West Georgia Woman Magazine March 2017

Woman Complimentary

March 2017

West Georgia

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Lisa Williams

Incredible Mood

Boosters

Planting Seeds of Hope for Children in West Georgia 1

This publication is dedicated in loving memory of

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He will remain forever in our hearts...

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What’s inside...

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Making Hunger History

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Incredible Mood Boosters

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Colorectal Cancer: Assess Your Risk, Save Your Life

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Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D?

25

She's Got Game

51

Would You Like to Come Over and Play?

In Every Issue:

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55 Local Happenings

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Daily Fare

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Womentality

43

Celebrate Her Success

60

Kidz Korner

Spring is Happening

Fresh and Colorful at Southern Home & Ranch

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Playing in the Dirt

Spring is finally here, and along with this season comes beautiful flowers and spring planting. I've never had much of a green thumb. I think I take after my mom in that respect! My dad is actually a very good gardener though. My dad began planting an annual garden several years ago, and we look forward to the days when the tomatoes, squash and cucumbers appear. There is nothing like the taste of delicious and fresh home-grown fruits and vegetables.

If you don't have time to grow your own food, there are plenty of options in West Georgia to find fresh fruits and vegetables. Wake up the kids on a Saturday morning and take a trip to your local farmer's market. There you will find many wonderful fresh, and healthy, foods for you and your family. Or, if you'd like to have your own garden but don't have the space, check out your local community gardens. These gardens teach children and adults how to garden and the benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables.

Many of the community gardens donate some of their harvests to local food banks. Now is a good time to find the one closest to you and meet some of the people who garden there. You might also check for local gardening classes in the area.

Some community gardens in the area are located at Bowdon Elementary School in Bowdon, Ga., Carroll County Boys & Girls Club in Carrollton, Ga., Fairfield Plantation in Villa Rica, Ga., Heard County 4-H in Franklin, Ga., Hope Fellowship Church in Carrollton, Jones Elementary School in Bremen, Ga., Last Shall Be First Ministries in Villa Rica, Ga., Lifeline Mission (Midway Church) in Carrollton, Major Temple Garden Club in Temple, Ga., Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Carrollton, University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Knox Park in Carrollton, Stockmar Park in Villa Rica, and Green Meadows Community Garden in Marietta, Ga. In This Issue Lisa Williams, our cover feature this month, is reaching out to children and teachers in schools throughout West Georgia to provide education and resources to teach them how to be self sustainable by growing their own food. She has really done an amazing job in her mission to help children in the community by working toward ending hunger for good.

Not only has she done a wonderful job by bringing more agricultural education to schoolchildren in Georgia, Kentucky and Florida, but she also has an inspiring story of her own. She was a single mother trying to get her business going when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She taught her children a valuable lesson to never stop fighting, no matter what you're facing.

She tries to include that lesson in her agricultural education as well. She wants children to know if they can grow their own food, then they will never have to worry about someone else taking care of them. I know you'll enjoy reading about Lisa on page 10.

On page 33, Cheryl Francis, L.P.C., tells you how to boost your mood with three easy lifestyle changes you can control, and Dr. Habiba Shaw explores how food allergies in infants may be due to a vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy.

As always, please stop in and thank our valuable advertisers for supporting this publication. Without our faithful and steadfast supporters, West Georgia Woman magazine would not be possible!

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Finding our voice. Knowing our value. Making a difference.

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West Georgia Woman is a voice for and about the women who live and work in West Georgia.

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Volume 2 • Issue 5 March 2017

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Zachary@westgeorgiawoman.com Angela Brooks Dailey, publisher of West Georgia Woman magazine, has lived in West Georgia most of her life and has a deep love and appreciation for the area. She received her B.B.A in management from The University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Ga., and is a Civil and Domestic Relations mediator and arbitrator registered with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution. She lives in Carrollton, and has two wonderful children, Zachary and Sydney Dailey.

Angela enjoys reading, spending time with her children and extended family and loves to watch Sydney play soccer.

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Making Hunger History

Photos by Keith May 10

Businesswoman Teaches Students How to Take Control of Their Own Lives

L

isa Pangborn Williams is a woman of action. While working as a substitute teacher in Paulding County, she realized how many kids don’t have enough food at home.

Instead of just hating that situation, she created a vision of how to help those kids take control of their own futures.

In 2009, Lisa created G.A.B.I.E., the Great American Bus Interactive Education. Having seen how complicated it was to plan a field trip, she structured her program as a way to have a field trip come to the students in the form of bus outfitted with learning stations that teach about local agriculture.

“Teachers teach all the important subjects – math, science, history, language arts, just to name a few,” Lisa explains. “Who was going to help them learn how to survive? With todays' technology, kids look toward their gadgets. We need to teach them the basics of survival by learning what’s in their surroundings that can help them prosper. So I decided to create an agriculture field trip to help students have fun learning what’s around them to use to become self-sustaining.”

Each student leaves the interactive experience with planted seeds in a biodegradable container so they can grow some food of their own at home.

Where She Came From Lisa didn’t always study agriculture, but her diverse background gave her the tools and knowledge she needed to create an exciting and educational program that resonates with children. She went to college for business and foreign language at Towson State University and began working in the Thoroughbred race horse industry in the early 1980s. She traveled all over the East Coast working at the different racetracks.

“When I ended up in New Orleans at the Fairgrounds Race Track, I decided to continue living there,” she remembers. “One of my dearest friends, Kerry, was an EMT at the track.

I watched her husband save a man, and that

By Shala Hainer

prompted me to go to school to become an EMT.” She continued working in emergency medical services for 12 years, transferring to West Georgia during that time. Then, she was injured on the job during a chemical spill.

“I could no longer rescue breathe, so I had to leave my job,” she says. “Since it was difficult to work in an enclosed area due to my respiratory issues, I decided to go into business myself.”

She opened a cheerleading business named ASA and an indoor skateboard park, the Impossible Skate Park. She’s a single mom to two daughters Ashley, age 31, Mercedes, 23, and one stepson, Gideon, age 27. When Mercedes was 11, she was signed by Cartoon Network to be on one of their shows.

Being on the set with her was a huge time commitment, so Lisa sold her business and started working as a substitute teacher. “This way when she was in school, I could work, and when she was on set at the studio, I could be with her,” Lisa says. “This job helped me in my decision to create GABIE.”

The Beginning of GABIE GABIE began as a dream about how to help kids who don’t have enough to eat. “It is important to give our future leaders the tools and knowledge to be able to take care of themselves,” Lisa says. “The Chinese proverb says, ‘You give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. You teach him to fish and you give him an occupation that will feed him for a lifetime.’ Imagine teaching every student in the world how to grow their own food. We could rid the world of child hunger. That is what I plan to do with GABIE.” Although battling hunger might be the ultimate goal, Lisa created an on-site “field trip” that introduces students to different agriculture concepts. Her program coordinates with the educational standards for grades pre-K through 8, and it helps promote STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

The field trip includes several pieces to keep

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children engaged. They get to learn about crops grown in Georgia through a hands-on experience, videos, demonstrations and by reading short informational pieces. They also learn about agriculture careers in Georgia so the children know these are options for their future.

“The primary objective this project provides is outreach to teachers and students showing what is grown in their backyard helping to sustain their lives, also creating selfreliance and ingenuity while helping their great state prosper,” Lisa relates.

The honey bee mascot, Gabie, interacts with the students to add an extra fun element to the educational session.

Gabie teaches the kids about the state insect, the honey bee. They talk about the importance of bees to crop production, and how honey is created.

The children enter the bus, which is a basic yellow school bus that’s been retrofitted inside with 10 stations where students can touch, read about and listen to information about the importance of crops and natural resources in our area.

The GABIE experience also includes two stations outside the bus: the whisper mill and the seed station. With the whisper mill, students learn about corn and wheat, including how they are grown, harvested and ground into flour or corn meal.

The children get to use the whisper mill to grind some wheat or corn seeds, and they learn how the flour or corn meal becomes food they eat such as cakes or cornbread.

