Cary Living Magazine

+

Wedding Guide

The new age of shopping

page 18

21st century

j a n ua ry | f e b r ua ry 2 0 1 5

+ new

year’s

revolution

publisher

a n o t e from the

Publisher/EDITOR Sioux Watson Advertising Sales Charis Painter | Julie Shaw | Sioux Watson

Recently I tossed a box of software from the office closet, and emblazed in large letters on the front was the statement “Y2K Compatible!” What a huge nuisance and waste of time Y2K preparation became! Companies spent months and hundreds of hours to avoid disaster as computers rolled over to 2000 – and nothing happened. Was that major concern really 15 years ago? The ending of 2014 thankfully came with no such technological worries. The calendar has turned over again and it’s time to take just ten minutes to transfer important recurring dates from 2014, such as birthdays, on our fresh new paper 2015 calendars.

January marks the cycle of starting afresh and setting personal goals for the year, such as saving more money, getting fit and eating healthier.

No January is complete without contemplating joining a gym, devising a new exercise routine, consulting a doctor on ways to be a better you, or at the very least reading about your options in our pages.

Here at Cary Living we’ve set a few goals for our magazine, too; in each issue we want to give our readers more local stories from more local voices than ever before. We’ve added some new writers to complement the existing ones, and added more regular features about people in our community. Young Makers will highlight one person creating art or product they hope to earn a full-time living from; Sunday Suppers focuses on how a local chef spends his Sunday night off, and what they might cook in their own kitchen for friends and family.

We present Cary Living’s Guide to 21st Century Weddings, a fun and playful look at what’s new in weddings. We interview some local newlyweds and hear first-hand their stories, and call upon local wedding professionals to tell us their thoughts on recent trends.

Mix it up this year on Valentine’s Day and take yourself to the theater!

Whether it’s a ticket for one or two, local talent on the stage presents plenty of fun and romance that’s bound to make you fall in love with live stage acting again.

Here’s to a fabulous 2015 to all,

Sioux Sioux Watson Publisher/Editor

Your opinions matter to us. Let us know what you think of this issue of Cary Living.

Please email sioux@caryliving.com with your comments.

Creative Director Travis Aptt Graphic Design Jennifer Heinser | Lori Lay Contributing Writers Christa Gala | Kate Turgeon Watson Dan Bain | Jenni Hart | Page Leggett Kurt Dusterberg | Dave Droschak Corbie Hill | Adam Wamsley | Julie Johnson Paul Savery Photographers Davies Photography | Rob Kinnan Photography Adam Wamsley Photograhy

Cary Living is published six times annually. Any reproduction in part or in whole of any part of this publication is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.

Cary Living is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or art. Unsolicited material is welcome and is considered intended for publication. Such material will become the property of the magazine and will be subject to editing.

Material will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. Cary Living will not knowingly accept any real estate advertising in violation of U.S. equal opportunity law.

Subscriptions 6 print issues (1 year) only $20 Available online via paypal ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 4818 Six Forks Road, Suite 204 Raleigh, NC 27609 Phone 919.782.4710, Fax 919.782.4763 www.caryliving.com

CARYLIVING

JA NU A RY | F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 5

14

48

14 Sunday supper Peak City Grill & Bar’s Executive Chef Ryan Summer treats us to a recipe for Braised Short Ribs.

48 Grocery Stores A look at the eleven chain super- markets in Cary and what there is to love about each of them.

20 Young Makers This issue’s young makers features a talented young baker in a tasty yet competitive field.

54 New Year’s Revolution Workouts that involve exciting exercise are key to sticking with your 2015 resolutions.

24 wedding GUIDE An exciting collection of gowns, advice, new ideas, and even some new takes on old traditions.

60 Better late than never Cary resident Michelle Langan has a few marathons under her belt, but she’s aiming for the Olympics.

40 Senior Lifestyle A senior lifestyle doesn’t just mean retiring– It can be the busiest and most active years of your life.

64 A buzz in cary town With domestic beekeeping on the rise, urban hives may provide hope for the irreplaceable honeybee.

64 departments 08 | Raising the Bar 10 | sport Scene 12 | Suds & spirits 16 | technology Scene 18 | Wine Review 22 | On Trend 38 | calendar of events

46 Complete the Room A collection of decor items from local shops that are sure to spruce up any den or study.

67 | healthy living 69 | Shop Local 72 | sightingS

+

Wedding Guide

The new age of shopping

page 18

21st century

special thanks to richard barlow photography for our cover photo

j a n ua ry | f e b r ua ry 2 0 1 5

+

new

year’s

revolution

raisingthebar

Youweask

Q

ANSWER

My little brother was caught shoplifting. He’s a good kid but made a dumb decision. Will this haunt him for the rest of his life?

Melanie, Raleigh Hopefully not. If this is your brother’s first offense, he will qualify for a first offender’s program. This usually consists of community service hours, fines, and staying out of trouble for a year. If he completes this with no issues, the case will be dismissed and is able to be expunged from his record. ~ Steven Saad

Will my brother need to mention his expunged charge on his college application next year?

Melanie, Raleigh No. Treat expunged cases as if they never happened. That is the purpose of an expungement and the reason we generally only get one for a lifetime. Admissions offices understand this procedure; they do not expect applicants to include these charges in their disclosures. ~ Steven Saad Can my friends and I be fired for things we write on Facebook about our bosses?

John, Cary Yes. Most employees can be fired for any reason that isn’t related to a protected status, such as race or sex. Trashing your boss on social media could be a career ender. The National Labor Relations Board takes the position that some postings on Facebook and other social media can be protected, but only if they relate to common working conditions affecting more than just the person 8 | caryliving.com

who posted them. So, if you and your friends use social media just to vent your personal feelings, you do so at your own peril. ~ Paul Derrick My company won’t let me take my two weeks of vacation all at once.

Can they do that?

Anna, Raleigh Yes. Unless you have a contract that says otherwise, your employer has the right to decide how much vacation you can take at one time. Your absence for two consecutive weeks could be a hardship on business operations, particularly during a busy period. Your employer cannot completely deny you vacation time that you have earned, but you should make your request as far in advance as possible and

MeettheCounsel

Steven Saad

Criminal Defense

understand that your willingness to be flexible and a “team player” will score some points for you in the long run. ~ Paul Derrick Are there laws about making video tutorials for software applications, like Microsoft Excel?

Derek, Raleigh Generally, there aren’t laws prohibiting you from making such tutorials. And when you create a video tutorial, you will have copyright interests immediately upon creation of the work; you can register it with a copyright office for certain benefits. One thing to be careful about is not using the software’s trademarks (i.e. Microsoft or Excel) when advertising your services or products. L ~ Rupen Fofaria

c

Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog LLP | www.cshlaw.com

Paul Derrick

Employment Law

Rupen Fofaria

Intellectual Property

This content has been prepared for general information purposes only. This information is not intended to provide specific legal advice. Legal advice is dependent upon the specific circumstances of each situation. The information provided cannot replace the advice of competent legal counsel by a licensed attorney in your state.

sportscene

Local athlete Faizal Hamdoon wrestled at Broughton High School but is now trying a new challenge most take for granted – running.

A Special Stride // By david droschak

We were all hit up for donations during the holidays. It’s part of the tradition of giving.

As we head into 2015 there is one more “ask” that may be worth taking a look at.

It surrounds the story of Faizal Hamdoon, a junior at North Carolina Central University, who is trying to qualify for the Paralympics and raise money to get to the competition in Brazil in 2016.

The 24-year old is not close to his goal of $10,000, but it’s not the first time, or likely the last time Hamdoon will have to overcome a major obstacle.

The fact that he is on the track, running and training for such an accomplishment, defies the odds after being born with a rare birth defect and bone deformity condition called Melorheostosis. Only 400 cases are known to exist around the world.

Hamdoon, who lives with his younger brother and mother near Crabtree Valley Mall (where he works two jobs to support the family), moved to America to escape the civil strife of Sri Lanka, has undergone 14 surgeries, two amputations (the last above his right knee), and faced deportation when his father suddenly passed away in 2008.

Hamdoon has spent most of his life on crutches, and didn’t learn how to run until four years ago after receiving a grant from the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Prior, Hamdoon wrestled at Broughton High School in Raleigh and was an accomplished 10 | caryliving.com

swimmer, but he chose another athletic path at age 18 – sprints.

“I wanted to run but I was very scared. I never had any experience, never had two feet underneath myself,” he said, explaining that he first trained at a camp in Pensacola, Florida before returning to the Triangle. “When I got back to Raleigh I would pick out landmarks in the neighborhood and I would run there.

Then the next day I would run to the next tree after that, and I just kept running.”

Fast forward to today. Hamdoon trains at NC Central under the watchful eye of sprint coach T.J. Walker, hoping to make the Eagle’s team next season and qualify for the 100- and 200-meters. His best time is 13.5 seconds. He needs to run 13.3 in order to compete in the big time.

“I must say when other athletes see me on the track it makes them push harder,” Hamdoon said.

“God created me for a reason, so if I can at least inspire one person a day, I love it. It brings me joy because I’ve seen it in person.”

To read more about Hamdoon’s story, visit www. gofundme.com/9x68ps. L

c

CARY - RALEIGH - CHAPEL HILL - MEBANE - WILMINGTON

ITS SIMPLE!

X-RAY, WEIGH & WE

PAY!

WE BUY BRACELETS BROOCHES & PINS • CHAINS CHARMS • COINS • CUFFLINKS DENTAL GOLD • EARRINGS INGOT/BARS • LOCKETS NECKLACES • RINGS • SCRAP STERLING SILVER FLATWARE WATCHES • AND MORE...

WWW.JEWELRECYCLE.COM

SALTBOX VILLAGE 1259-A Kildaire Farm Rd. | Cary, NC 27511 MONDAY - SATURDAY, 10AM - 6PM CLOSED SUNDAY (919) 238-1156 (866) 287-7896 No Appointment Necessary!

Licensed. Bonded. Insured. Local. BBB Accredited. caryliving.com | 11

suds&spirits

Valentine’s Day Brews // By julie johnson

If you haven’t discovered the romantic potential of beer, a delightful surprise awaits. In time for Valentine’s Day, North Carolina’s craft brewers are preparing one-off specialties that are lush, spicy, floral or sensual – a far cry from the pale, fizzy beverage we all know.

The darkest of the ale styles, stout, is often described as having flavors of chocolate or coffee; not surprisingly, some brewers have taken such observations literally, boosting those notes with the addition of the real thing.

Durham’s Ponysaurus Brewing Co. created Videri Chocolate Stout with chocolate nibs added at the end of fermentation, giving the beer a character similar to a bar of fine dark chocolate, with a dry, not sweet, finish. Available in the brewery’s distinctive paper-wrapped bottles, and sporting an alcohol content of 7.2%, this is a sipping beer for two.

If you’re in Wilmington for Valentine’s Day, catch the tapping of another special-release stout. Sinful Stout is in the sweet stout tradition, with an addition of cold-brewed coffee for a smoothness that hides its 6% strength. You can take a growler to go, or sit at the bar and drink in 12 | caryliving.com

the atmosphere of this historic downtown spot.

Big Boss in Raleigh is also infatuated with chocolate-infused dark beers, but instead of stout, their Big Operator is based on a Belgian black ale. Medium-roast cacao nibs from local roasters Escazu and a late addition of raspberry purée create a “raspberry cordial” of a beer.

Available from late January, Big Operator is not only a good match for Valentine chocolates, but also pairs well with roast meats.

Romance can have its lighter side, of course, and so can romantic beer. Carolina Belle, from Beer Army Combat Brewing in Trenton, is a wheat ale sweetened with local honey, and balanced with tartness from hibiscus flowers, which also give the beer a pinkish cast. With a gentle alcohol content of 4.6%, Belle is a festive companion for a light seafood dinner – oysters, perhaps?

Finally, if your love life is complicated, a little bitterness may be in order – for your beer, not for you. For Valentine’s, Raleigh Brewing Company will release a small batch of No Love Lost India Pale Lager: strong at 7%, and bitter in the manner of an India pale ale... but mellowed, like an old love recalled, by lager-style conditioning. L

c

caryliving.com | 13

sundaysupper

Apex’s Peak

Ryan Summer, Executive Chef at Peak City Grill & Bar

Southern chef on World Cuisine and comfort food // By sioux watson | Photography by Ryan Kinnan

Ryan’s journey with cooking followed a path from Atlanta to Boone to Apex, where he has now been at Peak City Grill & Bar for the past two and a half years.

Starting out with fast food joints at 16 while in high school, he begin bussing tables as a college student in Boone while studying at Appalachian State University. He landed at The Bistro, a small French-influenced restaurant, and became the gourmandiere (prepares the first courses) back in the kitchen. He eventually moved to sous chef where he became the right-hand man to new chef Danny Bock, who loved his work ethic and genuine love of 14 | caryliving.com

cooking. When Bock left, Ryan was still in college and was offered the top spot; he had to choose between finishing school or chasing his passion, and he chose the kitchen.

Meanwhile he married and continued to chef, although finding it harder and harder to hire and keep good staff in Boone. He and wife Jenna decided to move back to Atlanta for family and work, but found that they missed North Carolina. Shortly thereafter they moved to Wake County, and Ryan began working at Peak City Grill and Bar. Leaving briefly for a position at Foster’s in Cameron Village, he boomeranged back to Peak when it

Peak City Grill & Bar 126 N Salem St, Apex

closed and he has been there ever since.

