Girls’ Night Out is BACK

Providence

BY JEAN MARIE JOHNSON

Imagine a world where… we’re back to school and back to work – in real time, visiting family and friends, attending sporting and cultural events, shopping in brick- and- mortar stores, and eating out with much-anticipated abandon. It sounds a lot like the world we used to know, doesn’t it? And yet, here’s the thing: Our world will never revert to what it was and neither will we. A shared global experience as emotionally, physically, economically, culturally, and personally significant as COVID-19 has changed what we know, and in some ways who we are. “We’re not in Kansas anymore,” and clicking our heels won’t make it so. Many of us will face challenges such as: • Finding a new pattern and rhythm to daily life • Dealing with the loss of the positive changes brought on by isolation • Adapting to engaging with co-workers, neighbors, gym-pals, and strangers again • Grappling with the fear of a virus resurgence or another pandemic

THE ADAPTIVE HUMAN

It’s normal to feel some anxiety or even trepidation about how we will fare in our post-COVID world. The Chair of the Department of Neuroscience at Carleton University, Dr. Kim Hellemans, studies the effects of stress on the brain and notes that, “There’s going to be a reverse culture shock when we enter society…we’re all going to get tired. It’s like a re-entry to face-to-face conversation. This adjustment will look different for everyone.”

For example, just as our introverted or extroverted tendencies influenced how we adapted to our COVID experience, the same will be true as we adapt to a post-pandemic reality. For extroverts who thrive on engagement and interaction, social distancing and the lockdown were keenly-felt. As restrictions lift, extroverts are likely to embrace “re-entry” with a sense of relief and enthusiasm. Introverts, who generally had an easier time working from home and social distancing, may find “re-entry” more challenging and will miss the longer spans of solitude they’ve become accustomed to. Dr. Irwin Redlener, who directs the pandemic resource and response initiative at Columbia University in New York City is abundantly-hopeful about the future. “It’s like we’ve all been through trauma now, and we’ve been through it together.” As a result, he thinks we will be able to relate to one another better. At the same time, he cautions, “It’s going to be a long time before things return to whatever it is that we envision is normal.” Dr. Hellemans is also optimistic. “The beautiful thing about us as a species is that we are highly adaptive and innovative. The brain is very plastic. It has a lot of processes built into it in order to continue to adapt to new environments.”

EASE BACK IN

Keep these ideas in mind as you transition from your COVID-adapted life to an adapted-new normal:

• Hold onto the positive habits you’ve adopted – many have discovered the joys of spending more time with the people in their own households, or the ability to spend precious time outdoors each day. Explore how you can hold onto whatever you learned to relish during the lockdown.

• Honor your proven resilience –remember that “You are stronger than you know.” Many of us came to believe this as we made do and carried on, discovering patience, fortitude, and compassion we may not have realized we had. Now that you know, trust it.

• Keep your heart open – be mindful of cutting yourself and others some slack. Each individual’s reentry challenges and blips will be unique. We learned a lot about appreciating others’ struggles during the pandemic.

Let’s not lose that.

Restoration Med Spa

BY TARYN JEREZ

Whatever the circumstances are, know you are not alone if Father’s Day is a difficult holiday to endure. While the third Sunday in June is often spent honoring fatherhood, this day may bring about a slew of complicated emotions and memories for many.

Father’s Day may be stirring up big feelings surrounding grieving the loss of your own father, reliving the hardship of an absent, abusive, or incarcerated father, suffering the loss of a child or even the longing to see you or your partner become a father. It’s important to remember that whatever feelings you may be facing are valid and you deserve to find your own moments of healing this Father’s Day.

