Forsyth Woman Turns 16

We became a big sister! Our sister-publication, Forsyth Family joined the family, featuring our publishing families — the Bralleys and the Johnsons! February 2009 The first (of many!) Girls’ Night Out events! Great food, great friends, great memories!

Likely you remember your Sweet 16. It’s a magical age. And for Forsyth Woman, it’s more than magical…. It’s a milestone. A milestone each and every one of you helped us to achieve!

It’s been a 16 year journey of evolving, growing, but being ever-community-minded. We were, we are, and we always will celebrate women, life, work, and play in Forsyth County. It’s home. And our readers and advertising partners are both friends and family.

Our success is YOUR success. So take a bow, Forsyth Women! You have made this an issue to celebrate!!!!

October 2010

Our First Annual Consignment Shop Hop, and we lived up to the promise, “Shop ’til we drop!”

March 2008

2005 September 2005 Forsyth Woman was born! We featured the still-awesome Cindy Farmer on the cover of our premiere issue! 2006 September 2009 We were ramblin’! 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Ramblin’ Rose, that is, when we formed our first Forsyth Woman Ramblin’ Rose Triathlon Team! The Cruise for the Cure! Forsyth Woman friends, family and readers cruised to Cozumel, Mexico in support of the fight against breast cancer! June 2011 We said “I Do!” to our biannual wedding magazine, Forsyth Woman Engaged!

January 2014

We celebrated our 100th issue with 500 of our closest friends!

June 2014

We hosted our first Forsyth Woman Showcase in Old Salem!

July 2014

Look at us goin’ to a Publisher’s Conference!

January 2015

The family just kept on growing, this time with an annual publication focused on Lewisville and Clemmons — Forsyth Community!

April 2017

We are women, watch us build with Habitat for Humanity!

January 2018 October 2016

Look! We moved into an office and had a ribbon cutting at the Historic Broyhill!

December 2018

Logo much? We gave ours a brand new look!

August 2019

We hosted an Insta-Worthy Fundraiser to support our friends, Family Services!

September 2014

We made wishes come true with our Make-a-Wish Silent Auction and Fundraiser!

September 2014

Our shopping trips took a new direction with the first annual Tour de Boutique! We were sipping margaritas in Cancun with our second-ever Forsyth Woman trip!

January 2020

What’s that I hear? Forsyth Magazines launched a podcast!

August 2020 September 2021

We are here…. In this moment…. Savoring every memory we’ve made with you along the way — not only these, but so many more. Thank you, for your generous support and kind enthusiasm for Forsyth Woman.

2014 2015 2016 2017 October 2012 We proposed a new kind of Bridal Show — a Bridal Show at the Ballpark, to complement our wedding magazine! 2018 2019 2020 2021

Keela moved to the passenger seat while Brooke took the wheel as publisher of Forsyth Woman!

BY JEN OLENICZAK BROWN

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!

MARI KRIS FULK

What makes you YOU?

I’m a Filipino immigrant who grew up in Queens, NY, so while I’ve lived in the United States for almost three decades, I still honor the Filipino culture and traditions. I marry the traditional voices of my parents with American thinking. Sometimes they clash and it can be a difficult thing trying to find my own identity and forge a path that my parents may not understand. As a person, I’m a caretaker, which is something I am only now realizing as I look back on my life. I’m also (still) a dreamer and an artist. If you see my index finger moving while I’m staring at something, I’m sketching it in my imagination.

What are you most proud of?

I’m most proud of my accomplishments and my ability to pivot in life. As a child, we didn’t have a lot so I knew I had to rely on myself to get into college. I’m the first in my immediate family to finish a degree. I worked three jobs when I was a freshman in the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, but my fashion design aspirations stopped when 9/11 happened and I joined the Navy shortly after. Now, as a Navy veteran, an art degree graduate, and a professional photographer, I am very proud of the life I have lived, as both a woman and a creative, and can’t wait to see who I will become and what I will do in the next twenty years.

What keeps you going when things are tough?

I realize that I am a terrible optimist, but I also rely on perseverance and determination to get through the tough times. My children, now, are what drives me to do the best I can and to also be kind to myself knowing that I’m doing the very best I can. It’s important for me that they see that second part as well because I would want them to live life being kind to themselves.

What keeps you up at night?

My worries are always about my family. I’m at that age now where I take care of my elderly dad along with my young children. I’m thankful for my husband and his family for all the help they’ve given me, through my stepmother’s death from cancer several years ago and now with my dad’s healing from a heart attack and consequent triple bypass surgery he’d suffered last year.

