, and negative feelings. So, this holiday season, try to cultivate an attitude that searches for the good in every situation and finds gratefulness in the small victories. And maybe try to smile, even when it seems unachievable. Research shows that smiling sends a signal to your brain that wakes up the part of your nervous system that is responsible for elevating your mood and re-laxing your jitters.

Plus, everyone’s smile is contagious, so let your light shine bright!

And just like that, you’re on your way to a healthier and happier you this winter season!

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HOMESTEAD HILLS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

BY LORRAINE AIKEN

72 | ForsythWoman.com

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Homestead Hills, an upscale senior living community in WinstonSalem. The smell of cinnamon and caramel fills each home, while common areas are adorned with twinkling lights on faux snow covered trees, red and white striped candy canes, and perfectly placed stockings above a crackling fireplace. Members at Homestead Hills are decking the halls as well with wreaths hanging from apartment doors, cottage homes decorated with colorful lights, reindeer, and bright red arrows pointing us to the North Pole. The joyful demeanor throughout the community and excitement among those who live and work in this magical place leads us to believe that there’s no place like Homestead Hills for the holidays.

Each year, the team at Homestead Hills goes above and beyond to ensure that Members are enjoying their favorite holiday rituals and traditions. Throughout the community, the culinary team is preparing hearty meals, the Social and Wellness Directors are putting on themed activities and events, while the facilities team is preparing the festive holiday décor. “It’s a great time of year. The celebrations are cheerful, the food is never-ending, and the memories are priceless” said Jay Matthews, Executive Director of Homestead Hills.

Spending time with loved ones and friends is the common thread sewn through all of the events and activities at Homestead Hills during the holidays. “The activities and events make the holiday season so special,” says Activities Assistant Sarah Bumgarner. “Getting to attend events that you’ve been looking forward to all year is very exciting.

It also puts our Members in a joyous mindset, similar to a child opening presents on Christmas morning.” It’s easy to see why their events are something to look forward to.

Throughout November and December, the community’s social calendar is bustling with a plethora of events.

Members at Homestead Hills attend trips to view the Tanglewood Park Festival of Lights, get the inside scoop on cookies at Mrs. Hanes Cookie Factory, while in the community there is caroling, local holiday entertainers, DIY sessions for dessert, small gifts, and wreath making, holiday movie nights, and much, much more!

Homestead Hills

Of course, no celebration would be complete without a festive holiday spread. From Thanksgiving to Christmas, the Homestead Hills Culinary Department is in charge of all of the traditional favorites for their Members to enjoy. “We focus on recreating that holiday feeling,” said Executive Chef, Michael Nasrallah. “We’re committed to making this time of year special for our Members.” The community provides flexibility for holiday meals based on preference.

Friends and family can join Members for family-style meals in the Homestead Hills restaurant, have a full holiday meal catered into their home, or enjoy an intimate meal with their partner. Coming together to enjoy a freshly prepared meal from the community’s Culinary Team ensures that Members aren’t spending long hours on food preparation. They are able to sit down for a delicious meal, great conversations, and time with loved ones without the cleanup!

The Staff at Homestead Hills are committed to providing exceptional dining, social and wellness experiences for their Members. Homestead Hills is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on 37 acres just minutes from Wake Forest University. For more information on Homestead Hills visit Homestead-Hills.com or call (336) 814-2832.

December 2021 | 73

Have Yourself a

Merry Little Old-Timey Christmas

BY JEAN MARIE JOHNSON

The “COVID Christmas” of 2020 was anything but “old-timey.” We: • barely left the house…except for riding around and looking at the decorations • didn’t put up the tree…but settled for some outdoor lights • connected with family from our couch via Zoom and Facetime...which was great, but a far cry from the real thing.

I have to say, it was a little dismal. And because the cloud of COVID hung over all of us, our spirits weren’t nearly as merry as they were in any other year. This season, regardless of where we are with COVID and its insidious variants, I am looking forward to embracing many tried and true Christmas traditions.

The focus will be on fewer gifts and more gab while keeping things simple and familiar all the way around.

Bring back the traditional Christmas card. We’ve gotten all techy with our cards and it’s time to reconsider. I mean, don’t you love seeing those red and green colored envelopes in the mailbox? The ones with a Hallmark or Fringe card that includes an actual handwritten note? Pick a weekend afternoon in early December, put on some holiday music, have some cocoa and start writing your cards. You will bring a smile to the face of those who have grown used to getting your clever Shutterfly offering.

If you are longing for a meaningful, memory-making Christmas season while adapting as needed, consider the following ideas:

Cook or bake a family Christmas classic. Maybe it’s your own or one that goes back to your ancestors. In my family, my mother’s 1960s era pistachio cake decked out like a Christmas wreath is seriously old timey and maybe a bit tacky, too! As the children in the family grew up and had kids of their own, they continued to ask, “Aunt Jean, when are we having the cake?” Short on time? Don’t cook? Go for a nutmeg-sprinkled eggnog. Mmmm.

Cut down your very own Christmas tree. Was there ever a Hallmark holiday movie where that didn’t happen? Okay, but in the spirit of keeping it simple, you may want or need to change things up. So, gather the family and make a trip to a big box store where the options abound. Remember it is about the shared experience more than it is about the tree.

But don’t stop there…

Organize a caroling event. I know, this may sound like a big deal, but it needn’t be. Gather whoever is game, have a list of songs you will sing, and start ringing a few doorbells. When people see you, particularly if you’ve donned a classic ugly Christmas sweater or a Santa hat, they will open their door and welcome the old-timey gesture.

“Host” a tree decorating party. Back to the old movies, you rarely saw champagne or caviar at these parties. Instead, it was more like Alvin and the chipmunks having a good time and eventually managing to get the job haphazardly done. Have a few seasonal snacks on hand but keep it simple and casual. By the way, your “guests” may be your family or just as well your book club buddies, your neighbors - you choose.

Draw from your memories to reinstate a tradition. This approach is about as old-timey and genuine as it comes.

In my family of origin, we opened presents On Christmas Eve, before Midnight Mass. You may have another tradition, a fond memory of creating homemade presents, watching “A Christmas Carol,” or reading “T’was the Night Before Christmas.” Bring that tradition back!

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU?

With my type-A personality, I’m motivated by the thrill of setting and achieving goals. But I’m most motivated when I help other women on my Beautycounter team achieve their business goals. I love coaching women over the hurdles toward their goals and then celebrating their achievements.

There’s no better feeling!

WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENT?

Professionally, passing bar exams in 2 states within 2 years was a proud achievement. But I’m actually most proud of making the decision later to leave my law practice to strike out as an entrepreneur in direct sales. Leaving a “regular” job to work with a new, unproven company was a bold choice that has paid off in all aspects of my life. In my personal life, raising my 2 sons to be kind, confident, generous kids is my proudest achievement, and it is definitely a work in progress!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEASON?

Beauty Counter

My favorite season is always the one that we’re in! Nothing compares to the excitement and nostalgia of the holidays, gathering with family and sharing special holiday traditions!

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE BEAUTYCOUNTER PRODUCTS?

My favorites are the Ready, Set Makeup Trio ($39) for every on-the-go friend on my list and the Mini-Must Haves ($45), which includes my 3 anti-aging favorites--Overnight Resurfacing Peel, Tri-Peptide Radiance Serum and Allbright C Serum. At age 48, this combo is my daily go-to for glowing skin. Overnight Peel has skin-smoothing acids that work overnight for an even complexion (with no visible peeling).

The Allbright Serum has 10% vitamin C which is magic for brighter skin, and the Tripeptide Serum packs an anti-aging power punch. I can really see a difference.

Ask me for free samples if you want to try it for yourself!

Find me on IG @ncjennifer or contact me via my website: beautycounter.com/jenniferertl.

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The holiday offerings from Beauctycounter are always the best of the year! It’s a great time to snag value-priced gift sets with new products and classic favorites.

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Your Own Front Door

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Toys in ev’ry store, but the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be on your own front door.” ~ Meredith Wilson “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas”….seems it starts earlier every year. Since mid-summer, stores have been enticing us to start our Christmas shopping early. Try as I might, I don’t get in the mood to decorate or shop until a few weeks before Christmas.

I know Christmas is coming when my neighbors decorate their homes; it is then I realize I had better get busy!

One of my favorite things to do this time of year is pull out all my Southern Living Christmas books that I have saved through the years and spend several hours just dreaming.

During the festive Christmas season and other seasons of the year, most of you like to decorate your front door with a holiday wreath.

Here are a few good reasons to decorate your front door now or any time during the year: • Door decorations can be fun and easy to make.

• Start with a wreath made of greenery or grapevine or use a flat-sided basket and add seasonal silks or dried florals. A pretty bow always adds a nice accent.

• It is a great way to say “Welcome” to those who pass by, to those who come to visit, or to the family who lives there; it can be a welcoming sight when returning home at the end of the day.

• A wreath adds curb appeal and dresses up the front of the house. When you buy or make a wreath, consider the color of your home….either brick, stone or siding or your door and select colors that compliment.

“May the prettiest site you see be the holly that will be on your own front door.”

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

“Soon the bells will start and the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing right within your heart.”

Every year I look through my recipe box and pull out recipes my family enjoys during the holidays. Many of these recipes were shared by friends who have enriched my life through the years. Just seeing the recipes brings back special memories of Christmases past. This recipe was given to me by Helen Bethea of Chatsworth, GA. Helen passed away a few years ago, and I have many wonderful memories of our times together and will forever be grateful for her friendship.

PECAN TASSIES

½ cup butter 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 (3 oz.) pkg. cream cheese Cream together and shape in 1” balls. Press balls into a mini muffin tin. Makes 24.

Ava Lewandowski,

Interior Redesign Industry Specialist

Filling ¾ cup brown sugar 1 Tbs. butter, melted 1 egg ¼ tsp. salt ½ tsp. vanilla 1 cup chopped pecans Mix together. Fill shells and bake for 25 minutes at 350.

Ava Lewandowski,

Interior Redesign Industry Specialist

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Keeping Christmas Gifts under Control

BY TABI FALCONE

The scenario seems to be the same every year. On Christmas morning you have beaming children frolicking in a sea of gifts, wrapping paper strewn about, and excited voices proclaiming this is the best Christmas EVER. Fast forward a week or a month… and how many of those initially loved gifts have fallen to the wayside?

How many have gotten broken because they were left on the floor and suffered the fate of dad’s foot. Too many is generally the answer to those questions. So how do we avoid this post Christmas gift lackluster from happening in the future?

First of all, we need to acknowledge that gifts should not be given simply for the purpose of this holiday. If the gift you are looking at is not something you would ever consider getting if it wasn’t for the pressure of Christmas, click it right out of your shopping cart. (Yes, we know you’re ordering all of your gifts online from your bed, no judgment here.) Second of all, pick a strategy. One example of a gift strategy would be to choose one large family gift and then have smaller individual gifts that all relate back to the large family gift. An example of this could be purchasing a new gaming system, and then each child gets a game for that system and video game themed pajamas.

For this, though, I will share our strategy that has helped reduce the amount of gifts we purchase (as well as the amount of money we are spending), and helped keep on task so that the gifts are truly appreciated and used.

We use the 4-gift rule. Relatively self explanatory, the 4-gift rule allows exactly that – four gifts for each person. There are four categories that the gifts are pulled from:

SOMETHING YOU WANT

SOMETHING YOU NEED

This is the part we all seem to focus on for Christmas gifts – what we want. By paring this down to only one gift of what we want, we can really focus on what it is that will truly bring us joy. Think about that thing that whoever you are purchasing for (kids assumingly) have been wanting all year – not just in the last week.

Consider how often it will actually be used as well. This is usually where we get something for play – like a skateboard, gaming system, new bike, backyard equipment or the like.

Let’s be honest here, who doesn’t remember their mom packing up a new pack of socks to open on Christmas morning. I won’t lie to you, I actually miss getting fresh new socks every year on a regular schedule… and sometimes buy and wrap them for myself. If socks don’t get you all excited, you can do something else that is needed. Maybe it’s a new mouse for your work-from-home setting, or replacement dishes. For kids this can look like new bedding, organization for their toys (especially if it ties in with the ‘something you want’ you got them!).

SOMETHING TO WEAR

SOMETHING TO READ

This is the time to update your kids’ hoodie wardrobes! It’s a great plan to go through your kids’ clothes over the beginning of winter break, and replace any gaps in their wardrobe under the tree. We often get the kids each coordinating (because apparently matching in 5th grade isn’t cool anymore) hoodies for the winter.

This is where we as parents can truly feel like we are being great parents in a materialistic world, by gifting our children knowledge. We do this two-fold, by having a book wrapped under the tree for the morning, as well as having a Christmas Eve book. The Christmas Eve book is for a read-a-thon with hot cocoa before bed.

These four sections exclude stocking stuffers – though we try to keep that to things we would need and are practical – like fun socks, snacks, lip balm, and homemade scratch off coupons for fun experiences (and to get out of chores) that can be used throughout the year.

80 | ForsythWoman.com

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December 2021 | 81

Lifestyle Tweaks to Make this Winter

BY JEAN MARIE JOHNSON

If you absolutely dread winter, or are at best “stoical” about it, here’s an opportunity to turn that around by: • Rethinking routines • Considering adaptations • Managing temptations

Vitamins Check in with your doctor to see if you should make any adaptations here. For me, it’s usually a bit more D3 to compensate for the sun’s natural rays. Last year he also added B12 to my regimen.

By putting yourself in control of how you experience this season, you may find that you actually enjoy it.

Light exposure Work in 30 minutes of natural light each day to help keep your hormones in balance, catch those night time ZZZZs we all crave, and boost your spirit. All of that is absolutely free of charge!

FIRST THINGS FIRST: YOUR HEALTH Diet Do you tend to hunker down by consuming more calories, eating heavier foods, or giving in to those tempting holiday treats a bit too often? Head that off at the pass by stocking up on healthy snacks and planning ahead so that you stay in control of what you eat. Remind yourself that overindulgence now means payback later!

Exercise Don’t let the gray days and chillier temps turn you into a seasonal couch potato. Make appointments with your exercise bike or a cool YouTube video, just as if you were going to the gym. Another great option is to bundle up and get outside for a brisk daily walk. You know what they say about a body in motion. Aim for that.

Skincare Lip balm keeps chapped lips at bay. It is the first thing I reach for on cool mornings before heading out for my walk. I also keep a nice tube of scented hand cream at my desk and near my reading chair to slather on throughout the day. And remember that daily sunscreen and moisturizer are a must 365 days of the year!

82 | ForsythWoman.com

NOW MOVE ON: REPURPOSE OR REFRESH YOUR SPACE With the pandemic prompt, many of us got a jump start on rethinking how we use our square footage. Now that you are indoors for more hours, think about how you will spend your time and adapt your space accordingly. For example, I turn my enclosed, light-filled sunroom into a winter library/ reading room. When my husband goes looking for me, that is the first place he checks.

MAKE HAPPY CHANGES: COMFORT, SCENT, & SO ON Think in terms of layering on the things that appeal to your senses and bring your soul joy.

A trip to one of our many local boutiques or the TJ Maxx will provide plenty of options: cozy “wintry” throws, scented candles, essential

oils, soaps, winter-themed kitchen towels, and on and on! I keep an oil diffuser in my sunroom/reading room. Every time I turn it on my brain knows it’s time to settle into a good read.

Bring nature in Small branches, dried pods from the past summer, bird feathers, nests, you name it! All help you to sustain your innate connection to nature inside your home.

Declutter and organize Don’t wait until spring because there will be plenty to tackle then. Instead, start chipping away at small things: a drawer here, a spice rack there. You will be happy you did when April rolls around.

