Aiken Woman Magazine

VOL 1, NO 4COMPLIMENTARY

TM

CELEBRATING, MOTIVATING, AND EDUCATING Real WOMEN

Barbara Nelson

SURVIVING and THRIVING Cherie Nettles shares her inspirational journey

CHANGING Your Mind and YOUR LIFE Achieve long term weight management by changing your habits, NOT your diet

Barbara NelsonBarbara Nelson

�www.aikenwomanonline.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFLori Samples Duncan

[email protected]

ADVERTISINGDella Hertzberg Cathy Williams

([email protected])

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSCynthia F. Catts, RD, LD

Kathy CristPastor Mark Crumpton Lori Samples Duncan

Pegi FlahaultRebecca Head

Zoom H. HeatonAmy Neeley

Elaine SamplesKristen Sojourner, LMT

Mandy Woodhouse

COVER PHOTOHeather Sargent Photography

DESIGN Melissa W. Morris

PHOTOGRAPHYClark Berry Photography

Lista’s Studio of PhotographyHeather Sargent Photography

Scott Webster

24 Can Estrogen Dominance Affect Thyroid Function?

27 Massage Therapy: A Stone on the Path to Health and Wellness

29 The Village at Woodside

31 Aiken Regional Offers a Unique Program for Women: We — Women Enlightened for Better Health

Professional33 Meet Steve Young of Auto Tech

34 An Introduction to The Summits

Business & Web Directory35 Contact our Advertisers

Personal Note36 Living in the Moment

Aiken Woman MagazineWoman 2 Woman Publishing

(803) 785-4475 602 Northwood RoadLexington, SC 29072

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication. However, the publisher cannot assume respon-sibility for errors or omissions. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. © 2012

In this Issue

www.aikenwomanonline.com

18

From the Editor 4 Happy Holidays!

Events 5 What’s Happening?

Let’s Talk 6 Floyd & Green Celebrates 20th Anniversary by “Giving Back”

8 A Family Pharmacy

9 Aiken Center for the Arts

10 We’ve Gone Crackers!

11 Bless...Don’t Stress!

12 Full Circle

14 How to Look Good without Losing Weight or a New Wardrobe…

15 Changing Your Mind and Changing Your Life

Celebrating the Survivor in You!16 Surviving and Thriving: Meet Cherie Nettles

Pet Love18 Barbara Nelson of Aiken SCPA

21 Herbal Solutions...Bringing Natural Solutions to You and Your Pets

Health & Wellness22 Right at Home and Snickers, Their Therapy Dog

Find us on facebook!

16


� Celebrating, Motivating and Educating Real Women

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FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS!


t has been a pleasure to spend this year in Aiken. Our January issue marks our one year anniversary here at Aiken Woman

Magazine. I want to thank each and every one of you for your support of our vision to share good information, good news, and celebrate, motivate, educate and inspire real women! I have received numerous phone calls and emails about the women and gentlemen that we have featured in the past year, and I hope you enjoy this issue as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you.

Thank you to all the businesses who advertise with us who have made a commitment to you to provide quality services, products, and customer service. Please show the adver-tisers in Aiken Woman Magazine your support by patronizing their business. These are all businesses that we would personally refer to friends, neighbors, and family.

I have had an opportunity over the past eight years in business to visit many facilities and non-profit organizations for animals, and I have to say that Aiken’s new state-of-the-art facility for the SPCA is the most impressive to me, to date. I love that the animals have an outside view and that there are some animals that co-habitat. It was clean and smelled clean. Send them a note if you enjoy their article or stop by and adopt a pet. There were many to choose from.

I always enjoy telling the story of a survivor. This issue was no exception. These women inspire me in ways I cannot begin to tell you. They face a life threatening illness and come out stronger and better for it.

It is close to that time of year, where things are winding down, holiday shopping has already begun, and I just wanted to leave you with this thought: shop local. Support local businesses, as these businesses, big or small, are driving the local economy.

Be good to each other and yourselves,

Lori Samples DuncanEditor-in-Chief

I

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.—Dr. Seuss

Happy Holidays!


Events

What’s HAPPENING in Aiken?

Over 40 Aiken Women came out to the Wayne’s Heels on Wheels event held on Saturday, September 29th. Hazel Cadle, Beth Thomas, and Jackie Moody take a look under the hood as Wayne’sAutomotive technician, Brent Hopson, explains vehicle fluids during a recent car care clinic.

Miracle on 34th StreetNovember 23 – December 8Aiken Community PlayhouseKris Kringle is a kind older gentleman with a white beard working as a Macy’s Santa…or is he the real San-ta Claus? As he sets about to convince a divorced, cyni-cal single mother and her somber daughter that Santa is no myth, he spreads love and goodwill throughout all of New York City. This classic holiday tale is perfect for the whole family. A play from the novel by Valentine Davies Adapted by Patricia DiBenedetto Snyder, Will Severin & John Vreeke Suitable for all audiences. Check showtimes and purchase tickets at the website below.www.aikencommunityplayhouse.com

Lights of Love at SPCADecember 11, 6 p.m.SCPA, 199 Willow Run Road, AikenThis year the SPCA will be doing something a little dif-ferent to celebrate the holidays. A $15 donation can be made in remembrance or honor of a special pet or person in your life to help us light up the center this holiday season. Colored lights will honor those still with us, while white lights will commemorate those that have passed.

In addition to the lights, you may email a digital pho-tograph to us for display on a rotating slideshow dur-ing the event. The name of your loved one will also ap-pear in the next issue of our Paw Street Journal. Call the SPCA at (803) 648-6863 to make arrangements to celebrate the life of your loved one today. We will serve refreshments and enjoy holiday tidings. Your donation is tax deductible and benefits the animals we service.

Miranda Lambert “Locked & Reloaded” TourJanuary 17, 2013Colonial Life Arena, ColumbiaKnown for their distinctive styles of music, Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley kick off their “Locked & Reloaded” Tour. Miranda and Dierks bring to the stage scores of #1 singles, chart topping albums and trophies from The Grammy’s, CMA’s, ACM’s and CMT’s. Tickets

are on sale now online through www.LMCTix.com, the Lexington Medical Center Box Office at Colonial Life Arena, Play It Again Sports in Columbia, or by phone at 855-4-LMC-TIX. USC Students can purchase tick-ets with their Carolina Card at the Lexington Medical Center Box Office at Colonial Life Arena. www.ColonialLifeArena.com

14th Annual Antiques in the Heart of Aiken Show and SaleFebruary 1-3, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. onFriday and Saturday, Noon – 4 p.m.on SundayAiken Center for the ArtsServing delectable homemade soups, sandwiches, salads, and desserts! The show features more than 25 dealers from across the southeast with linens, jewelry, rugs, silver, porcelains, furniture, civil war memora-bilia, and artwork. Also included are restoration/repair experts. The antiques show is a major fund raiser for the aiken center for the arts, which is celebrating more than 35 years of promoting arts and cultural education for the aiken area. Monthly exhibitions and art classes for adults and children are supported with funds raised from the antiques show and sale. Tickets for the show are $8.00 (good for all three days). The preview party will be held January 31st from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Call (803) 641-9004 to learn more or visit the website below.www.aikencenterforthearts.org


F or Steve Floyd & Tom Williams, it seems like just yesterday Floyd & Green was “the new kid on the block.” Now the store is celebrating its 20th Anniversary, a milestone they feel blessed to have achieved.

FLOYD & GREEN CELEBRATES20th Anniversary by “Giving Back”

“We have so much to be thankful for,” said Tom Williams, co-owner of Floyd & Green. “We are so for-tunate to have wonderful custom-ers and to be living in a place where people want to see their friends & neighbors succeed.”

Floyd & Green is dedicated to the Aiken community and to keeping the store local. In its 20 year his-tory, it has achieved many goals including moving from a 1,250 square foot store in Centre South to its current free-standing, 10,000 square foot facility; adding top-rated national & international brands; growing its staff from 6 to 16 employees; and maintaining the highest industry standards—one of the reasons it is an American Gem Society (AGS) certified store. In addition, Floyd & Green now

houses an Accredited Gemologi-cal Laboratory. It is one of only three AGS-Certified Labs in South Carolina.

“We are excited about how we do business and what we’ve been able to achieve at Floyd & Green,” said Steve Floyd, co-owner. “We want to offer Aiken the best products and services and to use our success to help this community grow and thrive.”

In honor of its 20th Anniversary, Floyd & Green offered custom-ers the chance to donate to local charities during its “Week of Giv-ing Back.” From November 2nd – 10th, for every purchase of $100 or more, Floyd & Green donated 10% to the customer’s local charity of choice.

“Week of Giving Back was our way of thanking the community for their continued support,” ex-plained Floyd. “We appreciate our customers and the charities that make Aiken a great place to live.”

In 2011, Floyd & Green donated more than $16,000 to more than 90

charities. This year the store added a USC Aiken scholarship and a 10 year commitment to the school to its list of charitable gifts.

“We hope this scholarship will make a real difference in the future of this community,” said Williams. “This is just another way we can

Owners Steve Floyd and Tom Williams



Sterling silver charms from $25

515 Silver Bluff Road

MKTG50435_FLOYG_M.indd 1 10/10/2012 3:36:13 PM

FLOYD & GREEN CELEBRATES20th Anniversary by “Giving Back”

continue the Floyd & Green tradi-tion of giving back.”

Floyd & Green has been an ac-tive part of the Aiken community since its founding in 1992. For more information Floyd & Green and the charities it supports, visit its website at www.floydandgreen.com.

More on Floyd & Green’s “Giving Back”Floyd & Green’s partnershipwith the Aiken Regional MedicalCenter’s WE ProgramThis program is aimed at encour-aging women to take an active role in maintaining their own health and improving the health of their families.

Floyd & Green is a partner in the “Pearl” health incentive pro-gram which rewards members for the steps they take toward bet-ter health & the prevention of all forms of cancer. Members of the “Pearl” program must complete five health services annually. Then they take their au-thorized Certificate of Completion to Floyd & Green to receive a free 5mm add-a-pearl. A pearl can be added to the necklace every year they meet the requirements---the necklace is a visible reminder of the importance of her health and the ways she is working to keep herself & her family healthy.