“I love downtown Apex and feel like I belong here, and take great pride in the food we serve at Peak City Grill,” says Ryan.

His curiosity for exploring a variety of cuisines shows in the dishes they serve, from steaks to crispy fried duck, and are French, Italian, American Southwestern and Asian infuenced. Ryan stays enthusiastic about trying new things. “I am very passionate about comfort food now as the winter weather approaches and it’s cold and windy outside. The restaurant has comfort food Mondays where we serve warm savory specials each week that remind me of being at my grandmother’s house for dinner.”

On Sunday evenings at Ryan and Jenna’s house, he’ll most likely stay home and prepare similar comfort food like braised short ribs.

Jenna’s parents Robin and Ginger live locally and join them, where they gather around the table for dinner while new baby Benjamin Ryan, four months old watches but isn’t quite ready to eat his dad’s homemade ribs.

BRAISED SHORT RIBS INGREDIENTS 4 (8-ounce) pieces bone-in beef short ribs 1 Tbsp vegetable oil 3/4 tsp fine sea salt 1/2 tsp black pepper 4 medium carrots, finely chopped 1 medium onion, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 1 1/2 cup dry red wine 4 cups brown veal stock or 1/2 cup Demi-Glace

Gold concentrate 2 sprigs fresh rosemary 1 bay leaf

directions 1. Put oven rack in lower third of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Pat beef dry. Dust lightly in seasoned flour (salt pepper garlic powder and rosemary). Heat oil in a wide (12 inches in diameter) 3- to 5-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown beef on all sides, turning with tongs, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon sea salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

3. Add chopped carrots, onion, and garlic to oil in pot and cook over moderate heat, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add wine and boil, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened, about 8 minutes.

4. Add veal stock, thyme, bay leaf, vinegars, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon sea salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper to sauce, and bring to a simmer. Skim fat from surface, then add beef along with any juices accumulated on plate and cover pot with a tightfitting lid. Transfer to oven and braise until beef is very tender, 3 hours 5. After Short Ribs come out of the oven take out beef and strain off liquid. Begin to reduce natural braising liquid about half to make the sauce. As the sauce is reducing sautéed up mushrooms and then add natural braising liquid to mushrooms to form a sauce to coat the short ribs.

6. Typically I like serving the short ribs with basil smashed red potatoes and some blanched carrots and pearl onions. L

c

caryliving.com | 15

technologyscene

All-In-One and One-For-All

OHM PORTABLE SPEAKER & WIRELESS CHARGING DOCK // By dan bain

Maria Morrill was disappointed in the options she found when researching portable speakers, so she followed the age-old advice – “If you want something done right, do it yourself.”

Morrill pitched an idea to Quirky.com, a website where would-be inventors can submit their concepts for evaluation, manufacture and ultimate sale. Her device, Ohm, combines a portable Bluetooth® speaker with an inductive charging dock.

The dock is large enough to hold the speaker and a portable device such as a smartphone or MP3 player. As long as the device is Qi-enabled, it will charge wirelessly from the dock, along with the speaker. Once charged, the speaker promises six to eight hours of continuous playback – take it with you, drop it on the charging dock when you get home, and let it recharge for the next trip. It has a Bluetooth range up to 30 feet, further enhancing its portability.

16 | caryliving.com

Available in white or black plastic and silicone, Ohm will look good on your nightstand, entertainment center or desk – and can double as a speakerphone. For those non-wireless situations, it also has a high-output USB port, and includes a 3.5mm audio cable and a USB-to-microUSB cable.

The device is available for $169.99 at quirky.com – just search “ohm.” L

c

winereview Baldacci IV Sons Fraternity

Kudos Pinot Noir

Cruz Alta Malbec Grand Reserve

Montaudon Grande Rose Brut

90

Burgo Viejo Rioja Crianza

90

Beverage Dynamics

90 Int’l Wine Cellar

Wine Spectator

Napa, California

Willamette Valley, Oregon

Mendoza, Argentina

Champagne, France

Rioja, Spain

Aromas of black cherry, cassis, white chocolate, and crushed herbs are an amazing introduction to the mouthwatering flavors of blackberries, figs, dark chocolate, tobacco leaves and delicate notes of minerals and earth all wrapped in a coating of delicious French oak.

The most striking thing about this wine is the fantastic interplay between the flavors of black cherries, earth and tobacco...this wine edges more toward an Old World style while still providing plenty of New World fruit.

Showing lovely balance, this is fresh and aromatic, with a lightly frothy bead, a smoky undertow and black currant, dried cherry, biscuit and candied ginger flavors. Drink now through 2016.

Elegant, Cherry, Spice, Medium-bodied

A fruity wine with excellent body and strong tannins. Flavors of cherry, blackberry, boysenberry and plum intermingle with hints of ginger and pepper to create a long, full finish. Cruz Alta Grand Reserve Malbec named a top 50 Value by Wine and Spirits.

Bright ruby-red.

Fragrant aromas of cherry, pipe tobacco and vanilla, with a smoky overtone.

Smoky and sweet on the palate, offering broad dark fruit flavors and a touch of coconut. Finishes juicy and long, with sneaky tannins and lingering sweetness.

$39.99/bottle

$17.99/bottle

$14.99/bottle

$34.99/bottle

Dry, Berry, Cinnamon, Medium-bodied

// By Tim Stroupe, wine manager total wine & more, Crossroads Shopping Center 18 | caryliving.com

$9.99/bottle

Live. Work. Play.

You can have it all!

BE HAPPY

Looking for a better work/life balance? Look no further than Glencroft in Cary. Live a short drive to area employers at Research Triangle Park and be minutes to shopping and dining at Parkside Town Commons and Cary Park Town Center.

Glencroft in Cary • From the mid $200s • 1,903–3,094 sq. ft., 3–6 bedrooms, 2.5–5 baths • amenities include a picnic area and amphitheater; convenient to Cary Dog Park • top-rated Cary school district 4501 Cary Glen Blvd., Cary, NC 27560 From I-40 East, take Exit 282 and turn right on Page Rd., which becomes Hopson Rd. Turn left on Hwy. 55 East/Apex Hwy., right on O’Kelly Chapel Rd., left on Green Level Church Rd., left on Cary Glen Blvd. and right on Pony Club Cir. to community on the right. (919) 768-7989

Broker Cooperation Welcome. ©2014 KB Home (KBH). No affiliation or sponsorship is intended or implied with Parkside Town Commons or Cary Park Town Center, and all trademarks are owned by the respective trademark owners. Plans, pricing, financing, terms, availability and specifications subject to change/prior sale without notice and may vary by neighborhood, lot location and home series. Buyer responsible for all taxes, insurance and other fees. Sq. footage is approximate. HOA applies. ARTIST’S CONCEPTION: Illustration may depict upgraded landscaping/options and may not represent lowest-priced homes. Photo does not depict racial preference.

See sales representative for details. RAL-5616

caryliving.com | 19

youngmakers

Sweet: Making it as a Baker // By christa gala

First cupcakes, then college.

Baking since she was eight years old, Cary native Raven McNulty was captain of Apex High School’s culinary team, which lead to a full scholarship for McNulty at the Chef’s Academy in Morrisville. She graduated the academy in March 2014, valedictorian of her class.

In the Classroom “School taught me a lot about the basics of the industry and classic techniques that will always be useful,” said McNulty. “The most valuable thing I learned is that you never stop learning. Everyone cooks and bakes differently; you need to be able to adapt and grow as a chef.”

Walt Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin Resort in Florida selected McNulty for a pastry externship; today she’s working in downtown Raleigh at Escazu Artisan Chocolates, a company that specializes in small batch bean-to-bar chocolate. One of the best perks: McNulty has to sample everything.

“Honestly, I don’t know if I’ll ever get sick of chocolate.”

20 | caryliving.com

The Industry Baking and business do mix– in fact, that’s how a livelihood is crafted.“I think what has surprised me the most is how important contacts are in the food industry,” she says. “The more people you know and work with, the better. You also need to work hard and pay your dues before you get to the top.

“I start most weeks by painting molds for a good four hours, then shelling them or, in other words, filling them with chocolate and pouring it out so that it creates a shell,” McNulty continues. “After that, we fill the shells with ganache and cap them so they are ready to be sold. We do everything from making ice cream and hot chocolate to wrapping the bars. It’s a small business, so the nine of us try to help out with everything as much as possible.”

On the Side In addition to her job at Escazu, McNulty bakes on the side, making wedding cakes and other pastries for clients, including a henna-inspired wedding cake and a specialty cake made to look like a poker table.“I’m always making seasonal cupcakes for

parties,” she adds.

McNulty hasn’t lost the curiosity and creativity that sparked her love for baking.“I am most inspired by artwork and the people I bake for; I love when people have a specific craving, and I can recreate that in a chocolate or cupcake,” says McNulty. “My favorite medium is cocoa butter paint; it’s bright edible paints that allow me to make any chocolate look like a piece of jewelry.”

In the Future Right now, it’s full speed ahead for McNulty– growing, learning, dreaming, even traveling. This is her time. “I hope to continue to work with different ingredients, sticking to farmers markets and fresh fruits and coming up with new chocolate flavor combinations and nuances at work,” she says. “Recently we tried a caramel apple filling that was a huge hit. I would like to take some more specialty pastry and chocolate classes around the world. I recently attended pastry classes in Brazil taught

by Antonio Bachour.

McNulty hopes one day to start a home-based business called Lila’s Cupcakes. “I love being a pastry chef because I get to create artwork every day, and I love making people happy,” she says. “The best feeling is when someone eats your dessert, and they let out a loud ‘Mmm that’s incredible.’

Pastry is a good fit for me because I’m creative, innovative and hard working.”

Her advice to other young bakers: make contacts and earn a reputation.

“If you’re passionate about what you do, others will see that and continue to support you.” It’s not all fun and tasting, either. “The food industry isn’t as glamorous as people think,” says McNulty. “It takes a lot of long hours and dedication. I love going to work every day and thinking, ‘Wow, I love and enjoy what I do.’” L

c

caryliving.com | 21

ontrend

A foundation of signature pieces are Brooke’s key to her signature sleek style.

Style Statements // story and photography By ADAM WAMSLEY

With the advent of Pinterest and an endless amount of style blogs, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by all of the latest trends and varying opinions.

Rather than refining themes from past fashion weeks, we thought it valuable to seek advice from a local tastemaker found right here in North Carolina.

Brooke Holland, owner of the web-based consignment boutique shopbhook and the director of operations at Mark Christopher Salon in Raleigh, stood out with her sleek Alexander Wang inspired aesthetic. Stopping by her flat downtown, we delved into how she has created her bold personal style.

Whether she’s frequenting a local shop, on a Parisian trip abroad, or simply browsing online, Brooke says she constantly keeps watch for unique pieces that grab her attention.

“At this point in my life, I’ve finally learned 22 | caryliving.com

to save my money.” She explains, “Instead of buying six cheaper variations, I save up for one high-quality item although it may be more expensive.” By doing this, she creates a small collection of high-caliber staples that can be restyled with varying affordable pieces to create a broad and versatile wardrobe.

“Your staple items are what define your personal style,” says Brooke. Today hers is a gold bunny ring, black leather jacket, and a pair of SuperRetroFuture sunglasses.

When asked what she considers to be a key element to personal style, she stated, “It’s all about feeling confident,” and further emphasized the importance of feeling your best when leaving the house in the morning as well as what you wear when going to sleep each night. “You should dress for you, not anyone else.” L

c

It may come as no surprise that the website for Emily Post has weighed in on the subject of 21st Century Wedding Trends.

Offering us truisms such as “personalized weddings is a trend that is here to stay” addresses the obvious, yet telling readers save-the–date cards need not match other wedding stationery themes, or anyone receiving them must also receive a wedding invitation, seems laughable. Our writers and staff have come up with what we hope is an informational and entertaining guide for anyone, whether a wedding is in your future or not! caryliving.com | 23

photography © lindseyleephotography

Let’s make

a deal

By Christa Gala

Got Cash?

The cost of the average wedding in North Carolina is more than $24,000, according to The Knot’s 2013 Real Weddings Study.

On the bright side, be glad you’re not getting married in Manhattan, where weddings and receptions are topping out at more than $86,000.

The truth is, everything costs something, and everybody has a budget. The good news is there are ways to cut costs without cutting corners, especially if you’re willing to put in a little work.

Stationery and music Jen Robison, a Cary native who recently graduated from NC State as did her husband, Chris, got married in June of 2014. The couple quickly decided they wanted to invest the bulk of the budget in the food, venue, flowers and photography.

“I would say we saved on music by using a DJ instead of a band and with the bar – by having only beer and wine, no liquor,” says Robison, who got married at Rose Hill Plantation in Nashville, North Carolina.

Another cost-saver: doing the stationery herself. Robison handwrote directional signage as well as table seating place cards for more than 100 people. Her future mother- and sister-in-law helped make it happen (a great way for new-family bonding).

The effort in all three areas saved the families thousands of dollars.