Channel your inner Julia Child There is no time like winter to create your own “joy of cooking” experience! Light a candle, grab your beverage of choice, turn on some music, and go for it.

Merry Sharon Reid, DDS Christmas Everyone!

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December 2021 | 83

The Joy of Giving The More You Give, The More You Receive

BY KAREN COOPER

We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.

- Winston Churchill Sincerely giving from the heart fills your life with joy and nurtures your soul. Giving, in whatever way you choose, offers rewards that are of much more value than any gift could be. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “To find yourself, lose yourself in the service of others.”

The truest joy lies in the act of giving without any expectation of gaining something in return. Research and countless years of human history have shown that achieving fulfillment and happiness in life comes from making others happy. In fact, the more you give, the happier you are.

THE COMPASSIONATE GIVER (LUKE 10:35) Luke 10:35 shows us the power of giving through the parable of the Good Samaritan, a man who allowed his day to be interrupted by someone in need.

He didn’t permit the inconvenience or expense to stop him. Whatever others may say about his investment in a troubled person did not matter. He gave time, energy, and resources for a man he may have never seen again.

This story is not heroic, it’s really just common courtesy. Would we all be stopped in our tracks to show this kind of compassion?

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A STORY ABOUT GIVING

GRATITUDE

The Gift of the Magi is a short story by American writer O. Henry. The story first appeared in The New York Sunday World on December 10, 1905. The story tells of a young married couple who have very little money and between them have only two possessions they consider their treasures: the man’s gold pocket watch, and the woman’s lustrous, long hair.

It’s the joy and love that we extend to others that brings true happiness. When we give, we reap the joy of seeing a bright smile, laughter, tears of joy, and gratitude for life.

On Christmas Eve, the woman is anxious to buy her husband a present, but only has $1.87 to spend. Desperate to buy him a gift, she decides to have her beautiful hair cut to sell. She receives $20.00 for selling her hair and buys her husband a platinum chain for his pocket watch.

When the man comes home from work, he notices her hair is gone and she admits to what she has done and offers him the present.

Before she can give it to him, however, her husband retrieves a package from his pocket and inside his wife finds a pair of decorative hair combs that she’d long admired, now useless since she’s cut off her hair. Hiding her tears, she has her husband open his gift and after doing so, he tells his wife that he sold his watch to buy her the combs. The story ends with a comparison of the loving couple’s gifts to the gifts that the Magi, or three wise men, gave to Baby Jesus in the manger in the biblical story of Christmas. The narrator concludes that the man and woman are far wiser than the Magi because their gifts are gifts of love, and those who give out of love and self-sacrifice are truly wise because they know the true spirit of giving.

The rewards of giving are priceless. If you want to have happiness, you need to give happiness. If you want love, you need to give love. It’s in giving that you receive.

IDEAS FOR GIVING Make a plan this year to get your family involved in something that gives them the gift of joy through giving. You can try out several different types of activities and find one that works best for you.

Feed the Needy A very necessary and familiar way to volunteer is to help out at a soup kitchen or food bank.

Holidays are the busiest time at shelters, and help is needed in many different areas. Many places allow families to volunteer together.

Serve a Senior Citizen Consider reaching out to an elderly person or retirement home. The winter and holiday months can be hard on the elderly and a visit or a helping hand could be just what they need.

Help Furry Friends For animal lovers, helping out at a pet shelter is an easy choice. Volunteer a few days or just an afternoon to give the regular staff a break and fill in for vacationers.

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December 2021 | 85

5 Areas to Create Boundaries for a Joy Filled

Holiday Season

BY TARYN JEREZ

The real Christmas Miracle a lot of us are looking for is a stress-free holiday season. It’s no mystery that the holidays can be a little overwhelming, and by the time December rolls in full force, levels of anxiety and stress are here.

(As in last-minute online gift shopping for your hard-to-impress mother-in-law while burning the Christmas cookies for the kid’s teachers’ gifts stressful.)

What if this year was different?

What if you took charge of the month and created boundaries that not only pushed stress to the curb but let joy take the driver’s seat? The truth is, it’s more than possible. You just need a plan for the different areas of your life!

#1 BUDGET BOUNDARIES December is on record as the highest spending month throughout the year due to winter holiday spending. According to Dave Ramsey, American consumers plan to spend an average of $997.79 on holiday purchases this year, which is down from previous years but still a large chunk of change. It can be easy to get overwhelmed with gift shopping, holiday meal plans, social excursions, and other holiday spending opportunities, so create boundaries around your budget for this month. Don’t compare to previous years or what other families may be spending and concentrate on your needs and what you consider “non-negotiables” and stick to it. Don’t allow overspending due to peer pressure that will cause added stress going into the new year.

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#2 CALENDAR BOUNDARIES Time is always your hottest commodity and it goes so quickly! Look at your calendar for the next few weeks and think about what your top priorities are. Do you want some time to holiday shop by yourself or wrap presents as a family? Are you hoping to visit friends or see the Nutcracker downtown? Create boundaries around your calendar to protect your time and help it go towards the things that matter. Don’t overbook yourself by saying “yes” to every invitation that comes your way or commit to things this month that you don’t wholeheartedly want to do.

#3 FAMILY BOUNDARIES The holidays are a beautiful time for family gatherings and creating memories with loved ones, but that doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone. Schedule things in advance and don’t be afraid to set boundaries around times that are specific to family time. Will you attend the Christmas Eve service at church or volunteer one Saturday at the women’s shelter together? If you have older kids with social calendars of their own, have a family conversation about what dates or times are strictly for the family so you are all on the same page. Make any boundaries known with your extended family, particularly anyone who tends to get a mind of their own during the holidays, such as inlaws.

#4 WORK BOUNDARIES Somehow your boss may start to show an uncanny resemblance to the Grinch come December!

Laying out work boundaries can feel intimidating sometimes, but setting expectations and having honest conversations with your manager, coworkers, or employees can help take the overwhelm out of things. Request any vacation

or personal time in advance when you can and let them know if you will be inaccessible during those days off.

Work for yourself? Prioritize what needs to be completed to allow you to enjoy your holiday moments and perhaps take some things off your plate that can wait until later. Work will always be there, so don’t stress over the nonessential things and shift your concentration to the time of year that will be gone before you know it.

#5 HEALTH BOUNDARIES Remember that nobody has a crystal ball to your boundaries; you have to let them in on what they are. Your personal, physical, and mental health can be directly impacted by boundary setting and this time of year, acknowledging you have different needs is ok. Be honest about what you need physically and emotionally this month, and try to embrace transparency with these boundaries. If you need more space emotionally due to grief or sadness during the holidays, perhaps certain topics or situations are part of these. If you are physically tired and can’t push the way you used to, let others know you won’t participate in some things or need to approach them differently.

The song lyrics aren’t lying when they say, “it’s the most wonderful time of the year,” so give yourself every opportunity to see the joy that this month can bring!

Soak it up by placing boundaries in these areas of your life to make your season truly magical.

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December 2021 | 87

ZOOM DYSMORPHIA

BY JEN OLENICZAK BROWN

At the beginning of the pandemic, I knew we would have a lot of trauma from staring at ourselves.

Aside from giving in, there are a few things you can do to fight Zoom Dysmorphia:

And now, nearly two years later, we’re facing this crushing realization that this trauma does exist, and this particular flavor is called Zoom Dysmorphia.

HIDE SELF-VIEW

Shadi Kourosh, an assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School, realized that she and others in the dermatology and plastic surgery field noticed a lot of folks coming in for facial-related requests. When asked why they suddenly became preoccupied with the skin on their neck, the shape of their nose, and spots on their skin, many of them cited video conferencing like Zoom or Teams.

Do you mean staring at your face all day hurts self-image?

Truly, I think we can all agree on this. Quick self-survey – have you looked at your face on Zoom or Teams and said YIKES and quickly went to splash cold water, throw on makeup, adjust lighting? I think we’ve all had that panicked moment when this all started and I know folks are still feeling this.

Even with vaccines (hopefully) leading the way to a new normal, this isn’t the first time that constant videoconferencing has harmed us: in 2015, before Zoom dysmorphia, we had “Snapchat dysmorphia” – and you guessed it, people wanted to look like those face-changing filters of big eyes and glass skin.

Plastic surgery isn’t new: before filters and Zoom, people would show up wanting to look like celebrities, and studies show that people that stare at themselves in a mirror become more selfconscious over time. Zoom dysmorphia hits a little different: people notice their skin because of bad lighting, their nose and eyes because of the camera angles, and even their chins and the skin beneath it – add to that bad posture (I sit like a croissant!) and you’ve got a recipe for self-deprecation and low self-esteem.

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This is an easy one. Click the three dots on your Zoom window and then scroll down to “hide self-view.” This hides YOU from YOU – everyone else can still see you, so remember this before you bring the computer into the bathroom or start munching on tacos during a dull meeting moment. By not staring at yourself all day, you’ll save yourself some of the image issues.

FIND YOUR LIGHT Overhead lighting makes everyone look older and more tired than they actually might be. Think about it: any shadows on your face will be accentuated by the shadows from light coming from above you! Best bet? Turn off the overhead if you can and make sure there is a light source coming from in front. I like to make sure there is a window in front of me when I spend time on Zoom.

Another thing that won’t help you? A light behind you. Make sure if there is a light behind you, it is off – and never let the window light come from behind.

ADJUST THE CAMERA Your camera should be eye level. If you are looking down on your camera, you’re going to get weird angles – and if you’re looking up at it, you’ll look small. Make sure the camera is at eye level and you have a bit of distance from you and the camera.

TALK TO SOMEONE Whatever you can do to change your tech situation will help, but if you feel as though you need to do something about your appearance, it might be helpful to talk to someone about how you’re feeling. This isn’t to say that you need to talk to a therapist, but finding someone to talk to and share with might be exactly what you need to center yourself.

PHOTO BY JODIE BRIM

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December 2021 | 89

e h T

vit i t a N

day Tradit ion We “T i l o H A – e hink” y Scen

From candles glowing in windows to angeltopped evergreen trees, the stories behind various Christmastime customs are rich in history and steeped in Christian beliefs. One of the most treasured holiday traditions is the re-creation of the very first Christmas - the nativity scene.

Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with designing the first nativity in Italy, 1223 AD in an effort to shift the emphasis of Christmas away from gift giving toward the worship of Christ. This artistic representation of the birth of Jesus grew in popularity in Christian communities around the world and today, centuries later, nativities of all types and sizes are on display in homes, churches, stores, and any number of public and private places. Amid the flurry of ribbons and bows, shopping mall Santas, and all things exterior illumination, the simplicity of the nativity reminds us to slow down, reflect upon, and celebrate the ultimate gift of the season: the birth of Jesus.

Unlike many other holiday decorations, the nativity has a direct link to New Testament scripture. Two of the four gospels (Matthew and Luke) provide narratives regarding the birth of Jesus, but surprisingly, the details about the cast of characters around the swaddled baby in the manger are quite sparse. So, just how accurately do today’s nativities reflect the gospel events? As it turns out, biblical historians and nativity buffs agree that the scenes of today bear little resemblance to the day/night Jesus was born. Both the original Greek text and an understanding of the ancient Near East culture are needed to properly translate the events around the first Christmas (which was not December 25th… that date was later adopted by the Roman Emperor Constantine in the 4th century).

Following is a closer look at the events, individuals, and animals most frequently associated with the manger scene through this “informed” lens. Separating conjecture from scripture is an interesting exercise in uncovering misinterpretation and misrepresentation.

BIBLICAL NATIVITY SCENE:

Mary and Joseph made their way from Nazareth to Bethlehem an unspecified number of days prior to the birth of Jesus for the purpose of tax registration. Mary may have ridden to Bethlehem on a donkey, but there is no mention of this in the Bible.

BY DEBBIE LINVILLE

When the couple reached their “hometown” of Bethlehem, the cultural hospitality practices of the day would normally have had relatives graciously open their homes to the couple or, as “royals” from the line of David, local townspeople would have been honored to do so.

The image of an innkeeper with a “no vacancy” sign posted on the door, turning Mary and Joseph away in their hour of need is often what we have in mind about the Christmas story, and it is easy to see how this idea came about. Scripture, however, supports a slightly disparate set of circumstances. The Greek phrase “no room in the inn” is composed of “topos” and “kataluma” and is translated “no space in the guest room.”

A guest room in a common house was a small, empty room which offered a place of safety and privacy for the night. Those who permanently resided in the home slept in the main part of the house just above the ground level animal pens. And it was common in Eastern society for the family to be accompanied by a few milk goats, a donkey, and a cow as a way to protect their valuable assets from theft during the night.

As such, there would have been a manger (aka feeding trough) in that room to keep the animals quiet in tight quarters until they could be returned outside to graze.

Scripture makes no mention of Jesus being born in a stable, but it does strongly suggest that Jesus was born in the lower portion of a common home as there was “no space in the guest room.”

Thus, it seems that Mary and Joseph may have had to stay in the room where the animals stayed at night. With Westerners’ understanding that feeding troughs are found in the stalls of a stable/ barn, the conclusion that Jesus was born in such an outdoor place is a reasonable one, although it is unfounded.

Additionally, scripture does not suggest that Mary gave birth on the evening of their arrival into town. The Bible states that while Mary was in Bethlehem, she gave birth to Jesus and that shepherds received word in the evening on the day of his birth (so it is easy to see how the leap to an evening birth developed). But while the Bible doesn’t provide the exact location or hour of day Jesus was born, scripture is very clear that Mary gave birth to Jesus, wrapped him in cloths, and placed him in a manger.

We Kno w

While many modern nativities reflect the presence of sheep, cattle, lambs, an ox and donkey around the baby Jesus, historians agree that any animals, as well as any men, that may have been present at the time of Jesus’ birth would have been ushered out.

The ladies in the home (and perhaps a local midwife) would have been with Mary when she “brought forth her firstborn.”

And the angels? Luke 2 mentions an angel and a “heavenly host” appearing to the shepherds, but it does not support shepherds, an angel, or a unique star being at the location of the birth.

What about the wise men? The Bible specifically states that magi followed a star to locate and worship Jesus, but it does not specify how many wise men there were (we have assumed three because there were three gifts mentioned), how long it took to get there, if they rode camels or even how old Jesus was when they arrived. What is clear, however, is that when the magi eventually arrived, they found the holy family in a house and bowed down to worship Jesus.

While we may never know the exact facts and circumstances that Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus experienced at the time of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, the scriptural support for placing Mary and Joseph in an outdoor stable with baby Jesus in a straw filled manger, surrounded by barnyard animals, shepherds with their sheep, three wise men with their camels and gifts, a brilliant star and an angel is lacking. The good news, though, is that regardless of the accuracy portrayed in most present-day nativities, the center of the Christmas story remains the same: the celebration and adoration of the arrival of Jesus on that first holy night over 2000 years ago.

But what would a nativity be without this cast of characters that have become holiday tradition? Fortunately, personal aesthetics and artistic interpretation is not only permitted, but encouraged…whether assembling a few or many figurines, display what feels meaningful to you. Joy to the world! The Lord is come.

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December 2021 | 91

How To Build a Holiday Cookie Box

BY LAUREN SEPHTON

It’s as simple as baking your favorite cookies and putting them in a box. Not too hard, right? Well, there’s a few additional steps that can make the process a little tricky.

But no fear, we’ve got you covered!

STEP 1: CHOOSE YOUR COOKIES

Whether you choose to buy pre-made cookies, make your own at home, or a mix of both, a key tip is to choose ones that will hold up well in transit. A few examples of easily breakable cookies that you may consider avoiding are Tuile, Pizzelle, and Wafers.

