DECEMBER 2012 VOL 16 | NO 8 | COMPLIMENTARY Precious Gifts Chelsea Charles: Fine Jewelry Designer Precious Gifts Chelsea Charles: Fine Jewelry Designer Precious Gifts Chelsea Charles: Fine Jewelry Designer Precious Gifts Chelsea Charles: Fine Jewelry Designer Precious Gifts Chelsea Charles: Fine Jewelry Designer Precious Gifts Chelsea Charles: Fine Jewelry Designer Hark! It’s The Holiday Issue Hark! It’s The Holiday Issue Hark! It’s The Holiday Issue Behind The Merry Scenes How To Put The Wow In Your Holiday Décor Behind The Merry Scenes How To Put The Wow In Your Holiday Décor Behind The Merry Scenes How To Put The Wow In Your Holiday Décor Behind The Merry Scenes How To Put The Wow In Your Holiday Décor
14 karat white gold ring featuring 0.89 carat total
18 Karat white gold ring featuring 14 Rubies weighing approximately 0.42 carat total
featuring 0.89 carat total weight step cut and round brilliant cut Diamonds and 0.96 carat total weight french cut Rubies.
14 karat white gold ring featuring 0.89 carat total
Wow, what a gift!
Happy Holidays for AllA special something for every special someone. It’s the most wonderful time of the year – let’s make it extra special.
anybody on your gift list at almost any budget. Come in or call to schedule an appointment and let us help you celebrate this holiday season. 704.364.1391.
Special Holiday Store Hours: Mon-Sat 10-7, Sun 1-5 10-4 Closed
Jewelry enlarged to show detail. Items displayed are one-of-a-kind and subject to prior sale.
18 Karat white gold ring featuring 14 Rubies weighing approximately 0.42 carat total and 23 Diamonds weighing approximately 0.25 carat total.
Uniquely yours for only $799.
14 karat white gold ring featuring 0.89 carat total weight step cut and round brilliant cut Diamonds and 0.96 carat total weight french cut Rubies.
14 karat white gold ring featuring 0.89 carat total
18 Karat white gold ring featuring 14 Rubies weighing approximately 0.42 carat total
featuring 0.89 carat total weight step cut and round brilliant cut Diamonds and 0.96 carat total weight french cut Rubies.
14 karat white gold ring featuring 0.89 carat total
Wow, what a gift!
Happy Holidays for AllA special something for every special someone. It’s the most wonderful time of the year – let’s make it extra special.
anybody on your gift list at almost any budget. Come in or call to schedule an appointment and let us help you celebrate this holiday season. 704.364.1391.
Special Holiday Store Hours: Mon-Sat 10-7, Sun 1-5, 10-4 Closed
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ne of my best friends likes to take meto Vegas. (We call her my fairy god-mother; she appears one day withplane tickets in hand, and away wego.) She is a delicate thing,well read,
perfectly mannered, all of a hundred pounds, and ex-tremely intelligent… the kind of personwho is capableof telling you the last 10 fiction Pulitzer Prize winnerswithout batting an eye. And when she looks for theultimate escape, she turns to Sin City.I know. What a paradox.For years,my friend encouraged me to go toVegas.
That’s right, years. She was convinced I would loveit. For years,I would nod my head vaguely,but my cal-endar was always full.Secretly, I was positive I wouldn’t like it. I like
mowed pastures ringed with trees, bright blue skies,the roar of the ocean, the gold of leaves clinging to apoplar branch in late fall. My idea of the perfect va-cation includes time outdoors,and usually,a horse near-by. I sawVegas as the ultimate city of cities,stuffed withtoo many people and too many bright lights. I imag-ined time spent in timeless buildings filled with cash-hungry gamblers and ever-ringing slot machines.There would be gambling and shopping… fun things,but not particularly my favorite things. I couldn’tfathom that it was worth conquering my fear of flyingin order to go to this city.My friend is persistent. Finally, on a whim, I
agreed to go with her toVegas at the last minute in themiddle of December. I still remember how incredu-lous I was at the decision: Who was I? How could Ipossibly leave my young daughter and the glory of myChristmas tree to go to, of all places,Vegas?Did I mention my friend is persistent?Once there,I was right: Vegas was all of those things
I imagined it to be. And I loved it. I loved the cama-raderie of the craps table, the glee my friend and Ishared over our winnings at the blackjack table,loved breaking into the good ol’boys club of the casi-nos’ sports rooms and placing bets on horses and foot-ball games. It was just as she had always described it— DisneyWorld for grownups.In short, I forgot all about my Christmas tree.On our last night in Vegas,we headed over to the
Bellagio to eat dinner. We were inspecting the hotelthat“Ocean’s 11”made famous whenwewandered intothe hotel’s conservatory and gardens. There,we foundourselves transported from the very grown-up worldof Vegas into the childlike wonder of the holidays.Words don’t do it justice,but I will try. The atrium
was fantastically transformed into an all-natural,win-ter wonderland. It was as if the walls fell away,and wewere in the North Pole. An enormous fir tree toweredto the ceiling,packed with enough lights to power asmall city. There was a family of polar bears made outof flowers. I turned and saw a fleet of fantastic rein-deer fashioned from enormous, whole pecans (110pounds of pecans per reindeer, as it turns out). Thereindeer jumped in the air effortlessly,flying just as theydo for Santa every Christmas Eve.My friend and I stopped as if struck. The crowd
pushed past us. We looked at each other in amazement,and it was like wewere the only two people in the atri-um. Together,we looked to the ceiling, and saw theflakes of “snow”sprinkling down upon us.We responded in typical girl fashion: We cried.And that is why, every holiday season, as soon as
the Christmas tunes begin to play on the radio, I findmyself dreaming of Vegas. Where Santa comes tovisit … regardless of whether you’ve been naughtyor nice! [TCW]
A ChristmasMemory …Vegas Style
FromTheEditor
O
PHOTOBYMICHAELC.HERNANDEZ
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What makes you
Smile by Dr. Ross NashOf the nearly 8000 American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry members worldwide, there are only 45 who have achieved the exclusive level of Accredited Fellow. In all of North and South Carolina, only one dentist has earned this elite status by illustrating the required level of excellence in the area of cosmetic dentistry: Accredited Fellow Ross W. Nash, DDS.
"Dr. Nash had a vision for my teeththat simply revealedmy heart's desire.My smile is fuller, whiter and absolutely perfect.All I want to do nowis smile!"
Janie Shipley
excellence in the area of cosmetic dentistry: illustrating bystatus
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W O M E N M A K I N G S T R I D E S • B U S I N E S S S U C C E S S S T O R I E S
Job Changes/Promotions
Bissell has hired RhondaWalcott (top) ascontroller;RobynGainey (bottom) and AliStanley as propertyassistants;Lori McManusas assistant humanresources director atBissell Hotels; and JessicaVecchione as recruitingmanager at Bissell Hotels.
Vanessa Jenkins waspromoted from director of sales andmarketing for Preston DevelopmentCompany to executive vice president.
Dr. Tiffani Jones hasjoined ProvidenceObstetrics & Gynecology;her special interestsinclude pelvic pain,adolescents, obesity, andminimally invasive surgery.
The Mint Museum hashired Ana LuciaDivins as Latinocommunity educationliaison, a newly createdposition.
Evelyn Leathers was hired by ShawUniversity as vice president forinstitutional advancement.
Atkins has hired Jeanne K. Richter, PE,a licensed professional engineer, assenior project manager in the company’stransportation highways and bridgessector.
Bednar Cosmetic Surgeryhas hired Laura Murphy,a licensed esthetician andmakeup artist, as askincare specialist at itssatellite location in RainSalon, at 1910 South Blvd.
The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library hashired Deirdre Middleton as new earlyliteracy coordinator.