At the seed station, the students learn how

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to grow their own food. They fill a repurposed cardboard milk carton with potting soil, then they learn how to plant a seed in the carton.

Part of the GABIE program is teaching them what the seed needs to grow, and the students all take home their filled milk cartons so they can practice growing their plants.

Part of the presentation shows the students how to collect seeds from existing plants, and how to make money from growing plants. For example, the students might want to eat some watermelons they grow, but sell the others for extra money.

“Bringing our program to the schools and having the ability to reach the students and teach them how to grow their own food is monumental in them becoming selfsustaining,” Lisa explains.

“If they can grow their own food, not only is it healthy but they will never have to worry about being hungry.

We have backpack students who do not have a food source when they leave school. If GABIE can help them learn how to grow their own food, they will never go hungry.”

Lisa takes it a step further by working with some schools to grow community gardens on the school grounds. “Since my company is teaching students all about agriculture and STEM and how to grow their own food to be healthier, I have decided to build gardens at the schools,” Lisa explains. “This way, if a child is hungry, they can walk to their school and pick something fresh to eat. Schools are considered a safe zone for

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students. Building gardens at the schools will help with continued education in science, agriculture, healthy eating and sustainability.

This is a solution to hunger in our nation.

Wouldn’t it be great to know that a child will never go hungry? It is very exciting to be able to help these kids have somewhere to go to get something to eat when it is not given at home.”

With these gardens, Lisa helps the schools plant food the students can eat without needing to cook – basically pick-and-eat food such as lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, strawberries and watermelon.

Lisa recounts a story that she believes personifies GABIE’s mission. She visited a 2nd grade class one year, and the next year, she went back to the new 2nd grade class. A little boy who wasn’t part of the field trip came outside and said how she had given him green beans to grow the year before in his milk carton container.

“He told me he grew them,” she recalls. “He said, ‘Gabie told me these are good, and I ate them. I even got my dad to try one, and they were good.’ You know he grew those green

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beans and shared them with his dad because they were hungry. Now he and his dad know they can grow food for very little money and always have enough to eat.”

Although the program caters to boys and girls, Lisa recognizes that women are underrepresented in the agriculture field. She hopes that by introducing them early to the idea that they can succeed in an agriculture career, girls can begin to understand that they can do anything they set their minds to.

“I feel like I am leading by example to all girls,” Lisa says. “Within our program, we show different careers that have to do with agriculture that are diverse in STEM. I am hoping to encourage girls to strive to be the best they can be and show them that there is a place for women in every field.”

Lisa says she hopes the students remember the lessons GABIE teaches them, regardless of what job they decide to take in the future. “Life

has many lessons,” she explains. “Learning how to grow food will create a healthier lifestyle and will ultimately save money. The ability to make wise money decisions is the basis for current and long-term financial well-being. I encourage everyone to follow their dreams. If that dream leads them to a life and career in agriculture, then they will also help make this Earth a better place to live.”

The Challenges GABIE is the tool Lisa uses to spread the word about how growing food can help children and families in need become self-sufficient, but it offers much more. The program is highly adaptive, changing as necessary to be interesting and memorable for different grade levels, which is not an easy task.

“My first challenge was to make sure we were addressing the right STEM/Agriculture standards for the teachers and students,” Lisa says. “We enlisted Dawn Hudson to build a curriculum for our program. She has completed pre-K through 2nd grade and is working on the upper levels.

We are so excited for this new addition to our program.” Meeting these standards makes it

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surgery, a lumpectomy, and continued to work easier for teachers to justify bringing GABIE to before and after the procedure – even placing their schools.

Lisa strives to keep the cost of a GABIE field trip low so every school feels like they can afford it. Typically, the cost is $7 per student, although she tries to work with schools in low-income areas to make sure they can afford it. “We get help with Title One funding and our 501(c)3 (nonprofit),” she relates.

Lisa explains that although she’s also juggling her daily duties with her vision of spreading GABIE’s message to other states – she already has licenses in Florida and Kentucky – by far her biggest challenge came from a different direction.

While she was working with her first licensee, Ron Totarsky, in Florida, she found out she had breast cancer.

“I didn’t stop to think,” she remembers.

“My philosophy with cancer is you don’t give it any praise. If you do, people start to look at you differently. I only told my family, and I just treated it like an illness that needed to be treated, and kept going.”

As a single mom, Lisa believed it was important to be an example for her children. “I had to be strong and had to show my girls no matter what hits you, you stay strong and keep forging ahead,” she says.

She started her treatment by having A hands-on chicken exhibit inside the G.A.B.I.E. bus.

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Florida,” Lisa recalls. “My daughter Mercedes came with me, and my oldest daughter Ashley took care of my house and animals.”

She drove the bus with no air conditioning in August to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. She met with her licensees, delivered the bus, and went with them to do their first school presentation. She then drove to Tampa, Fla., to visit with her mother and other family, then flew home the next day.

“A few days later, I started my radiation treatments,” Lisa says. “I had to get this Above: Villa Rica Elementary School students inside the G.A.B.I.E. Bus, and below, students delivery done in between participate in an agricultural activity involving corn. the operation and treatments because you can’t miss those treatments. I had calls about the new Florida bus while on the to have radiation every single day. gurney waiting to head into surgery. She was “I was blood raw, and I just kept going. When instructed to rest for five days, but she begged you have two daughters and you’re a single the doctor to release her early. The doctor said mom, do you know how scared they are? All no, and made Lisa rest for five full days. they have is you. You’re scared, and you can’t “On the fifth day, she cleared me, and I show them that. They saw me every day fight jumped in the bus and delivered it to south

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through, and they didn’t see how scared or tired I was – I kept telling them whatever you’re faced with, you just keep going forward. Life isn’t always perfect.”

Lisa rolled that mentality over into her children, and now into her business. “No matter what you’re faced with, if you have the tools, you can overcome anything,” she explains. “If you teach children to grow their own food, they take care of it themselves. They never have to worry.”

Her Success Story Lisa’s dynamic personality and business acumen has been noticed locally and nationally.

After the first year, Lisa invited her district’s state Rep. Paulette Rakestraw Braddock and state Sen. Bill Heath, a member of the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee, to view the bus. They were both impressed with her program, so she made an appointment with Gary Black, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture, to see the bus.

“I will never forget what he said as he

was walking on my bus,” Lisa says. “He said, ‘Please do not take my silence for disapproval.

I am speechless to what you have created. It is amazing.’ I was then invited to the Capital to hear the resolutions that were written for GABIE and myself from the State Senate and House of Representatives. What an amazing accomplishment to get the approval of my business and program from them.”

While she was battling breast cancer, Lisa received more good news. She attended the Unstoppable Womans’ Conference in Atlanta, and she received the Female Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2014.

“It was so exciting,” she remembers. “I was given a beautiful glass trophy for my accomplishments with GABIE. It is such an honor, and I feel so blessed to have these important entities behind my program.”

What’s Next Lisa is far from finished building the business and spreading the word about how agriculture is critical, whether in a small school community

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Shala Hainer, the author, and her son Dylan inside the G.A.B.I.E bus at Roberts Elementary School in Dallas, Ga. Photo by Lisa Williams

garden or a statewide crop. She now has two licenses, spreading the program to Florida and Kentucky, which has tripled the amount of students reached by GABIE. Each licensed program is slightly different, showcasing local agriculture products.

“We are going to be putting a Central Florida bus with Keith Collins at the helm this year,” she relates. “Each bus that we add to our fleet just secures the needed help and instruction to the STEM/Agriculture world.”

Lisa has a book her daughter wrote that works with the GABIE program, and she has a CD with music that teaches children about agriculture in an entertaining way. She has filmed television shows featuring Gabie, the honey bee, including a cooking show that uses local crops in healthy recipes.

She’s in the process of finalizing Gabie’s Great Adventure, The Kidzz Tour, which is a traveling musical live theater performance, which is slated to begin in September 2017.