“This was a combined effort to both save costs and personalize,” says Robison. “I felt like it was a sure way to save and just would require a little more work from us. We designed and printed the wedding programs, signage at the reception tables, the save-the-dates and the name cards. We went out and bought card stock from a craft store and printed on Chris’ mom’s computer. Then I used stamps to dress them up a bit.

24 | caryliving.com

“I won’t lie, it was a lot of work, and there were times when I just wanted to say ‘To hell with it,’ for sure.

But considering how much money we saved doing it, and the feeling of doing it yourself and seeing them in all the wedding photos, made me feel really accomplished.”

Veering from the traditional Theresa Dolan has been booking weddings at the Page-Walker Arts and History Center in downtown Cary since 1996.

“We’re noticing a trend where bride and grooms are very budget conscious,” Dolan says. “They’re looking at booking weddings on weekdays. We can’t always accommodate that because of the classes and things that we have going on here but if we’re available, of course they can book it.”

Mondays and Tuesdays are the most popular days. The Page-Walker in downtown Cary costs $100 per hour, with a minimum of six hours, for the first floor. There is no facility caterer; brides hire their own, which many like because it helps them cut costs.

“That helps with a couple’s budget because if they want to do barbecue, they can do barbecue,” says Dolan.

Other brides save thousands by doing their own flowers – buying them wholesale or even using wildflowers from

local farmers’ markets. Dolan says couples use vintage wooden buckets, ribbon and even hanging glass vases to create beautiful displays.

Robison says: “We spent quite a bit on flowers, and they were gorgeous, but if we could go back, that might be one thing I would cut back on – just because they can get so expensive and they don’t last. I’ve seen where people will make flowers from paper and other materials to save in that area.”

The biggest budget-busters Double-check your guest list. This is where cutting can get painful.

“I know, that is a hard and harsh reality, but if you really want to save and still go all out, it is the best way,” says certified master wedding planner Catherine Katz, owner of Cherished Celebrations.

“Brunch weddings are also a great way to cut costs,” Katz adds. “Many couples decide to have a late morning wedding and serve brunch items. It saves on food, length of reception and alcohol costs because, let’s face it, most people don’t want to drink a ton at noon.”

Page-Walke

r Arts and

History Ce

nter

photograph ©

And since she brought it up, let’s talk alcohol. There are ways to save money, but there’s one thing Katz says you shouldn’t do no matter what.

“Never, ever, ever serve a cash bar,” says Katz, who plans 10 weddings a year and has been in business nearly a decade. “You would never charge guests who came to your home to have something to drink, so why would you do that at your wedding?

“If you want alcohol and can’t afford a lot, pick one signature drink and work with your caterer to serve it,” Katz continues, suggesting a wine-based drink will go a long way. “If you would like more of a variety, pick one or two things and serve your guests during cocktail hour and the first part of dinner only – or cut it out entirely. Alcohol is usually a significant part of your food and beverage budget, and it’s so easy to trim.”

make it your own

By Christa Gala and Sioux Watson

If the advice “make your wedding your own” sounds counterintuitive, consider that not so long ago – just a decade or two – couples tying the knot did largely what they were supposed to do: marry in a church and celebrate with a sit-down dinner of rubbery banquet chicken. Garter removal, bouquet toss, shower of rice and off they went. Happily ever after.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But the advent of technology – and sites like Etsy and Pinterest – are giving brides and grooms both the inspiration and the courage to host ceremonies and receptions that reflect who they are individually and as a couple.

In 2013, The Knot interviewed more than 13,000 recent bride and grooms across the US and found that personalized weddings are at their peak, leading to an uptick in more casual weddings, with 17 percent of respondents classifying their big day as casual, up from 12 percent in 2008.

Carolyn Scott

A genuinely good time Local wedding planner Catherine Katz says most of her brides and grooms want a special day that’s simply a lot of fun.

“Couples today want to put their own stamp on something that should never be, but sometimes is, cookie cutter,” says Katz, certified master wedding planner and founder of Cherished Celebrations.

Katz helps clients orchestrate special touches. Some of her favorites: • Temporary tattoo stations

“The bride and groom created temporary tattoos of things that were important to them, named the tables these same things and let their guests collect and tattoo away.” Occasionally brides and grooms will use real tattoos in lieu of wedding bands.

• Keepsake signage

“The bride’s father created numerous arrows, and the bride and groom painted them with the locations and hometowns of their guests, asking them to sign the arrow with their town’s information.”

After the wedding, the signage can be disassembled and used as wall décor – a great alternative to a traditional guestbook.

• Custom cakes

Elegant and fun are both big buzz words with cakes. Katz says

photogra

ph © Ange

la Stott

“ombre” cakes are still popular, confections made in varying shades of color, with the lightest colors in the top layers descending into the deepest, richest colors on the bottom layers.

What to wear As the supervisor of a popular Triangle wedding venue, Kris Carmichael enjoys the constant stream of people she gets to watch at the Page-Walker Historic Arts Center.

While the traditional white wedding dress is still popular, Carmichael says many brides wear colored sashes or a different colored dress altogether.

It’s the same with the wedding party. At one of her favorite weddings, the bridesmaids wore different colors and styles of dress. Only one thing was the same: the cowboy boots.

“One size fits all on the bridesmaids is not necessarily the thing anymore. What they wear on their feet is even kind of interesting,” she says.

She’s seen Converse sneakers as well as Toms; the latter is a shoe company that donates part of its proceeds to philanthropic organizations, something Carmichael says often appeals to marrying millennials. caryliving.com | 25

Noshing From barbecue to sushi and everything in between, today’s wedding menus incorporate all kinds of food and drink. An increasing number of couples are offering signature cocktails at their receptions. According to The Knot survey, more than 20 percent of couples served specially created drinks, up from 12 percent in 2008.

Food is more interactive, too, whether with carving stations, dessert bars or make-your-own goody bags – think candy and cookie stations.

The Sweet Katrina Ryan, chef/owner at Sugarland in Raleigh and Chapel Hill, notes that desserts, like all other elements of the modern wedding, are pretty much “anything goes.”

“Most brides still choose a timeless white cake with some kind of lace or floral element, but more and more we’re doing non-traditional pastries and desserts. Mini dessert displays, with or without a gelato bar, are especially hot right now. We make pies, cheesecakes and cookies, along with traditional French and Italian pastries like éclairs, cannolis and macarons.

Macarons are particularly popular as they come in virtually every color of the rainbow, and can match any theme.

Cupcakes, popular for a while now, lend a fun, casual feel to a wedding.

The most unique thing we offer for weddings is our portable gelato bar.

Serving gelato in cups or mini sugar cones from Italy, it’s always a hit.

Sometimes it’s in place of the cake, or at the rehearsal dinner, or as a late night after-dancing treat. Gelato and macarons also have the advantage of being naturally gluten free, so there is no compromise for brides who want that option.”

A day to remember Linda Bennett, private events manager at MacGregor Downs Country Club, says she has seen the most varied weddings ever in 2014. “From chalkboards and Mason jars to very elegant, we’ve seen the full spectrum 26 | caryliving.com

of details and decor at our weddings and receptions this year. MacGregor Downs is typically a gentile, rustic– looking venue, but this past weekend it was completely transformed with silver, shiny and bling all over the property.”

Couples have gotten further away from the predictable, traditional weddings of yesteryear and instead are bringing their unique personalities to their weddings and receptions, and staff and venues are catering to them.

The mantra “do what you want” seems to reign these days, and it should. It’s your day. Make it one to remember.

wedding planner

misconceptions Cary Living asked Amanda Scott from A Swanky Affair to dispel some common misconceptions about wedding planners.

Only the rich hire wedding planners While the wealthy do hire wedding planners to design and coordinate weddings, there are huge benefits for anyone to hire a planner. Weddings can be a large financial investment, and planners work on any budget, covering details from start to finish and avoiding costly mistakes. Planners understand how to get the most for your money and know what works and what does not work. For example, choosing a slightly more expensive linen and design allows you to cut costs on flowers. Planners save clients time, and when you are busy with grad school, busy careers or moving homes, planners can save hours and hours of legwork and make the planning a lot less stressful.

Couples can plan the entire wedding themselves And they can. But like repairing your own car, investing your own money, or buying a house without a realtor, there are many pitfalls to avoid, including

time and money wasters. A great wedding planner will guide couples in the right direction on decisions, saving lots of time and avoiding costly mistakes.

A planner oversees the entire wedding While many clients do hire a planner for full-service planning, most planners also offer custom packages to choose from desired options. For example, a couple might pick a photographer and the cake, and want help just on rentals, floral design and transportation.

A planner will take over your wedding A wedding planner will not take over your wedding and tell you how it is supposed to be done– in fact, just the opposite.

A planner puts together your vision and creates a one-of-a-kind event reflecting both your personalities and style, while taking all the stress away and allowing you to have fun!

the perfect venue Cary Living caught up with Lorin Laxton from Catering Works, and she offers up this advice: Planning a wedding and reception can be one of the most exciting and fulfilling aspects for a newly engaged couple. It is a balancing act of maintaining your desires and vision to coincide with your family’s and your checkbook. Reception costs consume the majority of a budget, so venue selection is paramount.

Caterers/event planners consider three basic venue categories: 1. An all-inclusive venue such as a hotel or restaurant banquet room that provides chairs, tables, linens, food, beverage, wait staff service, and sometimes an on-site

rks

wo catering

coordinator; décor and music may even be included 2. A non-inclusive venue such as a museum, historic home, art gallery or urban loft setting, which may provide some or none of those items 3. A tented event in your own backyard or other outdoor setting, where you essentially “build the venue itself” Vision and style Guest count is a significant factor in choosing the venue. Fire code occupancy ratings are not the same as actual entertaining space. Headcount, food, beverages and entertainment with room to move around must be considered, and it’s advisable to see photos of prior events and space plan diagrams to ensure your preliminary guest count will fit.

An all-inclusive venue has the added benefit of overnight accommodations, however the biggest drawbacks are set interior colors and the lack of variety in food and beverage options. Outdoor tented events are usually the most complex and the most expensive option, however the number of guests and the design potential are nearly unlimited.

Non-inclusive venues incorporate the best of both worlds, allowing for more variety of food and beverage, unique and varied entertaining styles, and thematic design opportunity.

the ceremony By the Reverend Robin W. Renteria, a Unitarian Universalist minister who has been marrying couples for 20 years.

As a minister and officiant, I believe the ceremony is the most important part of the wedding. Whether religious or secular, it is a transformational ritual. It unites a couple in their eyes and in the eyes of all they hold dear with a commitment to share all that is to come: joys and sorrows and pain and triumphs.

Every aspect contributes to the power of that intention. Where it is held becomes a sacred space, and we imbue it with beliefs, values, traditions and cultures. The ritual transforms the space, and it becomes part of God, the Larger Life or whatever we define

that to be. Because love transcends time and place, we fill the space and the moment with loving memories of family and friends who have passed on. This wholeness is the communion, the community of affection that will witness the couple into marriage.

Nature, beauty, memories, music, color, joy: all make the time and place sacred and set the tone for the couple’s wedding and marriage. I have married couples on snowy winter days in the woods, with only their dog and best friends; in Duke Chapel surrounded by expressions of the glory of God; around hospital beds honoring the preciousness of each moment; and in museums, country clubs, and goat barns where we were nibbled upon by friendly, curious goats. Each place was sacred.

I ask each couple I marry, “What do you want to express in your wedding ceremony? What do you want people to know about your love for each other?” Sometimes couples tell me the ceremony is about their appreciation for families or friends, it’s about the uniqueness of their story of love and how it has shaped them, or what they’ve overcome to arrive at this day. When a couple explores these questions, their ceremony becomes an expression of who they are, their unique marriage of minds, hearts and souls.

In marriage we promise to grow in love and understanding beyond ourselves, beyond what is easy or convenient. This is holy work. So each expression of love in the ceremony is sacred, as is each couple, part of the miracle of life on this small blue planet.

caryliving.com | 27

Gowns Did you know there is a line of wedding dresses themed after Disney fairy tale movie princesses? Neither did we. These dresses represent designer gowns, offered locally to real-life Triangle brides, who will be princesses for the day at their own weddings in 2015.

Mikaella Bridal Back detail has become more and more of a trend in bridal fashion. Mikaella Bridal has featured exquisite beading and interesting back detail in their 2015 collection. The gown featured is a Mikaella lace wedding dress. It is a strapless lace gown with a sweetheart beaded neckline and back. The trumpet silhouette is an increasingly popular silhouette. Brides love this dress not only for the fine lace, but because it has so much interest in the back. It is sleek, intriguing and romantic.

Maggi Bridal maggibridal.com

Lela Rose – Versailles Silk and cotton deep v-neck gown with embroidered bodice.

The Versailles gown by Lela Rose is designed with a traditional shape that is easy to wear for varying body types. Brides love the airiness of the silk and cotton fabric as well as the updated modern touches of the pockets and plunging neckline. alexia’s bridal boutiqe alexiasbridal.com

28 | caryliving.com

Amy Kuschel – London Bella Rose and Primrose lace trumpet gown with elbow sleeve and bateau neckline.

The London gown by designer Amy Kuschel features a trumpet shape with a classic lace pattern.

Brides love the dress because illusion necklines are currently very popular, and this dress is the perfect combination of traditional with a touch of modern.

Bohemian Gown This style with the lace and ruffles has been exciting for women who are interested in a wedding that is like no other. They have chosen it to go with rustic and intimate weddings that showcase their unique individual style.