Support of the Communities Charitable Programs and EventsFloyd & Green is an active support-er of local charities, programs and events. Not only does the com-pany make monetary and in-kind

donations, but it supports through involvement, as well. From Celeb-rity Waiter Night to Dancing with The Aiken Stars and The Festival of Trees, Floyd & Green employees are involved in the organizations, programs and fundraisers that help make Aiken great.

A Generous Friend and Good Role ModelFloyd & Green has not only been a generous friend to the Aiken com-munity over the past 20 years—but also an exemplary role model for local small businesses, operating ethically, planning for growth and maintaining the highest industry standards. Because of its leadership & exem-plary standards, Floyd & Green re-ceived the Chamber’s Small Busi-ness of the Year award in 2005.

Owners Steve Floyd and Tom Williams with the Floyd & Green Staff at Floyd & Green’s 20th Anniversary “Night of Giving Back” Celebration

photo by Scott Webster

Let’s Talk


F amily Pharmacy of Aiken is truly a family business. Pharmacists Jay Watts and his daughter, Brandi Johnson, run the two locations. Over the past twenty years, they have had help from 6 other family members including

the youngest, Brandi’s 2 year old daughter, Alex, who helps rearrange the shelves.

Jay fell in love with pharmacy early on when Aiken pharmacists, Ron Garrett (K-Mart) and Ann Guy (Revco), invited him behind the pharmacy counter. While work-ing for Leonard Browder at Ai-ken Drug, he learned how to treat people and exceed their service ex-pectations. His love for medicine, science, helping people, and the business aspect of retail pharmacy helped him to decide on the field. When Jay graduated from USC College of Pharmacy in Columbia in 1985, he briefly worked for a chain pharmacy in Charleston, but moved back to Aiken in January 1986 to open Family Pharmacy. In 1999, he began compounding, the art and science of specialty cus-tom-made prescriptions and set up a new site on Banks Mill Road in 2003. In May of 2009, the family opened a new Family Pharmacy location on Price Avenue and moved the compounding practice to the new location. He and Brandi added traditional retail prescrip-

tions as well as diabetic supplies, shoes, wheel chairs, walkers, pow-er wheel chairs, scooters, and por-table wheel chair ramps.

Brandi got her start working at the pharmacy at the age of 4 when she helped stamp checks at the regis-ter. Brandi was not immediately called to the field of pharmacy. She resisted for a while, not sure if the family business was really something she wanted to get into. Then, the first week after coming home for Christmas break during her freshman year at the Univer-sity of South Carolina, something clicked. “I realized that I could do something good for people. When I had that ‘Aha!’ moment, I knew it was what I was meant to do.”

Though Jay is not Brandi’s bio-logical father, “he has always been there”. She loves her father, and Jay has also been a wonderful dad to her. Brandi and Jay both feel that God put them in each other’s lives.

Brandi is the pharmacist at the Price Avenue location, and Jay works primarily out of the New-berry Street location downtown. As Family Pharmacy has grown, Jay and Brandi have advanced into new markets such as immu-nizations, natural, bio-identical hormones for men and women, and veterinary prescriptions. Each location has two drive through windows and a delivery vehicle who has taken on a personality of

his own. The Cube, Scrippy, can be seen zipping around Aiken de-livering prescriptions, and he has even been known to dress up for Halloween.

The work environment at Family Pharmacy is that of a team. Most of the employees are long term due to the comfortable nature of the work environment and the mutual trust between co-workers allow-ing them to work easily together. Jay is appreciative of the loyalty of his staff, and he considers them an extension of his family.

At Family Pharmacy, standards have been set that allow staff to

serve customers as best as they pos-sibly can. Jay com-mented, “I seek to have the heart of a servant, to be em-pathetic and antici-pate patient needs.” Brandi added that “the phone should not ring more than

twice, and the window opens at 8:45am and does not close until 5:45pm.” This is how Family Phar-macy has done business for the over 25 years and how they will continue to operate.

Family Pharmacy is located at 333 New-berry Street and 110 Price Avenue in Ai-ken, South Carolina. For more information, find Family Pharmacy online at www.aiken-familypharmacy.com or on Facebook. You’re not just a number!

A FAMILY PHARMACY by Rebecca Head

‘I seek to have the heart of a servant, to be empathetic and anticipate patient needs.’

Let’s Talk


F or 40 years, Aiken has had the privilege of claiming one of the South’s most charming and dynamic arts

centers, the Aiken Center for the Arts. The Arts Center has continually strived and succeeded in delivering arts excellence to our entire community.

The generosity and support of many of our local friends has been critical in ensuring quality, high profile events and programs.

The Arts Center firmly believes that education in the arts is im-portant to everyday life. A variety of mediums recharge different de-mographics in unique ways. The Arts satisfies a passion and often an unfound creativity that has not been explored, and the Aiken Center for the Arts has served the community by helping students of all ages define these unex-plored creative outlets. This hap-pens through quality art classes, art camps, scholarships, lectures and workshops, and ongoing free gallery exhibitions with some of the South’s best artists. The Arts Center also has a commitment to training, educating and support-ing young musicians through the Aiken Youth Orchestra.

Events such as Antiques in the Heart of Aiken, A Taste of Wine

and Art, Aiken Arts Alive and the Horseplay project are unique com-munity experiences that annually draw local businesses, artists and the public. These events have be-come local favorites.

In spite of the classification as nonprofit, and in stark contrast to many nonprofits, the leadership of the Aiken Center for the Arts has been perennially thoughtful in developing an effective business model. Its staff and many volun-teers are dedicated and hard-work-ing. Through the years its strength has been the help of the faithful, passionate members and support-ers, without whom the Arts Center would not have been able to main-tain such a high standard of excel-lence throughout the years.

From a strong foundation in the 1970’s to a spectacular building and excellent programs in 2012, the Aiken Center for the Arts can be proud. Happy Birthday, Aiken Center for the Arts!

AIKEN CENTER for the ARTS

by Mandy Woodhouse

Gallery Store • Cultural events • Five Art Exhibition GalleriesArt Education Classes • Films

Rental Facilities • Volunteer Opportunities

122 Laurens Street SWAiken, SC 29801

803.641.9094www.aikencenterforthearts.org

Let’s Talk

�0 Celebrating, Motivating and Educating Real Women

A combined feeling of dread and bemusement washed over me upon my return home from a busy December day. I had taken

some time from work to attend a Christmas party at one of my kids’ classrooms; then onto some late afternoon Christmas shopping before making it back to the house. As I hung up my jacket, I looked in the mirror next to the closet and there it was, pretty as can be, a crown made of bright pink tissue paper sitting right there on my head. I thought of all the places I had been since the afternoon party, and how no one had mentioned it, but had probably thought I was a little loopy. If you are familiar with Christmas Crackers, you may have a similar tale to tell.

WE’VE GONE CRACKERS!

by AmyNeeley

“crackery” day of the year is Christmas Day. A cracker is set at each place for the formal Christmas meal. Then at dessert, everyone opens their crackers together. This is done by

each person holding the cracker in, say, the right hand and cross-ing arms to grab the cracker of the person sitting next door. Ev-eryone pulls at once as the ring of crackers explodes. Out come the paper crowns, the joke, and in today’s crackers, a small toy. As everyone enjoys their dessert and cof-

fee, they don their crowns and take turns reading their joke and playing with the little toy.

Why it’s taken so long for this bit of fun to make it over the Atlantic is astounding to us; especially since it includes explosives, but we’re just glad they’re here. It is a tradition we’ve adopted in our house and we encourage you to give it a try yourself. Just remember: that crown is very light.

The Christmas Cracker is the 1850 invention of Tom Smith, a London sweetmaker who de-cided he needed to liven up the delivery mode of his bon bons. While peering into a spark-ing fire one night, he got the idea to devise an exploding toy to make his candy eat-ing more of an event. And soon the cracker was invented. To give it a Christmas theme he inserted a paper crown, a symbol of the Magi; a riddle or joke just for fun; and of course his sweets. Once in the tube, it was wrapped in pretty paper, and rigged with a small “snap” similar to the explosive in a cap gun. To get to the goods inside, the holder must pull it apart with a bang to release the goodies. This toy had something for everyone and thus was an instant hit.

Nowadays, there are crackers for many differ-ent occasions including birthdays, weddings, New Year’s Eve, and any other commemora-tive occasion one can think of. But the most

Let’s Talk

It is a tradition we’ve adopted in our house and we encourage you to give it a try yourself.

��www.aikenwomanonline.com

A nd Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen

that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)

To quote a Christmas song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”. But so many of us become stressed out because we are trying desper-ately to give so much of ourselves that we don’t enjoy much of the season. The primary reason we be-come stressed is because we over commit ourselves. Learn to say “NO”. It really is OK.

Say no to some of the time com-mitments (ie: all the Christmas parties) you don’t have to be ev-erywhere, slow down and focus on what is important, your family and loved ones. Don’t deprive them of

you in order to attend a party that you didn’t want to be at in the first place.

Say no to overspending. The fact is that most of us can’t really afford to buy gifts for everyone. However, the large majority do it anyway and cause themselves much undue stress that we will literally pay for all year long. Why not suggest that your family / extended family draw names or do a fun gift exchange instead. I have found that most people feel the same way and are relieved that someone finally sug-gested not buying everyone a gift.

Bless ... Don’t stress. When you learn how to say no, your family will be blessed to have a stress free, happy you to share the holiday with.

Another way to reduce stress is to give. Acts 20:35 “... remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is

more blessed to give than to receive.” With so many families affected by today’s economic situation it is not hard to look right around us and see a family that we can bless this Christmas. Most of us have what we need and we simply trade gifts that we often don’t use. What if you decided that instead of buying un-necessary gifts for everyone in the family that the family would buy less for each other and come to-gether to make this Christmas “the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” for another family. There really is something amazing and powerful that happens to us when we give from the heart, the way God gave His only son to us.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (KJV)

Pastor Mark CrumptonLexington Church of God1228 S. Lake Drive, Lexington(803) 957-6675, www.LexCOG.org

by Pastor MarkCrumpton

Bless...Don’t Stress

Say no to overspending. The fact is that most of us can’t really afford to buy gifts for everyone.