She credits several people with helping her

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as she continues to grow her business. “My mother, Janet Pangborn, is and always will be my biggest fan and supporter,” Lisa says. “She gave me the funding for my first bus. Without her constant emotional support I don't think I would be as far as I am. I would also like to mention that my daughter Mercedes, my dearest friend Kerry Dubuc and my advisor Keith Gilroy have all been there by my side throughout the growth of my business. Each one has given me their unconditional love and support for my dream.

“I dream big, huge, so when I started this, I wanted to conquer the world. If you were to ask anyone of my confidants, they would tell you, ‘She will!’ My dream with GABIE is that someday I will change the world – and I am.”

WGW

To learn more about Lisa Williams and the G.A.B.I.E. program, or to donate to the 501(c)3 non-profit call 770.485.8727 or visit the website at www.gabieinc.webs.com

Colorectal Cancer: Assess Your Risk, Save Your Life

C

olorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women in the United States and the second leading cause in men, according to the American Cancer Society, and in 2017 it is expected to cause approximately 50,260 deaths.

Thanks to improvements in treatments for colorectal cancer over the last several years, there are more than 1 million survivors in the United States today.

Colorectal cancer starts in the rectum or the colon. These types of cancers are also called rectal cancer or colon cancer, depending on where they start.

These cancers are usually grouped together because they have many things in common.

The ACS says more than 95 percent of colorectal cancers consist of Adenocarcinomas.

Other types of tumors that are not as common can also start in the rectum and colon such as Sarcomas, Lymphomas, Gastrointestinal stromal tumors and

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Carcinoid tumors.

The links between weight, exercise and diet and colorectal cancer risk have been shown to be some of the greatest for any type of cancer.

Lifestyle-related Risk Factors • Physical activity. Being more physically active may help lower your risk. If you don't get enough physical activity you are at greater risk of developing colorectal cancer.

• Obesity. If you are very overweight or obese, your risk is higher for developing and dying from colorectal cancer.

• Diet. If you have a diet high in red meats such as liver, pork, lamb or beef and processed meats such as some lunch meats and hot

dogs, this can raise your risk.

Diets high in fruits, whole grains and vegetables have been linked with a lower risk of colorectal cancer, but taking fiber supplements has not been shown to help with your risk.

• Heavy drinking. Heavy alcohol use is linked with colorectal cancer. Limit your alcohol intake to no more than one drink per day if you are a woman, and two per day if you are a man.

• Smoking. Long-term smokers are more likely to develop colorectal cancer and die from it.

Other Risk Factors • Age. The chances of developing colorectal cancer increase significantly after the age of 50.

• Type 2 Diabetes. There is an increased risk of colorectal cancer in people with type 2 diabetes (usually the non-insulin dependent kind.) Even after taking into account the risk factors that are shared between type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer, such as being overweight or obese, people with type 2 diabetes are still at a greater risk for developing colorectal cancer.

• Racial background. Although studies have not We specialize in Colon Cancer Screening and the diagnosis and treatment of: Reflux and Heartburn Stomach and Digestive Disorders Crohn’s Disease and Colitis Hemorrhoids Hepatitis Liver, Pancreas, and Gallbladder Disease

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• Ethnic background. Of any ethnic group in the world, Ashkenazi Jews, or Jews of Eastern European descent have one of the highest colorectal cancer risks. Many gene mutations leading to increased risk of colorectal cancer have been found in this ethnic group. About 6 percent of American Jews have the most common gene mutation, the I1307K APC mutation.

• Family history of colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps (the kind that can become cancerous.) If your parent, child or sibling (first-degree relative) has a history of colorectal cancer, you are at increased risk and the risk is greater if your relative was diagnosed before the age of 45, or if more than one of those close relatives has been affected.

• Working the late shift. Although more research needs to be done to exclude or confirm this finding, one study conducted on women who worked the night shift at least 15

years for three nights a month may have an increased risk for colorectal cancer, according to the ACS. The authors of the study suggested part of the reason may be because of the changes in their levels of melatonin, a hormone that is affected by changes in light.

• Previous cancer treatments. The ACS says some studies of men who have survived testicular cancer have a higher rate of colorectal and other cancers, possibly due to the cancer treatments they received in the past. Other studies on men who were treated for prostate cancer in the 1980s and 1990s with radiation therapy suggest those men are at a higher risk of rectal cancer because of the less than precise radiation they may have received during treatment.

If you have a family history of colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps, speak with your doctor to discuss screening options and the right time to begin screening for colorectal cancer. If you have had colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps, it is very important to tell your close relatives so they can tell their doctors and begin screening at the right time. WGW

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SHE'S GOT GAME Local Dancer Gwyneth Morris Raises the

Barre

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he closes her eyes and tunes everything out, focusing only on what needs to be done for her team in the next few minutes. She steadies her breath and her nerves as the dazzling lights shine upon her, and the stage below her feels cold on her bare feet.

Thoughts of winning run through her mind, and she feels in her heart this performance will be even better than her last. All eyes in the room settle upon her as the music begins, and she smiles as she gracefully glides into the routine she has practiced for weeks and knows like the back of her hand.

Gwyneth Morris is a 15-year-old sophomore at Bremen High School by day and a performing dance

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artist by night.

Gwyneth has been a competitive dancer for as long as she can remember, beginning dance at the age of 4, and competitions at the age of 5.

She continually works on strengthening her technique at the dance studio, The Fever Performing Arts in Carrollton, Ga., several times a week under the direction of owner Megan Rogers. She has trained with Megan for eight years, since she was 7 years old, and studies all styles of dance which include ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, tap, flexibility and musical theater.

She lives in Bremen, Ga. with her parents Ben and Jennifer Morris, and her two siblings, Taylor, 19, and Riley, 12. She helps her community by performing for the elderly and has worked in several soup kitchens in the area.

In her spare time, Gwyneth loves to read and watch movies.

West Georgia Woman: Tell me what you love about dancing.

Gwyneth Morris: I started dancing when I was 4 years old because my older sister was dancing and I wanted to be just like her. I quickly realized that I loved everything about dance; the competitiveness of it, the challenges of learning to master new skills and the bright lights of the stage.

WGW: What keeps you motivated?

GM: I am a naturally competitive person and I am motivated by my peers to continue to learn new skills. I like to be challenged and I think healthy competition keeps me motivated.

WGW: What is your training regimen?

GM: I train 12 hours or more a week.

WGW: How do you prepare the day of a competition or performance mentally and physically?

GM: The day of competitions I

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wake up extremely early to get myself ready (hair and make-up.) Once I arrive at the competition, I run through my dance routines a couple of times, stretch and watch other dancers performing in my category.

During the day of a competition, I also watch my teammates perform their dances and cheer them on from the audience.

WGW: What do you like most about dancing?

GM: Competitions. I love to compete. The lights, the smells, the noise, everything about competitions amazes me. I also like that I am able to meet new people.

WGW: What do you like least about dancing?

GM: I don’t like small performances. Performing in front of a small group of people makes me nervous.

WGW: Who has had the most influence in your life at school?

GM: Mr. Billy Pollard (my math teacher at Bremen High School,) was a huge blessing to me during my freshman year. He went above and beyond to help me understand math, and broke problems down for me. That is something no other teacher has done for me before.

WGW: Who has had the most influence in your personal life?

GM: Megan Rogers, the owner of Fever Performing Arts. She has always been a part of my dance career.

She believed in me before anyone else did, and has shown me how to continue to grow and improve, not only in dance but also in my personal life. I can honestly say that if I didn’t have her in my life, I would not be the dancer I am today.

WGW: Who do you look up to as a role model in your life?

GM: I consider my mom as a role model. She is such a strong, loving woman who goes out of her way for her family.

WGW: Have you ever struggled with any adversity in your life and how did you deal with that?

GM: Approximately one year ago, my sister was diagnosed with brain cancer. This was a huge emotional time for me and my family and turned our entire world upside down. She was only 18 years old when she was diagnosed, and it was hard for me to understand why this was happening.

The hardest day for me was the first major surgery she had to go through. I was concerned for her and

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wanted to stay strong not only for her but for the rest of my family. I remember seeing her right after surgery and trying to stay strong, when all I wanted to do was cry.