Awards & Installations
Crystal Campagna(center) hasreceived theChampionAward from theLupus Foundationof America,Piedmont Chapter, at its 12thAnnual NCLupus Summit.
T.Reid and Company Salon & Spa wasnamed one of the Top 100 Salons inAmerica by Elle Magazine.
YWCA CentralCarolinas hasannounced its2012 Women ofAchievementWinners (from leftto right):Janice Valder Offerman, Pioneerwinner, given to a mature woman whohas exemplified a lifetime commitmentto promoting social justice; AntoniaChilds, Emerging Leader winner, given toa woman of the rising generation whowill lead our community forward; andMelissa Memmert,CommunityChampion winner, given to anestablished woman currently working atthe forefront of social change.
Nancy Black Norelli, alawyer and former districtcourt judge, has beenhonored by NorthCarolina LawyersWeeklywith a 2012 Women ofJustice Award; a
Litigation Practitioner Award; andshe also is a finalist for the Woman ofthe Year Award.
GreyHawk Films was a finalist in theVideo of the Year category in the ninth
annual Stevie® Awards for Womenin Business.
Six women attorneys fromHorackTalley wereselected by their peers forinclusion in TheBest Lawyersin America inthe followingcategories: infamily law,GenaG.Morris,ElizabethT.Hodges,K.Mitchell Kelling,and Elizabeth J.James; in realestate law,Cheryl D. Steele;in bankruptcyand creditor
Twelve companies were selected from305 applications to receive theAmerican Heart Association’s FitFriendly Worksite designation,presented locally by Moore &VanAllen.Gold recipients are: CarolinaNeurosurgery & SpineAssociates,CrowderConstruction Company,GE Capital RetailBank,HarrisTeeter Supermarkets Inc.’sCorporate Office,Hedrick GardnerKincheloe & Garofalo,LLP,MecklenburgCounty Government,URS Nuclear Center,and Zenith Insurance Company. FitFriendly Platinum level recipients are:Domtar Paper Company,LLC,EDI-Shealy,Frye Regional Medical Center,andPiedmont Natural Gas.
On The MoveSend announcements about hirings,promotions, honors, and new businessdevelopment — all specifically about/forCharlotte-area women — along with
ince 1995, Diamonds Direct has revolu-tionized the way diamonds are sold inthe Southeast by setting a high standardfor quality, excellence, value, and educa-tion. Located on Sharon Road,Diamonds
Direct manufactures and ships diamonds directly fromtheir cutting facility located in the heart of the Israeli dia-mond exchange inTelAviv. By doing this,Diamonds Directessentially eliminates “middle man” costs and mark-upstypically seen in the industry, and passes the savings ontotheir valued customers.Although 70 to 80 percent of Diamonds Direct’s busi-
ness comes from bridal pieces,Diamonds Direct also offershundreds of fashion pieces for the many other occasionsthat merit a beautiful piece of jewelry, such as pearls, dia-mond earrings, bracelets, and colored gemstone pieces.As part of the exceptional customer-service experi-
ence, Diamonds Direct provides an extensive diamondeducation and selection to each customer to help them un-derstand the worth and significance of each diamond byindustry standards. This education empowers customersto make intelligent jewelry-buying decisions no matterwhere they decide to purchase.“At Diamonds Direct, we strive to make the customer
feel comfortable before, during, and after the sale of anyjewelry item,” says Dovy Klarberg, vice president of Dia-monds Direct Southpark. “Diamonds Direct offers un-beatable guarantees, including a 30-day,money-back guar-
antee and complimentary sizing,cleaning,and basic main-tenance for the life of the jewelry item,and a complimen-tary appraisal for insurance purposes. Additionally,we of-fer a 100-day, price protection guarantee. If, within 100days of your original purchase,you find a diamond with thesame specifications that is graded by the same gemologi-cal laboratory at a lower price anywhere in the UnitedStates,Diamonds Direct will match it.”Klarberg says that a popular trend in jewelry right now
is layering— from necklaces to stackable bands to bangles.Many engagement rings and wedding band styles reflectthe trend by offering a matching band on either side of theengagement ring. Halo engagement rings,which includea ring of smaller diamonds framing the center stone, arealso gaining popularity, as are channel settings,which fea-ture diamonds set into the mounting without prongs, of-fering a contemporary, clean look.Diamonds Direct is also dedicated to giving back to area
communities. In 2004, the Diamonds Direct Foundationwas established to provide support to local nonprofitorganizations, with special emphasis on philanthropiesbenefitting women and children. Most recently, the Foun-dation has supported the Make-A-Wish Foundation,Humane Society, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation,Patriot Charities, Speedway Children’s Charities, and theAmerican Heart Association.Diamonds Direct also has locations in Raleigh,
Diamonds Direct Provides Superior Selection & Diamond Education
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GirlTimeT I P S , T R E N D S , A N D F A N C I E S
COMPILED BY KARSEN PRICE
Holiday 911?Don’t Fret, Get The Kit
o,it’s the party of the year,and you are in the out-fit to-die-for,when trouble strikes. A button fliesoff and lands in the punch bowl … or, your
breath is so bad people mistake you for Godzilla … or,hello,Flo comes early. Whether it’s a disaster of small orepic proportions, if you have the Minimergency Kit forHer,you won’t miss a holiday beat. In addition to beingcute as Rudolph’s nose, these practical, personal-carekits are packed with everything from clear nail polishand tampons, to earring backs, breath fresheners, anddouble-sided tape. Did I mention it’s tiny? Small enoughto sit in the palm of your hand (or hide in the bottomof your purse), these kits nevertheless pack quite apunch,offering 17 personal-care essentials. Available inholiday-perfect colors for $15 at pinchprovisions.com;or get a kit and a refill set (52-pieces total) for $24.
S
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From The Mouths Of MenFemale First-Date Faux Pas
ew Year’s Eve is right around the corner, and if ever anight was fraught with dating fright, this one is it. How-ever, according to BrandonWade, CEO and founder of
WhatsYourPrice.com, there are certain mistakes women noto-riously make that send Mr.Right packing before he can discoverhow wonderful she is.WhatsYourPrice.com is a date-auction website created by
Wade. He polled 1,000 of the site’s active male members ages18 to 45,and culled a list of the most-common relationship blun-ders women make during that all-important first date. “A com-mon misconception among women is assuming that since theyalready received an offer for a date,then the job is done,”he says.“In reality, going on the date is barely a quarter of the battle.”
Consider this handful of dating do’s and don’ts:
Dating Don’t No. 1: Airing out the dirty laundry —A.K.A. the ex-boyfriend.A whopping 94 percent of men claimed they had datedwomen who discussed their ex-boyfriends within the first orsecond date.
Dating Do: Save it for later … or never.“Ex-talk is the biggest travesty to creating a new relationship,”Wade says. “A man wants to know that he is entering into thepossibility of a new relationship, not cleaning up some otherguy’s mess.”
Dating Don’t No. 2: Making it too easy.
Dating Do: Play the game … or at least opt for mysterious.“Men love a good challenge,”he says. “That’s why you have fan-tasy football,when they aren’t playing the actual sport. In the-ory, women have it right: Don’t play games if it will hurt some-one. Do be coy,playful, and mysterious during your date.”
Dating Don’t No. 3: Giving out too much information.
Dating Do: Save the eccentricities for date No. 4 and beyond.“Another study we conducted found that men find quirkiness en-dearing,” Wade says. “However, it also revealed that womenshould wait at least until the fourth date to begin talking abouther peanut allergies or fear of clowns. Delving too soon intosuch topics comes off as hyper-neurotic.”
Dating Don’t No. 4: Broaching the subject of sex.