Lana Addison Bridal lanaaddison.com

Savvi Formalwear savviNC.com

Justin Alexander Gowns like this Venice lace mermaid with sweetheart neckline have been requested more and more. The most prominent feature of this gown is the “oyster” color underneath the ivory lace. A white wedding gown is no longer the only option in color. Brides can happily choose from colors like alabaster, gold, champagne, and even blush.

Brides love this dress for the color option and rich, thick texture of the crochet lace.

Maggi Bridal maggibridal.com

30 | caryliving.com

Fancy and Sophisticated This gown gets a lot of attention for a number of reasons. Most notably, because it is blue (sea mist, according to the designer!).

The fact that it was designed by designer-to-the-stars, David Tutera, is another reason brides love it! It offers a very chic and sophisticated silhouette with lace and beaded embellishments that are amazing. It is also surprising how affordable this gown is considering all of its exceptional elements.

Savvi Formalwear savviNC.com

Isabelle armstrong – Helena Silk shantung gown with dramatic crystal jeweled back detailing.

The Helena gown by Isabelle Armstrong is clean and tailored in the front and features an illusion back with crystal detail. Brides love this style gown because they want to have a dramatic back, and this detail is very flattering. alexia’s bridal boutiqe alexiasbridal.com

caryliving.com | 31

wedding story photography © richard

barlow

Renee & Mike Mike and Renee Hay, who were married last June 6th, met through mutual friends. They both went to Orange High School. They dated for three years and became engaged in one of the most romantic sites in North Carolina: The Biltmore House in Asheville. Mike had brought along a custom-made engagement ring, and– without Renee’s knowledge– hired a photographer to capture the moment when he went down on his knee and asked Renee to become his wife.

Their wedding, which took place at The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, was very interactive, according to Mike. “People listened and cried and laughed,” he recalls. Mike and Renee wrote their own vows, which were incorporated into the wedding ceremony prepared by the Reverend Robin Renteria. As guests signed the

32 | caryliving.com

By Carol Wills

guest book upon entering, they were invited to choose a pair of sunglasses from the table. A sign explained: “Don’t be blinded by our love.”

For her wedding gown, Renee chose a James Clifford gown from the Mecklenberg Bridal Gallery in Pineville, NC (south of Charlotte).

Renee’s bridesmaids and the matron of honor, her sister Wendy Wilkerson, wore dresses of navy blue. They accessorized with hot pink pumps and carried bouquets of white hydrangeas and peonies. The groomsmen wore grey Jack Victor suits with navy blue ties.

Mike’s dad, Mike Hay Sr., served as Mike’s best man. Renee’s nieces, Allie and Ava, were flower girls and Allie did a reading as part of the ceremony.

Flowers were provided by Fresh Affairs, a Raleigh florist. Vocalist Lisa Keaton sang “Come Away With Me,” a lovely

romantic ballad made popular by Norah Jones, as Renee walked down the aisle.

As part of the ceremony, Mike and Renee created a winebox, which is a box containing a letter from each of them to the other, plus a bottle of wine, to be opened five years from their wedding date. At that time, another box will be prepared, to be opened five years from then, and so on. This symbolizes the couple’s commitment to each other and to the enduring relationship that they are creating.

Videographers From f8 in Motion of Cary made a video of the entire wedding day, while Richard Barlow provided still shots and a gorgeous “movie poster” of the bridal couple with the title “Our North Carolina Love Story.” Confectionate Cakes, a Raleigh baker, made five cakes for guests to choose from: chocolate, vanilla, German chocolate, red velvet and strawberry flavors. There was a special cake for the bride and groom to share, as well as a small surprise cake for one of Renee’s friends who was attending on her birthday. Renee laughs as she remembers the gathered guests singing “Happy Birthday” to her friend– just one of the thoughtful personal touches that made this wedding so memorable. Another unique touch was the groom’s cake, which was served at the rehearsal dinner at Tyler’s Taproom. The cake was made to resemble an air conditioner, with gray icing, and displayed the logo of Mike’s family’s business, Hay’s Heating and Air Conditioning.

The chefs at The Umstead Hotel and Spa provided food and drink for the cocktail hour that followed the ceremony and preceded the sit-down dinner.

There was a photo booth, with silly hats and props supplied, for the guests to make pictures of themselves as keepsakes.

The happy couple spent their honeymoon on the beaches of the Dominican Republic.

DJ provided the reception music.

Both Ian and Brad say they wouldn’t change a thing about their wedding. Their ceremony, celebrating not only their love but the fact that they could legally marry, incorporated many of the values that they care most about. Their wedding bands reflect their commitment to each other, and remind them of a day they’ll always remember with joy.

nnon myers

photography © sha

PHOTOGR

aPH © N

Ian & Brad

I met Ian Palmquist and Brad Oaks at the Morning Times coffee shop in Raleigh two weeks after their November 15th wedding. Both of them live and work in Raleigh – in fact, that’s how they met. Brad was a Youth Board member of Equality North Carolina and Ian was the administrative assistant, his first job out of college.

They had been next-door neighbors since 1999 but didn’t consider theirs a dating relationship until June 7th, 2000 – a date they now celebrate as an anniversary along with their wedding anniversary. Ian and Brad had considered themselves a couple for 14 years, but only recently could even dream of being legally married in the state of North Carolina.

Their wedding took place at the Grand Ballroom in the historic Capitol Club Building, with 120 guests in attendance, including Brad’s 80-year-old grandmother and Ian’s grandmother, who had just turned 100 two days before the wedding.

The Reverend Robin Renteria, who officiated at their ceremony, asked them to, “Stop a moment. Take a look around you. All your planning and preparation for this moment has come to fruition.” Ian says when they turned around to their guests, he and Brad both felt the love and support of

34 | caryliving.com

aTHaN a

BPlaNalP

By Carol Wills

friends and family. It was a moment they’ll never forget.

Since the wedding had an autumn theme, Ian and Brad dressed in light gray suits with orange ties, and their groomsmen (their brothers were their best men) dressed in charcoal gray suits with yellow-orange ties. Brad’s niece and nephew served as flower girl and ring bearer. Their spiritual and legal ceremony ended with a nontraditional recessional: the old disco song “Haven’t You Heard?” which was a major song in the TV movie “Queer as Folk” and included the line, “looking for the perfect guy.”

The reception, which was also held in the ballroom, included dinner and dancing. Their choice for their first dance as a married couple was “Book of Love” by Magnetic Fields. They carried the Southern theme into their menu choices, including North Carolina barbecue, chicken and dumplings and succotash, among other choices provided by caterer Donovan’s Dish.

Kelley G’s Cupcakes created their wedding cake by stacking tiers of four different flavors of cupcakes, topped with a special large cupcake for the newlyweds. Their wedding photographs were taken by a friend, Shannon Myers, who is a fine art photographer.

Eric Hodgden of All Around Raleigh

Jesse & Dave By kurt dusterberg

Dave Mai knew exactly how he wanted to propose. He bought a ring for his girlfriend, Jesse, and planned to pop the question during their vacation to the Redwood Forest in California.

But when the ring wasn’t ready in time, he improvised.

“So he decided to carve a ring for me out of hardwood,” Jesse Mai says.

“He set up his tripod on a timer to take multiple shots. He managed to get the whole proposal with the hardwood ring on camera.”

The story of Jesse and Dave started on the Internet. They met on eHarmony, a dating service. Dave was ready to let his subscription expire

PHOTOGRaPH

NalP

© NaTHaN aBPla

during the same month Jesse began her online search. She made the first move, and he proved to be the only man she approached.

Jesse and Dave tied the knot on June 8th at the Oaks at Salem in Apex.

Along with 100 guests at the outdoor

ceremony, they enjoyed a “laid-back” Sunday afternoon, as she calls it.

Jesse’s woman of honor challenged her to a hula-hooping contest during the reception. Rather than a wedding cake, the guests enjoyed cupcakes.

Jesse’s mother tailored her dress to make the lace look like leaves over one shoulder. Dave wore a dress shirt and a vest. “It was June,” says Jesse, her casual flair evident in her voice.

“There was no need for a jacket.”

Proper attire for the guests? “It was a garden party – a step up from a backyard barbecue,” Jesse says. The food was a notch better too, with a buffet catered from Irregardless Cafe in Raleigh.

Jesse is a massage therapist who is working toward a degree in physical therapy, while Dave is a network security specialist. They will make their home in Raleigh.

alternative

trends Flowers How about eco-friendly suggestions including live potted flowering plants for tables, home-grown pesticide-free flowers to cut the day of the wedding, or fresh flowers purchased from your local farmer’s market or nursery?

Officiants Have a friend get a “minister’s license” online and marry the couple. The process usually takes four to six weeks, so allow plenty of time.

Cakes Sarah Fitzpatrick, owner of The Cupcake Shoppe, explains the fascination with cupcakes at weddings: “Many modern brides want to offer guests a variety of unique and interesting flavors, and cupcakes give them the gorgeous display they are looking for with an opportunity to showcase their favorite flavors. In addition, we can customize a sweet topper cake for the couple to “cut” for

their photos, to keep with tradition but allow more options for their guests.”

Offbeat venues A wedding can happen anywhere! One local Triangle man got married last year while he was in an induced coma awaiting a heart transplant. The couple had been living together for some time, and his siblings decided it would simplify medical decisions if they got hitched.

Told of his new status when he woke up, the fellow was happy, although a bit disappointed he’d missed the whole thing.

Dresses A “greener” option is to buy a like-new (only used once!) gown from a specialty consignment shop. Some of these dresses on offer may have also been purchased and then never used, for one reason or another.

Linens and Plating Why not raid local thrift stores for caryliving.com | 35

mix-and-match vintage china? Much of it has floral patterns to echo your flower arrangements, and it gives the table a pleasant sense of variety and fun.

Rings Veteran tattoo artist Byron Wallace has designed tattoo wedding bands for the last 35 years, and acknowledges “ink rings” have become more popular in recent years.

“Like most wedding things, the couple can’t figure out what they want,” said Wallace, the owner of Warlock’s Tattoo. “That’s where they need help with an artist to design something.”

Most couples like to bond and get a tattoo ring designed identical to one another, like a Celtic knot, initials or a simple design.

The cost is slightly different than jewelry. A tattoo ring normally runs just $50.

The whole process takes about 15-20 minutes – a little longer than most wedding vows.

Wallace’s last words: “Something like a dainty tattoo wedding band isn’t going to be that intimidating to the general public.”

resource

guide Jewelry Diamonds Direct Crabtree 4401 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh 919.571.2881 diamonds-direct.com Catering Catering Works 2319 Laurelbrook Street Raleigh 27604.

919.828.5932 cateringworks.com Venues MacGregor Downs Country Club 430 Saint Andrews Lane Cary 919.467-0146 macgregordowns.org event planning A Swanky Affair 919.477.7993 aswankyaffairnc.com 36 | caryliving.com

Bridal gift registry Whisk 316 Colonades Way #214 Cary 919.322.2458 whiskcarolina.com Spa The Spa at MMC 2205 Walnut Street Cary 919.532.7177 thespaatmmc.com Formal wear Savvi Formal Wear and Bridal Shop 6220 Glenwood Avenue #110, Raleigh 919.783.8911 savvincgowns.com

calendar

OF EVENTS

JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2015

North Carolina Merfest Triangle Aquatic Center January 2-4 275 Convention Drive | Cary ncmerfest.com

New Year’s Eve Party & Opening of “Images in an Artist’s Life” Cary Gallery of Artists January 3 | 1-4pm Show runs through January 27 200 South Academy Street | Cary carygalleryofartists.org Get Physical: Tai Chi West Regional Library January 5 | 6:30-7:30pm 4000 Louis Stephens Drive | Cary 919.463.8500 St. Michael Catholic School Open House January 8 | 9-10:30am January 15 | 6-7:30pm 810 High House Rd | Cary admissions@stmcary.org | 919.468.6150 www.stmcary.org Highgrove on Laurel Lake Open House January 10 | 10am-2pm 1613 South Main Street | Fuquay-Varina highgrove-nc.com 919.552.6154 Cary Dance Productions Presents the Annual Solo Showcase January 10 | 5 & 7:30pm info@carydance.com | 919.467.7040 www.carydance.com Six String Presents The Billy Jonas Band Family Show January 10 | 3pm The Cary Theater 122 East Chatham Street | Cary 919.462.2051 www.sixstringpresents.com

38 | caryliving.com

Six String Presents The Billy Jonas Band and Cary Cooper January 10 | 8pm The Cary Theater 122 East Chatham Street | Cary 919.462.2051 www.sixstringpresents.com Suburban Homesteading: Animal Workers West Regional Library January 12 | 6:30-7:30pm 4000 Louis Stephens Drive | Cary 919.463.8500

PRESCHOOL PARENT INFO MORNINGS January 13, 16, 23, 30 | 9am February 3, 6, 10, 13 | 9am The Raleigh School 1141 Raleigh School Drive | Raleigh 919.828.5351 | smitchell@raleighschool.org