WGW: Tell me what goes through your mind when you're out there competing or performing. What do you think about? How does dancing make you feel physically and mentally?

GM: While competing, I try to clear my mind of everything that I have going on in school and in my personal life so that I can just focus on my dancing.

Dance is physically and mentally exhausting, but it is something that I love to do.

WGW: Tell me about your success stories academically and in dance.

GM: Academically I maintain a 3.9 GPA and was accepted into the honors program at Bremen High School.

In dance I performed in The Atlanta Ballet's Nutcracker when I was 11 years old. My team and I have won many awards including National Grand Champions. I won Teen Dancer of the Year in 2014 and I was recently selected to be an assistant for the KAR (Kids Artistic Revue) dance competition.

WGW: Will you be attending college, where, and any scholarships?

GM: I haven't thought much about what college

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I plan to go to yet. I know that continuing my education is important, but I have not decided on a college that will be right for me.

WGW: What do you do to help and encourage other girls in dance who are younger than you?

GM: I have a lot of younger kids at my studio that look up to me, which puts a lot of pressure on me to be a better version of myself. I try to help all of the younger kids when they need it and I teach a couple of classes per week at the studio.

WGW: How old were you when you started dancing? What was that first competition or performance experience like for you?

GM: I started dancing when I was 4 years old and started competing when I was 5. My very first competition dance was a trio called “Bossy.” I remember being bribed by one of my teachers (Megan) with candy to “dance big,” and it became a contest between myself and the two other girls in the trio. My very first time going on stage was nervewracking, I was so nervous that I forgot most of my dance that day.

WGW: How do you balance dance and your other activities along with your schoolwork?

GM: Whenever I have down time at school or dance, I try to work on my homework then. It can be difficult at times to balance it all, but somehow I manage to

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make it work.

WGW: Who is your biggest fan?

GM: My parents are my biggest fans. They go above and beyond to make sure that I can dance and come to watch all of my performances.

WGW: Tell me about your support network at home. what do they do for you to help you succeed?

GM: My parents have been very supportive of me and my dance career. They work hours on end to ensure that I can continue my growth in dance.

WGW: If you could give a freshman advice, what would you tell her?

GM: I would tell a freshman to choose your classes wisely, locate your classrooms before school starts, and be extremely organized so that you can stay on top of your schoolwork. I would tell her to not give up and give 100 percent in everything.

WGW: What do you think makes you successful as a dancer?

GM: I think what makes me a successful dancer is the fact that I never give up, even when it takes me several tries to get a certain move or technique. I will continue to practice it over and over until I get it.

WGW: Do you see yourself dancing the rest of your life?

GM: Yes, I would love to make a career out of dance and continue to perform for the rest of my life. I know that I want my career to involve dance and helping others.

WGW: If you could do one thing differently regarding your experience with dance, what would you do?

GM: If I could do one thing differently, I would try not to be so hard on myself. I have a bad habit of getting upset and frustrated when I cannot do something perfectly the first time I try.

WGW: What do you want to do for a career after high school?

GM: I would like to be a back-up dancer or a dance assistant when I finish high school.

WGW: What professional dancer would you like to meet and why?

GM: I would love to meet Madison Cubbage because I think she is an amazing dancer. I would love to be able to just sit and have a conversation with her and find out why she started dancing and what she loves to do in her spare time. WGW

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Incredible

Mood Boosters

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here are days when it takes everything you have within you to stay positive. You think you know how to do it, you know what you want, but somehow, having a positive mood just seems to elude you. Here are three simple things you can control that you may use to improve your mood.

• Diet • Exercise • Thoughts That’s it! Really simple!

Diet What we eat feeds our body and ultimately our brain and mood. The right foods contribute to elevating our mood. There is an old acronym “GIGO” – (garbage in, garbage out) that helps illustrate the point that you become what you eat.

By Cheryl Francis What type of foods are you putting in your body? As food is essential for the body’s functioning, the healthier we eat, the better we feel. However, most of us in this fast paced society, tend to veer toward convenience when it comes to eating. Convenience is not always healthy. We can, however, conveniently eat healthy and improve our mood when we know what to eat.

Healthy foods contribute to more positive mood and support the brain’s functioning by releasing serotonin, a chemical found in the brain. This chemical regulates body processes, contributes to one’s wellbeing and maintains a balanced mood.

Many times when we are “dieting,” we eliminate foods high in carbohydrates and begin eating only salads. Not the best idea says researchers. Everything has to be done in moderation. Diets high in complex carbohydrates have an uplifting effect on mood,

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stabilize blood sugar levels and release pleasurable hormones. Protein-rich foods help us stay fuller longer, and prevent blood sugar crashes, which can lead to a foul mood.

Food groups such as whole grains, beans and sweet potatoes stabilize blood sugar levels for longer periods and support elevated mood. Fruits and vegetables contain minerals, vitamins and phytochemicals (naturally occurring preventative and protective properties.) These nutrients from food are natural mood boosters.

Nuts such as almonds and cashews contain antioxidants to fight off stress and diseases in the body. They are rich in protein and also help to stabilize blood sugar levels. Lean meats such as chicken, pork and turkey stimulate hormones to enhance mental clarity, relaxation and alertness. Fish containing high levels of omega 3 fatty acids helps to reduce risk of depressed mood. Dark chocolate is high in antioxidants, and enhances mood and energy levels.

It is important to decrease sugar, especially refined and artificial, in our diet as sugar negatively impacts memory-forming proteins in the brain. Being aware of what you place in your body will have a positive outcome on your mood.

Exercise Exercise releases what I call “happy hormones,” or endorphins. Exercise is the act of intentional, repetitive body movement and helps to relieve stress, improve memory, sleep and wellbeing. We were created with strong robust bodies that do for us, when we are healthy, what we will them to do.

A simple 10-minute walk on a daily basis will do so much for your mood. While walking, be intentional about observing the scenery. This provides a distraction and helps you look for the beauty in the environment.

The more fun the activity, the more likely you are to engage in it. Exercising helps your body relax tense muscles and releases tension. As your body begins to feel better, the stressors begin to minimize and your mood will improve.

According to a 2011 article in the Journal of Neuroscience, exercise buffers how the brain responds to stressors. Regular exercise elevates mood significantly by releasing endorphins to relieve pain and provide feelings of pleasure, increasing self-worth, providing a healthier outlet from negative thought processes and regulating and promoting better sleep patterns.

Thoughts

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We own our thoughts. Whether negative or positive, they are authentically ours. A positive outlook has been shown to be a huge contributor to living a more fulfilled and happy life. It can bring healing, provide more successful outcomes and ward off depressed mood. One of my favorite books says “as a man thinks so is he.” Positive thinking brings a sense of hope, helps you plan for the future and makes the best of a bad situation.

Changing your thoughts in a positive way lends to optimism and elevated mood. This method of thinking empowers you to manage daily stressors in a healthier manner.

Specific Ways To Maintain Positive Thinking • Get motivated. Read inspirational literature and watch motivational videos.

• Engage in mindful meditation and visualization. See the situation as you would like it to be.

• Engage in spirituality. Those who consider

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themselves to be spiritually connected usually have a more positive outlook on life.

Volunteer. Volunteering provides a sense of purpose and is a great way to increase confidence and build new relationships and interests.

Practice gratitude. Every day take time to write down a minimum of three things for which you are grateful. Taking time to be grateful improves your thought processes and creates positive emotions.

Be flexible. ‘Go with the flow’ as they say.

Living in the present and enjoying each moment reduces stressors, supports wellbeing and helps you focus on what is within your control. When you focus on what you can control you are less likely to worry and think negatively.

Engage in healthy sex with your spouse.

Sex is euphoric. It produces two hormones, dopamine and oxytocin that contribute to heightened pleasure, increased sleep, bonding and attachment. The physical benefits of sex are numerous, and most of them work very well toward elevating mood.

Sadly, many people have less sex when they are in a bad mood.

Laugh. Laughter is great medicine. It jolts your

body and bolsters your spirit. A lighthearted attitude lends to positive thinking.