The Crumpton Family

Let’s Talk

�� Celebrating, Motivating and Educating Real Women

S outh Company President Cynthia Thomas-South and Managing Partner Mike Thomas have a lot more in common than being

stakeholders in a still relatively new local advertising agency. They’re also related – well, kind of.

Nineteen years ago, South married Thomas’ father, and she and her husband began a successful radio network business together. Thomas, just a teen

at the time, often helped out with the business and learned a lot from his experience, but his father’s marriage ended in 2006, and so did

the family business.

Not much changed for the mother and step-son, however. “We never ended our relationship – that was purely the mari-tal side of things,” South says. “I never felt like we lost each other.”

Within just a few years after the marriage and family business came to an end, Thomas had an idea to get the family busi-ness back in action - only this time, he wouldn’t be the young teenager working alongside his parents to gain experience and hands-on training for his future. This time, he wanted to do something different, and he wanted to play a bigger part.

It started nearly three years ago when Thomas was working in the CSRA as a marketing manager for a large entertain-ment venue company, and a friend of his was launching a new business and asked the promoter for his help. Thomas, excited for the side project opportunity, immediately called his long entrusted step-mom.

“When Mike had this opportunity arise and he contacted me, we knew we needed to do something different – not my own thing that he could step into later – something we would do together,” recalls South, whose career has spanned from news media, university and hospital marketing and public relations to entrepreneur.

In January 2010, the two launched The South Company, a full-service advertising agency with offices in Aiken and Columbia

that began with just two clients and would triple the amount of clients by the end of the first year. What started out with de-veloping marketing strategies for The Weight Shop and Chan-dler Law Firm grew to include clients like Family Pharmacy, Wayne’s Automotive & Towing Center, Advanced Services and more. In fact, the agency now has 27 clients in the CSRA, and received an Addy Award in February for best local television

FULL CIRCLE


ad from the Augusta Advertising Federation for “Scrippy Delivers” (Family Pharmacy).

The duo explains their agency is different than most for several rea-sons – not just because it’s run by family – but because, in essence, they consider their clients their family, too. “I like to look at us as part- time employees of their com-pany,” South says, which includes taking on the responsibility of handling day- to-day operations of their marketing, public relations, budgets and creative concepts. “We tailor our level of support to what the client needs so they can spend more time running their business.” Services include multi-media advertising, social media, events, referral networking and more.

“That’s My Pharmacy,” Western Carolina State “Fair Boy” on You-tube, Junior Bugstoppers, and “You Can Smile,” are just a few examples of their work.

South and Thomas take pride on being exclusive to their clients – i.e. they only represent one per-sonal injury attorney, one towing service, one commercial construc-tion company, etc. “We believe that exclusivity is important to be able to brand them correctly, and to develop ideas just for them -- not for four other competing busi-nesses,” Thomas explains. Thomas and South provide each company with its own marketing assessment “before we even touch the client,” he adds.

“We start with business goals and understanding what those goals are,” South says, referring to their SWOT system, or Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. “We help them achieve those goals by putting a plan to-gether and implementing that plan,” she says. “It is rewarding to help our clients’ businesses suc-ceed.”South holds a bachelor’s degree

in journalism from the University of Missouri and a master’s degree from USC specializing in public health administration. Thomas holds his bachelor’s degree in jour-nalism from USC, and his work in college earned him prestigious awards in the advertising field, in-cluding a Gold Addy.

Thomas said the major strength the duo holds is their combined total of more than 40 years in the public relations, media and mar-keting circuit. Putting their heads together makes for “a lot of depth and a lot of creativity,” he said. “Our approach is different – the dynamic of her background in the corporate world and my back-ground in events and entertain-ment — it’s a good collaboration, how we work together.”

South and Thomas are both highly involved in the community, ac-tive in several area chambers, and both serve on a variety of boards and committees, including the Aiken and Downtown Columbia YMCAs, Aiken Young Profession-als, and Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

“We tie back into the community as much as we can,” Thomas says, adding that their clients range from businesses in Aiken, Columbia and Augusta – though more than half are located in Aiken. “The truth is that we are heavily involved in Aiken, but we’re also involved in Augusta and Columbia, so that works beautifully for our clients who want to expand into those areas,” South says.In addition, “the cross-referral among our clients - networking among our client base - is also very good,” South adds. “They help each other.” The two say it hardly feels like work, and they wouldn’t change their dynamic as family, or as business partners, in any way.This, Thomas says, is his dream.“It’s wild; every day is something different and it’s very exciting, whether we are re-

branding a company or develop-ing a mobile app.” South explains, “It makes a big difference when our clients work with us as a team,” South said, “because the creativity that comes out of those meetings is far superior than when you’re treated as an outside consultant.”

As the client base grows, so does the South Company. Their team includes a combination of employ-ees and affiliated specialists, in-cluding public relations specialist Rebecca Head, special event staff Matt Vitaliani and Alan Miller, so-cial media specialist Tommy Wof-ford of Ad Triad, graphic designer Tony Defeo of Creative Design Re-

sources, Seigler Productions, and Cline Photography.. Offices are located in downtown Columbia, where South lives, and on Hayne Avenue in Aiken.

In one “brainstorming” room at the South Company’s Aiken of-fice, a dry erase paint-based wall, appropriately called the “Wall of Ideas,” fills one side of the room adjacent to a large framed print of the company’s logo. The smell of fresh cinnamon can be sensed during the walk down the hall to the brainstorming room. “We went with the apple cinnamon scent to keep the thoughts flow-ing,” Thomas laughs.

The two sat in the brainstorm-ing room together on a Friday, reminiscing of the old days when “Mike swore he was president (of the radio network), so he would

make decisions and do things without any background experi-ence,” South shook her head and laughed. “And I’d have to fix it.”

“But then in the end, I wouldn’t have had it any other way,” South smiles at her step-son.

“If he had been pushed into a cor-ner and told ‘nevermind that,’ he wouldn’t be where he is today. It takes somebody with that initia-tive and that brightness to see the opportunity, seize it and make the most of it, which he does.”

Thomas reiterates the same ad-miration and respect for his step-

mother, a woman who he said regardless of any changes to her marital status, will always play a major part in his life.

“I wouldn’t work with-out her,” Thomas said. “I learn everything I can from her.”

South Company clients include Advanced Ser-vices, Aiken Chiroprac-

tic, Aiken Ophthalmology, Aiken School of Cosmetology/Imago, Allstar Tents and Events, Balanced Body Spa, BKAAC General Con-tractor, Center for Dentistry, Chan-dler Law Firm, Day Break Adult Care Services, Designer Builders, Dumpster Depot/Greenworks, Family Pharmacy, Fit4School, Hearing Associates of SC, Helping Hands, KinderKids, MAES Edu-cation Services, Richard Young & Associates/MoneyMD, South Point Construction, South Com-pany Real Estate, Southside OB-GYN, The Vic Hawk Law Group, WaynesAutomotive and Towing Center, The Weight Shop, Western Carolina State Fair.

For more information, contact Thomas at (803)665-8461, [email protected] or [email protected].

‘We tailor our level of support to what the client needs so they can spend more time running their business.’

Let’s Talk


Once upon a time ‘business’ had ‘rules’ from proper attire to business meal etiquette ev-erything between. Things are so much more relaxed now and some of that is ‘good’ but a return to the ‘good old days’ in some situations will make you look stunning. Re-member: Perception is realty; we are judged by our actions – not our intentions.

You intended to respond to that phone call or voice mail but you just didn’t have time. Ok, you didn’t have the answer; the person always takes too much of your time; add your other ex-cuses. The fact remains, the perception is that you are not only disorganized but you do not value the time of that other person. It would take only a few seconds for you to return that call to say that you don’t know the answer or that you are not available to take on the project. It is off your list and off theirs. Even if it is a sales call and you hate to say ‘no’; do it – again, you get it off your list and the sales person can take you off their follow up list.

I can hear you now – Oh, I’m too busy to do that– MOM says: Stop it! You are a big girl; act like it. You can set aside 30 minutes a couple times a day to make an investment in your profes-sional image.

You look so good!

HOW TO LOOK GOOD

Without Losing Weight or a New

Wardrobe…

www.Biz-mom.comPegi Flahault

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by PegiFlahault

Pegi Flahault


A s everyone knows, weight control is a life-long effort. Many believe it is unachievable, based on their experiences with dieting, but I know from my work with women who work hard at changing habits, as

opposed to dieting, long term weight management is indeed achievable. Not only does behavior change influence weight, it also can contribute to improved emotional and physical health.

There is a vast difference between dieting to lose weight and changing one’s lifestyle. Anyone and everyone can diet, for a time. Dieting cen-ters around deprivation of specific foods or families of foods for a cer-tain length of time. Generally this can be tolerated for a while. In this time, the woman may struggle, be hungry, get headaches, etc but she is seeing weight fall off of her for as long as she can endure the tem-porary deprivation. Some women while dieting see a weight loss of up to 5 to 6 pounds per week. One

of the problems with this kind of weight loss is that physiologically, the human body is only capable of giving up around 2 pounds of pure fat per week. The other pounds be-ing given up are water and muscle pounds. Everyone knows that muscle weighs more than fat so when muscle is lost, the numbers on the scales move quickly. But the woman is also sacrificing her strength, balance, and sometimes bone mass. The fast weight loss sometimes encourages women to push through the hunger, the

weakness and sometimes, long term hair loss or weakening fin-gernails that are due to less than adequate nutrition but eventually either her body speaks up (dizzi-ness, extreme fatigue, weakness, or low blood sugar) or she gets tired of the same foods and she goes back to eating the way she ate prior to dieting. The problem here is her body’s defenses kicked in and me-tabolism was lowered to conserve energy when she greatly restricted calories so now what used to be her (old) normal way of eating and maintaining her weight causes her to put on the weight lost and then some. Depending on how long she chose to diet, she may have also chipped away at her health by not adequately nourishing herself while dieting. This I believe is the biggest (and most common lack of understanding) mistake of chron-ic dieting. We all have a little less that 100 different nutrients and non-nutritive phytochemicals and antioxidants that a healthy body requires EVERY DAY for daily health and long term vitality. The

prevention of disease re-lies on these nutrients. Women who chroni-cally diet over their adult years are cheating

themselves of daily nutrition and ultimately their healthy, vital el-der years. It is very important that women understand that dieting for weight loss and eating well are usually two different things. The chronic dieting is one of the paths to feeling down about one’s weight and ultimately one’s life in general.