Another tip is to consider having a variety of shapes and sizes within the cookie box. And while it doesn’t have to be a whole bakery within a box, a great option is to have one specialty holiday cookie paired with 2-3 more traditional, easy cookies. A few of those classics would be chocolate chip cookies, blondies, jumbo marshmallows, almond biscotti, assorted tea cookies, thumbprints, etc.

A Few Specialty Cookie Ideas: • Triple Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies (recipe below) • Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies (recipe below) • Snowflake Sugar Cookies • Millionaires’ Shortbread • Christmas Tree Cut-Out Linzer Cookies • White Chocolate & Peppermint Blondies • Santa Claus Cookies • Gingerbread Men Cookies • Seasonally flavored Whoopie Pies • Fig Cookies • Raspberry Almond Snowball Cookies

STEP 2: PURCHASE A STURDY BOX

You’ll want to be clever in choosing a box that can hold up in transit, like a heavy-duty cardboard box that has dividers for the different types of cookies. Another option is to use a large cookie tin.

If shipping, a key tip is to wrap the cookie box or tin in saran wrap to keep the cookies safe and fresh, while also double wrapping in bubble wrap to keep them from bouncing around in the shipping box.

STEP 3: GATHER FESTIVE DECORATIONS Besides taste testing and baking the cookies, this may be the next best part! The possibilities are endless with the abundance of festive ribbons, holiday cookie tins, stickers, small ornaments to sporadically place inside the box, food safe tissue paper, etc. And if shipping, consider placing the cookies in individual holiday ziploc storage bags before adding into the box.

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STEP 4: PACKAGE THE COOKIES

Be sure to package the heavier cookies on the bottom to keep them from crushing your more fragile cookies. Also, you may consider adding a layer of food safe shredded paper or tissue paper between each new layer or division. For the final layer, create that memorable box-opening experience by adding one last layer of shredded or tissue paper with a handwritten holiday card.

Not only will it help keep the cookies snug, but also gives you the opportunity to make a personal connection!

Spread the holiday cheer in one of the simplest ways. Whether you take a day to bake all things peppermint and cocoa or choose to pick up three simple pre-made cookie doughs from the store, your recipient is bound to be filled with joy!

RED VELVET CRINKLE COOKIES (YIELDS: 24 COOKIES) Ingredients: • 1/2 cup butter, softened • 1/2 cup brown sugar • 1/4 cup cane sugar • 2 eggs, room temp.

• 2 tsp. vanilla extract • 1/2 tsp. red food coloring • 2 cups all purpose flour • 1/3 cup cocoa powder • 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder • 1/2 tsp. salt • 1/2 cup powdered sugar, for rolling • 1/3 cup granulated cane sugar, for rolling

Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking pan with parchment paper.

2. Cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated cane sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in one egg at a time. Fold in the vanilla and red food coloring to mix until well combined.

3. In a separate mixing bowl, sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.

4. Add the flour mix into the sugar bowl, then beat until well combined.

5. Fill a large bowl with the remaining granulated cane sugar and powdered sugar.

6. Scoop the cookies using a 1 oz cookie scoop, then roll in the powdered sugar bowl. Place on the prepared baking pan 1” apart.

7. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until puffed up and cracked. Allow them to cool, then enjoy!

TRIPLE CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT COOKIES (YIELDS: 2 DOZEN)

Ingredients: • 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour • 1/2 cup granulated cane sugar • 1/2 cup brown sugar • 1 tsp. baking powder • 1/4 tsp. baking soda • 1/2 tsp. kosher salt • 1/2 tsp. instant coffee powder • 1/2 cup cocoa powder • 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp. olive oil • 1/3 cup chocolate hazelnut spread • 1 large egg, room temp.

• 1 tsp. vanilla extract • 1/2 cup toasted hazelnuts, crushed • 3/4 cup bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated cane sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and instant coffee until well combined.

3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the cocoa powder, olive oil, and chocolate hazelnut spread with 1/3 cup warm water on a low speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in the vanilla.

4. On low speed, gradually add in the cocoa mixture until well incorporated.

5. Fold in the crushed hazelnuts and chocolate chunks.

6. Scoop 1 oz or 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie, placing them 3” apart on the prepared baking pans.

(Optional: Sprinkled with flaky salt.)

7. Bake for 12-14 minutes, rotating the baking sheets halfway through (the edges should be dry). Allow the cookies to cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

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December 2021 | 93

Q&A with a Gingerbread Artist

BY LINDSAY DEIBLER,

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEITH BARRACLOUGH

First, please tell us who you are!

How did you begin competing?

How did you learn?

I am Lindsay Deibler and I am a gingerbread artist, as well as a professional Interior Designer (Lindsay Deibler Interiors). I live in Winston-Salem, NC with my husband and two boys, 16 and 13. Competing in gingerbread competitions has become a side passion of mine that happened very organically.

A little over ten years ago I started to make cakes as a way to channel creative energy and to see if I could make them like Duff Goldman of Charm City Cakes or Buddy Valastro of Carlos Bakery, who were featured on Food Network at the time. I took a couple of cake decorating classes at Micheal’s and my interest peaked.

It had been suggested to me by several different people off and on through the years that I should enter The National Gingerbread Competition held in Asheville, NC, at The Omni Grove Park Inn. I always thought, “I have no idea about gingerbread, so why would I do that?” Then along came the Brenners Children’s Hospital Festival of Trees event and gingerbread houses could be made that would be auctioned off for charity. That was my chance to see what that gingerbread stuff was all about. So I went big and decided to create two uniquely designed houses and had a lot of fun.

After my first year competing, I was introduced to another competitor who runs a Facebook group called Gingerfriends. Amazing group if you are interested in learning more, it is a page to ask questions, share techniques, etc. (all things gingerbread). I was so intrigued about how to make edible art. By going to competitions you meet other competitors who are willing to share how they create things. You learn that using plain ole edible gingerbread may not be the way to go, though some competitors use it. I have had more success with construction grade gingerbread. Ha! Yes, it is a thing, so edible but most likely you would break a tooth trying to bite into it as you need to bake it at a low and slow temperature to create rock hard pieces.

I also have been lucky enough to take some gingerbread classes from some of the best.

Have you ever entered The National Gingerbread Competition?

For the first time in 2017, after doing the Brenners event years prior, I decided to enter The National Gingerbread Competition. A good family friend’s daughter had entered the competition before and she was my inspiration for deciding to compete. I created my gingerbread piece, “Under the Sea,” and was so excited. My neighbor had cut my baseboard in a unique shape, and my family/ friends loved it. I was confident in my edible artwork. My son and I pulled up to the hotel to drop-off my piece for display, then out rushed a camera crew to film the car parked next to us. The trunk to this minivan opened, and I basically felt like rays of light were shooting out, and there was this AMAZING gingerbread creation. I was frozen and quickly realized I was entering a new dimension of talented artists. I was ready to drive back home when my son who was more mature than me at age eight said my piece was amazing, too, and I needed to still enter. He was so proud of my work; I needed to show him quitting was not an option. I entered and was hooked. I was blown away by the talent and amazing things people did with gingerbread and knew I could Recently figure this out competed on Food Network’s Holiday for the following Baking Championship: year. So, I have Gingerbread entered the past Showdown that aired four years! on Nov. 22nd.

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What competitions have you entered?

• 2021 1st Annual GIngerfriends Competition “People’s Choice Award” “Follow The Yellow Brick Road” • 2020 Bailey’s Fine Jewelry 1st Gingerbread House Competition, Raleigh, NC - 1st Place “The Finishing Touch” 2020 Savannah Gingerbread Trail, GA - 3rd Place “Sweets and Treats Trading Post” • 2019 Heart of the Holidays Town of Cary, NC- 1st Place “Cute As A Button” • 2019 Carolina Classic Fair, WinstonSalem, NC- 1st Place “Fair Flowers” • The National Gingerbread Competition, Asheville, NC2017-2020

How do you start?

Sign up! Gingerbread competitions are usually free to enter -- give it a go!

The National Gingerbread Competition registration typically opens in July and drop off for entries are usually the weekend before Thanksgiving each year. All ages can enter most all competitions. Follow my webpage for competition updates, recipes and more (www.gingergingerbreadlady.com).

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December 2021 | 95

Exceptional Young Women in the Community:

Meet

BY AMY HILL

The COVID-19 pandemic might have kept Americans inside their homes, but it didn’t stop America’s youth from speaking out and making a change. Reagan High School senior Olivia Moore turned the year 2020’s lemons into lemonade for the community. A Winston-Salem native, Olivia was so moved by the distressing death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, that she felt compelled to take action.

In 2020, she started Winston-Salem for Peace and Justice Community Activism Organization and organized protests attracting hundreds of participants working together to bring awareness to and combat the injustices evoked by George Floyd’s traumatic death.

Olivia’s grandmother has seen prejudice throughout her lifetime, but the George Floyd tragedy changed Olivia’s outlook and perspective on social injustice.

In fact, it made her realize that race relations were worse than she initially thought. This realization jarred her, inspiring her to do whatever she could to help the community.

Following the initial protest, she organized on May 31, 2020, WinstonSalem for Peace and Justice’s Instagram account (@winston4peace) gained thousands of followers. In collaboration with other community activism groups throughout the area, Olivia, her fellow classmates, and individuals throughout the community have continued to fight for social justice ever since.

Prior to the events transpiring in 2020, Olivia still had a passion for making big changes. She aspired to attend college after graduating from high school, specifically to study international relations with a focus on equity for Middle Eastern regions. After receiving a scholarship to take an Arabic course from the Qatar Foundation, she fell in love with the language and is now able to speak basic Arabic. Her community activism has only solidified her desire to become a diplomat and impact government policies. She hopes to attend American University, studying abroad in the Middle East and becoming fluent in Arabic. Although she is prepared for the culture shock to come, her excitement diminishes any apprehension she feels about studying abroad.

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Olivia Moore

Olivia holds an impressive resume at only 18 years old. At Reagan High School, she has participated in the Debate Club, Youth and Government, National Honor Society, Reagan Young democrats, Reagan Black Achievers, Reagan Outdoor Adventure Club, and was a member of the Reagan High School Jazz Band. Additionally, she is an entrepreneur, starting her own photography business and serving as the CEO of LivMore Brand Clothing Store.

Aside from her stellar GPA, Olivia has been recognized by HOPE Dealers Outreach for her community activism, along with the Society of Psychology of Women. In 2020, she won the Jack and Jill of America, Inc., Freedom to Dream Award, and placed third for a sculpture in the Jack and Jill Senior Teen Mid-Atlantic Region Teen Conference.

Olivia was a 2021 panelist for the SECCA Juneteenth Event, a speaker for the Links Community Event, and a keynote speaker for the Virtual Confab Conference in 2020. Her community activism has been highlighted and featured in many local media sources, including WXII12, Spectrum Local News, and the Winston-Salem Journal to name a few. While many high school students spend their summers on family vacations or sleeping in, Olivia takes no breaks in striving for social justice. In 2021, she participated in the American University High School Summer Scholars program in Political Action and Public Policy, International Diplomacy, and Cross-Cultural Communication. In 2018 and 2019, she participated in the Gifted Center of Western Kentucky University’s Summer Program for Verbally and Mathematically Precocious Youth (VAMPY), along with the Gifted Center of Western Kentucky University’s Summer Camp for Academically Talented Students (SCATS) in 2016 and 2017.

When Olivia is not busy saving the world, you can find her working on her growing photography business, spending time with friends, and eating at local restaurants such as Sweet Potatoes. To support Winston-Salem for Peace and Justice, and to learn more about the youth-led organization’s cause, follow @winton4peace on Instagram and visit winston4peace.com.

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December 2021 | 97

The Storied Past of Eggnog

BY DEBBIE LINVILLE

Clark: Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?

Eddie: Naw, I’m doing just fine, Clark.

This classic exchange from the movie Christmas Vacation spotlights the American tradition of gathering around the punchbowl filled to overflowing with (potentially spiked!) eggnog to ring in the holiday season. This sweet, thick, spiced liquid is the beverage of choice for many this time of year, and is a staple at bars, restaurants, and holiday gatherings throughout December. At every turn, iterations of eggnog abound…pies, cakes, popcorn, smoothies, cheesecake, coffee, ice cream, and even bubble gum all give a nod to this holiday classic. But where did eggnog originate and how did it become associated with Christmas?

AN EGGNOG TIMELINE:

The early years: Eggnog, in its boozy state, has been around since the 13th century and was originally an English hot drink called posset - a mixture of milk curdled with wine or beer. Down the line it is believed that monks were the first to add eggs to the concoction and on occasion, figs. Posset was most prevalent among the elite due to the high cost of milk, eggs, and liquors like brandy and sherry. Hence, eggnog became the trademark drink of the British aristocracy and it was customary to raise a glass to prosperity and good health throughout the year.

Circa mid 1700s – early 1800: In time, this creamy beverage made its way across the pond to America where farm and dairy products were plentiful.

Due to the heavy taxes on brandy, early settlers modified the recipe, replacing traditional English spirits with very affordable rum. Colonists referred to rum as grog, and bartenders served rum in small wooden carved mugs called noggins. As time marched by, alterations of the drink’s name changed from egg-n-grog to eggnog, and it went from being a chilled drink consumed in cold months to a beverage specifically enjoyed at Christmastime.

Eggnog Riot of 1826: A Christmas tradition gone awry… The place, West Point. The context, annual Christmas party. For obvious reasons, alcohol was banned from the premises, but on December 25th, 90 defiant cadets managed to successfully smuggle a large quantity of whiskey onto campus disguised as eggnog where, reportedly, a particularly raucous display ensued. The extent of destruction was significant and 11 of the most offensive partygoers were court-martialed and kicked out of West Point. Nonetheless, the soldiers (and plenty of civilians, too) continued to enjoy eggnog as the years rolled by. As one enlisted serviceman remarked, “Eggs are very plenty and very cheap, and lots of eggnog are to be drunk. The ‘boys’ are bound to do it.”

20th Century Eggnog: The Christmas-sy libation was enjoyed by the affluent and ordinary U.S. citizens alike until Prohibition (1920-1933) put a damper on things. In time, however, homemade boozy eggnog made a (legal) comeback and ringing in the holidays was common practice everywhere. Even the U.S. White house was known to raise a glass with their guests at Christmastime.

In fact, President Dwight Eisenhower, known for his commitment to innovation, came up with his own twist on the Christmastime cheer which included: one dozen egg yolks, one pound of sugar, and one quart each of coffee cream, whipping cream, and bourbon.

Eggnog Today: Whether the liquid cheer is jazzed up a little (or a lot) for adult drinkers, there seems to be no middle ground – folks either love it or say bah-humbug to this yuletide beverage. Sales have actually shot up significantly across recent years with Americans consuming 54 million bottles of store-bought eggnog in 2020. Although the convenience factor of readymade eggnog cannot be underrated, there is truly nothing that comes as close to the taste of the original beverage as homemade. This holiday season, whether you opt for off-the-shelf or madefrom-scratch, provide your guests an extra measure of festiveness by adding a dash of grated nutmeg, a dollop of whipped cream, and a cinnamon stick to your mug of eggnog. Cheers!

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The Appalachian Trail

BY KAREN COOPER

HISTORY

The Appalachian Trail (A.T.) is the longest marked footpath in the United States. It starts at Springer Mountain in Georgia, it crosses 14 states, six national parks, and eight national forests, ending at Maine’s Mount Katahdin.

“Thru-hikers” cover a total of 2,193.1 miles.

The Appalachian Trail was envisioned by Benton Mackaye, a land-use planner.