Dating Do: Keep it to yourself, at least until the goodnight kiss.Men were turned off by a woman who says, unprovoked,“I don’t sleep with men on the first date.” Such a statement,evenin good taste,makes a woman seem uptight and untrusting. In-stead, wait until the end of the date; if a guy is not invited in, it’sa graceful way of getting your point across.
Santa BabyBring Me Some Vino
ringing a hostess presentto a party is about asclassy as it comes …
but it can be stressful to pickout yet another gift thatmight go unappreciated.Don’t just show up withyet another boring bottleof wine this year! Pack-age that booze with abunch of cheer with theSanta Pants Wine BottleHolder. These cute KrisKringle knickers holdtwo (inexpensive) bot-tles of sparkling wine,creating a holiday no-brainer. Availablefor $9.95 at HomeWetBar.com.
B
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Hair She IsFive Tips For HealthyHoliday ’Dos
elcome to the busiest seasonof the year, when you are ex-pected to do more, and look
your absolute best. Don’t let all that holi-day stress go straight to your head— or asthe case may be,your hair! Instead, take afew preventative measures to ensure yourhair is nothing short of gorgeous.“Whether you are going to a big office
party or having a small, family celebration,you want your hair to look fabulous,”saysMahisha Dellinger, founder and CEO ofCURLS, which specializes in organic hairproducts for naturally curly hair. “But itjust so happens that the holiday seasoncomes during one of the most challengingtimes for hair, so you have to take action.”For healthy tresses this season, try
these tips before things get hairy (sorry,couldn’t resist!):
Pre-condition. Before the holidaysarrive,pre-condition your hair with a good,all-natural,deep conditioner. Add in a littleextra olive oil for amazing shine.
Get regular trims. No matter how busyyou are, don’t skimp on regular trims,which are essential to maintaining beauti-ful hair.
Keep it natural. Forget about twistingyour hair into new positions and shapes.Keep it stress-free.
Wash less. Did you know the less youwash your hair, the better? Washing dailystrips it of natural oils, thus drying it out,especially during the winter months.
Skip the heat. Many people like to usesome sort of heat source on their hair, toeither dry or curl it, which can be quitedamaging to the hair. Avoid using heatwhenever possible.
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Gifts From The HeartMake A Difference This Season
bviously, ’tis the season for giving. But this year, in-stead of purchasing a present no one remembersthree months later, why not give a gift that helps
women and girls — and pets! — around the world?Global Giving is a virtual marketplace dedicated to philan-
thropy that allows shoppers to choose from more than 1,000pre-screened causes. Groups in the marketplace provide real-world solutions to help educate children, feed the hungry,build houses and infrastructure,protect our environment,em-power women (and men), rescue animals,and support activemilitary and veterans, among other causes.Gift cards start at just $10 ... but the value is so much more.
A gift card of $10 could be used to feed a Cambodian orphanfor 10 days;a $35 card could pay for a girl’s school fees for onemonth;and a $150 gift card could cover the medical expensesfor a shelter dog that is placed with a war veteran.For information, visit globalgiving.org. [TCW]
By Melinda Johnston | Photos By Michael C. Hernandez
Golden OpportunityWithout a doubt,Charles is living her dream.
Her success is a testament to networking, or-ganization, and perseverance. And she says thefact that she went to an all-girls’high school wasan added bonus.“I’ve always loved art. I drew all the time
when I was younger. But I didn’t start makingjewelry until high school. I went to an all-girls’school and we had to wear uniforms. When youare all dressed alike, what separates you?Accessories! That’s when I made my firstbracelet,” she says.
She’s been creating jewelry ever since.After earning a marketing degree, Charlesmoved from Michigan to Memphis, Tenn.,where she worked as a marketing director fora major corporation during the day and craft-ed jewelry at night. After doing double duty fora few years,she quit her day job to put 100 per-cent of her effort into her own company.She’s never looked back.“I work 55-plus hours a week and many
weekends,but I love it,”Charles says. “It’s a joyand I can’t imagine doing anything else.”Her initial concept was simple, and her
Jewelry Designer Chelsea Charles CelebratesA Year Of Good Fortune
If jewelry designer Chelsea Charles was counting her blessings this year, she wouldn’t have to look beyond her own delicate wrists.The 32-year-old creator of Count Me Healthy bracelets — which have been spotted on celebrities such as Taylor Swift, SelenaGomez, Lauren Conrad, Cameron Diaz, and Fergie — has experienced a year full of surprises and accomplishments.
Her Count Me Healthy jewelry line, described by Charles as beautiful journals for your wrist, is for sale in over 500 boutiquesnationwide, and has appeared in more than a dozen fashion and women’s magazines. Charles was recently a guest on Dr. Oz.She signed a contract this spring with Belk department stores to market her jewelry, which includes Pretty Little Remindernecklaces and earrings. Last but not least, Charles is six months pregnant with her first child, a baby boy.
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innovative design provided a refreshingslant on a traditional pastime.“One of the best ways to reach your
goals is to journal, but that’s not alwaysconvenient,” she says. “You can’t carryaround a pad and pencil all the time.Count Me Healthy bracelets are a beautifulway to wear your journal on your wrist.”The delicate gold, rose gold, and ster-
ling silver bracelets contain beads that thewearer can space out andmove across thebracelet as the day progresses. The beadsact as gentle reminders to (take your pick)drink a number of glasses of water,walka number of miles, lose a number ofpounds,appreciate a number of blessings,or think happy thoughts, and so on.“It’s a heartfelt gift,” Charles says.
“When you give it to somebody,there areso many different things they can count.And it’s fun, too. For instance, the GolfGoddess bracelet,sold in country clubs na-tionwide and in Canada, helps womencount their golf strokes, taking the placeof traditional counters on your beltor bag.”
Labor Of LoveFor Charles, success didn’t happen
overnight. The design process took manymonths, and she counted many failuresamong the prototypes.“One of the main issues was getting the
beads to stay where I wanted them.I probably made over 100 prototypes toget the finished product,” she says.She’s since received two patents for
the design.Once satisfied with the prototype,she
worked with a jeweler friend to refine itand put it into production. Her networkof contacts then helped secure herbracelets a place in Hollywood.“My jewelry has been in the official
Oscar bags and the official Grammy bags,”she says. “Because my jewelry is dainty in-stead of overpowering,I think celebritieslike it. We also use a lot of tri-colors anddo stacking.”These days, Charles looks forward to
getting up each morning,never knowingexactly what the day will bring.“There is no typical day,” she says.
“When you run your own business,eachday is totally different. I workout eachmorning — I love Pilates and have a re-former in my house— and then I start de-signing, talking to people, and dealingwith issues that come up. I also visit lotsof different Belk stores promoting myline.”In her spare time she adds to her blog,
Counting With Chelsea, found on herwebsite chelseacharles.com. She alsotakes time to consider new goals andaspirations.“My dream would be to expand the
jewelry line to bags and other small ac-cessories,” Charles says.Hers is an all-female business with a
publicist, four customer service reps,anda warehouse team based in Memphis thatdistributes Chelsea Charles jewelry acrossthe United States. And giving back is partof the company plan; she is active inwomen’s charities,with a percentage ofsales from certain styles donated to breastcancer research and heart disease pre-vention programs.
“I didn’t start making jewelry until high school. I went to an all-girls’ school and we had to wear uniforms. When you are all dressed alike, what separates you?Accessories! That’s when I made my first bracelet.” — Chelsea Charles
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Charles has followed her dream andwatched it come to fruition; likewise, sheencourages others to do the same — with anote of caution thrown in.“If this is your dream, then go for it. But
make sure you have a plan. You can’t just say,‘I’m going to draw,’ or ‘I’m going to design.’You have to understand all elements of thebusiness,and you have to have a business planto make it successful,” she says.“And you have to have a fire inside of you.