When a woman focuses on lifestyle change to lose weight, her focus is not on the scale and how rapidly she loses weight but on how she looks and feels and how well she is nourishing her precious body. In-deed, lifestyle change weight loss is slower but the payoff is that when a woman is essentially practicing weighing what she wants to always weigh, she is only doing what she is willing to always do. Therefore, there is no discomfort. She is not starving or feeling weakness or watching her hair and fingernails thin. Also, this way of eating has been shown to improve a woman’s self worth and lessen feelings of depression.

For seasoned education, support and accountability, Cyndi may be reached at (803) 642-9360 or at [email protected].

CHANGING YOUR MINDand Changing Your Life

by Cynthia F.Catts, RD, LD

This I believe is the biggest (and most common lack of understanding) mistake of chronic dieting.

Let’s Talk

Cynthia F. Catts, RD, LD


by Elaine Samplesphoto by Clark Berry Photography

W hen Cherie Nettles found out that she had ovarian cancer,

her first thought was, “God, how can you do this? My children are so young - they need their mother.” And her next thought was, “Because my children need their mother, I am going to fight!” And fight she did.

Aiken Woman ce lebr ates the sur v ivor in you

SURVIVINGand THRIVINGMeet Cherie Nettles


It is said that ovarian cancer is the disease that whispers. Many of the symptoms are often dismissed (i.e., bloating, chronic indigestion, and change in bathroom habits). Cherie had all of these symptoms, but it was the unusual pressure in her right side that prompted her to make an appointment with her doctor. Through an exam, her doctor concluded that she had a benign (non-cancerous) tumor on her uterus. After a few more tests, she was sent to Dr. S. Terry Smith, a GYN Oncologist. Dr. Smith was aware of her test results, and he felt the tumor was non-cancerous.

As for how the process played out, I am going to borrow from the book that Cherie has published (Grow-ing my Divine Shrine: Your way to Live, Love and Laugh Through Life)…

“As a little girl I loved the nursery rhyme: ‘Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty Dumpy together again.’ Now that I was a big girl with a big diagnosis – I was literally falling to pieces… I was crying myself to sleep, and be-fore going in for additional tests, I was sobbing until my body had the snubs – you know, when you shake from head to toe because you’ve cried so hard. In my head, I knew the promises of God’s Word, but my emotions had taken over and my heart had no understanding. In preparation for a CT scan to de-termine what was going on, I had to drink that awful chalky mixture for the doctor to be able to see my insides. I took small sips, and cried between swallows. About ten min-utes after I finished drinking the required chalk, a technician hooked up the IV fluids, and asked me to lie flat on the table that would soon slide me into the scanner.

I couldn’t lie still. My snubs had caused my entire body to continue shaking. Tears flowed as I clenched

my fists. The technician asked me again to lie still, but I couldn’t. Fi-nally, she said, ‘What’s the matter?’ All I could do was open my fists, and when I did, two pictures fell out of my hands. They were of my two children. Distraught, I looked at her and exclaimed that question, ‘How can God do this to me?’ She quickly realized I wasn’t going to calm down, so she had the doc-tor order Xanax to help me relax. Have you ever taken Xanax? We would have world peace tomor-row if everyone took that pill!

My surgery date arrived, October 31, 2002. At the hospital, they once again gave me Valium … so I calmed down. They got me prepped for surgery and took me back to the O.R. Three and a half hours later, the surgeon came out to the waiting room and told my hus-band I had ovarian cancer, class 3C. My doctor informed my husband he had done a hysterectomy, the cancer had metastasized, and I would be-gin aggressive chemotherapy in two weeks. Through all of this, my hus-band had been reading the Psalms to me. I kept begging God for a word. God kept gently whispering in my heart, ‘Be still and know that I am God.’ (Psalm 46:10) My hus-band left the hospital at 9:00 PM on November 5, 2002 to relieve the babysitters.

At 11:00 PM, he called and said, ‘Cherie, I have found your Word from God. It is Psalm 86. Read it.’ I opened my Bible and began to read Psalm 86, reached up for my journal and began to pen what I was reading. Somehow I know that Mike knew that I would journal. I love to write the Word of God and make it personal because the Bible is 66 love letters to us, and because of this journal … I have these words! I drifted off to sleep reading and journaling Psalm 86, the Word of God. NOW, HERE IS THE PART YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE.

At four in the morning, November 6, 2002, I woke up in my hospital room and heard a beautiful, still quiet voice saying, ‘Good morning, Cherie. I want you to be confident in Me and be at peace, for there is no more cancer.’ I fell back into my pillow and began to revel at what

God had just said to me and He whispered, ‘You will not rest until you write it.’ So, in the small corner of my Wal-Mart Composition note-book, my journal, I wrote 11/6/02 between 4:00 and 4:10 AM, God woke me up and said, ‘Good morn-ing, Cherie, I want you to be con-fident in me and be at peace, for there is no more cancer.’ I drifted off to sleep.

At 6:00 AM, Dr. Smith opened the door and in his exuberant way said, ‘Good morning! Cherie, I have good news for you.’ ... From the latest pathology, it was determined that my tumor was non-invasive. That’s huge. That means it can’t spread. If it can’t spread, it can’t kill you. I smiled and asked Dr. Smith if I could read my journal to him… Be-ing the God-fearing man he is, he said, ‘Absolutely!’ After reading my journal, he reached over kissed my cheek …and said, ‘God has smiled on you.’”

On the evening of my first contact with Cherie Nettles, she told me that she was going to meet some friends for dinner, only to be sur-prised that her husband, along with two of her best friends, had orga-nized a ten year “God has smiled upon you” party. In listening to her story, it became very evident to me that God was not only smiling

upon his daughter, but He was us-ing her to smile upon others.

At the time of her diagnosis, Cherie was a full-time-stay-at-home Mom who was teaching the Bible to her two children, Alex and Ashleigh, 11 and 8 respectively at the time.

“Cancer actually changed my Bible teaching to Bible teach-ing with comedy,” laughs Cherie. “And that is where my friends, ministry partners, and audiences dubbed me a ‘Christian Comedian.’ Gene-sis 21:6 says, ‘God has brought me laughter and everywhere I go and share my story people will laugh with me.’ So, can-cer made me laugh … all the

time. In Proverbs 17:22, it tells us that laughter is medicine to our souls. Truly laughter heals. Laugh-ter releases endorphins into our bodies, which are a bodies natural pain-killers. Laughter reduces cor-tisol level, which improves heart function and lowers blood sugar. Laughter gives us a better sense of well-being and promotes unity. So, who wouldn’t want to laugh? This past summer I became a Certified Laughter Leader. Now my passion is not just to make people laugh, but to teach people to laugh… Laughter is medicine to our soul.”

I wish I had the space to share with you more of Cherie’s story. She was truly an inspiration and light to me. And no doubt, she has touched countless lives as she shares her story, and this earthly journey. I will leave you with what Cherie says is her most valuable lesson from her fight against cancer, “I realized that every place the sole of my foot treads, God has given me. And that God is the giver and taker of life, and no diagnosis can change this.”

To hear more of Cherie’s story, you can find her book, Growing my Di-vine Shrine: Your way to Live, Love and Laugh Through Life, via her website at www.cherienettles.net.

Now my passion is not just to make people laugh, but to teach people to laugh…

Celebrating the Survivor in You!


of Aiken SPCABarbara Nelson

by Lori Samples Duncanphotos by Heather Sargent Photography


ecently I had the opportunity to sit down with impressive animal sculpture extraordinaire Barbara Nelson. It became obvious very quickly that Barbara is a woman of many talents

who wears many hats. She is a Signature Member of the Society of Animal Artists, a former Board Member of the Minneapolis Humane Society, and has been a member of the Board of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) here in Aiken since 2005. In 2009, the SPCA Board of Directors began a $5.5 million capital campaign to build a new Animal Shelter, Regional Spay and Neuter Clinic, and Education and Training Center. The new campus opened in September, 2012.

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Barbara Nelson grew up in Massachusetts and attended the University of Massachusetts, where she earned a degree in Wildlife Biology. She began working with the United States For-est Service in California in the summertime, and then moved to waterfowl studies with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Her first research study with the U.S. Forest Service was with wild hors-es and burros. “I’ve been around and have rid-den horses my whole life,” explains Barbara. She now competes in show jumping with her home bred mare, Peaches, and in 2012 was appointed by Master Lynn Smith to serve as a Joint Master with Whiskey Road Fox Hounds.

Upon graduation, Barbara was hired by the Iowa Conservation Commission for an entry level position earning minimum wage. Her job was to work with game birds in wetlands to im-prove populations. Interested in natural life cy-cles, Barbara became very involved. Eventually she left behind her career in Wildlife Biology to pursue a new interest in art and sculpture. However, her passion for the outdoors never waned. She continued her support of Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever; both highly respected conservation organizations. In 1989 she was appointed by Governor Terry Brans-tad to the Iowa Natural Resource Commission. Meanwhile, she had begun sculpting. The ar-tistic gene ran deep in Barbara’s family on her father’s side, and she had begun carving decoys as an art form. She used her talents to become a World Class wildfowl woodcarver.

Barbara was honing her skills and her sculpt-ing business was going very well, winning her several awards. “Everything came together at once,” recalls Barbara. “I spent five years at the DNR Commission, where I believe I was the youngest Chairman. My husband and I moved

to Minneapolis , but the weather got too cold af-ter seven years and we decided to find a warmer place to live. One of my collectors, Gail King, invited us here, so we visited Aiken. We loved it, so we moved here in 2000.”