Town of Cary Presents James Gregory, The Funniest Man in America Cary Arts Center January 16 | 7-8pm 101 Dry Avenue | Cary 919.469.4000 townofcary.org TED Talks at the Library West Regional Library January 18 | 3-4pm 4000 Louis Stephens Drive | Cary 919.463.8500 Dr. Anatoly Larkin Presents Piano Music of the Russian Romantics 89.7 FM WCPE The Classical Station January 18 | 3pm theclassicalstation.org

k-5 PARENT INFO MORNINGS January 13 & 26 | 9:15am February 10 & 24 | 9:15am The Raleigh School 1141 Raleigh School Drive | Raleigh 919.546.0788 | smitchell@raleighschool.org

Marvelous Music Series Presents Artie Shaw Orchestra Cary Arts Center January 23 | 7:30pm 101 Dry Avenue | Cary 919.462.2055 townofcary.org

Mystery Book Discussion West Regional Library January 14 | 10:30-11:30am 4000 Louis Stephens Drive | Cary 919.463.8500

School Fair St. Mary Magdalene Catholic School January 25 | 2-4pm 625 Magdala Place | Apex 919.657.4800 | www.stmm.net

Cary Dance Productions Presents Create January 14 & 15 | 7:30pm info@carydance.com | 919.467.7040 www.carydance.com

Novel Reader’s Evening Book Discussion West Regional Library January 26 | 7-8pm 4000 Louis Stephens Drive | Cary 919.463.8500

Maximizing Your Potential: Mind Mapping for Job Seekers West Regional Library January 15 | 7-8pm 4000 Louis Stephens Drive | Cary 919.463.8500

F 2 9 16 23 30

S 3 10 17 24 31

FEBRUARY

JANUARY

S M T W T 1 4 5 6 7 8 11 12 13 14 15 18 19 20 21 22 25 26 27 28 29

S 1 8 15 22

M 2 9 16 23

T 3 10 17 24

W 4 11 18 25

T 5 12 19 26

F 6 13 20 27

S 7 14 21 28

Cary Art Loop West Regional Library January 30 | 6-8pm 200 S. Academy Street | Cary caryartloop.org

Mystery Book Discussion West Regional Library February 11 | 10:30-11:30am 4000 Louis Stephens Drive | Cary 919.463.8500

Music By Bad Habit Draft Line Brewing Company January 30 | 8-11pm 341 Broad Street, Ste. 151 | Fuquay-Varina draftlinebrewing.com 919.557.7121

Cary Town Band Presents Let’s Do Lunch Cary Arts Center February 13 | 7:30pm 101 Dry Avenue | Cary 919.462.2055 carytownband.org

Gardening for Bluebirds The Garden Hut February 7 | 11am 1004 Old Honeycutt Road | Fuquay-Varina 919.552.0590 | NelsasGardenHut.com The Wedding Affair at North Hills Renaissance Raleigh Hotel Ballroom February 8 | 11am 4100 Main at North Hills Street | Raleigh 919.571.8773 | northhillswedding.com Marvelous Music Family Series BuildA-Band Concert with The Triangle Wind Ensemble Cary Arts Center February 8 | 4pm 101 Dry Avenue | Cary 919.462.2055 townofcary.org

Pruning Demo with Horticulturist Nelsa Cox The Garden Hut February 14 | 11am 1004 Old Honeycutt Road | Fuquay-Varina 919.552.0590 | NelsasGardenHut.com

Applause! Cary Youth Theatre Presents The Secret Garden Cary Arts Center February 27 | 7:30pm 101 Dry Avenue | Cary 919.462.2055 townofcary.org

VIOLINIST BRIAN REAGIN February 15 | 4pm Page-Walker Arts & History Center 119 Ambassador Loop | Cary 919.460.4963 | www.townofcary.org Triangle Brass Band Presents Harrison’s Dream February 21 | 7pm Cary Arts Center 101 Dry Avenue | Cary 919.462.2055 | trianglebrass.org Novel Reader’s Evening Book Discussion West Regional Library February 23 | 7-8pm 4000 Louis Stephens Drive | Cary 919.463.8500

Send us...

Community events you would like published in the calendar can be emailed to charis@caryliving.com. caryliving.com | 39

Don’t Retire,

I

By CHRYSTA GALA

40 | caryliving.com

Re-launch

Iris June Vinegar was 74 when she ran her first full marathon. Local author Don McKinney published his first book at 91. And in his late 60s, Bob Warner became a volunteer train host for Amtrak.

Forget playing bridge and Bingo. This is what retirement can look like in the Triangle.

Chalk it up to better health and a longer life expectancy – retirement these days is more often about gearing up rather than slowing down, taking advantage of opportunities to try things you’ve always wanted to do but didn’t have the time.

The number of travel adventurers over age 85 has increased more than 70 percent in the past 10 years, according to Exploritas, a national non-profit that specializes in educational travel programs for adults. Tennis, swimming, gardening, bicycling and exercise classes now outrank more sedentary activities like sewing and bridge for a majority of the nation’s retirees.

But retirement can be overwhelming for some.

The prospect of starting over – and not having a routine in place – can be terrifying and isolating.

A little initiative goes a long way.

iris june vinegar at the marine corps marathon

A writer and a runner

Even though she’s nursing a hurt knee, Iris June Vinegar, 88, is already starting to train for the Tobacco Road Marathon in the spring.

“When I was in my fifties I started running short races,” says Vinegar, who has run 10 full marathons and trains with an octogenarian running group in Raleigh. “It wasn’t until I was 74 that I did my first marathon.”

For her, it’s not about time, but finishing.

“Sometimes I come in pretty slowly,” she says. “In Chicago, the garbage men were right behind me; they usually come through to pick up all the garbage once the race is finished, caryliving.com | 41

pat fish with her two grandsons

and they were following me all the way around. I wasn’t the last one in, but it was close.

“The fact is, I’m not a racer,” continues Vinegar. “I can do the 26.2 miles, that I know. And that’s the most important thing for me, that I cross the finish line. I have never not crossed the finish line.”

Although she wrote her entire life, a few decades ago Vinegar quit a job with the state to go back to school, graduating from N.C. State in 1982 at the age of 56. After that, she began a career as a professional writer, working for local publications and businesses.

Vinegar balks at the word “retirement.” Age has never really mattered to her. “I never considered myself retired because I do now what I did then.”

All aboard

Bob Warner was a tried-and-true IBM-er for 42 years, but now he spends his days as a volunteer train host.

“I ride regularly, helping our passengers and the Amtrak crew in many ways,” says Warner, 73. “I’ve been doing this for almost six years and earlier this year was elected president of the association.”

Warner, who lives in Cary, has also been active in many positions at the First United Methodist Church in Cary.

“I volunteer where I think I can be of service,” he says.

It turns out, there are a lot of organizations in the area that need help.

“I’ve almost over-committed,” says Warner. “My biggest challenge is to remember that I can’t do it all. I never expected to be so busy in retirement.”

Warner says his full days are the result of good health and supportive family. He’s convinced an active retirement means a longer, more enjoyable retirement.

“Make sure you have a reason to get up in the morning. If you’re looking forward to sitting around and doing nothing, 42 | caryliving.com

Bob Warner, amtrak train host volunteer

When you need

a little help

Be as active as you can be, but don’t be afraid to ask for help. Stephanie Gregory, owner of Always Best Care Senior Services, developed a passion for senior care after her grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

Today, she helps seniors find affordable care, touring local communities and exploring options.

There are a wide range of options, including independent living communities, assisted living communities (with and without memory care), residential care homes, skilled nursing facilities, continuing care retirement communities and inhome care.

There are many local organizations that can help you make sense of the choices. A few to try: Senior & Adult Services Department of Wake County www.wakegov.com and search “senior and adult services” or call 919-250-3830.

Cary Senior Center Visit www.townofcary.org or call 919.469.4081.

Resources for Seniors (formerly the Council on Aging of Wake County) Visit www.resourcesforseniors.com or call 919.872.7933.

First-time

author at 91 After retiring from a long career in the magazine and newspaper industry, Don McKinney decided to revisit a manuscript he’d been writing when he was working in the trenches. McKinney worked at the Saturday Evening Post and was also the managing editor for what used to be McCall’s magazine in New York City.

McKinney, 91, recently published “Murder of a Modern Woman” (Xlibris).

He lives at Springmoor, a retirement community in Raleigh.

you’ll have a very disappointing retirement and your life expectancy will be less than that of those who are active.”

Planning it out

Pat Fish, 67, admits she planned her retirement for a full two years.

“You have to plan it; you can’t just instantly one day retire and think, ‘What am I going to do?’ Even with the absence of work, I had all these things I wanted to do so it

was a good adjustment,” says Fish, a Cary resident who has served for more than 15 years on the board of the Friends of the Page-Walker Hotel in Cary.

Fish retired at age 60 from a career in accounting at a local tax consulting firm. “I truly loved my work, but my husband was already retired, and I was ready at that point,” says Fish.

The week after she retired, she started caring for her 18-month-old grandson one day a week. She serves as the treasurer of the board for the Page-Walker as well as the treasurer for Kids Together, Inc., the latter a non-profit that supports Kids Together playgrounds in Cary.

“Serving as treasurer for both organizations, I still work with spreadsheets and budgets and that kind of thing, and that’s what I was doing when I was working,” says Fish.

“I can pick and choose what I want to do now.”

Fish and her husband also take classes through N.C. State University’s Encore program, learning about technology, physics and foreign countries, among other things.

“The classes are terrific and keep your mind occupied intellectually,” says Fish. “Classes are just six weeks.”

Fish hopes other retirees will step outside of their comfort zones.

“It’s a very difficult adjustment for some people,” she says, “but it can be a wonderful part of your life. There is so much out there to do. You have to take some initiative and seek out groups. They’re not always going to be waiting at your front door.” L

c

caryliving.com | 43

APEX PT

Apex PT Postural Restoration Center offers the following innovative programs for seniors: Fall Reduction and Balance Improvement Program: Falls are one of the greatest causes of serious health problems among older adults. Apex PT Postural Restoration Center can help with our Fall Reduction and Balance Improvement Program.This involves a thorough evaluation and risk factor screening followed by a customized exercise program to establish and enhance proprioception and stability. Modifying the factors that lead to falls will increase mobility and confidence, both critical to maintaining personal independence.

Flexibility and Strength Conditioning Program: Improve or maintain your flexibility and your strength while you learn how to breathe more efficiently engaging the proper muscles. Our Postural Restoration based programs will provide you the right tools to help you in your quest to stay independent.

For more information: Sangini Rane PT, PRC Apex PT Postural Restoration Center apexptposturalrestoration.com 919.889.3126

Glenaire Glenaire is a nationally accredited continuing care retirement community offering apartment and cottage living With an optimal location and newly renovated homes, Glenaire offers the perfect combination for an independent, rewarding and fulfilling lifestyle‌a home where neighbors become friends. Glenaire’s enCompass wellness program provides residents with resources to pursue a healthy, active lifestyle. Every amenity is within a short walk on campus, with all apartment homes connected by breezeways.

Glenaire is just minutes away from many exceptional recreational and cultural opportunities. As a division of The Presbyterian Homes, Inc., Glenaire builds on a strong, 60-year heritage of experience with an outstanding record of sound financial viability and integrity. Call today to learn more about becoming a Resident of the Future.

For more information: www.glenaire.org 919.460.8095 44 | caryliving.com

Silver Linings At Silver Linings we specialize in senior counseling. We appreciate how important it can be to have someone to confide in or to help sort out a problem. Silver Linings Counselors are Medicare approved providers, many of whom are seniors themselves. We offer individual counseling, group therapy, and caregiver support. Our goal is to provide you with the quality and level of counseling support you deserve whether in your private home or in your senior residence community or at our office. All our highly trained and experienced Counselors are dedicated to serving you. Reach out today we are here to help.

For more information: silverliningsnc.com 919.272.6220

For more information: waltonwood.com 919.651.3964

Waltonwood Waltonwood features chic cottage homes, luxurious apartments, and a variety of common areas throughout the community, including cozy courtyards complete with gazebos, a theater, state of the art fitness center, indoor pool, putting green, café, billiards room and a large terrace overlooking our beautiful property accessible from the dining area. In addition we offer a variety of special programs, activities and excursions to make every day special!

At Waltonwood, we place the highest priority on helping each of our residents maintain an independent lifestyle. Our luxurious community has been designed to let individuals enjoy their residency in a warm and caring atmosphere. We are dedicated to providing services and amenities that are unmatched elsewhere, insuring each day is filled with comfort, pleasure, and convenience. At Waltonwood, we’ve thought of everything, with no buy-in requirements change and flexibility are always an option.

So what are you waiting for, come explore Waltonwood and see what everyone is talking about! “Relax, Mingle, Celebrate… the choice is yours!”

caryliving.com | 45

complete the

Room

Study/Den

Every den or study needs a comfortable desk-height table, good natural lighting by day and lamps for evenings. The best dens should beckon you to retreat and relax in a favorite chair with your feet up.