It must be a passion. It took years for my busi-ness to makemoney,but I wouldn’t have it anyother way.”
ToLearnMoreVisit chelseacharles.com or belk.com.[TCW]
Melinda Johnston would countherself lucky if a ChelseaCharles bracelet was underthe tree this year!
Food For ThoughtFood For ThoughtFood For ThoughtFood For ThoughtFood For Thought
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By Deb Mitchell | Photos By Joe Martin
For The PeopleBorn in Rock Hill,S.C.,Carter has always“root-
ed for the underdog.” Her family rarely had a hol-iday meal that didn’t include someone in need.“I’ve always wanted a job where I could help
people,” she says.Carter earned a bachelor of arts in political sci-
ence fromWinthrop University, and a master’sin public administration from the University ofSouth Carolina. Before long,she found a people-centric job working for the town of Camden,S.C.,
and then landed a position as city manager inYork, S.C. Seven years later,Carter became thedirector of the Department of Social Services inYork County.“I spent a lot of time getting to know people
in need as I worked with programs like foodstamps,adoption services,and senior services,”she says.At DSS,Carter was responsible for a variety of
duties, however, she always gave special focusto projects that helped the needy. She thought
Kay Carter Changes Her WorldAt Second Harvest Food Bank
Food. It’s a top priority for us all. But for Kay Carter, executive director of Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, food isn’tjust a necessary element of life, it’s a career — and one that helps countless others in need throughout the Carolinas each year.
Since taking the helm of the 31-year-old nonprofit agency in 2004, Carter has infused the Charlotte-based food bank— whichserves 19 counties in North and South Carolina — with her enthusiasm, her eye toward efficiency, and her tireless support forthe area’s needy.
“What I do isn’t easy — it’s just rewarding,” Carter says. Today’sCharlo
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PHOTOCOURTESY
OFSECONDHARVEST
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she would never leave her career at DSS,accepting the job at Second Harvest iswhat Carter enthusiastically calls “the bestwork decision I’ve ever made!”These days, she has no regrets about
signing on to head the staff of 38. “Theyare very special,” Carter says. “They’rean eclectic group on the surface,but theyall share the mission of ending hungervery clearly.”
Boundless EnergyAs executive director at Second Har-
vest, Carter wears many hats. She arrivesat the warehouse by 6 a.m. nearly everymorning. She spends the majority of hertime calling on financial donors and fooddonors; working with Second Harvest’s
board of directors locally; partneringwith the organization’s 600 partner agen-cies; and overseeing all of the operationsof the food bank’s five locations.In addition,Carter manages Second Har-
vest’s Backpacks for Kids, which sendsfood home on weekends and holidays tochildren at risk of hunger. She overseesGo Green, which “rescues” food thatwould otherwise be thrown out from areagrocery stores,hotels,and restaurants. Sheworks tirelessly with Second Helping,which distributes food to seniors. She of-ten sorts food alongside staff and volun-teers in the warehouse. Other days, shecan be found“suiting up” in business at-tire to raise funds at evening and week-end events.
One of her biggest challenges — andan area where Carter has led SecondHarvest to award-winning success — isproduct turnover. “The board memberswho hired me were clear that they want-ed to see us meeting more communityneeds,”Carter says. “The product doesn’tdo anybody any good if it’s sitting in thewarehouse.”She thought the best way to do this
would be to take in more product,and dis-tribute it faster. Carter has successfully in-creased the food donations annually from7 million pounds when she started withSecond Harvest to over 38 million poundsfor the year ending June 30, 2012.Adding to the challenge of maximizing
speed and efficiency is Second Harvest’s
“I’d like to impress on people that there are a lot of people in our community who are hungry every day, and every donation —every can of food, every hour of volunteering — counts.” — Kay Carter
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commitment to providing ultra-perishablefresh produce,meat, and dairy items to theunderprivileged. “People can least affordthese items,”she states,“but they are essen-tial for everyone.”
A (Busy) SeasonOf HopeAt home inYork,Carter settles in with her
extensive music collection,and her two cats— Jett,after rocker Joan Jett;and Cash,as inJohnny Cash— to tackle Second Harvest pa-perwork. She lives near extended family,anddoesn’t miss a chance to spend time withthem. But she admits that breaks are few andfar between.“I work a ton,” Carter says. “The older
I get, the more I want to work to help peo-ple. Some people slow down as they getolder, but I just speed up! I can’t imaginenot working,as long as I’m doing somethingproductive.”During the holidays,when donations and
volunteers are at their peak,Carter says thework is “blistering.” At other times, whenneed is high and donations are down,Carterworks even harder to maximize resources.Educating the community is a top prior-
ity for Carter. “I’d like to impress on peoplethat there are a lot of people in our com-
munity who are hungry every day,” shesays, “and every donation — every can offood,every hour of volunteering— counts.”She downplays her role in Second Har-
vest’s effectiveness. “If I have any talent atall, it’s in hiring people who are smarter thanme, and then getting out of their way.”Regardless,Carter is talented at instilling
hope in those she manages in the ever-pre-sent face of adversity.“We get tired,” she says. “I’m not a person
who gets discouraged very often … but ifyou don’t keep everything in context, it canbe overwhelming. I love what MotherTeresa said: ‘If you can’t feed 100 people,feedjust one.’ I tell the staff, ‘We do the very bestwe can every day; we feed everyone wecan.’ ” [TCW]
ToLearnMoreVisit secondharvestmetrolina.org forinformation about donations orvolunteering efforts.
PHOTOCOURTESY
OFSECONDHARVEST
Deb Mitchell is a freelancewriter in Huntersville who felthonored to be a part of thisstory.
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he only thing more fun than exploring the world of wine is sip-ping on wine as you do the exploring. I’m constantly putting thatphilosophy into practice! Just recently,I came across an unexpectedkeeper— a wine made in Georgia (the country,not the state). Thesewines were made from the Saperavi grape; the wines I tasted werea selection from the Gorelli winery,which is located in the Kakhetiregion of Georgia.But first, a little context. Archeological evidence indicates that
the Caucasus region was the birthplace of wine. It turns out thatwine actually invented itself. Some 8,000 years ago,Neolithic manfigured out how to store stuff for later consumption — a revolu-tionary concept at the time. Some enterprising soul decided to putaside some tasty grapes to see his tribe through the winter months.What he didn’t take into account, however, was the force of grav-ity, which caused the grapes in their ceramic container to crushthemselves. Natural fermentation occurred, and wine made its en-try onto the world stage.The world has never been the same since.
In The BeginningI get a kick out of imagining the bravery of
the first person to try this strange,new liquid…and the moral dilemma he or she faced after thefirst sip. Should the good news be shared withthe whole tribe, or should the new discoverybe kept under wraps? Envision the ensuingconversation: “Hey guys, we’ve really got ashortage of water. Why don’t you divide whatwater we have among yourselves,and I’ll takeone for the tribe and subsist on this funkygrape residue?”However it truly transpired at
the time, it got us to where we are today.When you sip on a glass of wine made from the Saperavi grape,
you’re shaking hands with the dawn of wine history.
JewelsCelebrate The Dawn Of WineWith An Obscure Grape
GeorgiaBy Trevor Burton
WineUp
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For such a small country,Georgia has ahuge amount of indigenous grapes. Al-though there are some 400 of them tochoose from,only 40 or so varieties are of-ficially grown for winemaking. Saperavi is,by far, the most widely used. In Georgian,Saperavi literally means “paint” or “dye.”The Saperavi grape has a very dark skinand is one of the few grapes that has redrather than white flesh. Not surprisingly,the wine has an intense, dark color.These wines are far from shy. They fea-
ture deep aromas and flavors. They havea huge, earthy taste that’s accompaniedby deep coffee and chocolate notes. Allthat good stuff is followed up by somepowerful, dark fruit tastes.These are definitely Old World style
wines,as opposed to wines we find in theNapaValley,for example. With most winesfrom the New World, it’s the fruit tastesthat come first; these wines are describedas “fruit-forward.” It would be a fool’s er-rand to try and define which style — NewWorld or Old World — is best. They arewhat they are, and should be enjoyed forjust that. It all depends on your personaltaste. Remember, the only person in theworld who has your palate is you.