In 2004, Barbara and her husband built an 80-acre farm, where they currently reside. Around that time, a friend asked if she would like to be on the Board of the SPCA, and the rest is history. “A group of us from an earlier Board: Del Hickey, Linda Strogen, Mary Guynn, Kit Bryant, Sharon Brown, and a lot of other people realized in 2005 that Aiken had a real overpopulation problem. I had no idea there were 9,000 animals coming into the 3 animal shelters in Aiken County and that 7,000 of them were being euthanized.” Finding such a large number of animals being killed to be unacceptable, Barbara and her friends got Spay and Neuter programs started in the area, soliciting help from others in the community. They approached the City of Aiken in 2005, and the City Council worked with them to imple-ment a plan to tackle the problem.

The group held pet fairs to get animal owners involved in Spay and Neuter and Micro chip-ping programs. From there, they saw a decline in the amount of animals going to shelters. The SPCA and its partners believe that they are at the point of stabilizing the animal population in the city of Aiken, but much work needs to be done county and region wide. “Reacting to a problem is not enough, it is better to solve them. I love to solve problems. Educating children is a

fundamental means for change — because they will go home and talk to their families.

“There are many of us who put the time and the effort into getting the community together and educating it about the problems associated with animal welfare and how it impacts the quality of life of all human beings. It has been so re-warding and satisfying; this is something I am

never going to leave behind, I will always be involved in it.”

Barbara is Chairman of the Board of Direc-tors for the SPCA. She and the other seven-teen members of the Board “work (their)

heads off” according to Barbara. “Whether it is working at the shelter, advocating for sensible solutions that make fiscal and humane sense, or just saving a suffering animal.” The Board hired Gary Willoughby, CEO of the SPCA, to run the day-to-day operations of the new state of the art facility “we would not be where we are today without that man.”

Gary explained to us that his team toured nu-merous facilities across the Southeast, endeav-oring to take the best pieces from each of those shelters to help create the new home of SPCA. They began with a highly recommended archi-tect, Steve Jenson, who had designed other ani-mal shelters. “Working with Steve has been in-credible,” says Gary. “One of the things we really liked about him is that care for the animals is the foremost aspect of his design. Whether the animals are here for short stays, medical treat-ment, or extended stay, they all have windows to the outside so that they are stimulated

“Reacting to a problem is not enough, it is better to solve them.”

Pet Love

�0 Celebrating, Motivating and Educating Real Women�0 Celebrating, Motivating and Educating Real Women

physically and mentally. So the animals’ mental and physical needs come before anything. It is important to us that we show the community a humane way of treating animals.”

The SPCA shelter in Aiken is a limited admissions shelter that houses animals from across the CSRA. Because the S.P.C.A. Albrecht Center for Animal Wel-fare is both an adoption and animal control facility, it actually has two different units. One is the temporary stay holding area, which is a kennel (a quiet, sound proof, hygienic one). The adoption unit is more of a habitat. Because noise and odor are known “turnoffs” to potential animal owners, the air is exchanged with 100% outside air at least 15 times an hour, which is why there is no odor. (Can you imagine a shelter with zero odor?!)

The facility is energy efficient with 42 geothermal wells that help their HVAC system. All of the hot water is solar, and many areas are lighted from light tubes as opposed to electricity. The design also utilizes noise suppressants so that when the dogs do bark, the sound is muffled.

Barbara shared a favorite quote of hers by Ghandi: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way they treat their animals.” And she told us that she is a firm believer in giving back. “It came to me late in life. My parents were great peo-ple who taught us a sense of responsibility and to be honest. But I grew into being chartable as an adult. Animals have always been my passion. I don’t hunt Game birds anymore. After my mother died I decided I didn’t want to.”

“I am a firm believer that my soul is here on earth to make a difference. I want to die knowing that I did the best that I could for animals and people. If you treat animals well, I think you treat people well. If I didn’t focus on animals, I would work with humans. Hu-mans have a lot of flaws - animals work on instincts.” Nevertheless, “The focus isn’t on us,” says Barbara. “It’s on what we can do for others.”

I found Barbara to be a fascinating woman who pos-sesses strong determination that propels her to action. But she does not want the glory or accolades, “You are interviewing me right now, but there are at least ten other people that should be here right now with me.”

To learn more about the SPCA and how you can get involved to help our furry friends, visit their website at www.spca-albrecht.org.

Barbara also still sculpts beautiful one of a kind carv-ings, and you can see more of her work on her website at www.BarbaraNelson.net.


What makes Herbal Solutionsspecial?We give individual attention to every person that walks though our door. Product safety is our first concern. We carefully research our products and we select many products that have documented clinical studies behind them. We also have very close professional ties to lo-cal nutritional therapist Cynthia Catts, RD, LD, Dr. Charlie Timmerman of Aiken Veterinary Clinic, and Dr. Robert Pendergrast of Aiken- Augusta Holistic Center. Each of these people have dedicated their lives to a healthy holistic approach in taking are of clients from people patients to animal patients.

Why don’t you sell Raspberry Ketones?We actually ordered a shipment and when it ar-rived the warning label on the bottle was so ex-tensive it scared us. We sent our shipment back to the company. If we don’t feel comfortable taking a product, we won’t sell it in our store.

In what ways have you given back to the community?We support the Aiken Gymnastics Booster

Club and the Palmetto Kiwanis Club. We also support Molly’s Militia and the Aiken County Animal Shelter with periodic food donations. We will sponsor a booth at the upcoming Woofstock Festival on Nov. 10 at the Highlands Event Center. Our massage therapist will be do-ing free chair massages and we will give away free pet food samples.

What are your professional affiliations?We are members of the Southeast Natural Prod-ucts Association. Our massage therapist are all members of ABMP (Associative Bodywork and Massage Professionals). We also recently re-joined the Aiken Chamber Of Commerce. We dropped our membership back in 2010 when small businesses all around us were closing be-cause of the economy. In an effort to cut costs we made the decision to cut our membership. It was a decision that we have never felt very good about. We’ve rejoined and we’re looking forward to working with the Chamber and hope that other small businesses will follow our example.

Our local BFF (Best Friends Forever): The Aik-

en Standard makes us look great in the newspa-per and now we’re going mobile with our new mobile website. Allegra is our award winning printer. Love Tim and Tom Meesseeman! They designed our web landing page, they designed our window graphics, and they helped us vo-calize who were are and what services we have to offer.

“Right beside the check out in our store we keep a pair of chairs. One chair is for our customer and one chair is for us. It is how we listen to what our customers want. It is how we share our lives with our customers. We pat hands, we dry tears, and we give hugs,” says Jeri Barrett, owner of Herbal Solutions.

Della Hertzberg, a customer of Herbal Solutions and Aiken Woman Magazine representative, has this to say about Herbal Solutions: “Herbal So-lutions offers the highest quality natural prod-ucts and Jerri always provides expert advise for you and your pets.”

See the Herbal Solutions ad on page 2.

Herbal Solutions…Bringing Natural Solutions to You and Your PetsHerbal Solutions…Bringing Natural Solutions to You and Your PetsHerbal Solutions…Bringing Natural Solutions to You and Your PetsHerbal Solutions…Bringing Natural Solutions to You and Your Pets

‘Since 1998 our mission is to select the highest quality supplements for you and your pets. We also believe that people need therapeutic touch so we have 4 licensed massage therapist and an esthetician on staff.’

— Jerri Barrett, owner

‘Since 1998 our mission is to select the highest quality supplements for you and your pets. We also believe that people need therapeutic touch so we have 4 licensed massage therapist and an esthetician on staff.’

— Jerri Barrett, owner


photo by Heather Sargent Photography


Right at Home and Snickers, Their Therapy Dog

ight at Home of the CSRA came to be when two former college roommates decided to open Right at Home in 2005. Celeste Hoffman and Kathy Crist currently head

up Right at Home and manage their current 80 employees. Right at Home of the CSRA has served over 1000 clients since its inception. This year, Right at Home was awarded “Provider of the Year” from the CSRA Area Agency on Aging. Right at Home provides non-medical care and assistance to the elderly and disabled. Their mission is to improve the quality of life for those they serve. The newest member of the Right at Home team to help them fulfill their mission is Snickers, a Registered Therapy Dog.

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Snickers was abandoned at Celeste’s mailbox one morning in Septem-ber 2008. Thirsty and starved to 9 ½ pounds, Snickers was obviously “put out” that morning in Celeste’s very rural community. Her poor nutrition caused Snickers to be partially blind but where she lacks in her sight she excels in touching the heart of everyone she comes into contact with.

Being a spaniel mix, Snickers has a very sweet temperament and the desire to please. She attended the Jay Mar school of obedience in Martinez, GA where she achieved

the status of a Registered Therapy Dog. Snickers makes weekly visits to the elderly in senior living com-munities, re-hab facilities and in Right at Home client’s homes.

Studies show that there are strong physical and mental benefits to therapy dogs. Anyone who has felt a connection with a pet and expe-rienced that unconditional love, understanding, and acceptance, knows the value of a pet’s com-panionship. These qualities make animals ideal therapeutic visitors. Studies also show they can actually promote healing.

When not making her visits, Snick-ers goes to the office with Celeste. She is popular with the Right at Home employees. Right at Home is always looking for ways of mak-ing a difference in people’s lives and Snickers is helping to make that happen.

Celeste lives in downtown Ai-ken and often takes Snickers for a morning walk either downtown or in Hitchcock woods. You can rec-ognize Snickers by her “chocolate” colored coat and carmel colored ears and tail. A 21 year resident of Montmorenci, Kathy has always

had Golden Retrievers and her present one is Hallie. Hallie and Snickers are best friends. Kathy and Celeste both love all the charm that Aiken has to offer. Serving the Aiken community with Right at Home is very gratifying.