46 | caryliving.com

Hunting Dog Bookends Complete your desk with these exquisite bookends. // Elizabeth’s Home & Garden, $55

NC Proud Wall Art Prefect decor trend for the den or study. // Southern Charm Boutique, $22

Pine Cone Finials Bronze pine cone finials add warmth and style to your study or den. // The Perfect Piece, $30 (small), $38 (large)

Howard Miller Clocks Choose from over 300 styles to complement the style of your study or den. // The Perfect Piece, $59.99 (small), $25 (large)

Wall Clock Add character to your den wall with this vintage style Paris clock. // Elizabeth’s Home & Garden, $79

Wooden Initials Custom wood monogram for the man who has everything. Made locally. Other fonts available. // Southern Charm Boutique, $48

caryliving.com | 47

GROCERIES

GALORE Cary Supermarket

Chain Count

Hits 11 in 2015 by david droschak

48 | caryliving.com

Harris Teeter could be considered the “King of Cary” Earth Fare when it comes to groceries, with nine locations scattered across North Carolina’s seventh largest municipality. But the supermarket chain is not alone – far from it.

Ten more of its competitors have set up shop in Cary over the years, if you count the newly opened Publix and upcoming Earth Fare store along the Cary/Morrisville border which will have a grand opening in the spring.

A combined total of 23 grocery stores will be serving the town’s 150,000 residents in 2015, and that doesn’t include any of the Asian, Hispanic or Middle Eastern specialty food stores, or locations that hover along the Apex/Cary border in Western Wake County.

Why Cary?

“Earth Fare looks for communities where families are growing, the people are active and there is a need for healthy and affordable options. The area surrounding our Park West Village location fit that bill,” said Amanda Arnet, Earth Fare’s New Store Marketing Manager.

Earth Fare, located in Asheville, is one of five on the list with North Carolina ties.

Publix is not. Headquartered in Florida, the company dove head-first into the Cary grocery competition with a location in the “meat” of the store wars, inside a three-mile radius of Prestonwood Country Club that also features two Harris Teeter locations, along with a Food Lion, The Fresh Market, Kroger, Lowes Foods, Walmart Neighborhood Market and the upcoming Earth Fare.

“We opened our first store in North Carolina in Charlotte in February, so when we entered the state our plan was to grow aggressively throughout the entire state. It made sense that we would be in the Triangle area,” said Publix spokeswoman Kim Reynolds. “We have been eyeing that area in Cary for awhile, and it’s just a wonderful place for us to open our first store in the Triangle. We’re truly humbled by how the Cary community has embraced us.”

Each chain is trying to separate itself from the competition with everything from product sampling and gas perks to store renovations and logo rebranding. Here is a brief look at each of the 11 supermarket chains competing in Cary:

Headquarters: Asheville, NC Location(s) in Cary/Morrisville: Opening Spring 2015, Park West Village Slogan: Real Food for Everyone Fact Worth Noting: One of the only supermarket retailers in the country to ban high-fructose corn syrup, artificial fats and trans-fats, artificial colors, flavors and preservatives, as well as antibiotics and synthetic growth hormones in fresh meats and dairy.

Known For: Sandwich Local 100-mile commitment symbol; sandwich Mondays, sushi Wednesdays and rotisserie chicken Fridays – all of which are $5 each; extensive health and wellness section with supplements, natural remedies, and naturally derived skin care and cosmetic items staffed by wellness specialists.

Shopping Summary: What sets Earth Fare apart from other grocery stores?

A health conscious approach. “Earth Fare is proud to read the labels so that our customers don’t have to.”

food lion Headquarters: Salisbury, NC Location(s) in Cary: Three Slogan: Easy, fresh and affordable … You can count on Food Lion … Every day Fact Worth Noting: Began updating its brand and logo in 2014 to provide a more contemporary appearance and modern design.

caryliving.com | 49

aldi

Known For: Lion mascot; sponsor of Atlantic Coast Conference sports since 1986.

Shopping Summary: Longstanding heritage of low prices and convenient locations. Ad campaigns are creative.

Recent spots included customers mentioning their problem with shopping or complaining about high prices. A live lion then speaks to them, informing them they are better off switching to Food Lion. The lion then concludes, “...That’s just my two cents.”

walmart neighborhood market

publix

Headquarters: Bentonville, AR Location(s) in Cary: Two, North Harrison Avenue and NC Highway 55 and High House Road Slogan: Save Money, Live Better Fact Worth Noting: There are 11 Walmart Neighborhood Markets across North Carolina.

Known For: Additional variety of household items that most grocers don’t carry; large selection of health and beauty items; wide aisles; drive-thru pharmacy.

Shopping Summary: Launched in 1998, these stores are designed to be the opposite of Walmart’s larger superstores. The smaller stores are meant to “woo shoppers with easier parking, less crowded aisles and quicker checkout.”

aldi Headquarters: Batavia, IL Location(s) in Cary: One, NW Maynard Road 50 | caryliving.com

Slogan: Simply Smarter Shopping. It’s our mission.

Fact Worth Noting: ALDI plans to open 650 new stores across the country, bringing its total number of US locations to nearly 2,000 by the end of 2018.

Known For: Clutter-free parking lot; carts cost 25 cents to rent; shopping bags also cost 25 cents; chain claims you can save 50 percent off your grocery bill.

Shopping Summary: Shoppers will find more than 90 percent of products are ALDI-exclusive brands. This allows the chain to provide high-quality products without passing on “hidden costs” associated with items such as national brand marketing and advertising. Recently, Aldi has added a limited selection of national brands to its exclusive labels.

lowes foods

harris teeter

publix

Slogan: Your Neighborhood Food Market

Headquarters: Lakeland, FL

Fact Worth Noting: Harris Teeter will retain its banner name despite a merger with Kroger in January 2014.

Location(s) in Cary: One, Bradford complex at corner of Davis Drive and High House Road Slogan: Where Shopping is a Pleasure Fact Worth Noting: Publix is the largest employee-owned supermarket chain in the United States.

Known For: Key lime pie; fresh breads and deli sub rolls, double hand-battered fried chicken.

Shopping Summary: The Florida-based chain celebrates its 85th birthday in 2015 with its first entry into the Triangle market.

Customer service is emphasized, with clerks walking you and your groceries to your vehicle.

harris teeter

Known For: Buy one get one free offers; daily fresh fruit samplings, extensive Boar’s Head deli meat counter; rotisserie chicken.

Shopping Summary: Partners with in-state sports teams such as the Carolina Hurricanes, Carolina Panthers and local colleges on discount ticket offers and more. Signing up for the e-VIC weekly special email can save big bucks on products you normally purchase.

lowes foods Headquarters: Winston-Salem, NC Location (s) in Cary: Two, Preston Corners and Wellington Shopping Center Slogan: Good for you

Headquarters: Matthews, NC

Fact Worth Noting: Gas rewards card can save shoppers five cents per gallon for every $100 spent.

Location(s) in Cary: Nine scattered across the city

Known For: North Carolina-based products; 25 percent meat discounts; caryliving.com | 51

kroger

chicken you’d cross the road for; 64-ounce Beer Den Growler.

Shopping Summary: A new logo and website, along with major exterior and interior renovations to its locations have Lowes Foods pushing strong for the Cary market share. Included in the makeover is a unique “Sausage Works” concept that features hot daily samples of pork, chicken and turkey in a variety of flavors.

kroger Headquarters: Cincinnati, OH Location(s) in Cary: One, NW Maryland Road

trader joe’s

Slogan: Let’s Go Krogering Fact Worth Noting: By revenue, Kroger is the country’s largest supermarket chain and second-largest general retailer (after Walmart).

Known For: Disney Magic selections; multi-product combo specials; full-service pharmacy; fuel points.

Shopping Summary: You’ll find a large variety of products and a reasonable price point. In 2014, Kroger launched a new campaign called Friendly and Fresh, where every Kroger employee in retail was required to at least say hello in an attempt to gain a customer.

trader joe’s Headquarters: Monrovia, CA Location(s) in Cary: One, Kildaire Farm Road Slogan: Your Neighborhood Grocery Store Fact Worth Noting: In 2011, Consumer Reports rated Trader Joe’s Truffle Brownie mix the best on the market.

Known For: Staff wearing Hawaiian shirts; TJ’s Fearless Flyer; a 52 | caryliving.com

bell ringing system of communications among its staff.

Shopping Summary: While a typical grocery store may carry 50,000 items, Trader Joe’s stocks about 4,000 items, 80 percent of which bear one of its own brands. There are no sales, no gimmicks, no clubs to join and no special cards to swipe.

whole foods market

the fresh market

whole foods market

Headquarters: Greensboro, NC

Headquarters: Austin, TX

Location(s) in Cary: One, SW Cary Parkway

Location(s) in Cary: One, Waverly Place

Slogan: Come On In

Slogan: Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet

Fact Worth Noting: Choose from more than 30 whole bean coffees from around the world.

Fact Worth Noting: Whole Foods is the largest retailer of natural and organic foods and America’s First National Certified Organic Grocer.

Known For: Self-select bulk portions of candy, coffee and nuts; variety of fresh meats and seafood; fresh flowers and potted plants.

Shopping Summary: A gourmet supermarket with prices higher than some of its larger chain competitors. However, quality and unique options can be worth the extra buck or two. Ideal stop for impressing guests on special occasions.

Known For: Organic selections; product sampling; freshly made sandwiches and homemade pizzas; in-store sit-down location for eating or socializing.

Shopping Summary: A premium and unique experience. Shopping here is akin to an event, not a chore. Service is front and center, along with in-your-face, colossal olive, salad and pizza bars. Be prepared to open up your wallet, but the quality can be worth the splurge. L

c

caryliving.com | 53

New Year’s Revolution: Exciting workouts like rock climbing or BMX riding may help you keep your resolution

Photograph © Megan Britt

By Corbie Hill

From left to right, Dorrit (13), Lydia (16), Robin Eisenbeis and Oliver (18).

54 | caryliving.com

It’s the New Year, and people are making resolutions.

Maybe they’re quitting smoking or eating better; maybe they’re learning the guitar or spending more time with family – or maybe they’re resolving to exercise more. These can be tough resolutions to keep, though, and January’s health nut is often February’s couch potato.

Maybe, though, if those who resolved to exercise more found interesting, engaging workouts they’d stick with them. Fortunately in our area, we have climbing gyms and BMX courses, adventure workouts that may help the potentially fit follow through - and not have to make the same resolution again in 2016.

Photograph © Megan Britt

I

In every climb, there’s a crux. It could come anywhere – it could be 20 feet in the air, or it could be right in the beginning, but every climb has a toughest stretch, one requiring maximum concentration and effort.

You have to pace yourself, says Joel Graybeal, a managing partner at the Morrisville-based Triangle Rock Club. “If you don’t climb efficiently and you burn out your energy in the first 19 feet and the crux is the last thing, you’re not gonna make it,” he explains. It seems easy enough, from the ground, to map a route and stick to it. But then you get on the wall and you realize how much focus, creativity and energy it really takes. “The first time you might try a route, you get close to the top, and you can’t quite get it,” says Robin Eisenbeis of Cary, whose whole family climbs here. “The next day, you start out with the route, and you get it.” That same gratification is the draw for Graybeal, also an avid climber. It’s what hooked him in 2007, when he started climbing here, and it’s what keeps him scaling vertical surfaces, one handhold at a time.

“It’s exhilarating to solve problems,” he says.

Yet this intellectual and physical exercise isn’t limited to adults. Unlike some exercises, Graybeal notes, it’s one whole families can handle. Triangle Rock Club has climbers in their 70s, he says, while others haven’t even started Kindergarten. “If you’re a triathlete, you can’t run hard and do it with your kids; If you’re a biker, you can’t bike hard and do it with your kids, and you can’t swim hard and do it with your kids,” Graybeal says.

“Climbing levels the playing field.” Kids’ strength-toweight ratio gives them a climbing edge, too, and they often outperform their parents. Eisenbeis’ youngest daughter, 13-year-old Dorrit, climbs competitively, while Lydia, 16, and Oliver, 18, both work at Triangle Rock Club. “It doesn’t matter what level you’re at, you can all climb different routes but all be together,” she says. It’s a confidence boost for the kids and a bonding time for the family.

This is a social sport, after all: Graybeal doesn’t see many climbers wearing earbuds when they exercise.

It detracts from the focus, for one, but people tend to make close friends – sometimes more than that – on the wall. “We’ve had three wedding proposals that occurred because of our business, because people said they met here,” Graybeal says. There are Triangle Rock Club meetup groups, totaling about 1,200 people, which have spawned romances as well. Graybeal isn’t immune to the social aspect either; he still has the same climbing partner he met in 2007 at his first class. Today, they’re

A recent expansion features a 55-foot ascent.

close friends. “People remember when they go through what we call a unique shared experience,” he says. To keep these experiences fresh, Triangle Rock Club does keep its routes challenging and interesting by changing them every three-odd months. On the day we talk, route setters from around the country are scaling the walls; some hang 55 feet in the air, moving handholds and footholds into challenging new upward routes. To Graybeal, this shifting landscape is part of the draw. He has a degree in aerospace engineering, and his mind is naturally oriented towards solving new challenges. “It’s what engineering is all about,” he says. “It was so great for me to find something that aligned with who I am and how I’m naturally wired, which is problem-solving.”

Defying gravity - on two wheels

At an indoor BMX and skate park in Holly Springs, there’s a different kind of vertical experience. Padded and helmeted school-aged kids on bikes are hauling down a course with frequent jumps. When they take to the air, they tilt the bikes to the side or spin the handlebars. And then they land, focused on the next jump. This is the Daniel Dhers Action Sports Complex, and Dhers, the professional BMX rider whose name it bears, is watching them ride. “I wanted to build a park: I wanted to build it for everyone from little kids to professionals,” he says.