To improve your mood, be intentional about incorporating these three elements into your life. Not only will you be healthier, but you will experience a sense of success like never before.

Incorporating these elements in your routine does not mean this is the ultimate answer to a successful life. It is important to be realistic and recognize that sometimes things will not always go as planned.

When bad things happen, look for ways to improve the situation and utilize these strategies to manage your experience. WGW Cheryl A. Francis, Licensed Professional Counselor, is the owner of The Heart Matters Wellness Services LLC, a full-service counseling agency. She is certified as a Mental Health First Aid Adult trainer and regularly provides seminars and trainings to the community on various mental health issues. She currently works as a school-based mental health counselor, and has partnered with the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy to train individuals in the prevention of childhood sexual abuse. Visit heartmatterswellness.com for more information about Cheryl and her work.

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Daily Fare ”Adapt these recipes to your tastes and your lifestyle. That’s what I want you to feel the freedom to do with my recipes. You are more talented and creative than you give yourself credit for!”

Julie Culpepper

Julie Culpepper is a Georgia native who lived in Carrollton for 26 years with her husband Alan and their adult children. She and Alan recently became residents of Wedowee, Ala. Julie became a personal chef after graduating culinary school in 2012 and loves working with two companies that she incorporates into her style of cooking – Branch and Vine in Newnan, and Doterra, an online source for essential oils located in Utah. For further information about contacting Julie or these companies, please feel free to contact her at : Photo by Keith May

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jculpep4@gmail.com or culpepperoilsolutions@mydoterra.org or go online to: branchandvineonline.org

A Filling Crowd Pleaser and a Delicious Breakfast Treat

This cornbread salad has so many fresh ingredients along with varying layers of flavor and texture. It makes a great side dish for your meal, or will be the go-to dish that you bring to every gathering because people will ask you to bring it again and again! You can use canned ingredients in a pinch, but there is no substitute for the fresh flavors of the vegetables, homemade dressing and cornbread from scratch when you can make them.

I would suggest not using black-eyed peas using smoked flavorings because it doesn’t complement this recipe.

You could also use a ranch dressing packet that calls for Greek yogurt instead of sour cream and mayonnaise if you want to cut many calories without sacrificing the taste. Look for the packets that feature Greek yogurt on the label in the grocery store.

For this breakfast lasagna, you could substitute sausage for the ham. I make my maple syrup from scratch, but try to use real maple syrup if you're buying it from the store. Although there are eggs in the layers, this is still good for leftovers the next day and it will not get rubbery if you reheat it slowly at a low temperature. It is worth the extra effort to make the French toast instead of just using plain bread!

Photos by Michelle Horsley

Cornbread Salad

Ingredients

4 tomatoes, deseeded and diced 1 cup chopped bell peppers, any color 2 cups corn, canned, frozen or freshly steamed 1 cup chopped green onions 2 15-ounce cans black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained (about 3 cups) 1 recipe of cornbread, crumbled to equal about 4 cups 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, add extra for top layer 8 slices cooked bacon, crumbled 2 cups ranch dressing, preferably made from scratch using the packet from the grocery store (you will need sour cream,

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mayonnaise, or Greek yogurt to make this. Use a little buttermilk to thin if necessary) Chopped parsley or season salt blend sprinkled over the top for garnish

Preparation In a deep serving bowl, make two identical layers of the following: Layer half of each ingredient with cornbread, tomato, bell peppers, corn, onions, black-eyed peas, ranch dressing, bacon and cheese. Add a little extra cheese over the top of the bowl if desired.

Garnish with parsley and sprinkle lightly with a season salt blend over the top if desired. Cover with plastic wrap

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and refrigerate at least two hours or overnight.

Serves 10 to 12

Breakfast Lasagna Ingredients For the French Toast: 4 large eggs 1/4 cup whole milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 loaf cinnamon raisin bread ¼ cup salted butter

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For the eggs: 6 large eggs ¼ cup whole milk ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper 2 tablespoons salted butter For the lasagna: ¼ cup maple syrup 4 cups diced ham 3 cups cheddar cheese 3 cups frozen shredded hash browns, thawed 2 tablespoons olive oil Salt and pepper to taste

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whisk together the eggs, milk, salt and pepper until well blended. Melt butter in skillet over medium heat and add the egg mixture. Do not scramble in the skillet, but agitate in the pan and slide the curds until all the mixture is just set and only a little wet. Remove to a paper plate until assembly.

For the lasagna:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Arrange the Preparation French toast onto the bottom of the pan, cutting to cover the entire surface For the French toast: without overlapping. (About half of the loaf) In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, Drizzle half the syrup over the toast. vanilla and cinnamon until well Spread half the eggs and ham over the blended. Heat 1 tablespoon of butter toast and sprinkle with half the shredfor each pan of French toast you sauté. ded cheddar cheese. Repeat the same Dip each slice of bread into the mixway with a second layer. Press down ture and sauté in the skillet on each the hash browns over the top and side until lightly browned. Repeat sprinkle with olive oil, salt and pepper. until you have cooked the entire loaf Bake for 35 minutes, uncovered. Place (About 10 to 12 slices) under the broiler to brown before serKeep on a plate until assembly vice if necessary. Let sit for 5 minutes and drizzle with additional maple For the eggs: syrup over the top for garnish.

While preparing the French toast,

Serves 4 to 6 WGW

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Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D? 40

By Dr. Habiba N. Shaw

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itamin D deficiency is associated with food allergy in infants, and the prevalence of food allergy has increased dramatically over the past decade. Food allergies in infants has now reached epidemic levels in Western countries like Australia and the United States, with up to 10 percent of 12-month-old infants having a clinically confirmed food allergy. As food allergies have increased, vitamin D levels in the population appear to have decreased. Estimates suggest that up to 50 percent of people in Western countries are vitamin D insufficient and up to 10 percent are vitamin D deficient.

Vitamin D and Food Allergy – What Does the Research Say? Areas farther away from the equator where lower ambient ultraviolet radiation (UVR) prevails have been shown to have higher rates of childhood foodallergy-related hospital admissions, epinephrine auto-injector prescriptions and peanut allergy (up to six times the risk) than areas closer to the equator.

Being born in autumn or winter when there is less UVR exposure has also been associated with higher risk of anaphylaxis, which is often a life threatening reaction to allergens, as well as food allergies.

A link between late introduction of egg, one of the few common dietary sources of vitamin D in the infant diet, and food allergy have been observed in a large Australian study. Infants who were first given egg earlier, such as between 4 and 6 months, had significantly fewer food allergies than infants first given egg after 6 months of age. Research using direct measures of vitamin D from blood samples have also shown an association between low vitamin D and increased risk of allergic sensitization in children and adolescents and food allergy in infants.

In the Australian study, infants with low vitamin D were more likely to have an egg or peanut allergy and were more likely to have multiple allergies compared to infants with normal vitamin D levels.

In a current research study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology on March 1, 2013, scientists measured serum vitamin D levels in infants participating in the populationbased Health Nuts food allergy study. This is the largest study to objectively ascertain food sensitization status in a very large sample, to use gold-standard measurements of food allergy status of all sensitized infants. This study provides the first direct evidence that vitamin D sufficiency may be an

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important protective factor against food allergy in the first year of life.

What Does This Mean for You? It’s too early to say whether vitamin D can reverse food allergies. Future research is needed to answer that question. However, research is beginning to support the idea that vitamin D can protect against food allergies and vitamin D is important for overall good health.

For most people, the best way to ensure you have enough vitamin D is a combination of sensible sun exposure and adequate intake of foods containing the vitamin. Your doctor can assess your vitamin D status with a simple blood test and recommend a supplement if necessary. Supplements should only be taken under the advice of a healthcare professional.

The Sunshine Vitamin Vitamin D is a nutrient essential for good health.

It plays a major role in the maintenance of healthy bones by helping the body absorb calcium and has

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an essential role in immune system function.