Mackaye, who grew up near Boston, Massachusetts, was an avid mountain climber. After graduating from Harvard in 1900, he and a classmate hiked Vermont’s Long Trail through the Green Mountains, and it was on this trek that Mackaye got the idea for a trail following the Appalachian Mountains from Maine to Georgia. The Journal of the American Institute of Architects editor convinced Mackaye to write an article about his idea. Published in October 1921, “An Appalachian Trail, A Project in Regional Planning” helped solidify Mackaye’s vision. The Appalachian Trail was to be a destination where East Coast city dwellers could get back to nature—a place for recreation, recuperation, and as he described it, “to walk, to see and to see what you see.”

THE HIKERS

There are two types of Appalachian Trail hikers: section-hikers and thru-hikers.

Section-hikers hike the Appalachian Trail in pieces, often over the course of years, whereas thru-hikers take on the entire trail in one trip. Earl Shaffer from York County, Pennsylvania, completed the first known thru-hike in 1948, when people had doubts about whether such an accomplishment was even possible. Starting from Georgia and averaging 16.5 miles a day, he reached Mount Katahdin 124 days later. He caught the bug, and in 1965, he hiked the trail again, this time from Maine to Georgia, making him the first person to walk the trail in both directions. Then, in 1998, at age 79, he hiked it again.

The A.T. sees three-plus million people each year. Serious trekkers who plan on covering many miles start slow, averaging eight to ten miles a day. They will eventually work up to 12 to 16 miles a day. Hiking the entire A.T. is a grueling and demanding endeavor. It requires great physical and mental stamina and determination. The terrain is mountainous in its entirety.

DANGERS

Hiking the A.T. can have great benefits for your overall health, but spending lots of time in nature requires special preparations.

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The most significant risk to your health and safety while hiking the A.T. is contracting a tick-borne disease. As of 2019, multiple species of ticks can be found in each of the 14 states the A.T. passes through. Although Lyme disease, carried by the deer tick (also known as the black-legged tick), is the most common, there are several tick-borne illnesses present on the A.T. Though tick-borne illnesses are usually very treatable, symptoms can be severe and long-lasting, and a few of the less common ones can be life-threatening.

Norovirus is a highly contagious stomach virus transmitted by contact with an infected person, contaminated food or water, or contaminated surfaces.

It is easily spread on parts of the A.T. that experience crowded conditions.

Norovirus can cause stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea. (Not the best situation to be in with no real bathrooms in sight.)

The Appalachian Trail does have its dangers: illness, poisonous snakes, bears, lightning storms…even murder (very unlikely), but the trail does also surely celebrate life! In 1978, thru-hikers Richard and Donna Satterlie found out while hiking in Hot Springs, North Carolina, that Donna was pregnant. She was 7.5 months pregnant by the time she arrived at Mount Katahdin. In honor of their successful completion of the A. T., they named their baby girl Georgia Maine.

WHY PEOPLE HIKE

Why hike the A.T. from Georgia to Maine? For some people, it’s a rite of passage, or a way to stay on track mentally, a physical challenge, or maybe a way to heal a broken heart. Some hike the A. T. simply to be in nature and stay off the grid for a while.

WHAT IS TRAIL MAGIC?

People interpret Trail Magic differently. It can include things like: • Experiencing something rare, extraordinary, or inspiring in nature.

• Finding what you need most when you least expect it.

• Encountering unexpected acts of generosity that restore one’s faith in humanity.

Acts of generosity in this wild and primitive setting of the Appalachian Trail–where basic amenities of civilization are intentionally absent–are often received in a heightened sense of wonder and gratitude by hikers.

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P os

t - R e t i r e m e n t R ei

This is my book and these are my chapters. The pen sits firmly between my fingers, inching across the page that writes the next story of my next phase.

I page back - of course I do- lost in a beautiful memory here, troubled by a messy closure there.

And still, and still, the future beckons.

The future, evolving me calls, “Where will you go from here? What do you want? Who and how do you want to be, discover, experience, create, and contribute in the chapters ahead, the days left to you?”

These are the questions.

No, they are THE QUESTIONS. They bring me first to practical matters: I still work, but oh, so much less. I still have “responsibilities,” but they are far fewer. I have family, but they are far-flung. What I have now, that I didn’t have in all of those earlier, busy, busy chapters is more time. Ah, time – the ultimate provocateur behind all of those questions.

And so I dive in a bit deeper with my own multifaceted question: If I do what I have always done out of habit, or live in the past because it is the known, or simply fritter away the hours, days, weeks, months, and years ahead with whatever shows up, then what will I have done with my precious allotment of time?

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n o i t n e nv

A

BY JE

N

IE J M AR

SO N OH N

I realize the challenge inherent in this “post-60” chapter: I have more responsibility for self-definition than ever before. My roles have loosened their hold on me: • I no longer have the keys to the office and a 60-hour week responsibility • I am no longer woven into the regular fabric of my extended family’s life • I am a transplant here with no regional roots So yes, it’s great to embrace this fresh, blank page, but it is sometimes terrifying.

That’s why asking the questions in the spirit of true inquiry is what this moment in time is all about.

My mind goes to the concept of restoration. You know, you take a beautiful old house, respect the bones, get the good stuff back intact, and then build and rearrange from there. I realize that is exactly what I am doing. I am building a restored, fresh version of myself that honors my past and embraces my future.

I experiment along the way: blond for a while, grow the hair long, cut it short, back to brunette with highlights. Well, that’s been quite the journey! I plan trips back home to stay connected but incorporate ZOOM and Facetime for scheduled “Whine and Wines.” I join a book club and my local pool. I cook in the winter and say the hell with it in the summer. I humble my way through gardening and stumble my way through yoga and Pilates. I am a passionate neighborhood ambassador (aka “The crazy lady?” Maybe.) because I am the change I want to see. And yes, in a nod to “aging gracefully” I accept that some of those designer jeans I paid too much for may never fit me again.

As I write this chapter, I pause and go back to the questions: “Where will you go from here? What do you want? Who and how do you want to be, discover, experience, create, and contribute in the chapters ahead, the days left to you?”

My pen pauses in mid-air, and I realize that I am writing my chapter as I am living these new choices. I choose to trust the process and my pen follows….

iHeart Radio

The Women of Trellis Supportive Care The contributions and the care I see being given paint a picture that is both heartwarming and impressive. It illuminates the hands-on care of our gifted clinicians, and it spotlights the expertise of our administrative teams, from quality and compliance, to education, finance, and so much more.

BY LINDA DARDEN, PRESIDENT AND CEO, TRELLIS SUPPORTIVE CARE In a magazine that celebrates and elevates the women in our community, I’m thrilled to shine a spotlight on the women who make up the fabric of Trellis Supportive Care, and who ultimately bring comfort and peace of mind to patients and families in our care. I am also eager to acknowledge the many women in our community who find themselves in the role of caregiver and healthcare decision maker for their family.

WHO ARE THE WOMEN OF TRELLIS SUPPORTIVE CARE?

I have the honor of working with nearly 250 women at Trellis Supportive Care. Women make up roughly 93% of our team. We live in towns and neighborhoods across the Piedmont Triad, and we are as diverse as the people and communities we serve. Each brings unique talents and passions that are essential to the success of our team. For these women, their work is not simply a job, but rather a calling.

I see the passion, and compassion, day in and day out.

Imagine for a moment that you see what I see. A nurse driving to a home in the middle of the night to provide comfort and peace of mind to a family. A social worker sitting knee to knee, offering guidance and hope to an exhausted caregiver. You might even see a music therapist soothing the soul by helping a patient find connection and meaning through music.

Above all else, I hope you see, as I do, a group of remarkable women who make up the incredible framework of supportive care that gives people a place to turn for comfort and hope when they need it most.

WOMEN, FAMILY, & CAREGIVING

The women of Trellis Supportive Care look like the women across the communities we serve. Many are daughters, sisters, mothers, and aunts, and understand the demands of juggling personal and professional life. Like many of you, these women are often caregivers and the ones making important healthcare decisions for loved ones.

If you are caring for a loved one, or know someone who is, it is important to recognize the emotional toll it takes. Caregiver fatigue is real and results from the exhausting work caregiving can be. Offering a hand, or even a few words of encouragement to a caregiver can go a long way.

Finally, if you are caring for a loved one, you may know all too well how challenging it can be. I want to encourage you to take care of yourself, too, by seeking and accepting support. There is no reason to go it alone. We offer workshops designed specifically to provide real, hands-on tips and tools to help navigate.

With the additional demands of the holidays, this is not a time to be overwhelmed by unplanned trips to the hospital and emergency department. Calling us for help may very well be the first step in alleviating worry and anxiety.

Your loved one can live comfortably at home surrounded by friends and family during the holidays, with our team providing support and expert care. You don’t need to wait for your doctor to make a referral. Whether it is to learn more about our caregiver workshops, or the support of palliative or hospice care, your call could lead to the peace of mind you deserve.

Join me in celebrating the women in our organization, as well as the women in your life who are giving of themselves to provide care and support to those in need.

To learn more about support available to you, please call us at 336-768-3972.

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Trellis

December 2021 | 105

Enjoy Sugar-Free Healthier Desserts this Christmas & Holiday Season

BY SUSAN B. B. SCHABACKER

There’s no need for those avoiding sugar to miss out on enjoying desserts. This holiday season try these creative recipes and ideas for sweet treats. These desserts and beverages are guilt-free and are actually beneficial to your health.

Diabetics are not the only ones who can benefit by avoiding sugar, which can be the culprit of a variety of health issues. So, whether you’re most concerned with regulating your blood sugar, preventing cavities, or just want to be in better health, keep these tips in mind.

Being creative and thinking outside the box is essential when substituting healthy ingredients for less healthy ingredients. It may take some trying when selecting healthier ingredients and getting the proportions right, but it’s worth it.

Desserts don’t have to be accompanied by any guilt. In fact, with the right nutritious ingredients, they can actually be quite healthy. And, thanks to sweet substitutes like stevia that are natural and don’t spike your blood sugar, you can cut the sugar out completely. Also, consider trying monk fruit extract and ingredients like unsweetened applesauce, dates, bananas, and other fruits.

106 | ForsythWoman.com

GINGERBREAD CHAI TEA CAKE

VEGAN COCONUT SNOWBALLS

PEPPERMINT CANDY CANE BARK

Ingredients: 2 1/3 cups flour 1½ teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon ground cloves ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg ½ cup refrigerated or frozen egg product, thawed, or 2 eggs, lightly beaten, or use applesauce (for the vegan version) ½ cup unsweetened coconut, almond, oat, hemp, or cashew milk (add more if needed) ½ cup EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) 1¼ cups strong gingerbread chai or another black tea 12 or so drops stevia (depending on sweetness preference)

Ingredients: 2 cups flour ½ teaspoon baking soda ¼ cup maple syrup ¼ cup coconut oil or EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) 2 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract 1¾ cup almonds, walnuts, or pecans (finely chopped) 1/3 coconut, almond, or other nut milk ½ cup coconut flakes ½ cup coconut flakes (to roll the cookies in)

Ingredients: 1 cup sugar-free peppermint candies or unwrapped candy canes (crushed) 1 cup sugar-free dark chocolate chips 1 cup sugar-free white chocolate chips 2-5 drops peppermint extract (depending on strength of mint preference)

Instructions: • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly coat a 13x9x2-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

• In a mixing bowl, combine ingredients, stirring together until smooth. Gauge batter consistency and consider adding more tea or milk to be the consistency of cake batter.

• Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 40 minutes or so. Check readiness by inserting a wooden toothpick near center to see if more baking is required.

• Let cool on a wire rack.

Recipe adapted from eatingwell.com/ recipe/267681/gingerbread-tea-cake

Instructions: • Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, and prepare baking tray with coconut or olive oil cooking spray.

• Combine ingredients (except ½ cup coconut flakes to roll cookies in) in a mixing bowl.

• Fill a teaspoon with dough for each cookie and roll each one into a small ball.

• Fill bowl with ½ cup coconut flakes and roll each cookie ball until coated evenly.

• Place snowball cookies on an oiled tray and bake in oven for about 10-13 minutes.

Instructions: • Line an 8x8 in pan with parchment paper and set aside.

• Heat dark chocolate chips in microwave-safe bowl or on stove until melted.

• Pour into lined pan and spread evenly with a spatula.

• Allow to sit about 15-20 minutes at room temperature.

• Heat white chocolate chips until melted, whisking in peppermint extract.

• Pour melted white chocolate over cooled dark chocolate in pan.

• Sprinkle crushed peppermint candies or candy canes over top.

• Let sit 30 minutes at room temperature and refrigerate for an additional 30 minutes.

• Break peppermint candy cane bark apart and enjoy. Makes an ideal gift!

Recipe adapted from: thebigmansworld.com/ keto-peppermint-bark/

Christmas and the holidays are time to celebrate and ‘tis the season for baking, but don’t feel left out at dessert time. With healthier approaches to baking, there’s no need to deprive yourself of sharing sweet treats!

THE BARN at REYNOLDA VILLAGE in the Heart of the Reynolda Historic District

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December 2021 | 107

The Power of the Compliment

BY JEAN MARIE JOHNSON

Back in the day, my team speculated that I had more shoes than Imelda Marcos. They even teased me about it. Most of the time I heard: “Cute shoes!”

It was a genuine compliment and I imagined my team member thinking: “I love her style,” or “Good for her that she can pull off that look,” Or simply “I really like those shoes.”

And now and then I heard: “Cute shoes…”

Which sounded more like an observation tinged with judgment or maybe envy, as in: “Wow. Must be nice to have money,” or, “Who does she think she is?”

Most of the time, I could tell which was which, but not always.

RECOGNIZE THE BACKHANDED COMPLIMENT

A backhanded compliment is “any comment that blurs the line between an insult and a compliment.” It can leave us feeling confused, unsettled, and upset. For example:

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GENUINE COMPLIMENTS MATTER, BIG TIME When we live our days looking for the good in others, we cultivate the positive and fill ourselves with small doses of happiness. I know you’re thinking “What’s she smoking?” I get it. It sounds silly, sappy, gushy which is why I suggest you try it for yourself. I really do. Go on down to the Harris Teeter or wherever you shop and look through a rosecolored lens of appreciation. On a recent trip, I saw a: • super helpful guy in produce who offered (offered!) to get me fresh beets from the back • woman my age who rocked an awesome haircut • patient mom who disciplined her squirmy little one with tact and kindness Through that self-selected lens, I scored the reward of seeing many things about others that I genuinely appreciate, admire, and respect. And then I did the rare and bold thing - I put my appreciation into words: • “You didn’t need to do that, really. But thanks so much!”

• “I just love your hair. Seriously, it looks great.”

• “What you just did?

That was awesome.”

“You look good for your age.”

“That lipstick color suits you so much better.”

“You don’t even notice your thunder thighs in those jeans.”

“Kudos, girlfriend!

I didn’t think you’d take on something like that.”

“What a great photo.

Your husband must have taken it.”

And what I notice, over and over again, is that a genuine compliment - from a stranger who has nothing to gain by making it - surprises people. It catches them off guard in the best way. I know that “they” say it’s better to give than to receive, but when it comes to compliments, it may just be a tie. The giver feels good about giving the gift of appreciation, recognition and thanks, while the receiver feels in some small but significant way, noticed and validated. And maybe more. Maybe you just made that employee’s day? Maybe you broke through that woman’s anxiety about aging. Maybe you reinforced that mom’s sense that she is a good parent.

You can feel the sting, right? We can’t control what others say or the complex motivations behind their backhanded compliments. What we can do is take compliments - the real ones - to a whole new level.