A Heavy LightweightThe alcohol level in Georgian wines is
extremely low. I found it amazing thatwines this deep and robust had anABV (al-cohol by volume) of just 12 percent. (Theusual level you see in wines with thismuch body is 13.5 percent and above.)The good news is, you don’t have to re-strict yourself; you can have severalglasses of Georgian wine!Which brings me to another point.
These wines are sometimes referred to as“no headache wines.” Many people are un-able to drink red wines because of the re-sulting headache. It seems that Georgianwines are an exception. Maybe it’s theSaperavi grape,maybe it’s Georgian wine-making methods — but for whatever rea-son, these wines allow people to enjoythe many pleasures that red wines have tooffer,without punishment.How do you select a Georgian wine?
Most likely, you’ll see the Saperavi grapelisted on the label. Even if the name isn’tthere, it’s a good bet that the wine is madefrom Saperavi or is a blend of the grape—Cabernet Sauvignon is often usedfor blending. One thing you have to lookfor is the region where the wine was
produced. The name you’re looking for isKakheti — the main wine-growing regionin the country, i.e., the region where thereally good wines come from.These wines are priced to sell. Geor-
gian winemakers are trying to carve out aniche in the American wine market, sothey’re pricing their wines attractively.You’ll find them for around $15. One ofthe wines I tasted was special,and carriedthe title of a Grand Reserve. Like the GranReserva wines of Spain, this wine hadbeen aged for several years in oak barrelsand then further aged in its bottle. It’s astandout wine that commands a higherprice,at about $50. A little on the high end… but we all need that special treat oncein a while.So, whether it’s going for an excep-
tional wine or an everyday wine, it’s wellworth the effort to seek out some of Geor-gia’s gems. Each bottle brings with it sev-eral millennia of wine history. [TCW]
Wine aficionado Trevor Burton ispretty certain he would have keptthe discovery of wine a secret ...at least for a little while.
l
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ome folks have their Christmas tree up andsnowmen on display before their Halloweenpumpkins are packed away. Others ap-proach holiday decorating with dread. Ifyou’re loath to deck the halls,don’t despair.More and more folks are enlisting profes-sional designers to decorate for them.Deborah Bell,of Deborah Bell and Com-
pany, is one of those professionals.Though she devotes much of the year todesigning weddings, parties, and otherspecial events and celebrations, comeNovember and December, she’s busyhanging wreaths, draping mantles, deco-rating trees, and adding seasonal pizzazzto area homes.If you can’t imagine someone else
arranging your Snow Village or wrap-ping garland around your handrails,Bellunderstands. But whatever your deco-rating style — whether you turn thetask over to the professionals or are adecorate-it-yourselfer — she has a fewsimple (and free!) tricks of the tradethat are sure to add the holiday wowfactor to your home this season.>
Behind TheMerry Scenes
S10 Tips For Decking The Halls,From Designer Deborah Bell
By Melinda JohnstonPhotos By Glenn Roberson
Styled By Deborah Bell
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1. Define your style.“Decide if your home will be decorated in a traditional,
or contemporary,orVictorian,or eclectic style,”Bell says. “Andby eclectic,I don’t mean dragging out everything you own andspreading it out all over your house. You need to decideon your style, then select and arrange your decorationsaccordingly.”
2. Pay attention to the little details.“Tags on lights are one of my pet peeves!” she says. “Even
in a professionally decorated home, you may find tags stillhanging on the lights. Cut them off. It makes a big difference.”
3. Fluff, fluff, and fluff some more.“Sometimes, I’ll go into someone’s home with beautiful
decorations on display, but they aren’t showcased well be-cause they were just brought out of the attic and weren’tfluffed. The wow factor is gone. Make sure you straighten allbows, pull up garland, smooth out wrinkles, and do anythingelse that needs to be done to freshen the items up beforedisplaying.”
4. Group things in collections.“If you group things together — like angels or trees or rein-
deer — the items will be much more impactful than if they arespread all around the house. Think individual scenes. It’smore impressive.”
5. Size matters! Do things to scale.“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but everything must
be done to scale,” Bell insists. “If you love colored lights, usethem. If you love big bulbs,use them. But don’t put big lightson a skinny tree. And if you use small lights, plan on havingenough to make an impact. If you have a fat,9-foot tree and areusing small bulbs, you are going to need 50 to 100 strands tomake an impact. And they shouldn’t just be wrapped aroundthe outside of the tree. Lights need to be woven in and out ofthe branches. Decorations should be hung from the inside out,with larger items toward the center of the tree.”
6. Decorate in layers.“Layering is really important. A large Santa Claus is great,but
put another element with it to add depth.”
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7. Don’t be afraid of red and gold.“From an interior design standpoint,Christmas red and gold can
go in anywhere, no matter the color of the room,”Bell says. “Butthat doesn’t mean you have to use those colors. It’s the holidaysand it’s your house. Use colors that make you feel good.”
8. Think green.“Give a new look to old decorations by using them in another
room or setting. Mix it up. Andwhen you pull out a decoration thatlooks a little mussed,don’t automatically discard it. Pull it apart anduse the elements in a different way. Use it in a wreath or arrange itin a glass vase with a vine. Repurpose as much as you can.”
9. Take your time.“Don’t decorate on a moment’s notice. Put up garland, add a
couple elements,and then leave the room. Come back later to seehow it looks or what needs to be added. Be patient and don’t rushthe process. It will make a big difference.”
10. Plan ahead for a stress-free 2013.“If you want to make decorating less stressful next year, take
your time un-decorating this year,”Bell says. “Roll lights individu-ally — don’t shove them in a box in one massive ball. And don’tjust buy one big tub and shove everything in — that’s the waythings get broken. Invest in stackable ornament boxes with indi-vidual compartments to ensure your treasured decorations will beenjoyed year after year.”
ToLearnMoreVisit deborahbellandcompany.com. [TCW]
NEW NAME. NEW PLACE.SAME INCREDIBLE EDUCATION.
Crosland does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, marital status, disability, religion, creed, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational programs, admissions, financial aid policies or employment practices.
For over 30 years Dore Academy has been the premier LD and ADHD educational resource in Charlotte, and it’s about to get even better. This year we've moved to an amazing new campus and have changed our name to The John Crosland School.
John Crosland Jr. has overcome the challenges of dyslexia to become one of the region’s most successful businessmen and philanthropists. More than most people, Mr. Crosland intimately understands the impact a focused education can make for children with LD.
Visit us today to join us in our exciting new chapter.
To Savor & To ShareSet the mood for special holiday moments with the heartening aroma ofcrisp fir needles, cedarwood, and relaxing sandalwood, found only with
the Frazier Fir scented Candles by Thyme. Complimentary gift wrap.
The Mole HoleColony Place • 7741 Colony Road | Charlotte, NC
704.543.9969
�Make Your Own Spark This SeasonEye Candy Boutique specializes in fashion with great prices and excellent quality. Comein and capture your beauty in fashion.
Eye Candy BoutiqueThe Village at Southpark | 4310 Sharon Road, Suite T13 | Charlotte, NC704.364.2315 | [email protected]
For Giving & Receiving
TCW Picks For The Season
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�Express Yourself WithArtful AccessoriesTake an arm accessory to a new level with a leather wrap-watch fromLa Mer Collections, or add some edge to a cocktail dress with a craftedpiece from House of Harlow 1960 or Kendra Scott. You can find theseceleb-loved lines and much more at Lipp Boutique!