IDENTIFY YOUR TRIGGERS

When you are struggling with some of the things mentioned above, they are typically beneath the surface most days, but on a holiday where the focus is on fatherhood, it can become nearly impossible to ignore them. Taking time to really identify your triggers for falling too deeply into your emotions or being forced to concentrate on the things you aren’t ready to go through can be incredibly helpful. If you know that by going out to eat you’ll be bombarded with families that day, perhaps eat a nice home cooked meal instead or order in. If you know that sitting at church on Father’s Day Sunday is going to make you uncomfortable and overly emotional, maybe you tune in online instead or skip service that weekend. ALLOW YOURSELF TO GRIEVE

Sometimes those big bottled up feelings need to come out, and it’s completely fine to give yourself permission to do just that. While it’s important to know what triggers you want to avoid, it’s just as important to allow yourself to be in spaces that you feel safe to sit with your emotions and mental load even if it’s heavy. Find people in your life that you trust to talk openly with about the things you are processing, whether it’s a loved one or a counselor. The worst thing you can do is feel guilty or selfish for needing to share your experiences around fatherhood and the unique perspective and grief you may be housing inside of you. Remember that it’s ok to be sad or even angry.

HIGHLIGHT THE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS IN YOUR LIFE

No one person will ever replace the father you are missing but leaning into the positive relationships that you are surrounded by can have a very healing effect. Remind yourself that you are not alone and take a few intentional moments to practice gratitude for the healthy male and female relationships you have. Think about the ones who you can count on beyond measure and the ones who have possibly even been there during the loss or heavy burdens you’ve experienced when it comes to your feelings around Father’s Day.

LET GO OF EXPECTATIONS

Some years may hit harder than others. In fact, your own emotional threshold may surprise you where one Father’s Day you are stronger than you thought, while others feel like an unexpected punch to the gut. Don’t put expectations on yourself this Father’s Day and instead tell yourself that however you feel throughout the day is acceptable and what you need to express. Lean into whatever coping tools help you most, take your mind off things that you can, and do something just for you that day if you can, such as going for a walk at the park, eating a favorite meal, watching a movie that has great memories around it, etc.

Navigation at Home

JUNE DELUGAS LEADS AN AWARD WINNING DESIGN TEAM Captivatingly Elegant.

Pick up any magazine and you are likely to see pillows on the front cover and throughout the magazine. Pillows are a quick way to update your living room, bedrooms, or even your outdoor living spaces.

When we make designer pillows, we use the best down forms available, because it really does make a difference how dense the pillow is. If someone is allergic, we use the poly fill forms. We then carefully strategize our plan for each client’s home by choosing all the fabrics for each of the elements.

Start with the classic sofa fabrics and then the multitude of optional materials for the pillows, including size, welt, or no welt. If anyone knows us and comes into our store, we always have a vast array of pillows on our beds, chairs, and sofas. We are constantly exchanging them for new ones, too.

We either make custom pillows or we purchase from designer fabric sources where the fabrics are unique. We are constantly sourcing because pillows can be the main source of accents in a home. We see everything imaginable. There are thousands of pillows displayed in a variety of showrooms when we go to multiple markets. Some of the prettiest fabric pillows we have seen were at the Atlanta antique market. Go figure, right? There was one ethnic group of antique fabrics that was out of this world! I cannot wait to go back to Atlanta. It is also a shame to cut up the fabrics, but sometimes we make throws to savor the uniqueness of the fabrics. I have noticed some manufacturers are making the patterns I saw to duplicate the look. I like the original myself. When something unique is found, it is not long before it catches on. It is amazing how that works.

You know you can express your personality with pillows; you can be bold, calm, or even casual. Create that pizzazz with a savvy pop of color…teal, orange, yellow, emerald, red, lime, black, coral, blue. Colorful prints with all the colors you prefer. For a truly custom look, you can have a photo of your pet hand-painted onto a silk pillow. For the store, we have a custom pillow featuring our mascot dog, Chewy. We have sold multiple pillows with hand painted pets just by using a photo reference from our clients. This past Christmas was such an occasion for a repeat customer.

Don’t be bored with your current style. Live with flair and add your favorite pillows to any room and update your space. Call June DeLugas Interiors for help with selecting the correct ensemble of pillows for your home.