BRITNEY DENT

What makes you YOU?

All of my flaws combined with my successes make me who I am. My unique upbringing as a small-town girl, a big sister, and preacher’s kid coupled with my maturity, faith, resilience, and growth over the last 33 years make me the one and only Britney Dent. My turquoise glasses and my loud voice stand out, too.

What are you most proud of?

I am most proud of publishing my first book during the pandemic while maintaining sanity and safety in my household this past year and a half, and the fact that my book is a number one best-seller makes me really proud!

What keeps you going when things are tough?

When things are tough my faith and family keep me going and my therapist helps me through. I focus on Galatians 6:9 as part of my faith along with personal affirmations and the cliche my dad said growing up: “Life is a cycle of battles and blessings.” My husband supports me and my children look up to me so I remain hopeful.

What keeps you up at night?

Not much literally keeps me up late at night but before falling asleep, I constantly think about inequities in education, housing, and employment, then what my plans are for the next day. I think of what else I can do to help someone.

Collectibles & Decor for Him and Her: Shop at The Barn on Country Club

BY AMY HILL

Need to adorn your brand new home with furnishings and decor for the whole family without breaking the bank? Why not snag repurposed furniture that look as good as new? Whether you’re looking to spice up a shared living space, or you’re simply in the mood to spend girls’ day out shopping for antiques, the treasures at The Barn on Country Club will catch the eye of everyone stopping by.

Open since 2016, The Barn on Country Club is closely tended to by owner Renee Floyd, who works at The Barn daily to ensure operations run smoothly. As a small team of five, I was impressed to learn that so few people efficiently move inventory in and out of The Barn, refurbish and paint incoming products, and deliver those products to customers around the clock. In fact, Renee is so passionate about her customers’ experiences that she personally purchases each item sold in-store. Whether it means performing heavy lifting in order to move large pieces of furniture onto the store floor or accommodating customers’ delivery requests, Renee and her team are focused on providing customers with outstanding and thorough service.

Customers who love the look of antique and refurbished furniture, but aren’t so thrilled with the idea of adding secondhand pieces to their new home, can have the best of both worlds at The Barn on Country Club. Shop team member and woodworking wizard Mark Nyswonger is notorious for creating customized pieces, and is especially talented in building dining tables tailored to the needs and wants of those craving a custom feel. The turnaround time for Mark’s custom pieces is around two to three weeks on average, depending on the availability of lumber and other materials used to build each furnishing. Team members Holly, Hannah, and Isabel help keep pieces in tip-top shape by painting and refurbishing furniture whenever it needs a little TLC. While browsing the massive floor space of The Barn on Country Club, customers looking to spruce up their man cave will be thrilled by The Barn’s attic, stocked with masculine memorabilia and decor. With the holidays rapidly approaching, why not get a head start on Christmas shopping for your husband, father, or brother with a classic collectible he is sure to love? The Barn carries an excellent selection of beer tap handles, neon lights, and authentic signs to gift to the men in your life. In addition to collectibles and gifts, The Barn on Country Club is the ideal spot for couples looking to balance the feminine and masculine energy in their home by turning used, functional items into brand new decor. Creative shoppers can turn many rustic farm items into country chic accent pieces or light fixtures.

Winston-Salem’s Best Kept Secret!

Home Decor | Artwork Custom Built Tables, Benches & Much More!

Love antiques, but aren’t exactly sure how to use them in your home? In the small chance that she hasn’t already offered to show you around the shop, ask Renee for information on pieces throughout Barn on Country Clubthe floor, or ask for her advice on how to make them stand out. Prior to opening the shop nearly five years ago, Renee always had a knack for retail, interior design, and repurposing furniture. Living just minutes away from the shop, she had been eyeing the store’s location for around five years before she bit the bullet and decided to turn her hobby into her full-time career. While the shop receives new inventory daily from auctions, estate sales, and downsizing customers looking to sell their items, nothing enters the doors of The Barn that Renee hasn’t closely inspected and priced herself.

Curious to see what The Barn on Country Club has in store? On Saturday, October 2nd, The Barn will be participating in Forsyth Woman’s annual Tour de Boutique, supplying refreshments and sales for registered Tour de Boutique shoppers. Register for the event at TINYURL.com/2021FWTDB by September 10th to take advantage of exclusive discounts at The Barn. To stay updated on the latest news from Renee and her team, follow @thebarnoncc on Instagram and check out the team’s Facebook page. For store hours and contact information, visit www.thebarnoncountryclub.com.

336-661-8400 | thebarnoncountryclub.com