Stepping out in our southern winter has never been so much fun. Color,texture, versatility and details ... you’ll find them all at Leah & Co. Boutique.
Known for jewelry, accessories and now clothing.Come on in and kick it up a notch!
Leah & Co. BoutiquePromenade on Providence | Beside Ann Taylor Loft
And The Bead Goes OnThese double-strand necklaces are our favorite finishers that polish off everyensemble with a perfectly subtle pop of color. The muted colors and texturedbeads are sophisticated yet fun, and match every outfit! Equally as fabulouswith your favorite little black dress as your favorite boyfriend jeans, thesenecklaces will be your new wardrobe staple!
The Cheeky BeanBallantyne Village | 14815 Ballantyne Village Way | Charlotte, NC704.543.8773 | thecheekybean.com
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Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?
In the lane, snow is glistening.
A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight,
Walking in a winter wonderland.
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?
In the lane, snow is glistening.
A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight,
Walking in a winter wonderland.
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?
In the lane, snow is glistening.
A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight,
Walking in a winter wonderland.
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?
In the lane, snow is glistening.
A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight,
Walking in a winter wonderland.
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?
In the lane, snow is glistening.
A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight,
Walking in a winter wonderland.
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?
In the lane, snow is glistening.
A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight,
Walking in a winter wonderland.
Willow and Clay Deco Embellisheddress, $98; with Willow and ClayContrast Tuxedo Jacket, $108.Belk & Belk.com
Opposite page, Lotusstatement necklace, $88.Ann Taylor & Anntaylor.com
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WinterWhiteWinterWhiteWinterWhite
tBy Dana Durham
here’s just something magical about a white Christmas. The idea of a frosty winter landscapein December conjures candy canes and steaming cups of cocoa, prancing horses pullingbell-laden sleighs, Brenda Lee rockin’ around the tree, and white fuzzy sweaters mixed withbrightly colored mittens. And then comes reality. In Charlotte, our chances for a snowyholiday season rank right up there with no traffic on I-77 at 5:30 p.m. In other words, aboutas likely as world peace! Still, a girl can dream. Here, a sprinkling of pristine, winter-whitewares ... just right for a wishful wonderland.>
Promenade on Providence,BesideAnnTaylor Loft5341 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy Charlotte,NC 28277
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White Hot!White Hot!White Hot!White Hot!
Sequin fringe dress, $295.Ann Taylor & Anntaylor.com
Circle feather handbag, $135.Ann Taylor & Anntaylor.com
Satin perfect pump withback button detail, $195.
Ann Taylor & Anntaylor.com [TCW]
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National Association of Women Business Owners, Charlotte Chapter, is a professional organization specifically designed to fuel the success of the 42,000 women-owned businesses in the greater Charlotte area.
Byron's South End 101 W. Worthington Ave, #110 Charlotte, NC 28203
NAWBO-CHARLOTTE PRESENTS
JANUARY 8, 20135:00pm - 7:30pm
February 5, 2013, 11:30 am
Sheila Neisler
For more information:NAWBOcharlotte.org
704. 367. 3454
JOIN US NEXT MONTH
Log on to NAWBOCharlotte.org for details
Founder, Catalyst Marketing
Catalyst Founder Sheila Neisler helps business owners Start Something in January with an engaging marketing workshop designed to help you innovate and accelerate your business success in 2013.
Please join us to start your year with renewed focus, and new ideas to share your message with prospects and customers alike. Come for networking, dinner, and to hear our special guest. Start Something this year with NAWBO.
Join the conversation:
Michael C. HernandezHappy-Go-Lucky, Photographer
704.737.1737 | capturehappy.com
EDITORIAL • MARKET ING BRANDING • COMMERCIAL
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Call us today! You’ll be so glad you did.
Dr. Erika V. Burley, DMD | 2907 Providence Rd, Ste 300 | Charlotte, NC 28211704.364.7832 | www.burleycosmeticdentistry.com
ake the beauty-conscious folksin your life merry and bright with
gifts sure to please. From eye-poppingpalettes to holiday-inspired lotions,potions, and polishes, these goodies areperfect to give … and receive!
Beauty
Give TheGift OfGorgeous
WaresByFiona Harmon
Smashbox Studio Pop Eye PaletteThis kit of 20 eye shadowsoffers an array of choices.$49 • Beauty Brands &
BeautyBrands.com
Nightly BeautyThis delicious drink, full of vitaminsand collagen peptides, promoteshealthy skin and sound sleep.$49.99/box • Beautyfoods.com
M
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Worthy OfWrapping
Clarisonic MiaCool cleansing system in a seasonal paletteof white, wintergreen, and pale peppermint.$119-$149 • Beauty Brands &Beautybrands.com
Yamerra All-Natural Facial Serum& Shea Body ButtersIncluding Sultry Mango, Home Sweet HomeHoney Vanilla, and Lemon Fire Bliss.$20/serum; $12/butter • Yamerra.com
OPI Nail PolishesOffering holiday huessuch as Tangled InTinsel and Ask MeWho I'm Wearing.
$4.98 • Beauty Brands& Beautybrands.com
Chi Luxe Luxury Shine & Hold DuoThe perfect prep for flat iron styles.
H A P P E N I N G S Y O U D O N ’ T W A N T T O M I S S
SwingtownNnenna Freelon & The John Brown Big Band
elebrate swing and enjoy an evening with six-time GRAMMY® Award-nominee Nnenna Freelon — also known as The Jazz Diva — Dec. 15 atMcGlohonTheater.
The Swing Jazz Series is a four-part concert event celebrating the spirit of swing.Presented by the Jazz Diva Foundation and the PerformingArts Coalition,the eventwill showcase the John Brown Big Band, accompanied by internationallyrenowned artists Freelon,Terence Blanchard,Tia Fuller, and Jon Faddis.
WantToGo?McGlohonTheater is located at Spirit Square, 345 N.College St.Visit blumenthalarts.org.
PHOTOBYJEFFCRAVOTTA
Get Your Jingle OnTo Benefit Battered Women’s Shelter
ick off December with a jolly jingle — and help areawomen in need — by attending the Jingle Bell Bash Dec.1,from 7 to 11 p.m., at Wells Fargo Atrium, 301 S.Tryon St.
The Jingle Bell Bash, which raises money for United FamilyServices’new Shelter for BatteredWomen, includes an open bar,heavy hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment from Soul Play, com-plimentary valet parking,and a silent auction. Tickets are $65 aperson, or $115 for two. VIP tickets are available.
hat better way to rediscover the magic and inno-cence of the holidays than spending a little timewith Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy? A longtime
Charlotte tradition,NC DanceTheatre’s“Nutcracker”is slatedfor Dec.8 through Dec.23 at BelkTheater. “Nutcracker”fea-tures choreography by the celebrated Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux,live music performed by the Charlotte Symphony, and over100 dedicated performers.
WantToGo?BelkTheater is located at 130 N.Tryon St.Visit blumenthalarts.org.