To request a visit from Snickers or for more information on Right at Home and they can help someone you care about, call their Aiken of-fice at 648-7811 or visit them on the web at www.rightathome.net/csra. You may also visit Snickers on her Facebook page or email her at [email protected].

by Kathy Cristphoto by Todd Lista’s Studio of Photography

Kathy Crist

Right at Home and Snickers, Their Therapy DogRight at Home and Snickers, Their Therapy Dog


Right at Home and Snickers, Their Therapy Dog

3 convenient locations to serve you:

Improving the quality of life for those we serve. www.rightathome.net/csra

231 Barnwell Ave. NW, Aiken 803-648-7616

127 12th St, Augusta 706-814-7393

802 E. Martintown Rd, N. Augusta 803-278-0250

Right at Home and Snickers, Their Therapy DogRight at Home and Snickers, Their Therapy Dog


Can Estrogen DominanceAffect Thyroid Function?

re you experiencing weight gain, depression, fatigue, cold intolerance, allergies, constipation, heavy menstrual periods, muscle aches and stiffness, joint pain, dry, course hair, decreased sex drive and migraine headaches?

You may have estrogen dominance that is also causing a decline in your thyroid function. AEstrogen dominance involves the imbalance in the ratios of the hor-mones estrogen and progesterone. After the age of 35, most often women begin to have anovulatory (no ovulation) cycles. Without ovulation, no progesterone is pro-duced and without progesterone to balance estrogen, we end up with estrogen dominance. Estrogen dominance is a term coined by Dr. John Lee in his first book on natu-ral progesterone as a condition where a woman can have deficient, normal, or excessive estrogen, but has little or no progesterone to balance its effects in the body. Estrogen Dominance can cause hypothyroid by lowering thyroid receptor sensitivity, NOT by lower-ing the thyroid blood levels. This is why your doctor tells you that your blood work looks normal even though you have SYMPTOMS of thyroid dysfunction. Too much es-trogen hinders our cells from being able to use our thyroid hormones

effectively. Also, estrogen and the thyroid hormone have oppos-ing actions. Estrogen causes food calories to be stored as fat (this is why we gain weight!) while thy-roid hormone causes fat calories to be turned into usable energy (the burn!). Estrogen dominance inhibits thyroid action and lowers the rate at which the body converts food into energy. This is why we’re getting fat-estrogen and thyroid dysfunction-a double whammy!!

Estrogen dominance isn’t just due to normal physiologic decline. Stress, birth control pills, and xenohormones are some major culprits as well. Xenohormones are hormone disruptors in our environment such as pesticides, plastics, industrial waste prod-ucts, soaps, car exhaust, cosmetic products, and foods pumped with steroids and God only knows what else. You may have on and off si-

nus problems, head-aches, dry eyes,

asthma or

cold intolerance and not know to attribute these symptoms to your exposure to xenohormones.

When we are estrogen dominant, we tend to retain water and crave simple carbohydrates like sugar, baked goods, and chips. The more we eat, the more overweight we become, which in turn causes insulin resistance. Insulin resis-tance is caused by imbalances in the adrenal glands and increases in cortisol levels in turn affects the reproductive organs. Corti-sol is released in your body as a response to stress. Cortisol thins the lining of the stomach, leading to gut inflammation. Gut inflam-mation will increase estrogen lev-els in your body by reactivating estrogen and preventing estrogen from being eliminated from your body. Increased estrogen decreases thyroid hormones free T3 and T4 which are responsible for regu-lating metabolism, growth, body temperature, and other vital bodi-ly functions. Increased cortisol

causes T3 receptors site resistance and decreases the amount of T3 in the body. This is a vicious cycle of hormone events that slow us down and keep us from feeling our best.

If you feel that you have symp-toms of estrogen dominance men-tioned above, your thyroid could be affected as well. First, a saliva test can help identify whether your estrogen progesterone ratio is off indicating estrogen domi-nance. Then ask your doctor for a complete thyroid blood panel that includes free levels of T3 and T4, anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (anti-TG), anti-thyroid peroxi-dase antibodies (anti-TPO), re-verse T3 (rT3) in addition to TSH levels. This test can reveal imbal-ances that often go undetected with more limited assessments. If you have concerns or questions or need more guidance with your current related medical symp-toms, please email me at [email protected] or call 803.648.7800 to make an appointment.

by ZoomH. Heaton

Health & Wellness

Zoom H. Heaton

photo by Lista’s Studio of Photography



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(803) 226-9888 • 2645 Whiskey Road Aiken • www.redbowlaiken.com

50% off Entree(Sunday & Monday, Dine-in only)Buy 1 Entree, get the 2nd Entree equal or lesser value 50% OFFNot valid with other offers, one couponper table/per visit Expires: 12/15/2012

30% off Entree(Dine-in only)

Buy 1 Entree & 2 drinks, get the 2ndEntree equal or lesser value 30% OFF

Not valid with other offers, one couponper table/per visit Expires: 12/15/2012

FREE order of Bang Bang Shrimp(Dine-in or Take-Out)

with total purchase of $38 or moreNot valid with other offers, one couponper table/per visit Expires: 12/15/2012

30% off Entree(Dine-in only)

Buy 1 Entree & 2 drinks, get the 2ndEntree equal or lesser value 30% OFF

Not valid with other offers, one couponper table/per visit Expires: 12/15/2012


U.S. News & World

Report

visit web.usca.edu or download the USCA App!

USC AikenUSC Aiken

LEXINGTON MEDICAL CENTER BOX OFFICE,

855-4-LMC-TIX. ALL DATES, ACTS, AND PRICES SUBJECT

TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE

SERVICE FEES. TWITTER /FACEBOOK @ LIVENATIONNCSC

Colonial Life Arena

January 17


M assage therapist Judy Kemecsei, of Sherman Oaks, California, says of her client, the late centurion and comedian Bob Hope, “Bob Hope was my client for 7 years. He got a massage every day for 63 years. Bob

Hope said that a good massage is one of the greatest pleasures in life with many therapeutic benefits.”

There are those, like Hope, who believe that massage therapy pro-vides great benefits to health and wellness. And who’s to say that massage didn’t contribute to his longevity? I certainly hope I am as spry as he was, swinging golf clubs and telling jokes at the ripe old age of 100!

Massage is no longer perceived by the health and wellness commu-nity as just a luxury spa treatment. Massage is a key component in a life of health and wellness. Studies have shown that massage calms the nervous system, reduces stress, promotes relaxation, lowers blood pressure, strengthens the immune system, lessens depression and anxiety, relaxes overused muscles, stimulates the lymphatic system which carries away waste prod-ucts, improves blood circulation which delivers oxygen and nutri-

ents to the cells, relieves minor aches and pains, increased mobil-ity and range of motion of joints and prevents stress injuries.

Not many people can afford the time and money it takes to get a massage every day like Hope. But the good news is that, depending on your activity level and lifestyle, most people can get the same ben-efits as Hope after receiving only one massage per month.

But massage is not the only piece of a lifestyle which supports health and wellness. A massage therapist can’t erase the damage of seden-tary lifestyle, obesity, a high calorie diet full of fatty, processed and fast foods, and continued excessive stress, even if a massage can help mitigate the pain and stress tem-porarily. It is important to have a fully integrative, pro-active ap-

proach to health and wellness that lasts a lifetime:

• A fruit and veggie-centric diet that includes a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, fish oil, vi-tamins and minerals.

• Regular exercise, both cardiovas-cular and weight bearing.

• Opportunities for relaxation, re-juvenation and recovery – Think

yoga, walking, meditation, mas-sage, prayer, reading, a quiet walk in the woods … Any time we turn off the cell phone and escape from the constant bom-bardment of noise!

• Alternatives to medication, in-cluding holistic options, acu-puncture, chiropractic, massage therapy and diet – Food can be an amazing healing agent!

For more information on health, nutrition and wellness, check out Dr. Ann Kulze, MD, at www.dran-nwellness.com. And for a great massage, call My Aiken Body Re-storative Massage, www.myaiken-body.com. They have what every Aiken body needs!!

Kristen Sojourner, LMT, MEd, is a writ-er, educator, licensed massage therapist and owner of My Aiken Body Restor-ative Massage in downtown Aiken. See the ad on page 28.

by Kristen Sojourner, LMT

MASSAGE THERAPY:A Stone on the Path to Health and Wellness

Massage is a keycomponent in a life of health and wellness.

Health & Wellness



109 Laurens Street, NW, Downtown Aiken, SCFor appointments call 803-761-1127

Bath & Body Products from and elizabethWGift Baskets and Gift Certificates

Wellness Club Discounts ♥ Therapeutic Massage

What every Aiken body needs.

Visit online atwww.MyAikenBody.com

Bat

COMPREHENSIVE ORTHOPEDIC CARE FOR ALL AGES

We are excited to expand Champion Orthopedics into Aiken!Operations will begin on December 10th • Monday through Friday 8:30am – 5pm

Dr. Alex Collins • Dr. Edward Crosland • Dr. Jewell DuncanDr. Craig Kerins • Dr. Allan Goodrich • Dr. Andy Torrance

General Orthopedics • Joint Replacement • Sports Medicine • Spine Surgery • Minimally Invasive Procedures • Radiology and Casting services

SERVING TODDLERS TO SENIORS

We accept most of the major insurance plans in the region.

Call 706-210-7529 for an Appointment440 Society Hill Drive, Suite 100, Aiken

(Village Health & Wellness Center – Direct access to Suite 100 from the front parking lot)


T he Village at Woodside is a classic American community, featuring a unique variety of commercial, residential, recreational and cultural attractions. A place of character and charm, this socially thriving community is

becoming the premier destination to live, work, and play.

The Village is Aiken’s premier pro-fessional location, ideal for busi-nesses seeking consistent customer exposure in an upscale, architectur-ally pleasing environment. The de-velopment setup contains a unique variety of retail, professional and medical office space and will also feature a fitness center and market, allowing tenants to custom tailor the space for any business need. With commerce at the center of ev-eryday life, the Village lends itself to an atmosphere that encourages

long-term relationships between businesses and area residents.