Here’s what I do know: Those Imelda Marcos compliments struck a deep and heartfelt chord with me. As a little girl, I was made fun of because of the Salvation Army shoes my Uncle George picked up for me. To be complimented on my footwear so many years later was a tiny bit of salve for my old wound.

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December 2021 | 109

Mistletoe

BY GENEVIEVE CONDON

There was always something about Jordan. From the moment I saw him walk into the coffee shop, it was like time stood still. Cliché, I know, but it’s true.

The first time I saw him, the door was open, and the snow falling outside was flitting in as he rushed to get out of the cold.

It was like out of one of my romance novels. Except there was no romance. Just me. Dreaming.

I sat there as I did every day, same table, same time, grading papers and sipping on my coffee. I liked the change of scenery from my office at the university and the students always knocking on my door.

Jordan always smiled at me, but that was it. He’d order his coffee and head right out the door. No second glance. Nothing. I thought about talking to him, but what would I say?

“Oh hey, I watch you order your coffee every day. Want to sit and perhaps get married?

Have my babies?”

Today was no different, the air was colder than normal, the café decorated for the holidays with a huge tree and lights. It was my favorite time of year.

Magic happened. The joy of the holidays giving people hope and love.

The door opened, and Jordan walked in as he always did. As he ordered his coffee, he glanced around, and his eyes fell on mine. My first reaction was to look away, but his smile made me blush and I smiled wider. Grabbing his coffee, he headed towards me.

Uhhhh. What’s he doing? Incoming! Incoming!

I was freaking out on the inside. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I was supposed to admire him from afar and complain to my friends how my crush was unrequited and write a novel about him. Telling a love story that I only hoped would happen.

“Hey.” “Hi.” I took a big sip of my coffee, it slowly burning as it went down.

“I see you in here every day; thought I’d say ‘Hi.’ I’m Jordan.”

The cold air hit us both, and we pulled our jackets tighter.

“I’m Sydney.” Marry me.

“Are you a poet?” I teased.

And cue the awkward silence.

“No. Sometimes things happen.

Moments in time that make words flow easier.”

“Are you a student?”

He nodded to my English textbook.

“I’m an English professor.”

My phone buzzed signaling I had to get going to class.

“Sorry. I have a class to teach in 20 minutes. It was great to meet you.”

I fumbled as I struggled to put my book away and get on my jacket.

“Here, let me.” Jordan helped me put on my jacket, and I swear I jumped into a Harlequin novel. This stuff doesn’t happen to me.

“Thanks.” Opening the door, the bell rang signaling our exit, and I looked up – seeing the mistletoe hanging there.

“You’re under the mistletoe! You have to give her a kiss!” One of the baristas exclaimed – giving me a wink.

I guess my crush wasn’t a secret after all.

Jordan looked at me and smiled.

Leaning in, he placed a kiss to my cheek, and I immediately felt the heat rush to my cheeks.

“The true spirit of Christmas is love,” Jordan whispered.

Swoon.

“Like mistletoe.” I added.

“Sure. Or a pretty lady sitting at the same table, every day for the past month.”

As the last word flowed from Jordan’s mouth, the sky opened up and the snow began falling. It was beautiful, poetic.

“Well, I’m glad you said ‘Hello.’ Because I was too scared to.” We both laughed.

“Same time tomorrow?” Jordan asked as the flagged down a taxi.

“That works for me.”

“I’ll leave you with this, Ms. Professor.

Sometimes you meet someone, and you know they’ll mean something to you someday.” I held my breath.

“Have a great day, Sydney. Till tomorrow.” He gave a silly bow before getting into the taxi.

I finally let out my breath I was holding.

As the snow fell around me, holiday music played somewhere in the distance.

With my coffee in hand, I walked to class, the laughter of people and joy filling the air. I knew this day was nothing more than holiday magic. And, Jordan’s words, while accurate, truth was he already meant something to me. He was my holiday wish come true.

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December 2021 | 111

The Gift of Shopping Local

BY DENISE HEIDEL

Here’s a question for you: When is it a good time to shop local?

Consider these answers and choose your favorite: • Today.

• Every day.

• All the time.

• Right now.

• On days that end in Y. • When the sky is blue.

In other words – it’s ALWAYS a great time to shop local.

Of course, we all love and appreciate the convenience of at-home delivery, but if there’s one gift the pandemic gave us – it was outside-the-box solutions.

And local retailers jumped at innovative new ways to engage their customers. It’s still entirely possible to click buttons to make a local purchase as well as make a local impact. So if holiday shopping convenience is a priority for you – you have local options.

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Check your favorite stores’ websites and social media accounts. They’ve gotten quite savvy at making shopping fun and convenient!

But don’t just stay online! Go! Visit the store!

Shopping online is very different from the experience of shopping in person. Granted, you’ll need to put on pants. But the benefits outweigh that minor detail. Plus, local retailers are thankful when you come see them. After all – as great as Amazon is – they aren’t going to ask you about your day…. They aren’t going to help you choose the perfect gift for your mother-in-law…. Amazon isn’t going to ask how she liked it next time you see them…

Maybe you aren’t even gift-buying. Perhaps you need a new outfit for an interview or a first date! Amazon isn’t going to ask you how the interview went, nor will they make recommendations about how to accessorize.

They definitely won’t direct you to the awesome new hairstylist who can help tame those locks!

Most of all, Amazon isn’t going to light up with a smile when they see you coming! And seriously – isn’t it nice to see someone who is excited to see you?

At the heart of shopping local – you’re investing in the community. YOUR community.

You’re supporting your neighbors. And if you shop in our local establishments frequently enough – you’re supporting your friends.

If we’ve learned anything over the last two years – people need people. It’s not healthy for us to be so isolated. So doing a small thing like shopping local isn’t a hardship – it’s a blessing. It’s a gift to us that these local entrepreneurs have brought products and services to our community….

And it’s a gift to them when we buy those products and services. It’s a circle of giving that makes our community a stronger and better place.

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GEST E HOLID VER GIFT G AY U I D E! W

30 loc ith over in the al gift opt ions upcom you ar ing pages , to find e sure somet for ev eryon hing your l e on ist!

So shop small. Shop local.

Support your community.

December 2021 | 113

2021 Holiday

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Gift Guide

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U P P O1R -T ALKALI L O C A LHAIR S U PSTUDIO P O R T L O C2A-LCLUB S U P PPILATES O R T L O C3 A L- ARTS S U P PCOUNCIL ORT LOCAL SUP4 P O- REYNOLDA R T L O C A L SHOUSE UPPORT LOCAL Experience the future of youthfulness with Youth Essentia’s vitamin Step-Up System. It contains a highly effective combination of powerful vitamins, antioxidants and peptides that help to create healthier looking skin that glows with youthful radiance. Receive a FREE Youth Essentia Eye Gel 10ml, travel size Revival Mask 15ml, and a Limited Edition Environ Cosmetic Bag with the purchase of Youth Essentia Cleansing Lotion, Vita-Peptid Toner, and your recommended Youth Essentia C-Quence Serum. $290

Give the gift of pain free movement and new found strength! Make their day with Pilates classes at our inclusive studio! Get two full length level 1 classes + a free introductory class for $40. Save 30%!

Located at 371 Lower Mall Drive in Winston-Salem. Visit us online at clubpilates.com, on Instagram @clubpilates_winstonsalem or give us a call at 336.717.1222.

COMMUNITY ARTS GIFT SHOP

Boton Rojo designers are husband and wife architects, Todd and Rosa, who use their design and technical skills to create each piece in Winston-Salem. As featured artists in Arts Council’s Community Arts Gift Shop (251 N Spruce Street), you can find their architecturally inspired laser cut accessories in the shop or online at shopcommunityarts.org

Own a bit of history with collectible, limited edition blown glass Reynolda ornaments designed using archival photos of the estate’s Bungalow and Greenhouse. Additional one-of-a-kind Museum store treasures include a mini roof tile ornament, replica vintage Christmas cards, books, and jewelry. Located at Reynolda House, 2250 Reynolda Rd., Winston-Salem. No ticket needed to shop. Tues-Sat 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sunday 1:30-4:30 p.m. Museum members get 10% off most items. Learn more at reynolda.org. Contact us at hello@reynolda.org or 336.758.5150.

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S U P P5O- RSCHIFFMAN’S T L O C A L S U P P O R6 T - LLOVEWELL O C A L S U P P O R T L7O-CSMOKE A L S U PCITY P O R TMEATS L O C A L S U P P O8R -T PROGRESSIVE LOCAL SUPPORT LOCA During the holidays, there’s nothing more magical than finding that perfect gift. From his newest collection to fresh interpretations of classic designs, discover a gift that’s perfect for a loved one or a piece that’s just right for you.

David Yurman Cable Collectibles Quatrefoil Pendant Necklace in 18K Yellow Gold with Pavé Diamonds – Retail $995. Schiffman’s is located at 137 South Stratford Road in WinstonSalem. 336.725.1911

BOUTIQUE

Have you heard about LoveWell Boutique’s Stocking Stuffer Bar? It’s filled with something for everyone on your list. Free gift wrapping in-store.

Shop our FREE app and our website, lovewellboutique.com. We ship or you can pick up your order in-store.

Cheers! 110 Oakwood Drive Winston Salem, NC Search LoveWell Boutique in your app store.

Bringing families together over a good meal is what we do best. With our locally farmed and responsibly sourced selection of top quality meats and pantry items, you’re sure to find all you need to complete your holiday menu! And, if you’re not sure what to prepare, our neighborhood butchers are here to guide you to just the right cut. We also offer a large selection of local gifts and gift cards. Let us make this holiday season one to cherish. Smoke City Meats is located at 833 Reynolda Road in Winston Salem. Follow us on instagram @ smokecitymeats , give us a call at 336-310-0204 or email us hello@smokecitymeats.com.

IMAGE

Brumes du Maroc Hair & Body Fragrance Mist will transport you to the Mediterranean with every spritz! A blend of spicy amber and sweet floral notes and has argan oil and Vitamin E will nourish and hydrate you throughout the day. Come to Progressive Image Salon to purchase! Located at 3538 Vest Mill Road in Winston-Salem. Learn more at progressiveimagesalon.com

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- OLLIE 12R T- NOVANT U P P O9 R T- OLD L O CNICK A L S U P P O R T L O10 CA L S U PSINGLETON P O R T L O C A L 11 S U- PWINDSOR PORT LOCAL SUPPO L O C A L SHEATH UPPORT LOCAL This beautiful 9 x 12” book combines WILLIAMS FARM & DISTILLERY

Gift certificates available for any dollar amount to spend in the distillery or the Busted Barrel Cocktail Bar or gift certificates for a tour and tasting at the Distillery! Old Nick Williams Farm & Distillery located at 2675 Williams Road in Lewisville, NC. Find them online at oldnickwhiskey.com or on Instagram @oldnickwhiskey

900+ artworks by this local artist with her story of the influences on her creative style. Inside you will find her stunning watercolor and acrylic paintings, mixed media collages, silk screen prints, upcycled clothing, and reclaimed wood art. Treat yourself or give this 265-page book as a gift. For more information and to purchase go to olliesingleton.com or call 732.648.9159.

JEWELERS

Wear your personality as a pendant.

Medallions by Roberto Coin are a romantic collection featuring medallions of diamond-set zodiac symbols, unpretentious gold, and diamondsprinkled lockets. Many even offer the opportunity for a personalized engraving on the back. A perfect gift for the holiday season from Windsor Jewelers. Windsor Jewelers is located at 526 S Stratford Road in Winston-Salem. 336.721.1768

VEIN SPECIALISTS

Treat yourself or someone you love to less wrinkles and great photo memories this holiday season. Botox Cosmetic® can take away years in just a few seconds! Reduce wrinkles, frown lines, forehead lines and crows feet. Let our board-certified physician help you show off your confident side. Look photo ready and fabulous with Botox Cosmetic®. Call today. Gift certificates available. 3 Locations in Winston-Salem, Kernersville and High Point.

336.306.8027 www.salemveins.com

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- POPPYSEED S U P P13 O R- TOLD L ONICK C A L S U P P O R T 14 LO C A L S U P P O R T 15 L O- SPA C A L AT S U P P O R T L O C A L S 16 U P P- FORSYTH ORT LOCAL SUPPORT LOCA WILLIAMS FARM & DISTILLERY

Gift certificates available for any dollar amount to spend in the distillery or the Busted Barrel Cocktail Bar or gift certificates for a tour and tasting at the Distillery! Old Nick Williams Farm & Distillery located at 2675 Williams Road in Lewisville, NC. Find them online at oldnickwhiskey.com or on Instagram @oldnickwhiskey

PROVISIONS

Poppyseed Provisions offers the best combination of taste, presentation, and value! Whenever possible, they stock their shelves with goods produced or sold locally. Located at 395 West End Blvd. Open Tuesday – Sunday. Learn more at poppyseedprovisions.com!

HIGHLAND OAKS

A Spa at Highland Oaks gift certificate, the perfect gift of all things Spa to help that special someone look and feel their best.

Each personalized gift certificate can be used for facials, massage, Diamond Glow dermal infusion, Botox, dermal fillers, body contouring, PDO threads, QWO cellulite treatment or any other treatment we offer. It can also be used for medical grade skin care products as well as Latisse. Bring out that happy glow with a gift certificate to The Spa at Highland Oaks.

PLASTIC SURGERY

Give a glow to someone you love this holiday season with a DiamondGlow facial.

DiamondGlow is a new way to unlock skin’s potential and reveal skin’s radiance.

DiamondGlow’s patented recessed diamond tip wand delivers a next-level resurfacing treatment that deeply cleans and rejuvenates the skin.

DiamondGlow Holiday Gift Special: Save $50 on a DiamondGlow facial. Regularly $199, Holiday special: $149. Located at 2901 Maplewood Avenue in Winston-Salem. 336.765.8620

2021 Holiday

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SWANKY ELLIE U P P O17 R T - WHY L O C A CAN’T L S U P PIOGET R T THIS L O C A L S U18 P P- O R T L O C A L 19 S U- PPEAK P O R TOLIVE L O C AOIL L S U P P O R20 T L- O C A L RAY SUPPORT LOCAL JESUS THING RIGHT?

Ever feel like others are cruising through the Christian journey while you’re just crashing and burning--again?

Don’t give up. Pick up Why Can’t I Get This Jesus Thing Right? and discover the life-changing answer to your most important Why? Dive deep to discover what scripture reveals about God, your enemy, and yourself.

At the end of each chapter, follow the clear action steps that lead to the rich Christian experience you desire.

Have friends struggling on the journey, too? This gift will put them on the right path. Find it on Amazon.

& SWAG BOUTIQUE

Don’t Get Your Tinsel in A Tangle! We got what you need! Shop online at shopswankyandswag. com and follow us on Instagram @ swankyandswagboutique

A great gift for the holidays or anytime of the year. Our olive oils and balsamic vinegars are perfect for hostess gifts, teacher gifts, stocking stuffers, your favorite foodie or those who just enjoy eating or who have everything! We offer an extensive list of high quality imported Italian white and dark aged balsamic vinegars, single varietal high polyphenol extra virgin olive oils and flavored olive oils for that perfect recipe. Come in and taste the difference. 125 S. Stratford Road in Winston-Salem. 336.331.3069

BOUTIQUE

Make your list and check it twice! Ellie Ray Boutique has everything you need to make this Holiday season nice! We have gifts and accessories for everyone in your family.

Thank you for your support, we look for forward to seeing you and helping check some names off of your list! Located at 3292 Silas Creek Parkway in Winston-Salem.

Follow us on instagram @ellierayboutiquellc and shop online at ellierayboutique.com.