K
W
CPHOTOBYJAMIELEA
Puppies ForPatientsSpread Cheer With CBCC
ake a difference in the lives oflocal children by participatingin the eighth annual Puppies
for Patients program, hosted by theCommunity Blood Center of the Caroli-nas through Dec. 31.Donors who give blood during this
time can sign a tag that will be attachedto a stuffed animal puppy that will bedelivered to children in area hospitalsand care facilities this holiday season.CBCC is a member of America’s
Blood Centers, North America’s largestnetwork of community-based, inde-pendent blood centers. The primaryblood supplier to 21 hospitals in the re-gion, CBCC relies on volunteer donorsand local organizations to help fill theneed for blood. And need is great: Onelocal children’s hospital alone requiresnearly 300 red blood cells and morethan 200 platelet units each month.Every drop of blood collected remainsin the Carolinas to help local patients.“Throughout the past seven years,
our donors,supporters,and communitypartners have gone above and beyondto be a part of Puppies for Patients,”saysMartin Grable, president andCEO of CBCC.“Together,weare bringing joy andcomfort to childrenduring their hospitalstay this holiday sea-son while savinglocal lives througheach blooddonation.”Ind iv idua l s
can donate bloodat a community blood drive, or visitdonor centers at 4447 South Blvd.; 363Church Street North, Suite 170, in Con-cord; 2524 E. Franklin Blvd., Suite E, inGastonia; and 600 Hospital Drive, inMonroe.
WantToGo?Visit cbcc.us or call 704/972-4700.
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Dec. 1-2“Magic Of Christmas”Charlotte Symphonycharlottesymphony.org704/972-2000
Dec. 19-Jan. 5, 2013“Winter Wonderettes”Actor’sTheatre Of CharlotteActorstheatrecharlotte.org704/342-2251
Through Dec. 23“The Best ChristmasPageant Ever”Children’sTheatre Of CharlotteCtcharlotte.org704/973-2828
Through Dec. 31“Holidays At The Garden”Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardendsbg.org[TCW]
HolidayHappeningsM
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HealthFlashW H A T Y O U N E E D T O K N O W T O S T A Y F I T A N D W E L L
COMPILED BY DANA DURHAM
You Are FeelingVery, Very ColdClinical Hypnosis Can ReduceHot Flashes
ccording to a study by researchers at Baylor University’sMind-Body Medicine Research Laboratory, clinical hyp-nosis can reduce hot flashes in post-menopausal women.
It’s interesting that hypnosis didn’t just slightly improvesymptoms for participating women. The study, which wasfunded by the National Center for Complementary and Alter-native Medicine of the National Institutes of Health, found thathypnotic relaxation therapy reduced hot flashes by as much as80 percent. Participants also experienced less anxiety, relieffrom depression, and an overall improved quality of life.The study was published inMenopause: The Journal of The
North American Menopause Society.The mind-body therapy study,which included 187 women
over a five-week period, measured physical symptoms of hotflashes, combined with women’s self-reporting of symptoms.“This is the first study in which we compared both self-re-
porting and physiological monitoring — not just a change intolerance or ability to cope, but the hot flashes themselvesdecreased,” says Dr. Gary Elkins, professor of psychology andneuroscience in Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences and direc-tor of the Mind-Body Medicine Research Laboratory.Participants received weekly sessions of hypnosis by
clinically trained therapists. They also learned to practice self-hypnosis using audio recordings and “cold” visualizations suchas a path covered in snow,or a cool mountain creek.By the fourth session, hot flashes had decreased about
70 percent. At a three-month follow-up,the decrease averaged80 percent.“Some women reported having nearly complete elimination
of hot flashes,” says Dr. Elkins.To be clinically significant, the decrease must be 50 percent
or more. Besides decreasing in frequency, the hot flashes alsobecame milder.“For women who want to be involved in their own therapy,
this is very appealing,”says Dr.Elkins. “It also has the advantagesof cost savings, and few or no side effects.”
A
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Ah, Sugar SugarDIY Vanilla Body Scrub
ooler weather is here, and along withthat comes dry, cracked skin and theneed to exfoliate. Beth Nielsen, chief
culinary officer of Nielsen-MasseyVanillas, has asecret recipe for an all-natural, indulgent treat-ment you can whip up in your own kitchen.“I use vanilla sugar in my homemade body
scrub,”Nielsen says. “The scent is relaxing, andit’s an affordable way to treat myself to a littlepampering.”Here’s a peek at her DIY body scrub recipe:
CVanilla BodyScrub
1 cup Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Sugar1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil1 or 2 drops of an essential oil, such as lavender or eucalyptusDecorative, waterproof containerMix ingredients together in a bowl. Spoon the mixture intoa decorative,waterproof container, and wrap in decorativepaper. When ready to use, apply a small amount to dampskin while in the shower or bath. Gently scrub skin with asoft washcloth, and rinse thoroughly.
he reality TV show “The BiggestLoser” centers around competi-tion to encourage overweight
participants to lose the most weightthrough healthy eating and exercise; thebiggest “loser”wins a cash prize. Whilethe showmay encourage its participantsto adopt healthy habits, one expert saysit actually discourages viewers from do-ing the same.“The depictions of exercise on showslike ‘The Biggest Loser’ are really nega-tive,” says study lead author TanyaBerry,a physical-activity promotion ex-pert at the University of Alberta, inCanada. “People are screaming andcrying and throwing up,and if you’re
not a regular exerciser, you might thinkthis is what exercise is — that it’s thishorrible experience where you haveto push yourself to the extremes andthe limits, which is completely wrong,”she says.
The study included 138 undergradu-ate students, split into two groups. Onegroup watched a small clip of extremeexercise from“The Biggest Loser,”whilethe other watched a segment from“American Idol.” Afterward, participantswrote down their first five thoughts,andcompleted a test and questionnaire toassess their attitudes about exercise.“We did find that the people who
watched ‘The Biggest Loser’ had worseattitudes about physical activity thanthose who watched the ‘American Idol’clip,”Berry says.The results were consistent, regard-
less of participants’ physical-activity lev-els or weight,and suggest that instead ofmotivating others to adopt healthy atti-tudes, shows like “The Biggest Loser”may encourage people to avoid exercise.The study will be published in the
January 2013 issue of the AmericanJournal of Health Behavior.
Exercise Might Be‘The Biggest Loser’Reality Show May Discourage Others
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HealthFlash
SodiumOverloadBeware The Salty Six
onsuming too much salt can causehealth problems, including high-blood pressure, heart disease, and
stroke. But cutting down on sodium isn’tas easy as putting down the chips andFrench fries. All sorts of common foodsare packed with sodium,which helps ex-plain why the averageAmerican consumesapproximately 3,400 milligrams of sodiuma day, more than twice the daily recom-mended amount.According to theAmerican HeartAsso-
ciation/American Stroke Association, thetop-six sources of sodium in today’s dietare:
Bread. Bread doesn’t taste especially salty,but one piece can have as much as 230milligrams of sodium — about 15 percentof the recommended amount per day.
Cold cuts and curedmeats. One serving of deli andpre-packaged turkey can contain as muchas 1,050 milligrams of sodium.
Pizza. One slice can contain up to 760milligrams of sodium; two can send youover the daily recommendation.
Poultry. Reasonable portions of lean,skinless, grilled chicken is healthy, de-pending on how you prepare it. But whenyou serve up chicken nuggets,the sodiumadds up — just 3 ounces of frozen,breaded nuggets can add 600 milligramsof sodium.
Soup. One cup of canned chicken noo-dle soup can have up to 940 milligrams ofsodium, and soup cans typically containmore than one serving.
Sandwiches. If bread and cured meatsare heavy on the sodium, then combinethemwith a little ketchup or mustard,andvoila! You can easily surpass 1,500 mil-ligrams of sodium in one sitting.