Via Hitchcock Healthcare, physical therapy services are provided in a beautiful space adjacent to the Vil-lage Health and Wellness Center. Since 1951, Hitchcock Healthcare has provided physical rehabilita-tion and therapy services to meet the needs of both children and adults living in Aiken County. A team of occupational, physical and/or speech therapists coordinate with each client’s referring physi-cian, pediatrician, case manager, or employer to achieve specific goals in order to reach the highest level of independent functioning

on an individual basis. Each treat-ment plan is designed especially for you to meet your goals. A plan is developed to include special-ized exercise, modalities (includ-ing heat, ice, electrical stimulation, etc.), and other forms of treatment. Please call (803) 648-8344 for more information.

Champion Orthopedics opened its doors for business on Decem-ber 10 of this year. They specialize in general orthopedics, joint re-placement, sports medicine, spine treatment, and surgery to include minimally invasive procedures. Comprehensive orthopedic servic-es are also provided, including ra-

diology and casting, when necessary. From toddlers to seniors, Champion Orthopedics can see your injury through from the onset to complete reha-bilitation, and they accept most major insurance. Open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, call (706) 210-7529 to request your ap-pointment today.

Aiken Pain Center is also open for business at the Village. It offers a variety of services, including botox injections for pain, caudal steroid injections, Dekompressor, Dis-cectomy, Lumbar epidural steroid injection, and many other pain management services. The prima-ry physician at Aiken Pain Center,

William E. Durrett, Jr., M.D. at-tended Valdosta State University and received his Bachelor of Sci-ence from the University Georgia and his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine. Dr. Durrett is board certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology and stays current with the most innovative technol-ogy in pain management each year. Please give Aiken Pain Center a call at (803) 642-6500 to schedule your appointment today.

If you are in need of maintenance or even a little pampering, visit My Aiken Body at the Village. Kris-ten Sojourner, Licensed Massage Therapist, is the sole proprietor and therapist in residence.

My Aiken Body provides thera-peutic massage services for every need, including specific issues re-lated to degenerative disc disease, sports stress, strains and repetitive use syndromes (i.e. carpal tunnel, tennis elbow, etc.), fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as basic relaxation and stress relief. Not just a luxury, massage therapy helps maintain physical well-being so that you can enjoy the things in life you love. Like getting the oil changed in your car, massage is both palliative and preventative maintenance for your body. Don’t wait for the symptoms to appear. Call Kristin today at (803) 761-1127 to schedule your session.

by ElaineSamples

THE VILLAGE at Woodside

A place of character and charm, this socially thriving community is becoming the premier destination to live, work, and play.

Health & Wellness

�0 Celebrating, Motivating and Educating Real Women

Learn more at www.augustacpc.org

If you would like to talk tosomeone who cares for you,come into our center orcall our 24 hour helpline:

(706) 724-FREE

AugustaCare Pregnancy Center

1298 1/2 Broad StreetAugusta, GA 30901

2915 Professional Pkwy #BAugusta, GA 30901

Monday: 10am-2pm* • Tuesday: 10am-2pm*, 6pm-8pmWednesday: 10am-2pm* • Thursday: 10am-12pm*Friday: Hotline only • Saturday: 10am-12pm*Sunday: Closed*Free Pregnancy Testing is available during day hours.

Subscribe online and see all of our past issues at www.aikenwomanonline.com

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s is challenging. When you can’t do it alone, let BeWell Home Services’ certified Alzheimer’s caregivers help you continue care at home.

Learn more.803.643.4220

• Companionship & supervision • Transportation• Assistance with personal care • Medication reminders• Approved provider of EEOICPA benefits

Alzheimer’s? We can help.

BeWellHomeServices.org


W E—Women Enlightened for Better Health—is a unique health initiative designed exclusively for women by Aiken Regional Medical Centers. The only program of its kind in the area, WE grew out of the hospital’s

desire to help local women ease the demands of daily life by offering support, education and fitness classes, and scheduling for health visits.

Health & Wellness

Aiken Regional Offers a Unique Program for Women: We — Women Enlightened for Better Health

“Many times, women are busy doing so much for others, they think of themselves last,” said Lauree Caldwell, RN and Women’s Health Nurse Navigator. “All of us at Aiken Regional are very excited to have this opportunity to help the women in our community discover new ways to balance their many responsibilities. Through the WE program, we can give them the tools they need to better care for themselves and their families.” What can WE do for you? Membership in WE is free and offers women a full array of resources to help them live their best lives:

Women’s Health Nurse Navigator: Lauree Caldwell assists members in making ap-pointments and obtaining referrals to specialists and services. She also guides women through ARMC’s healthcare system, helping them to take advantage of support groups, community resources and educational programs.

New Member Orientation Tour: Members learn about the full benefits of the WE program by attending the new member orienta-tion. They will meet the Women’s Health Nurse Navigator, and receive a FREE LIV® self-breast exam aid. A healthy lunch and facility tour is included.

Free Education and Support Programs: The WE program has seminars and activities for women at every life stage—from young adult to motherhood, mid-life to mature adult—there’s something to interest everyone.

Free and Low-Cost Health Screenings: WE members receive one free total cholesterol and glucose screening per year.

Reduced Fees: Members enjoy reduced fees for Aiken Region-

al’s educational classes, programs and events year-round.

WE Health Source Website: Visit our site, aikenregional.com/WE, to begin receiving complete access to WE events, educa-tional programs, health screenings and benefit updates.

WE Quarterly Newsletter:A free quarterly newsletter provides WE mem-bers with important information on women’s health education, disease prevention, proper nutrition, and more. It also includes fitness and wellness class schedules.

Weekly E-Blast:All members receive a weekly e-mail update on upcoming WE events, educational programs and initiatives, and health news.

WE Facebook Page:Get the latest health and nutrition information, as well as listings of exclusive members-only events on our Facebook page.

Pearl Health Incentive ProgramWith an annual $20 donation to the Savannah River Cancer Foundation, WE members are eligible to join the Pearl Health Incentive Pro-gram. You can receive one 5mm add-a-pearl each year from Floyd & Green Jewelry when you complete five health services. As you con-tinue to complete screenings, tests and doctor’s visits, you’ll also add beauty to your life by watching your pearl necklace grow, as you re-ceive credits toward another pearl each year! To join, call 803-641-5893 for your free brochure and registration form.

Catch WE on the WebFor more information on Women Enlight-ened for Better Health and how this program can help women take better care of themselves

and their loved ones, visit www.aikenregional.com/WE. At this secure site portal, you’ll find up-to-date articles and educational resources on women’s health concerns, including repro-ductive health, heart disease, cancers that affect women, as well as midlife conditions including menopause, and chronic conditions like diabe-tes and multiple sclerosis.

The WE site is also packed with health and well-ness information, including interactive health assessments, tips and valuable tools to make sure you get the preventative care you need for yourself and your family.

Membership in WE is free—just visit aikenre-gional.com/WE to sign up. Or call ARMC at 803-641-5893 for a free brochure.

DISCLAIMER: Physicians are on the medical staff of Aiken Regional Medical Centers, but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Aiken Regional Medical Centers. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians.

‘Many times, women are busy doing so much for others, they think of themselves last.’


460 Silver Bluff Road (803) 643-9266

Do you need aGOOD Mechanic?

Do you need aGOOD Mechanic?

The Ivy Cottageflowers and gifts, inc.

(803) 643-0535 or 1-800-475-5502206 Park Ave. SE • Aiken

www.TheIvyCottageFlowersAndGifts.com

Proudly Serving the Aiken AreaFamily Owned and Operated


W hen I was in college, I took my car for a regular oil change at the local dealership and was told that I needed $600 in repair work, and that the car might not even make it home, should I attempt to drive it without

having the work completed. After speaking with my dad, I thanked the dealership mechanic and drove away. We had our family mechanic take a look, and in actuality, my car needed only a belt that cost $8.00. I drove the car for three more years.

As a result, I am often leery when taking my vehicles in for routine maintenance. That’s why when I find a good mechanic, he has my business for life. I found such a mechanic at Auto Tech in Aiken. Steve Young, the owner of Auto Tech, is an honest business man. He educates his clients about maintenance and repair, offer-ing assistance to determine with what is absolutely necessary and what can wait, itemized details for major repairs and free written estimates. Owner of Auto Tech for seventeen years, Steve has grown the shop into a business that now has sever-al ASE certified technicians to ad-dress car maintenance and repair

needs. Auto Tech specializes in the service of foreign cars ranging from Mercedes, Porches & Jags to Volkswagens & Volvos, as well as the domestic cars. In addition to car repair services, Steve is in-stalling a full service car detailing unit beginning services in January 2013. So, not only will your car run well, but you will look good driving it. Born and raised in Ai-ken, Steve is a hometown guy who has known many of his clients for years. He learned his trade from his father and took an interest in mechanics at an early age. Steve’s assistant, Jennifer, helps ensure that the day-to-day operations of the office run smoothly, and she is the lead contact for customer service.

Steve and his wife, Tina, live on a six acre farm with two horses and four dogs, one of which is a three legged Labrador named Lacey. A member of the Aiken Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club of Aiken, and serving on the on the Board of the Aiken Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Steve is very active in the local community. Auto Tech is a member of the Aiken Better Business Bureau, and the Aiken Standard gave them the Reader’s Choice award two years running. Steve volunteers time from his busy schedule each year to par-ticipate in career day at local High schools in order to educate youth about the benefits of a career in the automotive repair business.

Steve Young is an all around stand up guy.

So if you are a married woman, single woman, married man, single man, student, or seasoned veteran, you can feel good about going to Auto Tech Aiken for your routine/scheduled maintenance or major engine and transmission repair. Steve and his team will give you a fair and evaluation and esti-mate. Or, if you are buying a used car, they can give an assessment. Planning a road trip? Stop by for a safety check. Personalized service is the motto at Auto Tech Aiken. And the shop is pet friendly, so come by with your four legged family member, and expect to get free treats.

Meet Steve Young of Auto Tech

by ElaineSamples

Meet Steve Young of Auto TechMeet Steve Young of Auto Tech

Professional


T he Summits at 583 Climbing Rose Boulevard in Graniteville, South Carolina is a pet friendly community surrounded by abundant nature and green space. We sat down with Celeste Holloway, Property Manager of

The Summits, and talked about what their community has to offer. With only 120 apartment units, residents are able to experience the conveniences of multi-family living within a community that still offers a close-knit neighborhood feel. Conveniently located, residents can enjoy downtown Aiken or Augusta within minutes. They are also close to some of Aiken’s largest employers.