God Bless, June

PHOTO COURTESY OF LACEFIELD DESIGNS, WWW.LACEFIELDDESIGNS.COM June DeLugas Interiors

It All Begins with Extraordinary Design

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

junedelugasinteriors.com

Support Local & Brighten Up Your Home this Summer with THEODORE B. INTERIORS

BY AMY HILL

After spending the majority of your time at home for the last year, it’s only natural to find yourself craving a major change. As summer approaches and the end of the pandemic is in sight, it’s time to give your living quarters a new look and put dreary quarantine memories to rest. Want to give your home a makeover but not sure where to start? Located on Burke Street, Theodore B. Interiors is a brand new full-service interior design studio and home decor shop in Winston-Salem that is here to ensure you feel re-energized and inspired within the walls of your revamped home.

What does “full-service” mean when it comes to an interior design firm? The team at Theodore B. Interiors manages every aspect of a design project from start to finish to relieve clients of any and all stress. The team works with architects, contractors, and electricians, and also assists with furniture selection and installation, which are some of the most difficult aspects of home makeovers. Additionally, Theodore B. Interiors sells accessories, wall coverings, drapes, and small home decor items inside its shop. If you’re new to interior design and architecture, the Theodore B. Interiors team is knowledgeable about new construction and remodels so that you don’t have to be. Owner Isabella Migliarese chose Burke Street as her design firm’s location due to its proximity to other local businesses also owned by young female business owners. She wanted to find a spot for her shop that provided her and her team with a neighborhood feel but in an up-and-coming location such as West End Winston-Salem.

With the name of her business being inspired by her father, Theodore “Teddy” Migliarese, Isabella fell in love with interior design as a little girl. Some of her fondest memories include accompanying her father, a contractor and owner of commercial and residential properties, to job sites and witnessing the properties’ construction and design transformations. Not only did her father instill in her a passion for home design, but his entrepreneurship was also a trait that Isabella inherited. From a young age, Isabella knew that opening a business as a recent college graduate carried no shortage of risks, but the possibility of failure did not deter her from chasing her dream. While learning how to properly run a business and becoming an expert in the tax and insurance side of entrepreneurship was challenging, Isabella found that being a woman immersed in the male-dominated architecture industry carried its own set of obstacles. As a young female business owner, Isabella sometimes feels as if she has to work harder to be taken seriously by male architects and contractors.

As a Winston-Salem native, Isabella Migliarese joined UNCG’s Interior Architecture program after graduating from R.J. Reynolds High School. Throughout her time in the program, she joined a small student design team where she helped design a room in the Julian Price Showhouse that was later featured in Southern Home magazine. Additionally, she met her best friend and business partner, Tyson Howlett, in the design program and was able to strengthen her passion for design and architecture. By utilizing social media and attending markets such as High Point Market and Atlanta Market, Isabella and her team stay up to date on upcoming design trends. Surprisingly, wallpaper seems to be making a comeback, and popular home color schemes include white, black, and neutrals. As for Isabella’s personal style and dream home? She dreams of owning a Cape Cod or cottage-style home in the country with a slightly edgy exterior.

According to Isabella, transforming your living space doesn’t necessarily mean adding more “things.” In fact, less can be more. While the concept of minimalism has gained popularity over the last few years, simplifying your space doesn’t require your space to be cold or bland. For those looking to minimize in style, Isabella suggests keeping color tones warm and inviting, adding texture with rugs or wall coverings, and selecting accessories or art pieces that create a “wow” factor in order to keep your de-cluttered house feeling like a home.

Ready to recruit the Theodore B. Interiors team for your home project? Check out the team’s Facebook page or visit theodorebinteriors.com for more information. Follow @theodoreb.interiors on Instagram to stay updated on the latest news from Isabella and her team, or email info@theodorebinteriors.com for any additional questions.

PHOTO BY JOHN GOLDEN PHOTO BY JOEL SARVIS

Tyson Howlett (L) Isabella Migliarese (R) Isabella met her design partner, Tyson, at the UNCG Interior Architecture Program

PHOTO BY VINES STUDIOS

Bird & Co.