Dhers is easygoing and talks like a surfer, his speech rich with laid-back slang. He smiles often and retains a light Venezuelan accent, a souvenir of his native country.

Most recently, though, Dhers lived in Greenville, NC, and worked at fellow BMX rider Dave Mirra’s park – yet it was geared entirely toward professional riders. When Dhers moved to Holly Springs in December 2013, it was to open a place where everyone could ride – no matter the season. To the local riders, it’s been a great addition. “That was the previous problem – there was no place to ride in bad weather conditions,” Brad Secor caryliving.com | 55

Photograph © Adam “Fat Tony” Taylor

Photograph © Adam “Fat Tony” Taylor

Daniel Dhers (second from right) and other BMX riders.

takes a break from riding to say. The Cary native lives in Holly Springs now, and he can be found here any day he’s healthy, he says. “The options before were very limited.” Dhers’ ramps are open to skateboards, bikes, and scooters year-round. And it isn’t just teens and pros riding, either. After all, BMX riding and skateboarding were first huge in the 80s and early 90s: today, those original riders are in their 30s and 40s, and many have families. “We have a bunch of parents that come with their kids,” Dhers says. The adult riders include a friend who used to love CrossFit – until he discovered one of

56 | caryliving.com

Dave Mirra with Daniel Dhers (right).

Dhers’ outdoor ramps. “You don’t think it’s gnarly, but if you do a few laps, you’re exhausted,” he says, and laughs. This kind of riding, as his friend discovered, can be a formidable upper-body workout.

As happy as Dhers is here, he nearly ended up in Florida – it was his aim when he decided to leave Greenville, after all. But a friend in Holly Springs encouraged him to move here. “I said ‘If you find a building, let me know and I’ll come give it a look,’” he says, and continues with a laugh. “And I was thinking, ‘Yeah, yeah. Go away. I’m moving to Florida.’” His friend found a building and gave Dhers fliers and pamphlets for Holly Springs, which he promptly tossed in the back of his car and forgot about. But when he cleaned his car out a few days later, he found them, read them, and was impressed by the family-friendly Holly Springs. Plus, the town is convenient to Raleigh-Durham International Airport – a major bonus for Dhers, who flew 140,000 miles in 2014 to compete in locales as diverse as China, Croatia, Turkey, Malaysia, and Trinidad. So he chose Holly Springs over Florida, moved his ramps, and opened a space where pros and adults can hone their skills, sure, but also where the young can learn at their own pace from more experienced riders. L

c

caryliving.com | 57

winter Wellness RELIEF FOR SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER

By JENNI HART

Are you especially tired, sad or irritable this time of year? Do you find yourself eating or sleeping more (or less) than usual? Have you lost interest in activities you once enjoyed? You may be like millions of Americans who have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, between four and six percent of Americans experience symptoms of SAD, a subset of depression made worse by changing seasons. The shorter, darker days of winter can trigger the onset of SAD, and northern climates see higher rates of the disorder, leading researchers and mental health professionals to suspect reduced sunlight as a likely cause.

Paige Armstrong, a Raleigh psychotherapist and life coach, has treated many clients with depression and SAD. She says the signs of SAD can be subtle and often go unrecognized.

“Too many people get used to feeling low, and they accept it as their new normal,” she says. “But if you go two to three weeks with more bad days than good, especially if you recognize a pattern of feeling this way every winter, you 58 | caryliving.com

could be experiencing seasonal affective disorder.”

Armstrong says it’s important to distinguish between major depression and SAD. She says people who have been diagnosed with major depression may require a combination of psychotherapy and prescription medication for the best possible results. For those who are functioning fairly well but feeling the milder symptoms associated with SAD, here are some proven strategies for restoring a sense of wellbeing: • If you are already being treated for depression, continue with prescribed medication and see your psychiatrist or therapist regularly. Armstrong says apathy and hopelessness can undermine a person’s desire to seek help. The right treatment approach, however, can greatly alleviate symptoms.

• Get connected with people you really like and trust.

“When you’re feeling down, it can be tempting to hibernate at home and shut people out,” Armstrong says.

“But it’s important not to isolate yourself completely.”

• Count your blessings. “I know some people may cringe at that, because it sounds so cliché, but there is proof that positive thinking and personal affirmations, over time, have the power to change the neural pathways in our brains,” Armstrong says. One of the tenets of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, a scientifically validated therapeutic approach, is that people who begin to recognize irrational and dysfunctional thought patterns can eventually replace them with a more realistic view of themselves and the world.

Armstrong stresses that this is not an overnight cure, but a process that takes time.

Over time, people get used to feeling sad and tired and dont even realize they could experience more fulfillment and peace in their lives. ~ Paige Armstrong, Life Enrichment Resources

Going to a party or meeting friends at a noisy bar might require more energy than you can muster, but why not meet a good friend for coffee or dinner?

• Share your feelings with close friends and family, and actively seek their support. “So many people suffer silently and wait for the sadness to pass, but having others around you who are tuned in to what you’re going through can be really comforting,” says Armstrong. Some people also benefit from online depression support groups and local meet-ups.

• Get moving. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, exercise can help fight the symptoms of depression, especially when combined with other treatments, including medication when needed. You don’t have to spend hours in the gym; a brisk walk or bike ride releases feel-good endorphins and helps reduce the stress hormone, cortisol. Walk with a friend for the added benefit of social interaction.

• Practice self-care. Sufficient sleep, time for solitude and meditation, and adequate nutrition that includes supplemental Vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids when indicated, are factors that impact general physical health and mental health alike. Armstrong calls this self-care, and she points to a favorite quote by actress and author Kaylan Pickford: “It took me a long time to learn that doing what nourished my spirit was not selfish, but essential.”

• Try light therapy. Also called phototherapy, this solution is a simple, relatively inexpensive way to simulate summer sunlight. The mechanism behind light therapy isn’t fully understood, but the proof it works is irrefutable. Studies indicate that up to 80 percent of the people who regularly use specially designed light boxes for 30 minutes each morning report a significant improvement in their depression and SAD symptoms.

If you think you may be experiencing SAD, you shouldn’t feel you have to wait for summer to feel better.

For more information, talk to your doctor or mental health professional. L

c

caryliving.com | 59

Better Late

Than Never

by Kurt Dusterberg

Cary resident Michelle Langan once thought her competitive running.days were behind her. But now she’s taking aim at the 2016 Olympics.

60 | caryliving.com

M

Michelle Langan is big on bucket lists.

After her college running career ended, she set her sights on a distance runner’s ultimate accomplishment.

“One of the things was to run a marathon by the age of 25, so I ran one the day before my 25th birthday,” Langan says, letting out a laugh. “So I’m a procrastinator.”

When she learned she could cover the 26.2 miles in a Myrtle Beach race in 2009, she checked that off the bucket list and added a new entry: Win a marathon.

In November, the Cary resident did just that, running a 2:39:20 to win Raleigh’s City of Oaks Marathon.

“It’s the best I’ve ever felt,” says Langan, who was running in her sixth marathon. “I wasn’t planning on running it, so I think I was a bit more relaxed. I had no big expectations. The hills on the greenway were pretty big, but I never hit the wall or felt too much strain.”

Winning a marathon is a remarkable feat for anyone, but for the 31-year old, it helped close a chapter on her past and open a door to the future.

Years after a disappointing running career at Penn State University, Langan has now qualified for the United States Olympic Trials. By beating the qualifying standard of 2:43 in a USA Track and Field sanctioned marathon, she has earned the right to run among the country’s best in Los Angeles in February of 2016. The top three women will qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“The best thing about the Olympic Trials is you toe the line with all the top girls in the country - same day, same course, same weather,” she says. “It’s the same opportunity. You never know what’s going to happen.”

Langan is proof positive of that. She was a high school state champion in New York in the 3,000 meters, earning an athletic scholarship to Penn State. But soon after settling into college life, running lost its luster.

“I was on top of the world after high school, and I just loved running,” she remembers. “Once I got to college, it was more of an obligation.

“Once it became something I had to do - I owed it to the school, I owed it to everybody to do this - that took the fun out of it. Just little things like hanging out with friends or deciding what to do on weekends. I felt like I should always do something beneficial for running.”

Despite the letdown, Langan reached the NCAA championships in cross country in her freshman and junior years, and she was a chosen a team captain in her senior year. But after graduation, she gave up competitive running for several years. She moved to the Triangle and concentrated on building a career in finance. Today she works for the State Employees Credit Union in the loss mitigation department.

OILS SPICES

VINEGARS

caryliving.com | 61

Langan enjoys a little down time with her dogs.

62 | caryliving.com

“It was the training every day at such a competitive level,” she says. “Every day I felt like it was a race at practice.

By the time I got to races I was burned out. I kind of fell out of love with running.”

But slowly she began to enter more races, from 5Ks to marathons, including the Boston Marathon in 2011.

“Racing consistently and training consistently, you naturally build confidence. It’s been fun to see how much faster I can go each time.”

Langan’s finish in the City of Oaks was her best ever, despite her decision to sign up just 48 hours prior to the start. One year earlier, she ran an Olympic Trials qualifying time in Richmond, Virginia, only to find out recently that the course was not sanctioned in 2013. That’s why she jumped into the Raleigh race at the last minute.

“The City of Oaks was really motivating for me,” she says.

“I closed with a 5:27 mile, and I had a lot left in the tank. That was really exciting to me because it means I can go faster.”

Now Langan has just over a year to reach her peak performance. Closer to the Olympic qualifier, she will run between 70 and 90 miles per week, up from her typical 50 to 70. To work in the extra miles, she will have to become more of a morning person. But she’s equally concerned about the toll it will take in the evenings.

Langan, with her husband Andrew, ran a career-best 2:39:20 to win Raleigh’s City of Oaks Marathon.

“My poor husband,” she laughs.

“He’s going to have to eat dinner at nine o’clock at night for the next year. But he’s really good about it.”

Langan will spend 2015 focusing on the most important 26 miles of her life - and the competition is getting tougher. There were 227 women who qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials. This time around, the standard is three minutes lower.

“I’m not going to change much of what I do,” she says. “I’m not going to get a coach. I’m going to stay with the same plan that’s been working for me. I’m going to race once a month and train as consistently as possible.”

Langan admits to some surprise, having qualified among the best marathoners in the United States so many years after her passion for running slipped away.

But it’s all the more reason to make something special happen.

“I’m not going to put any limits on myself. You never know what you’re going to have on that day. I’m going to set myself up to have the race of my life and see how close I can get to that top level.” L

c

caryliving.com | 63

I

a buzz

inCary Cary in

In North Carolina, there are about 13,000 beekeepers with 100,000 hives. The NC State Beekeepers Association has local chapters in more than 50 counties, and is the largest and one of the most active beekeeping associations in the US. Not all beehives are located in the countryside; in recent years there has been a significant growth in urban beekeeping.

After some deliberation, the Cary Town Council changed its rules effective October 11th, 2012 to allow

64 | caryliving.com

domestic beekeeping for non-commercial purposes on residential lots within Cary town limits. A growing number of Cary residents have joined the thousands of beekeepers from other parts of North Carolina in maintaining hives on their urban properties.

Bees are members of the genus Apis, but not all bees are honeybees. Not surprisingly, honeybees are primarily distinguished from other types of bees by the production and storage of honey and also

Town Town

by Paul Savery

the construction of nests from wax. William Shakespeare described honeybees as “singing masons building roofs of gold”. There are also many species of honeybees, including the Apis mellifera, which is used extensively for commercial pollination of crops and other plants.

Honey bees can’t vote, but they must have been releasing a huge cloud of pheromones around the Legislative Building in 1973 when the NC General Assembly deliberated on the designation of the official state insect. The honeybee won the

vote and is now the official insect of North Carolina. You can’t fault the General Assembly decision on this particular occasion, because the bee is probably the most precious insect in the world. Belgian author Maurice Maeterlinck wrote in his The Life Of The Bee (1924) “No living creature, not even man, has achieved, in the center of his sphere, what the bee has achieved in her own: and were someone from another world to descend and ask of the earth the most perfect creation of the logic of life, we should needs have to offer the humble comb of honey.”

While the honeybee is not a native species, it has been buzzing around North Carolina since the seventeenth century. The bee was brought to North America by settlers from Europe and has been vital to North Carolina’s economy for centuries. North Carolina led the United States in beeswax production and was a major honey producer throughout the nineteenth century!

In North Carolina, the honeybee, on an annual basis, directly contributes millions of dollars to the economy through the production of honey and over $150 million through the pollination of crops. About 70% of our food source requires pollination. Bees have a disproportionately large effect on their environment. Honeybees are the most economically important pollinators in the world (bats and butterflies are other important pollinators who are also in dramatic decline).

Bees have not been prospering in North Carolina or anywhere else in the world since the late twentieth century.

Bee colonies around the world began to mysteriously collapse with adult bees disappearing, seemingly abandoning their hives. North Carolina was no exception. North Carolina beekeepers experienced a drop of almost 50 percent in the number of recorded hives and in honey production between 1987 and 1992. This phenomenon was named “Colony Collapse Disorder”. Honeybees are like the proverbial canary in the mineshaft setting off alarm bells. Their decline points to broader environmental degradation. Almost all feral colonies of bees have disappeared by now. Colony Collapse Disorder is part of the current collapse in biodiversity that many biologists believe poses a grave threat to humanity.