If amenities are what you seek, then The Summits will not disap-point. Features such as a resort style swimming pool with a tan-ning ledge and picnic tables, out-door grills among lush green grass, a large fire pit perfect for those crisp fall evenings and accessible 24-7, a state-of-the art fitness center acces-sible 24 hours, a playground for the little ones, a dog park for your four legged family members, and a cov-ered picnic area will welcome you home. The Summits also boasts a tranquil nature trail. Interior fea-tures include vaulted and nine foot ceilings, gourmet kitchens with raised panel cabinets, stackable washer/dryer combos included in

all units, along with lockable stor-age closets off of the terrace. Beau-tiful nature or pool views are also available.

Next door to Aiken Technical College and less than ten min-utes from University of South Carolina–Aiken, The Summits is conveniently located. Only six minutes from Downtown Aiken, and twenty minutes from retail and entertainment at the Augusta Mall, there is no shortage of leisurely activ-ity at your fingertips. Celeste said that the location is one of the biggest draw for their ten-ants. Additionally, “We are the best of both worlds!” adds Ce-

leste. “We are the newest commu-nity in the area and were built with the energy efficient design. All of our apartment homes come stan-

dard with a full appliance package that also includes the washer and dryer! We also include the inter-net and cable package with every apartment home.”

Whether you are a family with chil-dren, a college student, or a busi-ness professional, The Summits is centrally located and loaded with all of the “extras” that make home comfortable and fun. See photos of the beautiful property at www.thesummits.net or give them a call to set up an appointment at (866) 407-8777. Check out the next issue of Aiken Woman Magazine where we introduce you to two of The Summits ladies.

An Introduction to THE SUMMITS by ElaineSamples

AIKEN’S NEWEST and MOST LUXURIOUS APARTMENT HOMES

• BRAND NEW!• BBQ Grills/Picnic Area• Microwave• Pet Park• Poolside Fitness Center• Washer & Dryer in unit

• Clubhouse w/ Swimming Pool• Convenient to N. Augusta and Aiken• Dishwasher• Fire Pit• Cable & Internet Included

www.thesummits.net583 Climbing Rose Boulevard • Graniteville, SC

Monday-Friday: 9:00am - 6:00pm • Saturdays by appointment only

Call 877-787-8436 today!

TheSummits

Whether you are a family with children, a college student, or a business professional, The Summits iscentrally located...

Professional


Business & Web Directory

Augusta Care PregnancyCenter ........................................ 30www.augustacpc.org

Be Well Home Services ........... 30www.bewellhomeservices.org

Carolina Heart & VascularCenter ........................................ 28www.carolinahvc.com

Center for Primary Care ......... 26www.cpcfamilymed.com

Champion Orthopedics .......... 28

Custom Prescription Compounders, LLC ................. 25www.nooneshoerx.com

Hearing Associates ofSouth Carolina ......................... 25www.hearingassociatesofsc.com

Herbal Solutions ........................ 2www.twoherbalsolutions.com

Hitchcock Healthcare.............. 28

My Aiken Body ........................ 28www.myaikenbody.com

Right at Home .......................... 23www.rightathome.net/csra

The Pain Center at Aiken Neurosciences, PC ....... 28www.aikenpain.com

JewelryFloyd & Green ............................ 7www.floydandgreen.com

PhotographyChris’ Camera Center ............... 2www.chriscamera.com

Heather Sargent Photography ...........................IFCwww.hsargent.com

RestaurantsFrench Market Grille ................. 9www.thefrenchmarketgrille.com

Red Bowl ................................... 25www.redbowlaiken.com

SalonImago ..................................... IBC

ShoppingThe Curiosity Shop .................. 10www.curiosityshoptea.com

The Ivy Cottage Flowers and Gifts ........................................... 32www.theivycottageflowersandgifts.com

Shoetopia .................................. 14www.shoetopiaaiken.com

Summerville Rags ................. IBCwww.summervillerags.com

Administrative SupportMobile Office Management .... 14www.biz-mom.com

Animal ShelterSPCA – Albrecht Centerfor Animal Welfare ............... IBCspca-albrecht.org

Apartment HomesThe Summits ............................ 34www.thesummits.net

Verandas on the Green ............. 3www.verandasonthegreen.elementmgt.com

Art & EntertainmentAiken Center for the Arts ......... 9www.aikencenterforthearts.org

Colonial Life Arena ................. 26www.coloniallifearena.com

Hickory Knob StateResort Park ................................. 2www.hickoryknobresort.com

Automotive ServicesAuto Tech, Inc. ......................... 32

Wayne’s Automotive &Towing Center.......................... 23www.waynesautomotivecenter.com

Child CareKinder Kids ................................ 3www.kinderkidscsra.com

Dance StudioDream Dance Academy ............ 2www.dreamdanceacad.com

DentistCenter for Dentistry ................ 26www.aikendental.net

EducationAiken Technical College ........... 3www.aikentech.edu

University of South Carolina Aiken ......................................... 26www.usca.edu

Financial ServicesMoney MD ............................... 32www.moneymd.net

FitnessFamily Y of Aiken County... IBCwww.thefamilyy.org

GymnasticsAIGY Gymnastics ...................... 3www.aikengymnastics.com

Health ServicesAiken Chiropractic .................. 30www.aikenchiropractic.com

Aiken Ophthalmology ............ 32www.kozeyecare.com

Aiken Regional MedicalCenters ...................... Back Coverwww.aikenregional.com


IA Personal Note

try to find moments in my life to share with you because I want you to know my family and I are like you and yours. Each time I bring a personal

note to you, it is just that — personal. I was eighteen years old when a friend of mine who I loved was killed in a car accident. Drinking and drugs were involved, and the driver was charged with manslaughter. As a senior in high school, I lost three peers and a fellow graduate. I believe this is when I began to realize that life is fragile and that tomorrow is not promised.

I try to be grateful for every moment of every day that has been given to me. If you have been reading Aiken Woman Magazine for a while, then you know that I am very thankful for my children.

Our oldest son just made SATB Allstate Choir and was starting right guard for WKHS Varsity Football team that just finished a *record breaking season. Trey is a young man who has had many accomplish-ments to celebrate over the last sixteen years. I would like to think some of that is because Trent and I are wonderful parents. The truth is that he is just an overachiever, and since he was a little boy, he has understood the relationship between hard work and results. He works very hard for everything that he wants, and his hard work always pays off.

Abby traveled to Myrtle Beach in October to participate in the SC Honor Choir weekend where, she was selected from a group of exceptional singers to represent CSMS. She was one of three students from last years 8th grade class who made the cut. She loves the new experience of being in high school and is continuing to be a great student this year. As part of our families journey to be healthy, Abby has begun running, and I love that she has made a commitment to do something for herself. She is one of two comedians in our house and makes me laugh daily.

Colton is growing up too fast, as they all are. He celebrated his tenth birthday on September 9th. He is my little patriot. I brought him home on September 11, 2002. He was wrapped in an American flag blanket, hand sewn by the volunteers at NE Georgia Medical Center to commemorate 9/11/2001. His love of history makes for interesting dinner conversations. He knows facts about our country and previ-ous presidents that leave me in awe. He was a junior groomsman in a recent wedding, and I wish I could share with you the video of him dancing out of the church. Colton’s love of life is infectious.

Ryan will be six in a couple of months. I can’t believe where the time has gone. He loves the fact that Ryan means “little king,” and he likes to remind us. I have told my friends about his love of being the boss. So while we are at a wedding reception in a large church, my friend asked Ryan, “Hey, who is the king of this house?” She fully expected his answer to be, “me,” because he thinks he is king of our home — King Duncan. He looked at her, pointed to a cross in the corner, and said with a grave expression on his face, “There is only one king of this house and he died on the cross.” I had to choke back the tears. Out of the mouths of babes sometimes comes great wisdom.

I hope to teach them all not to be so hard on themselves. I want to teach them not to get consumed about the future and appreciate today. I want them to enjoy who they are now in this moment in their lives. To be grateful for every day and with every gift with which they have been entrusted. What if we all live our lives less worried about what we do not have and more grateful for what we do have?

Your Friend,

Lori Samples Duncan

Psalm 118:28-29You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

Ryan

Colton

Abby

Trey

photos by Robert Patrick Image Design

1502 Monte Sano AvenueAugusta, Georgia

Located in Augusta's HistoricNeighborhood of Summerville

for over 14 years

(706) 738-4888www.summervillerags.com

Clothing and Accessories

Find us on Facebook

www.spca-albrecht.org • (803) 648-6863199 WILLOW RUN ROAD IN AIKEN

Open Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Serving the region since 1935

A�ordable spay and neuter services for the publicGreat prices on �ea and tick preventativesDogs and cats available for adoptionMany volunteer opportunities availableAiken County’s only public dog park

Physicians are on the medical staff of Aiken Regional Medical Centers but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Aiken Regional Medical Centers. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians.

302 University Parkway, Aiken, SC 29801

The three women with Carolyn Cook were diagnosed with breast cancer—and all survived. Happily, they’re living proof that a mammogram can make a difference. At Women’s LifeCare Diagnostic Services, you’ll find advanced imaging technologies like all-digital mammography, which can help find breast cancer early, when it’s easier to treat and chances of survival are higher.

If you need treatment, the dedicated cancer experts at our Cancer Care Institute use the same treatment protocols as the nation’s leading cancer centers. And because breast cancer affects women both physically and emotionally, you’ll also have the caring support of our experienced Breast Health Nurse Navigator, who will be your trusted guide throughout treatment.

If you’re over 40, you should have a mammogram every year. And with one of our convenient diagnostic imaging centers close to home, there’s no reason to wait. Call 803-641-5065 for more information or 803-641-5808 to schedule an appointment.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.Don’t forget to register for the Mammogram Reminder Program. Just visit aikenregional.com to register and we’ll do the rest!

Three good reasons to have a mammogram now.

CAROLYN COOK, RNBreast Health Nurse Navigator

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