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KENDRA FOOTHILLS S U P P21 O R- THE T L OVISTA C A L S U P P O R T L22 O C- A L S U P P O R T L O23 C A- LACCENT S U P P O RPRONE T L O C A L S U P P O R24 T L- O CAL SUPPORT LOCA AESTHETIC CENTER

Join us for our holiday shopping weeks at Forsyth Plastic Surgery and The VISTA Aesthetic Center. Give the gift of beauty this year! Buy a $500 gift card, get a beauty pillowcase for FREE. Buy a $1000 gift card, get a FREE beauty pillowcase and a FREE pack of SkinMedica’s Instant Bright Eye Masks. Gift wrap included.

Located at 2901 Maplewood Avenue in Winston-Salem. 336.765.8620

SCOTT

Invest in the best with Kendra Scott. The perfect gift that they will love forever. Nellie Huggie Earrings in 14K yellow gold with white diamonds and white opal, $800. Located at 3334 W Friendly Avenue, Suite 103 in Greensboro. Visit us online at kendrascott.com and on Instagram @kendrascott

Whether shopping in the boutique or their showroomstyle sales floor, Accent Prone is all-embracing retailer of eclectic home and fashion accents. To further broaden their horizons, Accent Prone has brought eccentric fine jewelry to their store. Every piece is crafted with genuine diamonds and 14 karat gold to create the perfect sparkly accent for any lovely lady.

Shop Accent Prone’s fine jewelry collection along with other offerings during December from 10A-6P Monday through Saturday, and on Sunday from 1P-5P. Accent Prone is located at 1022-F South Main Street, Kernersville, NC. Happy Holidays!

BREWING

Got a craft beer lover on your list? Then this state-of-the-art Foothills Brewing beer growler belongs under their tree!

DrinkTanks® stainless steel growlers are durable, leakproof, dishwasher safe and covered by a lifetime warranty. It’s the last beer growler they’ll ever need!

Available in 64-oz. and 32-oz. sizes at all three Foothills locations, or online at foothillsbrewing.com.

2021 Holiday

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U P P O25 R T - LLYDIA O C A L JAYNES S U P P O R T L O C A L 26 S U- P P O R T L O C A L S U P27 P O- RF45 T LTRAINING OCAL SUPPORT LOC A L- S U P P O R T L O C A L REVITALIZE 28 Add festive flair to your entrance, doorway, or window this season with an indoor/outdoor door hanger. These also make the perfect gift, because you can switch out the Santa. Choose a snowflake for winter, a bunny for Easter, flower for Spring, or welcome sign for anytime. Replacement hangers are available for every occasion and season. Visit Lydia Jaynes at 43 Court Square in Mocksville, or shop online at lydiajaynes.com to find the perfect home decor for your upcoming holiday celebrations. LydiaJaynes.com or 336.753.8043

MED SPA

Revitalize Med Spa invites you to pamper yourself with a Winter Radiance luxurious facial and peppermint scalp massage, or gift one to someone you love for Christmas.

Soothe dry skin with our body scrubs or detoxifying foot mask. Keep your skin looking magnificently radiant this winter! Contact us at 336-300-8860.

Give the gift of fitness this holiday season with F45 Training Winston-Salem. F45 Training focuses on High Intensity Interval Training & Functional Fitness within a 45 minute group workout session. F45 caters to all abilities and all levels of fitness, allowing everyone to do the same workout at their own pace. Holiday Gift Certificates are available by calling 336.703.7556 or emailing winstonsalem@f45training.com.

Mention Forsyth Woman Magazine and get an extra 10% off your gift certificate package!

SCHIFFMAN’S

Classics reimagined. Discover the sophistication of the newest Caviar Lux styles at Schiffman’s.

Lagos Sterling Silver and 18K Yellow Gold Diamond Caviar Lux “X” Pave’ Crossover Ring – Retail $2,500. Schiffman’s is located at 137 South Stratford Road in Winston-Salem. 336.725.1911

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WINSTON-SALEM

Give a gift of performance and freedom with a bike from Honda! Honda of WinstonSalem offers performance and freedom for both experienced and beginner enthusiasts. A beginner bike should be fun to ride, and the CRF50F is a blast. Powered by a smooth, easy to control 49cc fourstroke engine, it’s built tough, too! Located at 6209 Ramanda Drive in Clemmons.

336.765.0330 @hondaofwinstonsalem

ROSE BOUTIQUE Looking for a fashionable gift? Evelyn Rose Boutique offers unique and trendy pieces. Gift options from fun sweaters, cozy scarves and hats to gold jewelry and beauty accessories. Find your stylish gift at 916 Burke Street Winston Salem, NC or at shopevelynroseboutique.com

BOUTIQUE

Southern Ties Boutique is your one stop shop for gift giving! We carry sizes S-3X clothing along with the cutest shoes, jewelry, and handbags. Whether you are shopping for your mom, sister, or bestie we have just the right gift for you. Our convertible backpacks are the perfect gift for someone who has it all. Shop online at southerntiesboutique.com or find us on Instagram @Southerntiesboutique

SALEM PLASTIC SURGERY

Share the gift of luxury with a gift card from Renewal Med Spa at Salem Plastic Surgery.

Purchase elite skincare products, body sculpting services, Botox and Filler, facials and much more with a gift card from Renewal Med Spa. To purchase please call 336.768.8483 and speak with one of our friendly staff members. Our gift cards are the perfect holiday gift, birthday present, special thank you, or just a kind gesture!

We look forward to seeing you soon.

A Chance Encounter

BY JEAN MARIE JOHNSON

It was 1999 and “Y2K” was on everyone’s mind. Would our intricate infrastructure fail us? Would the world come to an end?

Or would January 1, 2000 arrive with an errant blip here and there and quickly be forgotten?

As a private citizen and a working professional, I wondered, too.

But the morning I boarded a Denver flight bound for JFK airport in New York, all I wanted was to catch my breath. I had been on the road for a week and was ready to head home. As I plunked down into my much-desired window seat, peering out at the all-too-familiar tarmac and wondering what was happening back in Connecticut, I noticed the person seated beside me. Married to an artist, I was fascinated with whatever he was sketching mere inches from me.

“I don’t mean to intrude, but that’s beautiful.”

Thus began an intriguing conversation with a young artist that lasted the duration of the flight. By the time we were “wheelsdown,” I knew his name and had commissioned a piece from him. But there was a twist: “So I have this paragraph, a sort of vision statement. This may sound crazy, but if I give it to you, would you sketch it for me, you know, interpret the words into an image?”

“I’ve never been asked that before.”

“I imagine you haven’t.”

We then exchanged contact information and, in a mutual leap of faith, agreed that he would send me the sketch, and I would then send him a check.

“How much?’

“I have no idea. You decide.”

I generally give people the benefit of the doubt, but even I recognized that this arrangement was a little out there. The worst that could happen on my end? I’d never hear from him again and my vision would forever be rendered in words alone.

A crumpled piece of paper on his end.

But people can be and are amazing. Not all of the time, and certainly not everyone. This guy, “Chris,” was amongst the amazing. Three weeks later, a thin, carefully wrapped package arrived. He did come through, just as he said he would. But how? As I opened the sketch, I was thrilled with what I saw.

It was a little more “sensual” than I expected, true, but it was stunning. More importantly, it gave life to my vision of taking an inspired route, one deeply personal and less travelled.

Thinking about that chance encounter these many years later, I see that the entire interaction was a journey down a road never travelled and as such, as true to my vision as it could possibly be.

Needless to say, I sent a generous check.

I have had other “chance encounters” in my lifetime, but now think the term may be a misnomer. It is instead a moment where, with courage, curiosity, and humility, we allow for a human connection to emerge.

iHeart Radio

M

o m m u nic a t C d e io n ask

M or

BY JEAN MARIE JOHNSON

e t h a n Me e ts t h e Ey e

“That’s it, right there.”

“What?

“You’re doing it right now.”

“The face?”

“Yeah, the one you make when I say something you disagree with or that makes you uncomfortable.”

This conversation with my friend took place in the pre-mask days and it’s made me think about how communication has changed since we’ve lost access to so many visual cues. In this particular case, my friend had an unconscious habit of shifting the position of her lips while sort of staring ahead, as if in thought. I learned to look for “The look” because I knew it was a cue that our conversation had triggered something – an uncomfortable emotion or a contrary point of view. In other words, something worth exploring. Masked as we are, a cue like this doesn’t register. Which in turn means I miss an opportunity to debate, empathize, explore, or learn something.

Of course, while masked, reading visual cues is much more difficult and the opportunity to misread a person’s meaning and emotion is greater. The other challenge is that to some degree, we all read lips. Except that we can’t when they are covered. Health Audiologist Patricia Johnson at UNC explains the mask-wearing communication challenge: “The physical barrier actually changes the sound waves that are reaching your ear…high pitches aren’t able to make it through the material, so you start losing access to consonants, particularly ‘f,’ ‘s,’ ‘sh,’ ‘th,’ which carry a lot of the weight in the clarity of the words that we hear.”

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:

WE CAN DO THIS

HEARING LOSS & THE MASK

We all need to work a little harder and be more patient when communicating “mask to mask.” Consider these effective tips and share them with your kids: • Make sure you have the other person’s attention • Think in terms of conveying warmth and a desire to connect • Smile with both your eyes and your mouth • Focus on the other person’s eyes without staring • Maintain your social distancing, but face your partner directly, and make sure you can see one another • Talk a little louder, but don’t shout • Talk a little more slowly and deliberately • Use your hands and tap into your body language by pointing, gesturing, and so on • Ask the other person if they understood you; if not, remain patient and say it a different way • If you can’t understand them, remain patient and say something like, “I’m sorry, I am having trouble hearing you.

Please say that again.”

• Move to a quiet place if possible

Current estimates suggest that 38.2 million people over the age of 12 in the United States have hearing loss.

For these folks, communicating while masked is particularly challenging and often frustrating. If you or a loved one has hearing loss, consider these suggestions: • Be upfront: Say something like, “I have hearing loss and may have trouble understanding you.” Or, “My husband can’t hear very well, so please be patient with him.”

• Maintain good eye contact with the other person • Coach the other person: Say something like, “If you could speak a little more slowly and at a good volume, we should be okay.”

• Resort to Plan B as needed: Use a pen and paper or ask the other person to speak into your smartphone so that you can read the transcription.

Take advantage of our wash & fold service and delivery service.

3608 Clemmons Rd. Clemmons, NC 27012 • 336-712-3155 133 Oakwood Dr. Winston-Salem, NC 27103 • 336-725-3773

getwoshbox.com

Woshbox

Gifts for your whole list.

Farrago

6301 Shallowford Road, Lewisville, NC 27023 | 336.946.9128 | FarragoNC.com December 2021 | 125

BY SUSAN B B SCHABACKER

Give More Memorable & Meaningful Gifts This Holiday on Any Budget 126 | ForsythWoman.com

While Christmas and the holidays may be one of the biggest times to spend money on gifts for your loved ones, it’s not all about big presents with big price tags. ‘Tis the season, however cold out, to warm hearts and be a generous giver.

VOLUNTEER & DONATE You don’t have to look very far to find someone in need of a handout or help up. When you bundle up in your warm coat or are relaxing by the fire this winter, remember those who lack the means to keep warm. And, while you can’t help everybody out there, you can feel good about making a positive difference in the lives of those you can reach.

Consider sharing the gift of volunteering. Homeless, women’s, animal shelters, veterans’ organizations, retirement communities, and hospitals are unlimited places to serve and spread the spirit of heartfelt generosity this Christmas and holiday season.

Whether new or used, there is something for someone in need you can buy, make, or find in your own closet or home. Make a list of essentials and take stock of what you already have that you can donate.

Maybe it’s time to part with the clothes or shoes taking up space in your closet or share if you have an extra pair. Imagine how much better someone will feel keeping warm in the jacket or coat you donated. If you’re a knitter or crocheter, make your own blankets and scarves as gifts. Go through your pantry for unopened items to donate, but check the expiration date first.

Consider picking up a pack of bottled water and travelsized toiletries to drop off at your local homeless shelter or soup kitchen.

ADOPT OR SPONSOR A NEW PET Consider the gift of new life by bringing home a new animal member of the family. Remember, this requires an increased level of responsibility and commitment, so no need to rush the decisionmaking or planning process. And, it’s important to adopt a healthy, positive, but real and practical outlook on adopting a pet. Don’t expect the new animal to be the perfect fit immediately, because it’s a learning process on both sides. Even if you can’t bring one home, consider sponsoring a shelter or rescue animal in need of support. The animal will be better off, thanks to you, and hopefully healthier and happier and more equipped to survive and thrive when he does get his forever home.

MEDLEY OF MEMORIES Instead of letting that shoebox or old photo album full of family snapshots collect dust, creatively craft gifts that are memorable.

For a medley of memories, decoupage old photos onto Christmas and holiday greeting cards, collage them onto canvases to be framed and hung, or create a magical montage of boxes, all shapes, and sizes. You can get creative with tiny, decorative clothespins and hang a gallery of photos on strands of Christmas lights, or you might decoupage memorable photos onto wooden holiday cutouts from the craft or dollar store to make ornaments for your Christmas tree. Want wearable memories to accessorize your look and remind you of your loved ones? Cut out small photos of your favorite people and pets to glue onto pendants or to tuck inside lockets.

Include inspirational verses, quotes, and affirmations that encourage, motivate, and uplift in greeting cards and make gift tags and attach to wrapped presents with tape or ribbons.

Some of the most memorable and meaningful gifts aren’t material items. For those of us who don’t want to end up with more stuff that can clutter up, there are better options as we make the most of this season’s gift-giving.

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Resume Nerd

Goin’ Postal

Expires 12.31.2021

Expires 01.31.2022

December 2021 | 127

BY TARYN JEREZ OF ONECRAFTYMISS.COM

Let’s Review: 10 Tips from 2021 to Empower Your Business 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.

Let’s take some time to celebrate and reflect on the last year together! This month we’re looking back at 12 months of tips, tricks, and bites of knowledge from 2021’s Hustle & Heart column as a reminder to be proud of what you’ve accomplished and excited for what you’re going to implement next in your business! Cheers to a great next year!

#1 ESTABLISH YOUR BRAND’S TRUE NORTH

When creativity strikes, let your brand’s compass determine whether it’s pointing you in the right direction. Establish guidelines by thinking about what you truly want your brand to be known for at the end of the day. Who do you create for and what impact does it make on them? Everything you put out into the world as a brand should come back to this!

#2 REEVALUATE YOUR PRICING WHEN CHANGE HITS

Every market or industry experiences change!

Have you seen an increase in similar companies or product providers pop up? Have the supplies you use for your business experienced an increase in pricing or heightened demand? If your industry is getting more competitive and the demand is higher, that may be your green light to increase your pricing.

#3 MAKE SURE CUSTOM OFFERS BRING YOU JOY

There are lots of things you can do as a brand that could make money but make sure it brings you joy.

Does the initial excitement over a custom order coming in stay long term or are you quickly met with dread realizing that you have to actually do it? Then again, perhaps it’s giving you the chance to do something new and exciting? Be honest with yourself to find out which one you are.

#4 CURATE AND LEAD WITH VALUEDRIVEN POSTS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA

Keep these three types of value-driven content in mind when you are looking to increase engagement. Inspiration: from fashion to fitness and everything in between, users are looking to feel inspired. Discovery: users are searching for and finding new products, services, and experiences.

Community: people’s time is spent cultivating real connections and building relationships.