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here may be good news on thehorizon for those with multiplesclerosis: Two new trials show that
the cancer drug alemtuzumab (Campath)reduces the risk of MS relapse.MS occurs when a person’s immune
system begins attacking the coating ofnerve fibers. About 85 percent of MS pa-tients start with a form of the diseasecalled relapsing-remitting MS, wheresymptoms appear sporadically and thenpartially or completely fade away. Cur-rently, there is no cure for MS.Alemtuzumab is used to treat leukemia
and other cancers of the immune systemby altering the number and functions of acertain type of white blood cell — calledlymphocytes — that plays a major role inthe functioning of the immune system. Intwo clinical trials, British researchers ledbyAlastair Compston,of the University of
Cambridge,compared alemtuzumab withinterferon beta 1a, the most commonlyused drug to treat MS.The first trial focused on patients who
had never received drug treatment for MS.Relapse rates after two years were 22 per-cent for those given alemtuzumab,and 40percent for those given interferon beta1a. The second trial included patients whopreviously had been treated with either in-terferon beta 1a or an MS drug calledglatiramer, but had sufferedat least one relapsesince initial treatment.The relapse rates
were 35 percent forpatients who weregiven alemtuzumab,and 51 percent forthose who received in-terferon beta 1a.
Researchers also found that alem-tuzumab appeared to reduce the riskof MS-related disability such as the lossof coordination or the ability to walk.The findings were published in TheLancet. [TCW]
TMultiple Sclerosis Breakthrough?Cancer Drug Reduces MS Relapses
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AskTheExpert
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Dr. Ross W. NashRossW.Nash,DDS, is one of only 46 Accredited Fellows in the American Acade-my of Cosmetic Dentistry,meaning he has acquired extraordinary skills in the areaof esthetic and cosmetic dentistry.Founder of the Nash Institute for Dental Learn-ing, Dr. Nash is the epitome of “expert.” Here, he answers questions about Di-rect Composite Bonding.
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Q: What problems can composite bondingcorrect?A: Teeth that have been worn,chipped,broken or decayed can be restored withthese techniques. Teeth that are dark in color or have natural defects can be com-pletely veneered to create a new surface using composite bonding. Cavities infront or back teeth can be filled using bonded composite resin materials.
Q: Are the materials strong enough toreplace parts of a natural tooth?A:Yes. Modern composite resin materials are very strong and can be used inmany situations.
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Q: How long can composite restorations beexpected to last?A: In the proper clinical applications, five to ten years or even more is notunreasonable to expect for a well placed composite resin restoration.
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ne of the biggest cul-tural differences Inoted after wemoved to the Southwas the commonplace
practice of being asked,“What church do you go
to?” While at face value itseemed a neighborly enough inquiry, I
couldn’t shake the notion that folks wanted to put me in theproper box,wrap me in shiny preconceived paper, tie me upwith a corresponding bow— Baptist,Lutheran,or Catholic —and place me under their respective Christmas trees.As “none of the above,” I learned to take this social gambit
with a grain of salt. You see, I don’t go to church — and evenif I did,the church I would not be going to would be synagogue.I guess that would make it kosher salt?Don’t get me wrong. One of the reasons we bought our
house is because it’s within walking distance of temple — notthat I attend temple. But, having moved so far from all of mypersonal and cultural (damn)Yankee touchstones, I took com-fort in the prospect of “not being the only one here.”That said, I am a self-professed “bad Jew.” I have a sense of
history about my place in the bigger tableau,but I’ve never reg-ularly attended services, nor do I keep kosher. Out of respectfor my family, I’ve never worked on the most sacred day of theJewish calendar,Yom Kippur; and I attempt to pull togethersome form of Passover pseudo-seder. The only other holiday Iregularly observe is Hanukkah.Now, I appreciate a gift as much as any gal. But I am by no
means gelt ridden. For me,Hanukkah isn’t about presents; it’sabout feeling connected to my heritage.Our first year south of the Mason-Dixon Line,Hanukkah can-
dles were scarcer than hen’s teeth. After leaving empty-handedfrom the “umpteenth” store, I sat in my car and wept. (I dideventually track some tapers down at a big chain pharmacy,andalthough it may not have been a miracle on par with anevening’s worth of lamp oil lasting eight dark nights, it did seem
like a sign from God.)Here comes the perfect place for a confession: Hanukkah
also gives me a chance to indulge in a“guilty pleasure.” There’ssomething about striking a match that speaks to my senses.There’s the suggestive scraping sound, the scent of sulfur, themesmerizing flash of light, the thrilling rush of heat, accentedby an undeniable taste of danger — all constructed and con-sumed in the blink of an eye. Bonfires and leaf burnings, nowlargely things of the past, are some of the fondest memories ofmy early youth. To stand, face warmed by flame, and watchas curls of smoke ascended toward heaven filled me witha childlike ecstasy.It still does, but for more slightly grownup reasons.My great-grandmother Ida’s menorah— dented and dinged,
its shamash holder long lost (succeeded years ago by amakeshift replacement rigged from electrical wire and a cast-off ratchet wrench socket adorned by a crystal chandelierdrop bauble) — is a true family heirloom. Holding it in myhands as she did half a century ago and lighting the candles dialsa long distance connection that defies corporeal boundariesand religious convention.The dancing flames form a cosmic telephone,each night its
volume turned up a bit louder, that facilitates a ritual conver-sation between who I am now and where I came from— evenbefore I was born. Unanswered questions,small hopes,urgentfears, big dreams, are one by one relinquished to the flames.While I don’t actually hear the voices of my dead relativesspeaking to me,again, I’m comforted by an undeniable feelingof “not being the only one here”… and,pyromaniac or not,thatain’t chopped liver. [TCW]
T H E F I N A L W O R D
T H O U G H T S & M U S I N G S B Y C H A R L O T T E W O M E N
By Judy Cole
A Pyromaniac’sHanukkah
Judy Cole, a freelance writer living in Gastonia,loves lighting matches. However, she neithercondones nor participates in acts of arson, exceptthe verbal variety.
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Throughout her late teens and early 20s, Erica Lopez’slife was plagued by the anxiety of bikini tops, bra shoppingand generally being self-conscious. “It got so bad I juststopped shopping for tops because nothing seemed tofit right.”
Erica had a congenital disorder known as tuberous breastdeformity. “I had never heard of tuberous breasts. I justknew mine didn’t grow like everyone else’s.” At age 23,Erica decided to fly to Miami for surgery at the advice of afriend who had surgery there. “It was terrible. I had sentthem pictures and they quoted me a price, but when Ishowed up, they said I needed some extra surgery and itwould cost an extra $2,000. I flew back without having sur-gery, and felt totally taken advantage of.”
Erica consulted with several other plastic surgeons beforedeciding on Bill Kortesis, MD, at the Hunstad Kortesis Cen-ter and Medspa. “Every previous doctor that I talked withtold me I needed something different than what I wanted. Ihad done a lot of research by this point and had a prettygood idea of what I was looking for. When I meet Dr.Kortesis, he spent time asking me about my desired out-come. I felt that he really listened and cared about exactlywhat I wanted. It turned out that waiting to have surgerywith him was the best thing that could have happened tome,” she says.
“Erica was a textbook case of tuberous breast deformity,and honestly, she had been through a lot and I felt honoredto be able to make a difference in her life,” states Dr.Kortesis.
Erica reports the surgery experience was surprisinglyeasy. “Dr. Kortesis met with me and reviewed the entireprocedure, and then an anesthesiologist gave me medsthrough an IV. The next thing I knew, I was waking up andsurgery was over! After a couple hours of recovery with thenurse, I was able to go home and just a few days later, I wasback at work. I definitely thought I was going to be in muchmore pain, but mostly I was just sore.”
Erica can’t help but smile when asked how she feelsabout her body. “I’m a different person now. I’m moreconfident. I can finally fit into normal clothes! Dr. Kortesisliterally changed my life and I couldn’t be happier. I woulddo it again in a heartbeat!”
Dr. Kortesis is board certified by the American Boardof Plastic Surgery. To learn more about Dr. Kortesis orcosmetic procedures, visit www.HunstadKortesisCenter.comor call (704) 659-9000.