Vitamin D is produced in the body through sunshine on the skin, or it can be consumed in the diet through food or supplements. Oily fish, for example, salmon, tuna and sardines, as well as fish oil supplements are the richest sources of dietary vitamin D. Other good sources are egg yolks, liver and vitamin D fortified foods including dairy products, margarine and infant formulas.

Vitamin D Sources and Function Vitamin D is actually both a nutrient we eat and a hormone our bodies make. Since a few foods are naturally rich in vitamin D, the surest way to get enough vitamin D is from taking a supplement, but the level in most multivitamins, being 400 IU is too low. Encouragingly, some manufacturers have begun adding 800 to 1,000 IU of vitamin D to their standard multivitamin preparations. If the multivitamin you take does not have 1,000 IU of vitamin D or more, you may want to consider adding a separate vitamin D supplement, especially if you don’t spend much time in the sun. Talk to your healthcare provider.

The body also manufactures vitamin D from cholesterol, through a process triggered by the action of sunlight on skin, hence its nickname, “the sunshine vitamin.” Yet some people do not make

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enough vitamin D from the sun, among them, people who have a darker skin tone, are overweight, are older, and who cover up when they are in the sun. People who are severely deficient in vitamin D may need a stronger, prescribed form of vitamin D. To make the situation worse, sunscreens reduce our ability to absorb vitamin D by more than 90 percent.

Sadly, not all sunlight is created equal: The sun’s ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, the socalled “tanning” rays, and the rays that trigger the skin to produce vitamin D, are stronger near the equator and weaker at higher latitudes.

So in the fall and winter, people who live at higher latitudes, for example, in the northern U.S. and Europe, can’t make much if any vitamin D from the sun.

If you’re pregnant, ensuring you have adequate vitamin D (particularly in late pregnancy) is essential to ensuring your child will have adequate levels.

Infants’ vitamin D stores in the first year of life rely on the mother’s stores before birth. WGW Dr. Habiba Shaw was a member of the National Speaker’s Association, Alabama Chapter, and is regarded as an expert in healthy lifestyles. Dr. Shaw has a Doctorate Degree in Health Care Education from Nova Southeastern University and a Master’s Degree in Food and Nutrition. Habiba, a former university health and nutrition specialist, specialized in working with medical professionals and organizations that are concerned with general health and obesity. During her 30-plus year career, Habiba wrote health and nutrition related articles for newspapers, scientific magazines, and brochures, and presented seminars to major universities and colleges in Alabama. She also appeared on local television programs in her role as a nutrition expert. You may visit her website at

www.dixiebengali.com.

Celebrate HER SUCCESS

Local Jewelry Artist Darlene Davis Celebrates Her Success – Southern Style

Photos by Keith May

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W

ith a smile that lights up the room and a friendly, outgoing personality to go with it, Darlene Davis, owner of the wholesale jewelry company Southern Strung, looks like someone you would meet while cheering your kids on at the soccer field or someone you would sit next to at your local church.

Originally from Valdosta, Ga., Darlene's dreams for her future had nothing to do with making jewelry.

As a student, she attended Valdosta State University and Darton College, where she received her degree in dental hygiene and married her husband Marty Davis. She was a dental hygienist for 21 years.

They have two boys, Dawson, 14, and Tanner, 11. Dawson and Tanner are both athletic – Dawson plays football and Tanner plays soccer. Darlene has a little Pug named JOJO who she adores. In her spare time, Darlene enjoys spending time with her friends and family, shopping and hanging out at the football or soccer field watching her boys play ball.

New Beginnings Toward the end of her career as a dental hygienist, Darlene began to have some severe medical problems with her hands, neck and back due to the repetitive nature of her work. She eventually had to stop practicing the career she loved.

When her husband Marty was hired at the University of West Georgia, they moved from Valdosta to Carrollton, Ga., and this is where the first seeds of her jewelry business were planted.

After the move, Marty told Darlene this was her chance to do anything she wanted, and she began thinking about a new career.

She had always loved the fashion industry so she thought she might be interested in opening her own boutique, but wanted to start a little smaller first, so she began selling jewelry.

In the beginning, Darlene began going to festivals to sell other designer's jewelry, but eventually decided she wanted to take the leap and start her own business creating higher-end trendy pieces of jewelry that are more popular in the Southeast.

"I started making pieces and selling them to my friends and family, and slowly it took off," she relates. "I saved up a little money and took my pieces to the AmericasMart in

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Atlanta and received some of my first orders. The rest is history."

Darlene has been in business for two years, and Southern Strung jewelry can be found in approximately 35 boutiques in the United States including Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, Maryland, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama and Kentucky. On average, Darlene gains two to three new boutiques every month that are interested in selling her jewelry.

Darlene's unique jewelry creations can also be found locally in Carrollton, at The Nest on Bradley Street or in Bremen, at Blush Boutique located in Merle Norman.

She also markets her products on Facebook, Instagram, through word of mouth and pop-up shops when she's invited.

Darlene says she owes some of her success to

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her friend Becky, the owner of The Nest on Bradley Street in Carrollton. "She is a great friend of mine and we share business ideas," she says with a warm smile. "She was the first person to take a chance on me in her store. She carried some pieces and they sold well, and it kind of gave me confidence knowing that I could do this if I worked hard."

"I offer my clients one-of-a-kind pieces that make a statement," she shares. "I think the biggest thing I offer is customer service. I want you to know that when you buy one of my pieces, you are taking a little piece of me with you. I want you to be happy with my work and share with your friends and family.

I encourage my customers to reach out to me and

Her Products Darlene makes necklaces, earrings and bracelets using only the finest natural materials such as agate, limestone and jasper. Some of the beads she uses in her creations are free trade beads that come from all over the world.

Darlene prides herself on hand-selecting each piece and says although some of the pieces may seem the same at first glance, each one is unique because of the different colors of stone.

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Thank you.

Because of your support, our Disaster Relief efforts in Carrollton, Douglas and Mineral Wells collected 4.5 tractor trailers full of supplies and donated more than $6,000 to south Georgia.

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tell me what they like and don’t like about my pieces. I also do custom work."

Working From Home Darlene currently works out of her home, but her future plans include opening a wholesale distribution office where she can work and fill orders for boutiques. "I would love a place to work out of besides my home," she shares. "I dream of a place my customers can come in and shop. I definitely hope I keep growing."

She loves living and working in Carrollton and is grateful to the community for taking her and her family under their wings. Although they've only lived in West Georgia a few years, Darlene says she has made some wonderful friendships and she loves what the city has to offer.

She enjoys having the University of West Georgia and the Cultural Arts Center here, along with the many opportunities that are available to the community regarding theater, the arts, music and entertainment.

Darlene enjoys the flexibility working from home allows because she knows she can always step away to take care of her kids when necessary, but admits it can also be a distraction. "I may find myself working on jewelry and then think, 'Hey, I should go do a load of laundry real quick,'" she shares. "The biggest challenge is not being around people. I like to think I am a 'social butterfly' and working at home can be pretty quiet. Being in dental hygiene for 21 years, I would meet and talk to so many people."

One of Darlene's beautifully unique handmade pieces.

Wome n w i l l s p e n d mo re t h a n e igh t y e a rs o f t h e i r l i ve s sh o pp i n g , o r 3,148 d ays i f t h e y sh o pp e d f rom 9am - 5pm o n e ach o ne o f t h o s e d ays, a c c o rdi ng t o a p o l l c o n du c te d by G E Mo n e y.

It's Not Easy Darlene will be the first to share how difficult it is to own your own business. She says there are many challenges involved, and she came close to giving it all up in the beginning had it not been for the steadfast support of her husband, Marty.

"My husband has supported me and helped me any way he could," she relates. "He is always there for me. There have been a few times that I wanted to just forget about this jewelry making business. I would get so frustrated because things would not go right. He encouraged me to keep my eyes on the prize and move forward.

"He would always say 'if it was easy everybody would do it.' Like any family, there have been struggles, and he has always been right there to meet the challenge and make things better. When I am facing a difficult situation, he always whispers 'it will be alright.'"

Every day is a long day for Darlene as a small business owner.