This is all very depressing news, but we can all play our part in creating thriving bee habitats and thereby contribute to the restoration of a healthy environment and subsequently a healthy bee population. You have to start somewhere, so why not in your own backyard? The American writer Elbert Hubbard said, “Every saint has a bee in his halo.”

Beekeeping has become a popular hobby because people become fascinated by the mysterious ways of these charming and eccentric creatures. Another driving force in the growth of beekeeping is the dire plight of the honey bee. A growing number of Wake residents are installing bee hives on their residential and commercial properties. It is not very difficult or expensive to provide a sanctuary to bees at your home or business. Also, a beehive doesn’t take up much space– in fact, no more than the footprint of the hive itself, which varies but is in the range of 18x18 inches. caryliving.com | 65

If you are looking for inspiration, there are many beekeepers with established beehives in Cary neighborhoods. Many beekeepers are rather secretive about where they locate their beehives and there is no requirement to register a hive. Consequently, those who are curious about checking out local beehives cannot obtain a map or inventory of hives to guide them in their bee exploration. Instead, as you move around the city you must be vigilant and keep your eyes peeled for beehives, tucked into Cary home lots.

For those of you who choose to take a serious interest in beekeeping, there is a wealth of local resources. NC State University has one of the country’s finest apiculture programs, where research is conducted to further our understanding of honeybee biology and to improve our ability to manage bees. Their program serves the needs of the general public as well as the university. One of their services is the ‘Beekeeper Education & Engagement System’ (BEES), which is a new online resource for beekeepers at all levels. The system is entirely internet-based and open to the public. There is also a ‘Queen and Disease Clinic’ that offers an invaluable service to beekeepers who need to test queen bee and bee colony health. For more information, visit www.cals.ncsu.edu/entomology/apiculture.

Ben Crawley has adopted the moniker “Mr. Buzz” for his professional life as a full-time roving beekeeper. He estimates he has 25,000 hours of beekeeping experience. Mr. Crawley is passionate about beekeeping and offers beekeeping services to everyone from the novices to the pros. He currently manages over 100 hives for their owners in Wake County and estimates around 12 of his hives are in the Cary area. He believes some of the best honey comes from urban sites because there is a greater diversity of plants than is often found in rural areas. You might spot Mr. Crawley driving his pickup truck around the city. He says he attracts a lot of attention because he frequently has a beehive sitting in the back and his license plate reads “Mr. Buzz”. His friends began calling 66 | caryliving.com

him “the greatest beekeeper” in jest, but he decided to adopt the epithet. Contact Ben at ben.mrbuzz@gmail.com.

Sarah Myers is president of The Wake County Beekeepers Association and maintains her beehives on Hillsborough Street near NC State campus. The Association is an excellent resource to find out more about urban beekeeping in this area. Contact Sarah at president@wakecountybeekeepers.org.

If owning your own beehive is just too daunting, you can simply observe the fascinating world of bees at places nearby. The North American Bee Center, located on the Research Triangle Park campus, is designed to serve as a focal point for bee health initiatives. You can register for a tour of the Bee Care Center, located at Bayer CropScience’s headquarters at 2 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park. Tours are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10am or 2pm. (Sarah Myers’ day job is as an apiarist for the North American Bee Center.)

Visitors can observe at close quarters a working beehive in the Discovery Room at The Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh. The Annual NC State Fair, held at the Fairgrounds in Raleigh every October, always features The Bee and Honey Exhibit, where live bees with queens are displayed in escape-proof observation hives. Honey and wax products are available for purchase.

You can contribute to the health of local bee colonies by taking quite small steps. Plant your garden with bee-friendly plants, old-fashioned varieties and wildflowers. Also ensure you have flowers and plants in bloom for as long as possible in the garden. Add a water source to your yard. Lastly, do not spray your garden and lawn with many of the well-known garden and lawn pesticides, especially those which contain neonicotinoids, a toxic chemical to pollinators. You can also help local beekeepers by buying organic foods and pure local honey.

(Some of the larger companies are selling cheap, ultrafiltered honey cut with cheap sweeteners. Some of this honey also contains unauthorized antibiotics and pesticides). You are now equipped to be a bee champion, so spread the word about the need to help save the bees! L

c

h e a lt h y

living

An exercise like this 90-90 hip lift can help restore the neutral position of the pelvis. Achieving neutrality is the foundation of the Postural Restoration Approach used to treat pain and also improve athletic performance.

Corrective Exercises Using the Postural Restoration Approach Prevent Injuries While You Run, Play or Work Out

by Sangini Rane | Physical Therapist at Apex PT Postural Restoration Center Research supports that exercise not only makes your heart stronger, but positive side effects can include reversing diabetes and improving balance. However, in trying to do something that is good for the body, an alarmingly large number of people hurt themselves and end up in pain. Why? More often than notthe cause is improper form or technique, lifting too much weight, doing the exercises incorrectly or, even worse, doing the wrong exercises.

Sometimes, even exercises that are traditionally considered the norm in the health and fitness industry can cause more harm than good, largely because these training concepts are based on the assumption that our bodies are perfectly symmetrical– yet the truth is, the human body is asymmetrical. We train the body as if the right and left sides are the same, doing ten repetitions on one side exactly as we do on the other. Consider that muscles on the right side may be in a different orientation and position than on the left side and may not work as efficiently in the same position.

Here are two common mistakes that cause more harm than good: STRETCHING ALL MUSCLES THAT FEEL TIGHT: Take the hamstrings, for example.

Yes, the hamstrings do “feel” tight and the most common advice is to stretch tight hamstrings, but tightness does not mean the muscles are necessarily short and need to be stretched. In fact, the hamstrings usually are in a lengthened position as the pelvis in

the majority of human bodies is tipped forward, making the muscle “tense”. Stretching may not be the right thing to do, as stretching these “lengthened” hamstrings may cause the pelvis to tilt further forward, and exaggerate the deep curve in your back, thus tightening the lower back muscles as they try to keep the body upright.

Hence tightness may be felt in the hamstrings but they are not shortened– they are lengthened!

Focus instead on strengthening the hamstrings to help counteract this anterior pelvic tilt and restore proper pelvic position, and you can eliminate tightness (see photo).

SQUATTING OR LUNGING WITH ARCHED BACK: Squatting is an activity that is used commonly in sports or recreation and performed in many everyday activities. When done correctly, the squat is a great exercise, which promotes a balanced pelvis, good “core” stability and improved athletic performance.

Problems arise when squats are done incorrectly, and an anterior (forward) position of the pelvis can place the body at risk for injury. In this position the back muscles, hip flexors, quadriceps and calves become overworked and tight. At the same time other muscles like the hamstrings, abdominals and glutes become long and therefore less effective. As a power lift is performed with more and more weight, even more muscle imbalances are created, and can lead to an even more deeply arched back, again increasing your risk for injury. caryliving.com | 67

h e a lt h y

living

Health, Fitness and New Year’s Resolution in 2015 Advice for Sticking to Your 2015 New Year’s Resolutions

by Ann Marie Sochia | MS, LPCA, CHT, NLP at Waves of Change If you are like most Americans you took advantage of the holidays and over indulged, with extra servings, larger portions, more drinks than normal, and in many cases more than one lunch or dinner. So, you have decided to swear off sweets, drink less, join a gym, quit smoking, and exercise more as part of your New Year’s Resolutions.

Sound familiar?

If this sounds like your post-holiday self, here are eight tips to help you get started with your healthy resolutions and stick to them.

Take a moment to assess where you are and where you want to be, and set achievable goals. Don’t plan to run a marathon in the first week if you’ve never run a city block, or plan to quit smoking cold turkey.

Make sure you know how many calories you need to consume and how much exercise is appropriate for you to reach your goal. A good resource to help you figure this out is www. myfitnesspal.com.

Don’t exclude your favorite food from your menu choices; just cut back on what you are eating. Studies have shown that if you deny yourself your favorite food or the food that you are craving, you will only crave it more and overeat everything else trying to satisfy that craving. Sound familiar?

Remember to never “DIET”. If you diet, what happens when you are no longer dieting? Are you able to maintain your 68 | caryliving.com

healthier desired weight, or do you go back to your old eating habits and eventually gain the weight back? Instead, try eating healthier and exercising more as a regular part of your routine.

Keep a journal. Include both your food intake (be honest) and exercise. Many studies have shown if you keep a regular journal you will lose at least twice as much weight. Try this for three weeks and see how many surprises you have in your day-to-day activities. Did you exercise as much as you thought you would?

Did you consume more or fewer calories than expected? You can even track your weight loss or gain.

Drink plenty of water. Water not only helps hydrate the body, it reduces hunger, helps reduce cravings, and also helps de-stress the mind and body.

Find and visit a counselor or hypnotherapist and get reenergized for the new year. Often people find it helpful to talk to someone about the root causes of overeating or not exercising, and/or the lack of willpower to follow through.

If you fall off the wagon, get right back on. You can only fail if you don’t get right back on. Success is a journey and a destination.

Best of luck in the new year…you can do it!

downtown apex

support locally-owned, independent businesses

SHOPPING

caryliving.com | 69

SHOPPING

70 | caryliving.com

C A RY

support locally-owned, independent businesses

Our

Year

caryliving.com | 71

cary living

sightings

Photos © Erin Ramsey

SearStone Residents Donate 1,600 pounds of Food

Even though SearStone is only one year old, it’s already having a significant impact on the local community. Residents of the retirement community generously donated unused dining credits that were then used to purchase food for the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle.

On November 7th, IFFS’s director of food sourcing picked up 1,600 pounds of food from SearStone.

Photos © Marji Morgan

Wine Women & Shoes

More than 400 area women attended this year’s Wine Women & Shoes. Kannon’s provided the fashion show and nearly 40 area men participated as shoe guys – dancing and charming their way into ladies’ hearts!

72 | caryliving.com

Small Business saturday in Downtown Fuquay-Varina

The event featured a kick-off breakfast at The Meeting Corner and great sales and personalized service at retail shops, most offering FREE gift wrapping! Specialty food services included Pelican’s SnoBalls, Gourmet Cotton Candy, Mrs. Claus was on hand as a photo opportunity for families. There was also face painting by Sybil the Clown as well as live musical performances.

Photos © 2014 f8 Photo Studios

2014 WakeMed Foundation Appreciation Gala

The 2014 WakeMed Foundation Appreciation Gala was held on November 15th at the Raleigh Convention Center. More than 800 guests attended the event, which is held to thank those donors who have made a financial contribution of $1,350 or more. The evening included a special performance by the Broadway show RAIN – A Tribute to the Beatles.

Want your Event featured In sightings?

Contact us to have a photographer attend your event!

charis@caryliving.com • 919-782-4710

3rd annual Stocking Stuffing Event

On November 23rd, Members of the Carolina Lily Chapter of the National Charity League, Inc. stuffed over 1,500 stockings at their third annual Stocking Stuffing Event. They were handed out to local military children at two USO of North Carolina events. Other stockings were stuffed by the USO of North Carolina and handed out to Marines stationed in Jacksonville who couldn’t make it home for Christmas.

Fashion Victim Ball

Real Estate Agents from Keller Williams Realty Cary dress up in bad fashion for great causes! The Fashion Victim Ball was a night of fun, laughter, and giving back to our local community.

Proceeds of the event, and the single largest donation, was given to the Meg’s Smile Foundation and KW Cares. We look forward to next year’s event!

Photos © James Spidle

Holiday Sleigh Ride

Fuquay-Varina Downtown hosted the free Holiday Sleigh Ride on Thursday, December 4th, 2014 from 6 – 8pm during the Town Christmas Tree Lighting. More than 900 riders helped their community by providing a canned food or monetary donation to the Fuquay-Varina Emergency Food Pantry as their “ticket” to ride. Food Pantry volunteers were overwhelmed and very happy to see the back of their pickup truck fill up with the donations.

12th Annual Cary Academy Holiday Shoppe

The 12th Annual Cary Academy Holiday Shoppe took place December 4th-6th in the SEA building on campus. More than 6,000 shoppers attended this event that featured nearly 100 vendors. The Holiday Shoppe raises money for the CA scholarship fund and community outreach initiatives.

caryliving.com | 73

next issue cary living

SUMMER BEACH PLANNING A look at what the North Carolina Crystal Coast has to offer for your spring, summer or fall vacation planning. Amenities, entertainment, and why you and your family should book your holiday beach house or hotel sooner rather than later.

The sooner you book, the more options you will have!

SPRING ARTS PREVIEW Why stay home? The weather is getting warmer and spring flowers are blooming, time to get out your schedule and plan to attend some of the many offerings Cary has on tap. Buy tickets online to most events with the greatest of ease– we’ll have much to share about what’s coming up!

HIDDEN GEMS: APEX Apex has a special charm and a thriving downtown business center– a look at intriguing, hidden places we think everyone should know about.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: REAL ESTATE Cary is experiencing a real estate boom unseen since the economy bust of late 2008– builders are busy again, and the housing market is rebounding.

74 | caryliving.com

in every issue TECH • SIGHTINGS • HEALTHY LIVING CALENDAR OF EVENTS • WINE REVIEW SUNDAY SUPPER • AND MUCH MORE!