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#5 INVEST IN THE THINGS YOU HAVEN’T TRIED BEFORE TO MOVE FORWARD

Are there areas of your business you’re a little “out of touch” with or simply would like to have the added help and confidence around? Maybe you do a good job at keeping up with email marketing, but you feel like it could be easier or more impactful? Hiring a copywriter or marketing whiz may be something new that will feel wonderful to invest in. Going down the road less traveled in your own business can often yield surprising results.

#6 CREATE A MEMORABLE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

The experience your customers have when working with you is one of the most important things to help you stand out. How does your customer feel when they walk into your store? How do you manage clients from start to finish?

Take time to create a flawless and intentional experience to make a lasting impression, build brand recognition and increase customer loyalty.

#7 PREPARE YOUR AUDIENCE IN ADVANCE FOR PROMOTIONS

You don’t have to share the exact details, but create a sense of urgency and excitement with reminders and countdowns when you are dropping something special, similar to how you would treat a launch. Work on building out a marketing and sales strategy that helps you warm up your audience, so they are ready to buy from you!

#8 ADDRESS THE FEAR BEHIND PRICING INSECURITY

That anxiety that sometimes creeps in when speaking about your pricing can come from fear of people’s judgment or objections. There will always be people who will think your prices are too high or too low - those people’s opinions don’t matter. Start viewing your numbers as black and white, trying to take the emotion out of it. Concentrate on the value of what you offer to keep you confident.

#9 REMOVE EMPTY TASKS FROM YOUR BUSINESS

If you’re filling your time with too many tasks that aren’t moving you towards your specific vision of success, that’s when you start to feel overwhelmed, frustrated, insecure, and resentful. By working on the wrong things, you’re working away from money instead of towards it. Avoid “empty” tasks that aren’t serving your bottom line by homing in on the “why” behind everything you do in your business.

#10 Hustle & Heart Challenge

This month, hit the pause button to look at everything you’ve accomplished in your business before moving on to the new year. Setting goals for 2022 is important, but so is reflecting on all the ones you’ve already checked off the list. Step into the new year proud of yourself and ready to conquer what’s next!

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Cozy Up with One of These Winter Books

BY MEGAN TAYLOR “Oh, the weather outside is frightful.” These words are pulled right out of the familiar Christmas carol, “Let It Snow”. While North Carolina doesn’t see much snow during the month of December, temperatures drop low and cold weather sweeps into our neck of the woods. For many people, one of the best ways to celebrate the winter weather is by cozying up with a good book. Throw in the holiday season, a fire in the fireplace, and a cup of hot cocoa and you have the perfect day.

However, it is always important to have a book you enjoy to occupy you. Here are a few winter themed novels to choose from.

THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE

by Elin Hilderbrand

BY SAMANTHA SILVA

A timeless classic that many generations enjoy regardless of the time of the year.

However, this novel’s connection to winter is that its setting is Narnia, a land of eternal winter. After stepping into a wardrobe, siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie are thrown into the world of Narnia and the power of the White Witch. While trying to survive in the arctic conditions, the Pevensie family meets Aslan, the Great Lion, who provides them with hope and bravery that they can fight to release Narnia from the White Witch’s power. However, Aslan warns that this will only happen with a great sacrifice.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is the first book in The Chronicles of Narnia series. It is a perfect read by itself or can be followed up by the other novels in the series during winter time.

A double life? Caribbean island and a Victorian house? It is all in author Elin Hilderbrand’s Winter in Paradise.

Shortly after the new year, Irene Steele is brought to her feet by a shocking phone call, one that states her husband had been killed in a helicopter crash.

Irene’s world suddenly stops and before she knows it she is tasked with finding out the details of her husband’s death on the island of St. John. There, Irene and her sons discover that her husband and their father is actually living a secret life. Set in the background of the beautiful island and filled with mystery, romance, and drama, Winter in Paradise takes readers on a journey as Irene tries to put the pieces together about what happened and where to go next, all while, facing the truth about her family and their futures.

Taken from the tale of A Christmas Carol and Charles Dickens’ experience writing the beloved novel, Mr. Dickens and His Carol focuses on Mr. Dickens’ life around the book’s publishing in 1843. During this time, Charles Dickens is experiencing many ups and downs. His latest book was a flop, he is stretched for money, and well, just not filled with the holiday spirit.

Through his wife’s extravagant holiday party and the possibility of being blackmailed into writing a Christmas book by his publishers, Charles set out to write one of the most meaningful books of all times, even while handling severe writer’s block. Of course, Samantha Silva takes liberties with the history of how Charles Dickens writes his book and the journey he goes through to put a different spin on the well-known tale. In a statement, Silva herself mentioned that this book is a “fan love letter” to Mr. Dickens. No matter what, Mr. Dickens and His Carol is a fun and enjoyable read for the winter season.

by C.S. Lewis

WINTER IN PARADISE

MR. DICKENS AND HIS CAROL

Grab your favorite beverage, sit in your favorite spot, and enjoy one of these winter themed novels this holiday season.

You won’t be sorry and may just add a little more merriment to this special time of the year.

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The power to change the world rests in you.

It takes the form of generosity. Kindness.

Thoughtful gestures. A smile.

Holding open the door for a stranger. Extending hospitality.

Paying it forward. Sharing with others.

Doing the unexpected.

The world doesn’t need corporate conglomerates or powerhouse giants to make things better.

Powerful things happen in small ways.

Think small.

And make a difference.

How can you show kindness today?

Season’s Sippables & Savorables to Celebrate Christmas & the Holidays

BY SUSAN BB SCHABACKER

SPICED (AND SPIKED FOR SOME) CIDER Ingredients: Soothe and sate your senses with this season’s sippables.

Savor the seasonal flavors of apple cider, orange spice chai, peppermint cocoa, and others in hot beverages that keep you cozy and warm. Or, enjoy refreshing iced cocktails and mocktails that celebrate Christmas cheer and are ideal for holiday parties.

PEPPERMINT CANDY CANE COCOA Ingredients: • 2 cups eggnog or milk of choice (e.g. almond, coconut, hemp, cashew, or oat for vegan versions) • 4-6 tablespoons carob or cocoa powder (depending on richness preference) • 1 tablespoons maple syrup or honey (depending on sweetness preference) • 1½ tablespoons peppermint extract • dollop of whipped cream to top off each mug full • crushed peppermint candies to garnish atop whipped cream • candy cane to garnish

Instructions: 1. Add eggnog or milk to pot and set stove to medium heat.

2. Stir in maple syrup or honey and taste test to gauge sweetness.

3. Add in carob or cocoa powder, one tablespoon at a time, and stir in to dissolve gradually. Taste test again to gauge richness of the chocolate.

4. Simmer to keep warm enough for drinking, but not boiling.

5. To prepare crushed peppermint candies garnish, wash and dry a hammer. Place paper over a concrete floor. Double up a Ziploc bag and fill the bag with peppermint candies or candy canes (be sure to remove the plastic wrapping!).

Double check to be sure bag is sealed completely, place bag on concrete floor, then crush the candies in the bag with the hammer.

6. Pour candy cane cocoa into mug(s).

7. Top with whipped cream, sprinkle on crushed peppermint candies, and tuck a candy cane(s) over the side of the mug(s).

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• 1 gallon apple cider or apple juice • 1 apple + 1 teaspoon whole allspice • 1 orange + 2 teaspoons cloves • 1 teaspoon nutmeg • 1 teaspoon ginger • 4 cinnamon sticks • Bourbon, whiskey, or rum (for spiked version)

Instructions: 1. Wash fruit, then pierce the apple with allspice and orange with cloves.

2. Add all ingredients (except alcohol) to slow cooker and turn on high for 2 hours.

3. Simmer and add alcohol (optional).

4. Sip and savor!

Recipe adapted from: tasty.co/recipe/holiday-spiced-cider

GINGER ORANGE SPICE CHAI BLACK TEA Ingredients: • 6 teaspoons or 6 tea bags black tea of choice • 6 cups cold water • 2 cups milk or nut milk (optional) • 3-4 whole star anise • ¾ teaspoon whole cloves • 1/2 -3/4 teaspoon whole cardamom pods • ½-3/4 teaspoon whole black peppercorns • ½-1 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 1-2 whole cinnamon sticks • ½-3/4 teaspoon grated ginger or ginger powder • ½ orange zest • 10-15 drops stevia or 1½ Tablespoons honey or maple syrup

Instructions Using Tea Bags in a Pot: 1. Fill medium pot with water, bring to a boil, and add all ingredients.

2. Stir continuously until well blended.

Instructions Using Loose Tea in French Press: 1. Boil hot water in pot or electric kettle.

2. Add loose black tea and other ingredients (except cinnamon sticks, sweetener, and milk) to a French press.

3. Let steep for 3-5 minutes, depending on preferred strength of black tea.

4. Pour into mugs and add milk and sweetener (optional).

5. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and top with ground cinnamon.

EGG-FREE NOG (IN CHAI LATTE) - OR NAUGHTY NOG (COCKTAIL VERSION) Ingredients: • 5 cups milk (or nut milks, like almond, coconut, oat, hemp or cashew) • 1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix • 1½ teaspoons rum, brandy, or Bailey’s Irish Cream • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon • 1 cinnamon stick per glass for garnish

Instructions: 1. Combine all ingredients in blender and mix together until liquid is smooth.

2. Refrigerate 1 hour or so to let thicken.

3. Sprinkle with additional nutmeg and/or cinnamon.

4. Garnish each glass with a cinnamon stick.

Recipe adapted from www.allrecipes.com/ recipe/240728/egg-not-eggless-eggnog/ Whether it’s just for you, two, or a small or large gathering, celebrate Christmas and the holidays with a celebratory beverage in hand.

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WOMEN ON THE MOVE DARRIS PERKINS

Darris Perkins is the owner of Dare to Design NC. She prides herself on her mastery of “…building a business that helps crush the gender roles in construction and renovation.” “Giving women an opportunity to learn trades and skills that they might not have thought they could ever do,” said Darris.

She has no formal education in design or renovation, and all of her skills and services are self-taught. “My husband gave me the push to trust my abilities and take the leap of faith,” said Darris. “If he wasn’t so encouraging, I wouldn’t have started this business.”

CHRISTEN FUNDERBURK

Christen Funderburk is the owner of Lizzie’s AllNatural Products. She has a degree in criminal justice from UNC Pembroke. “My biggest achievement is honestly being able to provide life-changing products to our customers and helping them achieve healthier skincare choices which boosts confidence and overall wellness. Our products have helped people all over the world with eczema,” said Christen. “Our company has also won numerous pitch contests and was also recently featured on Spectrum news.” In her spare time, Christen enjoys bowling, reading, kick boxing and spending time with her family and friends.

DAISY TELLEZ

Daisy Tellez is a full-time personal banker at BB&T as well as a part-time small business owner of Miss Agave, an online boutique. She has a degree in business administration and began her career soon after graduation in 2018. “I enjoy helping others succeed in their financial lives and offer as much knowledge as I can,” said Daisy. “Miss Agave is a western/Boho boutique that takes pride in making others feel confident through the bold style.

Definitely something that I’d love to do full time in the future! Although most of the time Miss Agave is a one-woman team, I’m thankful to be surrounded by such supportive loved ones that are with me every step of the way!” In her spare time, Daisy enjoys working on her business and inspiring others to chase their dreams.

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JENSEN HARRELL

Jensen Harrell is the owner of Filmcove Photography in Winston-Salem.

Her husband, Ephraim, started FILMCOVE, a local production company in 2017. After they got married in January of 2019, Jensen started dreaming of pursuing a full-time wedding photography career alongside her husband.

“My mom has told me that even when I was a little girl, I always had a camera in my hand, so when I started dreaming up this business, I knew the dream was deep in my heart and it was ready to come alive,” said Jensen.

Today, Jensen and Ephraim are a husband and wife photo/video team and capturing weddings all over NC/SC/VA as well as capturing photo and video for their many corporate clients. Since starting her business, Jensen has photographed more than 150 unique sessions and weddings.

In her spare time, Jensen loves spending time with her husband and their dog, Salem. She loves to be outdoors, shopping at local businesses around Winston-Salem, loves listening to live music and is always down to eat good food.

JACQUELINE MORGAN

Jacqueline Morgan is the owner of Achieving Your Wellness Nutrition & Fitness. She has a degree from High Point University and a masters in business from the University of Phoenix. “I decided to become a wellness coach with Herbalife and obtained a certified group fitness trainer through the American Council on Exercise,” said Jacqueline. “After losing 50 pounds and getting in the best physical shape I have been in for quite some time, I made it my mission to educate others and help them understand that you really are what you eat and that you cannot not outwork a bad diet. I wanted others to experience the joy of both feeling good on the inside and looking good on the outside. It’s the best feeling in the world to see clients create better eating habits and experience physical transformations. In January, I will be relocating to 4015 Old Hollow Road in Kernersville. At this location, I will offer an expanded nutrition bar with a vast array of product offerings focused on better health. There will also be group fitness classes, personal training, community activities and more. I am truly grateful for the lives that I have touched and the lives that I will touch soon.” In her spare time, Jacqueline enjoys riding bikes, exercising, writing poetry and reading.

KELLI MESSICK

started Patiently Rooted in April of 2021. She wanted more people to adopt her love of plants and the many benefits they can provide. After a visit to the botanical gardens in Washington, D.C., she fell in love with being in a greenhouse and slowly turned her house into a little jungle. People who saw her plants said, “I need to add more plants to my house.” This sparked the idea of starting her own business to help people grow their own plant collection and teach them about how it can improve their mental health.

With the help of taking care of something like a plant, psychologists have proven this to help increase your overall happiness and help boost people’s moods. Kelli had already seen an improvement in her own life, so she wanted to share that with everyone she could. Her mass communications degree from The University of South Carolina helped her get her message to her future customers when she started doing pop-ups in the area that quickly developed a following for her plant business. With the encouragement from her husband, Tyler, to start her own business, she has fallen even more in love with introducing people to the world of plants. She wouldn’t be where she is today without the support of her family and friends. She looks forward to what the future holds for herself and Patiently Rooted!

If you are interested in submitting yourself or someone you know for a future Women on the Move feature, visit our online application link! TinyURL.com/ForsythWomanWOM December 2021 | 135

Respect Yourself: Be Your Own Best Friend

BY JEAN MARIE JOHNSON

At some point, you may have gotten on the self-care bandwagon. You: • Exercise on the regular – yoga, Pilates, weights, running - whatever • Eat all of those “good for you” foods • Go in for your annual health screenings You continue to do these things – with a blip here and there – because they make you feel good and may even contribute to a healthier, longer life. At the same time, you may give little thought to something even more fundamental: your self-respect.

With over 500 LinkedIn connections, countless Facebook “friends,” and a boatload of Instagram followers, all of that outward attention can gradually become the barometer of your value and worth.

And that’s a dangerous place to be because it is based on the approval of others, always conditional.

Self-respect is the opposite. It is about “holding yourself in esteem and believing that you are good and worthy of being treated well.” It means genuinely valuing yourself always and regardless of what anyone else thinks. To me, self-respect is the quintessential “inside job.” And just as with our physical well-being, self-respect requires some tending, maybe even some regularly scheduled maintenance, the kind that pays off both in the moment and in the long run.

BEHAVIORS THAT SUPPORT SELF-RESPECT Stay connected with you Pay attention to your thoughts and feelings as they come up. Instead of judging yourself, think in terms of being your own best friend. if you were speaking to your BFF you’d be caring, open-minded, supportive, honest, and kind, right? By going inside with this approach, you are more likely to stay with and explore what you find there. Meditation, stillness and nature walks are great ways to stay connected with the thoughts and feelings that come up. For others, journaling, painting, and other creative activities do the same.