In the morning she takes her boys to school, then starts the day filling orders, sometimes 15 to 20 necklaces per order. Then she spends hours on the phone and Internet talking to people all over the country sourcing new supplies.

She takes pictures of her products to market them on her website, Facebook and Instagram, sends invoices, packages orders, then goes to the post office or the UPS store to

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“

I offer my clients one-of-a-kind pieces that make a statement ...

I want you to know when you buy one of my pieces you are taking a little piece of me with you.

“

ship her products to her clients, then back to pick up her kids from school.

After homework, dinner and extracurricular activities she starts working again, sometimes making jewelry until 2 or 3 a.m. "My husband calls it the night shift," she laughs. "From October through December, I would have 100 to 200 pieces to make a week.

"Juggling a business, a household and being a wife and mother can be overwhelming at times. Sometimes I feel guilty because I will be sitting at my son’s soccer game thinking about making jewelry," she says. "However, it’s worth it. As much as I enjoy making jewelry, I love seeing other people enjoy it more."

Her Advice Darlene says you don’t have to be a millionaire to follow your dreams. She started her

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own business with only 800 dollars and grew slowly but steadily. She shares it takes a lot of hard work, and you must stay focused to be successful. She believes wholeheartedly in the phrase "Where there's a will, there's a way."

The long nights and staying up late to fill big orders are the least favorite part of the business says Darlene."These are the things that are not fun. Marketing, selling, paperwork, web Design ... can't a girl just make pretty jewelry?” she laughs.

But she loves meeting new people, her customers and other business owners and she especially enjoys seeing other people wear the pieces she creates. She is happy they get as much enjoyment out of wearing them as she does making them.

She also says it's important to do what you love. She loves jewelry and would still continue to make it even if she didn't own this business anymore. "I just love making jewelry," she shares. "I love creating something out of a strand of beads that people seem to love also. I love the colors, the materials and everything that goes into jewelry making."

Caring For Her Community

Darlene participates in several community activities and provides some of her hand-made jewelry for silent auctions to help raise money for

a variety of programs, and she seeks out women business owners for collaboration and partnerships when she can.

Her favorite charitable event is the Empty Stocking Fund, a large fundraiser held every year that gives local children Christmas gifts.

She says it makes her heart happy to help children who are less fortunate in the community.

Her Support Darlene credits many people for helping her with her business. Her family is extremely supportive and her friends in Carrollton have been wonderful.

"I just love my friends here in Carrollton," she relates. "They always provide positive feedback and uplifting words of encouragement. In fact, one of

No one is worth more than you.

When you are at your best, then you can be better for those around you.

my very good friends, Rebecca Smith, helped get my business started. She set up a nice popup shop at the country club one evening, and I was overwhelmed with the support I received."

Darlene says in addition to her husband, Marty, her mother has had the greatest impact on her personal life."She was a single mom who worked 50 hours a week, yet had time to take us on trips and spend that quality time with us that a child needs," she shares. "She worked hard for everything

Dedicated Healthcare When You Need It Most

770.832.9689

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we had and I admire that."

Darlene is proud to work and live in this community that she loves and is grateful for all of the support she receives.

She invites you to visit her website, Facebook and Instagram pages to see the unique jewelry items she has to offer, or visit The Nest on Bradley Street in Carrollton or Blush Boutique inside Merle Norman in Bremen, to see her merchandise in person.

"I am a hard worker and very self motivated. I get to use my creative side to make unique jewelry pieces that make a statement," she shares. "It’s not

the simple pieces you find at every other store. I make my jewelry to really last a lifetime because of the quality materials and attention to detail. Even the pieces that are similar are still unique in some ways. I think people like that feature.

"I also try to be flexible. Sometimes customers request certain pieces but a different color. I think because I love doing this so much it shows. WGW

To find out more about Darlene Davis and Southern Strung call 229.403.9446 or visit the website at

www.SouthernStrung.com 50

Would You Like to Come Over and Play?

W

ho doesn't like to hop on a swing at the park, or roll in a pile of leaves or cannonball into a pool? Play is such a feeling of freedom, such an exquisite momentary timelessness, and frankly, just darn fun. It's primal. Dogs, cats, chimpanzees, dolphins all play. Ravens play. And humans play.

In fact, play is necessary for development in all social animals. Play teaches so many things (aside from directing the splash of a cannonball dive) that without it, the young risk growing up and maturing ill at ease with others, isolated, socially awkward, or just plain mean. Play for children directs them toward cooperation, independence, problem solving, and how to interact with others. It develops creative thinking and conflict resolution. Think how big a step developmentally it is when a young child learns to share a favorite toy.

But play for children is tough in this day and age.

Gone are the nearby parks and sidewalks to get

By Sara E. Anderson, LPC

there. And honestly, so many parents in this day and age are so very involved in their children's lives that the idea of letting children "free roam" as they were able to do even a generation ago strikes fear. Of what? Make a list. Play dates even for older children are more the norm nowadays.

Play dates for younger children have always been a part of growing up. The etiquette has changed, which is understandable with both parents working more often than not and families being so busy and involved in so many activities. Play dates also fill a role that daycare cannot. They bring together both the children and the parents.

In today's world, parents have to think about the schedules. Your parents or grandparents could just go next door, or a block down, drop in, and sit and visit while the kids played. Not so much anymore.

It may be the case that play dates involve several families and members of this group take turns

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by never being offered again. This goes too, for the guest that never reciprocates as the host, or who is chronically late.

What you never want yours or anyone's play date to become is constant interference from the parents.

Let the kids be kids. If they're happy doing what they're doing and getting along, let them be. Play is about exploration: the exploration of imagination, of independence, of cooperative work, of building friendships. If they want to play with the box, to use a metaphor, and not the toy that came inside, let them. In fact, maybe you could find something inside the box, too, and then you and the children could compare the worlds you each find within.

Pediatric, Hand & Speech Therapy

hosting the play dates. Daycares do offer the benefit of many children of the same age group who can get together for play outside of daycare. This lets parents set up turns hosting play dates for their children of similar ages. It also means having great regard for others' schedules.

Play dates are supposed to be fun, so don't set a regimen of activities. Planning some activities is always a good idea, should there be inclement weather, or the children get restless. Let play be spontaneous. With the youngest of children some direction is needed – putting together puzzles, or learning to color – but as children get older proper development means allowing them and their imaginations to figure everything out. If play gets a bit testy, say, over sharing, that's when the parent, any parent, can step in and teach how to get along.

Flexibility with time should be allowed during a play date, but eventually it is time for everyone to go home, and a good guest knows when to leave, and a good guest helps clean up. Clean up is a good lesson for the children, a lesson in responsibility. And if a guest doesn't help, always packs up the child and hits the door while the mess is still on the floor, a gentle word can be mentioned, and if that doesn't work, then the invitation to the group is withdrawn

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Things to think about when setting play dates: • Timeliness: Set a schedule with other parents and work keeping to it. Don't be that parent who's always late.

• Courtesy: Be a good host and a good guest.

Be ready to entertain if you're the host, and be ready to lend a hand cleaning if you're the guest – and make sure your child helps, too.

• Rough-housing actually helps boys problem solve and resolve conflicts. It also burns off energy.

• Play reduces stress and anxiety in children. It also help improve attention spans.

• Too many play dates is a bad thing. Just like you, your children need some down time on occasion, time to just "chill." It's okay to just hang out.

• Keep play simple. Don't plan so much that play becomes work; let it be unscripted, especially as children get older.

• Don't be afraid to play yourself. You'll enjoy it, the kids will enjoy it, and you'll be the funnest parent around! WGW

Sara Anderson is a psychotherapy expert who specializes in helping kids & adults find relief from overwhelming trauma, stress, anxiety and much more.

You can contact her at Spoken Heart Counseling Center in Bremen, Ga. or visit her website at: www.spokenheartcounseling.com

Womentality

Inspiring quotes by extraordinary women “I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.”

– Rosa Parks Photo courtesy of USIA / National Archives and Records Administration Records of the U.S. Information Agency Record Group 306, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.

"I am not afraid of storms for I am learning to sail my ship.”