Lash & Blade

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@girlgangwsnc

Camel City Cacamelcitycanines.com nines WSNC + surrounding areas Animal Care & Holistic Dog Treats @camelcitycanines

South & Main Boutique southandmainnc.com 246 NC HWY 801 N Advance, NC@southandmainnc

Ellie Ray Boutique

336.893.8764 3292 Silas Creek Parkway Winston-Salem, NC @ellierayboutique

Theodore B. Interiors

1031 Burke St Winston-Salem NC 27101 FULL SERVICE INTERIOR DESIGN @theodoreb.interiors info@theodorebinteriors.com

Kayla Berry Broker

Kaylaberry.exprealty.com @kbbbroker

Wood & Thread

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A “Must Add” to Your Self Care Plan BY TABATHA RENEGAR

What do the Peruvian Jungle and WinstonSalem have in common?

Both are places where you can have an experience with sound that you might find life changing. Just ask John Shanton Wilcox. John is a Sound Intuitive who has called Winston-Salem home for 22 years. John offers open-minded individuals the opportunity to allow sound into their beings in a whole new way.

When I asked John to explain what it means to be a Sound Intuitive, he said “I get out of the way and allow the energy of the person or group to flow through me and inspire the sounds that are produced.”

Naturally, I wanted to know how sound came into his life in this unique and, frankly, mystical way.

“In 2001 I was on a 10-day retreat in the Amazonian jungle, experiencing ayahuasca every other day. In the first session, I was advised to set an intention and mine was ‘what should I be doing to serve my community?’ and the answer came: I should do what the ayahuasca shaman was doing for me but without the ayahuasca.” (Ayahuasca is a South American psychoactive brew used as a traditional spiritual medicine in ceremonies among the indigenous peoples of the Amazon basin.) The term guided meditation has become familiar to most of us and what John wanted was to be able to guide a meditative journey using sound. He had been collecting sound instruments for years and it was time to put them to use! During John’s last session with ayahuasca in the jungle he asked “Who am I to be going out into the world, with no formal training, and working with sound to help people?” Ayahuasca made it clear that he had been in training for years, since the day in 1994 when he walked the Inca Trail into Machu Picchu.

Back in NC after the 2001 trip to Peru, a friend who was helping clients by practicing Myofascial release asked John if he would be interested in collaborating to bring sound into the healing sessions she offered. MFR, self-myofascial release, is an alternative medicine therapy claimed to be useful for treating skeletal muscle immobility and pain by relaxing contracted muscles.

John packed up his instruments - a collection that is now comprised of over 70 instruments – and realized immediately that he was doing the right thing! By working with patients and sound, he learned to listen to his intuition and, although it took some time, he has learned to trust that what he is feeling is what needs to be done.

So, what is done exactly?

When I participated in a sound experience called Primal Sound, myself and three other friends arrived to John’s sound studio in Ardmore wearing comfy clothes and carrying our yoga mats. We were welcomed warmly and entered the sound space where the lighting was low, incense and candles burned and soft, hypnotic music played softly as we settled in.

We hydrated and got comfortable on our mats, some with pillows, blankets and eye covers, others stretched out languidly. John explained that he would begin to play his instruments near and around us, in no particular order and with no set melody in mind. He explained that as our energy combined with his intuitive nature, he might be inclined to make sound with his voice but it wouldn’t be singing. John said we might go inward and get answers or we might just relax and get out of our minds for a little while. We were all intrigued and ready to begin our experience.

Now, at this point, I could announce “spoiler alert” and tell you what the next 45 minutes or so was like for myself and my intrepid galpals. But I won’t. Instead, I will tell you that it was unlike any yoga class, massage session or meditation I have ever experienced and it left all of us hoping to experience it again. It was unique for each of us even though we were all in the same room, hearing the same sounds being made by John and his instruments. And yet, we each felt the sound in a way that was unique to us which made it simply, magical.

You might never hike through the Peruvian Amazon with an ayahuascan shaman but you can take a journey unlike any other, right here in Winston-Salem.

For more information or to schedule your own Primal Sound session, email JohnShantonWilcox@gmail.com.

Fraleigh’s Boutique

Ladies Night Out

Thursday June 10th from 4PM to 7PM.

A Portion of the Proceeds from that evening will be donated to The Dragonfly House.