Compliment yourself In a heartbeat you can list the many qualities about your BFF that you admire. Do the same for yourself. You may find this a challenge if all you can think of are the things you don’t like about yourself. That can be a huge drain on your self-respect. Shift your thinking by looking at yourself objectively. Small things

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matter and may even be the “big” things: I am kind and tenacious. I make a bad-ass Bolognese and am a great sister. I raised an awesome fur baby. I can rap! Keep going.

Accept your imperfections and love yourself anyway This is so important, so don’t skip over it.

Embrace the truth that no one is perfect. The key to self-respect is to be 100% accepting of your imperfections and flaws. Start to look at them with curiosity and compassion as you work on them.

Review your relationships Be honest about which relationships enrich your life and which don’t. Channel your time and attention to those good relationships as much as possible.

Learn to love your own company It doesn’t matter how many friends and followers you have if you can’t enjoy being with yourself. Really think about how you can be your own best company. Maybe it’s while gardening, walking, reading, doodling.

You may realize that being alone and being lonely are two very different things.

Consider how you spend your time and resources Just as you would encourage your BFF to channel her time and resources to the people and things that matter most to her, send that same message your way. Start to say “no” to what no longer works for you and “yes” to what does. That’s how you can be good to yourself.

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Complaining: How to Break the Habit

BY JEAN MARIE JOHNSON

When complaining takes the form of “venting in search of a solution,” it can be a good thing. So can occasionally venting to get a problem or frustration out into the open and off our chest – especially to someone who knows and cares about us. It becomes an opening, a segue to exploring solutions and practical next steps. But often, complaining becomes a habit of mind and mouth, our “Debbie Downer” autopilot response to far too many things. Or it might take the form of a “Competitive Cathy” can-you top-this storytelling. These types of complaining wear us down and, over time, turn people off.

It’s little wonder researchers found that happy people complain less; and when they do, they are strategic about it. Their complaining is intended to serve a specific goal. I am all for following the wise lead of the happy people! But being human, we need more than awareness and effort; we need a few strategies. Consider these: Manage your world – limit the time you spend with toxic complainers. This may sound harsh but remember that their negative energy can bring you down. If this person is a family member or a co-worker, you may need to invoke an alternative strategy: do your best to first empathize with their frustration, and then redirect the conversation elsewhere.

Catch yourself – start to pay attention to what triggers your “complain response” and if you go down that road, redirect yourself by pausing and regrouping. This is about making peace

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with the way things are in that particular moment, and yes, it’s a skill! The better you get at it, the sooner you will catch yourself – ideally, even before the first words of complaint leave your lips.

Then consider the next strategy.

Learn to “chill” and look for the good – when you find yourself in a situation that is likely to trigger your complaining, challenge yourself to look for something positive. If you are in line waiting for your turn at the service desk, use the opportunity to peoplewatch, to check your messages, to say something friendly to the person behind you. If the coffee place is out of your signature drink, instead of complaining – which will change nothing – see it as an opportunity to try something new.

Choose to complain responsibly – I had a recent service “challenge” that stretched out over three months, filled with people and process issues galore. I tried hard to temper my emotional response and to focus on what I wanted and needed, instead of blaming and pointing fingers. By doing so, I was able to gain the cooperation of a couple of people on the vendor’s end, and together, we were able to eventually resolve the matter.

Always choose the type of person you want to be – When I find myself down that rabbit hole of complainer thinking or complainer speaking, I can be very hard on myself. I am trying to reel that back, accept that I am working on this, and remind myself to do better next time. Why? Because until my last breath, I am choosing and creating the human I want to be. That is inspiration enough!

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This column is dedicated to uplifting incredible women that might not be featured in the local news about their accomplishments.

These are abridged versions of these incredible women; please find them and ask them more!

BY JEN OLENICZAK BROWN

TONIA GRUBBS What makes you, YOU?

After very much thought, my bluntness makes me, Me. I’ll say things most people won’t but should. My mouth is fearless, lol.

What are you most proud of?

The courage I had to speak for my mother after her passing.

The same courage she gave me to always speak for those who cannot do so themselves.

What keeps you going when things are tough?

Reality… I know that no matter how tough my day, week, or life feels, there are those that dream of my tough day. You push through, Tomorrow is coming and I’d rather go empty handed than to carry it with me.

What keeps you up at night?

Should of, Could of, Would of… All in all I guess you call that, regret.

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CHRISTINA MCLAMB

What makes you, YOU? My determination, to keep moving forward and trying to make things better. Even when things are overwhelming I know I will get through this.

What are you most proud of?

My children, seeing them growing into such strong, caring people.

Raising people who can change the world for the better, more understanding and empathy.

What keeps you going when things are tough?

The future, it will come one way or another. We must try to do what we can to make it better than what came before. Even small changes for the better can start bigger ripples of change.

What keeps you up at night?

Planning, my brain is always ten steps ahead. Before I finish one project another is brewing - the joys of ADHD. It keeps things interesting and gives me new things to do.

NICOLE ZELNIKER What makes you YOU?

My community contributes a lot to who I am. I’m determined, I’m driven, and I’m compassionate, but I wouldn’t be any of those things without the people I’ve chosen to surround myself with.

What are you most proud of?

I’m not one to back down. I’ve been in situations before where the easy thing to do would have been to stand back and be quiet, but it’s important to me that I stay true to what I believe. I try to stay true to that in my work, too.

What keeps you going when things are tough?

My friends, therapy, and mostly my cat.

She’s a pandemic foster fail and I don’t know how I ever functioned without her.

It’s hard to be upset when she’s making muffins on my lap.

What keeps you up at night?

The state of the world. Everything is so stressful right now for so many people, and I try not to let that get to me more than it needs to, but it’s hard. I need to keep up with the news for my job, but if I’m being honest, I know I’d read it regardless. Also, related, anxiety.

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NOW OPEN KERSEY VALLEY CHRISTMAS - FAMILY FUN EVENT 1615 Kersey Valley Rd, Archdale, NC Super Mega Ride N Slide - Santa & Grinch Photo Studio Express Train Rides – Wagon Rides – Jumping Pillows Santa’s Workshop – Apple Cider Donuts – Kettle Corn And Much More! Tickets are Limited. Buy Now! KerseyValleyChristmas.com

SECOND WEDNESDAYS PROFESSIONAL WOMEN OF WINSTON-SALEM MEETING 11:30am-1pm, Footnote on 4th Street in W-S. Join PWWS for the monthly meeting.

Learn more at PWWS.org.

NOW THROUGH DEC 25 (WEDNESDAYS, FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS) SATURDAY SPECIALS 12-7pm, Campus Gas, 1231 Polo Road.

Enjoy draft specials.

NOW THROUGH JANUARY 1 TANGLEWOOD PARK FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS 30TH SEASON 6-11pm, Tanglewood Park in Clemmons.

Tickets may be purchased at the gate upon entry and in advance at the Marketing and Events office at Tanglewood Park. The Gift Village will be open. Unfortunately, Santa and Mrs. Claus will not be able to visit us this year. Ticket prices range from $20$23 per car up to $118 for motor coaches.

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DECEMBER 3-5 OUR HOUSE TO YOURS WINTER FAIR South Fork Community Center, 4403 Country Club Road. A wonderful craft fair event with beautiful hand-crafted home décor items to create the Christmas atmosphere of your dreams! Plus, a large array of hand-crafted gift items to help you finish out your Christmas shopping list.

DECEMBER 4 VISITS WITH SANTA 11am-1pm, South Fork Community Center, 4403 Country Club Road in W-S. Santa and Mrs. Claus travel all the way from the North Pole to visit with the children each year here at South Fork Park. They will be at South Fork Park in the Community Center.

HOLIDAY NATURE CRAFTS 11am-3pm, Minglewood Farm and Nature Preserve, 238 Minglewood Road in Westfield. This will be a fun afternoon filled with holiday craft festivities for the whole family! This is a FREE event; donations are greatly appreciated. Join us for craft making

at Minglewood Farm & Nature Preserve.

Children and adults will have the opportunity to create cards, wrapping paper, ornaments and other pieces of art inspired by nature! These crafts and artwork will be wonderful gifts to share with friends and family for the season or to keep as a present to yourself! Please join us for this fun afternoon creating memories to last well into the years to come!

DECEMBER 4-5 LIVE DRIVE-THRU NATIVITY 6-8pm, Mizpah Moravian Church, 3165 Mizpah Church Road in Rural Hall. This drive-thru will feature live scenes depicting the Christmas story. Come and enjoy our gift to the community from the comfort of your vehicle. Call 924.1661 for more information. mizpahmoravianchurch.org

CHRISTMAS TREASURES SALE Clemmons Moravian Church, 3535 Spangenberg Avenue in Clemmons. All gently used holiday related items including ornaments, lights and many other decorations. Proceeds will be shared with the Clemmons Food Pantry. Call 766.9739 to donate items. clemmonsmoravian.org

DECEMBER 5 COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL 5-8pm, WinMock Barn, 168 East Kinderton Way. Come join the whole community at the beautiful, historic WinMock barn to start off the advent season with a fun night of fellowship! We will have plenty of vendors selling community crafts and goods, some Christmas singers and musical performances, and a short kids’ program. In addition, we will have a food truck. selling meals, a bounce house for children, a family photo area and some carnival games. All ages are welcome, and there is no cost for admission. http://goodshepherdbermudarun.org

DEC 5-20 (SELECT DAYS) THROUGH THE YEARS: CHRISTMAS AT REYNOLDA TOURS Reynolda House Museum of American Art, 2250 Reynolda Road in W-S. What better way to celebrate the season than with a festive glimpse of Reynolda’s Christmases past? Guests will enjoy archival photographs and oral history clips via iPad to bring holiday history to life in the 21st century. This specialized tour of the historic house will focus on the holiday traditions of the Reynolds and Babcock families, as well as the individuals who lived and worked on the estate. Cost: $25/person.

DECEMBER 7 UNC SCHOOL OF THE ARTS: GUITAR STUDIOS IN RECITAL 7:30pm, Watson Hall – UNCSA, 1533 South Main Street in W-S. Studio Recital Series. Students in the guitar studios perform in recital. In-person event. Masks required for all performances. Free, no ticket required. www.uncsa.edu/ performances

DECEMBER 10-19 THE NUTCRACKER Times vary, Stevens Center in downtown W-S. The lush score, vivid staging and extraordinary performances that have made our UNCSA production a beloved holiday tradition have returned to the Stevens Center stage bringing with it the magic and energy of live performance.

Visit uncsa.edu/nutcracker/social-mediachallenge for more information.

DECEMBER 12 KIDS’ AFTERNOON OUT 1:15-3:45pm, Fairgrounds Annex Ice Rink, 414 Deacon Boulevard in W-S. Grab a friend and bring the kids for an afternoon of fun! Mention you’re there for the Forsyth Family magazine event and get FREE admission; $3 skate rental for kids, $5 skate rental for skate helpers. Youth hockey and group lesson personnel will be on hand to answer questions. Concessions will be available for purchase. Each adult also receives four tickets for the fabulous prize board drawings.

UNC SCHOOL OF THE ARTS: UNCSA CANTATA SINGERS HOLIDAY CONCERT 3pm, Home Moravian Church, 529 South Church Street in W-S. Emerging Artist Series. Faculty-artist James Allbritten conducts the UNCSA Cantata Singers in their annual Holiday Concert.

In-person event. Masks required for all performances. Free, no ticket required. www.uncsa.edu/performances

DECEMBER 12-23 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS SALE Simply Sterling & Company, 5275 Robinhood Village Drive in W-S. Enjoy discounts on jewelry, apparel, handbags, art, bath & body, and gifts galore! SimplySterling.com

Gift Baskets for all Occasions!

Wine Merchants

DECEMBER 17 UNC SCHOOL OF THE ARTS: PHOTONA 7:30pm, Freedman Theatre, Alex Ewing Performance Place – UNCSA, 1533 South Main Street in W-S. The School of Design and Production presents its wildly popular “Photona.” A themed multimedia show of lighting, projection and sound. With help from a team of underclassmen and mentored by Lighting Program Director Eric Rimes, each senior lighting designer creates a dazzling projection using the latest lighting equipment on loan from industry partners. Audience members have the opportunity to ask the designers questions and offer critiques, and at the end of the night, the audience votes for its favorite piece. In-person event.

Masks required. Free, no ticket required. www.uncsa.edu/performances

*DISCLAIMER: EVENT DETAILS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PLEASE CHECK EVENT WEBSITES & SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES FOR UPDATES AS THE DATES DRAW NEAR.*

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December 2021 | 145

Conversations with Your BFF I recently had a chat with one of my besties about whether or not it is a good idea to send Christmas cards or if that practice is obsolete. Does anyone care about getting cards these days? With the world of technology at our fingertips with our electronics, why not just send an email or a text with ‘Merry Christmas’ or ‘Happy Holidays’? I’m so glad you asked!

A BIT OF NOSTALGIA IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING I remember every November going with my mom to buy boxes of Christmas cards, always at Hallmark, because she ‘cared enough to send the very best.’ Back then many cards had winter scenes with the glitter snow or the Nativity scene, which were my favorites. We’d always buy more than we needed, but it was fun having them leftover from year to year.

After getting home, my mom and I would sit down and pull out the tattered card list that mom had used for many years, and with her beautiful handwriting, she would sign and address each card. I was in charge of licking the stamps, which I gladly did to just be part of this tradition.

Each year there seemed to be one or more fewer names due to death and those always brought a few tears to mom’s eyes and a story to her mind that she would share with me. So for me, sending Christmas cards is my way of continuing a tradition that I did with my mom for so many years, but there are other reasons to take the time to send cards, too.

CHRISTMAS CARDS ARE A WAY TO CONNECT DURING HARD TIMES In an increasingly abstract and ephemeral world, Christmas cards are concrete, touchable. It means a lot to know that someone took the time to pick out a card that they thought would show they cared about you and that they put that card in an envelope and sent it. Personally, I don’t save every Christmas card I receive, but I do save many, particularly those with a note or letter tucked inside. I like to go back, especially to cards from people no longer here, and read what they were thinking at the time or what was going on in their life. Cards have become, for me, a way to connect to my past and bring a smile to my face during hard times like those we’ve been having.

146 | ForsythWoman.com

Should I Still Send Christmas Cards?

BY REBECCA COOPER

WRITING HAS BECOME A LOST ART When was the last time you received a handwritten card or note either for an occasion or ‘just because’? Luckily, my friends know how much cards and notes mean to me, so I do get hand-written correspondences. There’s something special to the permanence of ink on paper, giving a greater level of attention and care for the receiver of the card.

While we mostly focus on the benefits of cards for the receiver, there’s a great benefit for the sender as well.

DON’T RUSH THROUGH SENDING CARDS As I choose, sign and address cards for the holidays, I take time to remember a special time with the one receiving my card. Memories I might not otherwise recall bring a smile, laugh, or even a cry to me. Sit down with a good warm drink and do a few cards a night, pondering the difference the recipient made in your life.

THE ADDRESS BOOK IS MINE NOW Since my mom’s passing in 2019, I have been going through her things that she had tucked away. I have found many cards I sent to her and I also found that old, now very tattered list of those family and friends getting Christmas cards. Although the list is rather obsolete, due to so many having passed and are no longer on this earth, I still remember the joy sending cards gave my mom and doing my cards brings back to mind licking those stamps and watching mom place them in the mailbox as she did all those years ago.

So never discount the joy of sending cards, especially those for the holidays. Connecting with those you love is important and cards are a way to bridge a gap in your life with those you may not have seen in years. Take the time to pick that perfect card, get the perfect pen, and add part of your heart in each card…you will never regret it.

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