– Louisa May Alcott

“Remember, no effort that we make to attain something beautiful is ever lost.”

– Helen Keller

“Be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a secondrate version of somebody else.”

– Judy Garland

"Never limit yourself because of others' limited imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination."

— Mae Jemison

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IT’S NOT A HOME.

IT’S A LIFESTYLE.

Put your trust in a Realtor who listens to ensure you find the house that fits you today and grows with you into the future.

Shala Hainer, Realtor Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers Office: 404.843.2500 Direct: 770.842.8500 www.metrobrokers.com Better Homes and Gardens® is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation licensed to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. Equal Opportunity Company. Each Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate Franchise is Independently Owned and Operated. If your property is currently listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers.

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Local Happenings

Healers and Helpers Wellness Group

This group meets the last Saturday of every month in Douglasville or Austell.

For more information, contact Cheryl at theheartmatters@gmail.com or 678.754.5840. Learn more at www.heartmatterswellness.com.

Hope For The Journey This group meets the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the board room at the Tracy Stallings Community Center at 118 South White St. in Carrollton.

These events are free to breast cancer survivors or those currently battling breast cancer. No one should have to face breast cancer alone.

Need It Most – Mommy’s Day Out Each Mommy’s Day Out event is from 6 to 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month. Locations vary. Please contact Jwyanda at 678.739.1740 or Jwyanda@icloud.com for more information.

These are free events for new mothers, mothers with children 0-12 months and mothers suffering from postpartum depression. www.needitmost.wordpress.com

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March of Dimes

March for Babies Kickoff Breakfast January 31, 2017

2017 West Central Ambassador family, Whitney and Fernando Baldizon.

Jason Faircloth, 2017 West Central March for Babies Chairperson.

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Mark Foster, March of Dimes Executive committee member and emcee for the March for Babies kickoff event.

Some members of the March of Dimes Exectuive committee hamming it up at the West Central March for Babies photo booth. From left: Jason Faircloth, Carla Starling, Enola Taylor (kneeling,) Misty Douglas, Charity Aaron and West Georgia Woman magazine publisher Angela Dailey. Angela was honored to accept a plaque on behalf of West Georgia Woman magazine at the event for being the exclusive media sponsor for the 2016 West Central March for Babies.

JADEN SURVIVED!

He was born almost 3 months early and spent 2 months in the hospital.

Sign up at marchforbabies.org West Central March for Babies Saturday, April 22, 2017 John Tanner Park, Carrollton, GA Registration: 8:00 a.m. / Walk: 9:30 a.m.

© 2016 March of Dimes Foundation

For more information, please call 706.845.0708 marchforbabies.org/event/westcentralga

Platinum Sponsors: Media Sponsor:

Magazine

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C

Carroll EMC Foundation Awards Bright Ideas Grants to Local Teachers

arroll EMC recently awarded grants to local educators to fund creative and innovative educational projects for students in their classrooms. Grants of up to $1,000 were awarded to public school teachers, teaching grades Pre-K through 12, for projects in any subject.

Bright Ideas grants are funded through the donations of Carroll EMC Members who participate in Operation Round Up®, a program where Members elect to “roundup” their electric bills to the nearest dollar. The program is overseen by Carroll EMC Foundation trustees and funds a variety of community service projects including Bright Ideas, student scholarships, and many health and human services programs. One hundred percent of the funds collected go back into communities served by the cooperative with zero administration costs.

For 2016, 79 grants were awarded, totaling $68,523. These grants will help 79 teachers in 32 schools and will affect hundreds of children in our communities.

“I am so thankful for all our Members who

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choose to ‘round up’ up their bill each month for the Operation Round Up® program,” said Carole Thompson, Carroll EMC Community Relations Supervisor. “Their willingness to contribute a few cents each month is a huge investment in our community. Thousands of students in the West Georgia area will reap the benefit of the grant dollars being awarded now and in the future through the generosity of our membership.”

Included in this funding cycle were: Bay Springs Middle School Robin Harris Bowdon Middle School Kelly A. Ogles Photo caption: Carroll EMC awards Carrollton High School Teacher Valeria Moss with a Bright Ideas grant.

Photo by Carroll EMC.

Bowdon High School

Central High School

Providence Elementary

Lisa Eidson Stephanie Norton

Lyn Cole Sydney Sewell Laura Williford

Maria Scurr

Carrollton Elementary

Roopville Elementary

Stephanie Bone

Glanton-Hindsman Elementary Jennifer Carroll Christina Williamson Monica Brown Sandhill Elementary Ithica Elementary Christina Gilham Beth Brewer Kimberly Thomas Lyndsee Brown Heather Kinard Sharp Creek Elementary Leanne Minton Leah Reeves Cherri Simmons

Carrollton Middle School

Mt Zion Elementary

Temple Elementary

Mary Miller

Vickie Bonner Daphine Wynne

Robby Blakemore Noah Brewer Valeria Moss

Jessica Beck Stephanie Holt Leslie Lanier Cindy Parker Karee Payne Melissa Trippe Amy Williams

Central Elementary

Mt Zion Middle School

Amelia Boyd Ryan Childers Ashli Cook Patty Edison Katy Goolsby Shea Hall Pat McArthur Nicole Robinson

Tewanna Brown Eva Morgan Heather Morse

Joseph Benefield Liz Duncan Devonne Cooper & Cheryl Miller Annette Perkins Amy Ware Carrollton Junior High

Carrollton High School

Mt Zion High School

Temple Middle School Colleen Mount Teresa Steele Wanda Sumner Temple High School Monica Chason Gina Niemann Michelle Shivers

Ryan Ledford

Applications for 2017 will be accepted beginning July 1 and can only be submitted via the cooperative’s website, carrollemc.com.

Carroll EMC is a Member-owned cooperative providing electricity to approximately 50,000 homes and businesses. The co-op serves Members in Carroll, Haralson, Heard, Paulding, Polk and Troup counties. For more information visit the cooperative’s website at carrollemc.com or follow Carroll EMC on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram and LinkedIn. Carroll Electric Membership Cooperative: Community Built.

Community Builder.

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Kidz Korner

By Charlene Brooks and Sydney Dailey

Sweet & Salty

Shamrock Pretzels T

hese sweet and salty shamrock pretzels are so tasty and easy to make, even your tiniest leprechauns will feel like they have the Luck O' the Irish when they make these yummy treats!

Ingredients Mini pretzels Small pretzel sticks Chocolate candy bark Round coated chocolate candies Parchment paper Small spoon Spatula Instructions Take a piece of parchment paper and place one small pretzel stick on the paper.

Place three mini pretzels around the pretzel stick in the shape of a shamrock.

Melt the chocolate bark in a bowl and allow to cool.

Take the spoon and place a small dollop of the chocolate connecting the top of the mini pretzels and the pretzel stick.

Carefully place one chocolate candy piece in the center of the dollop of chocolate.

Let the shamrock cool and then remove from the parchment paper with a spatula.

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Really Tasty

Rainbows on a Stick

Ingredients Sugar cookie dough Vanilla icing Lollipop sticks Food coloring Tooth picks Parchment paper Instructions Form the sugar cookie dough into 1 1/2 to 2-inch squares.

Place the lollipop stick into the dough covering the top of the stick with the cookie dough.

Place the cookies onto a parchment-paper-lined cookie sheet.

Bake according to the cookie dough recipe directions.

Allow cookies to cool completely.

Divide the vanilla icing into small bowls and add desired food colors to each bowl of icing.

Use a toothpick to decorate as desired. WGW

T

hese rainbows on a stick are a snap to make and make a great family activity for the weekend or on a rainy afternoon.

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Happy St. Patrick's Day Word Search Word Bank Irish Green Leprechaun Lucky Shenanigans Gold Rainbow Shamrock Tradition Bagpipes Saint Patrick Blarney Stone Brogue Tradition

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Word search created at puzzle-maker.com

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Lucky You. WALKER BUICK 1492 N Park St (Hwy 27) Carrollton GA 30117 770.832.9602 www.walkergmauto.com 64