Sophie Woman's Magazine Dec 2010 Issue

Sophie Woman’s Magazine Dec 2010 pg 1 Volume 6 - Issue 10December 2010

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‘Tis The Season For Giving pg. 11

Are You Ready To Rewire Your Thinking? pg. 19

Operation Shoebox pg. 23

Christy Watts CresonMeetAnd Read About Her Passion

pg. 33

pg 2 Sophie Woman’s Magazine Dec 2010

We recently received the good news that HealthGrades, the nation’s leading independent healthcare ratings organization, has given our Birthing Center the highest possible rating for quality of care of moms and babies.

Catawba Valley Medical Center is the only hospital in the Hickory region to receive Five Star Designation. HealthGrades scoring is based on maternal complication rates and neonatal mortality rates (find out more at healthgrades.com).

A HealthGrades rating is important because it helps consumers and employers make decisions on which hospitals and physicians to choose. But good ratings

are nothing new to Catawba Valley Medical Center. We’ve received three Magnet Awards for nursing excellence and three J.D. Power and Associates Distinguished Hospital designations, honors that were brought about by a constant striving for excellence among our physicians and nurses.

So if you’re planning on bringing a little one into the world, consider Catawba Valley Medical Center, where babies and moms get the tender loving care they deserve.

Trust Experience. Trust Technology. Trust Catawba.32ND MAGNET HOSPITAL IN THE NATIONTHREE-TIME AWARD RECIPIENT

828/326-3000www.catawbavalleymedical.org

Some of the peoplewho enjoy the benefits of our Birthing Center’s Five Star rating.

Sophie Woman’s Magazine Dec 2010 pg 3

Our octoberWinners

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Pro Winner: Capture Life Photography

Amateur Winner: Kasey James

from the

sophiewomansmagazine.com

by Judy Smith

Message

Be sure to visit our website at:Follow Us On Facebook@ Shutterbuggerz

First pneumonia and now a root canal…the next thing you know, someone is going to tell me there is no Santa Claus. Even if someone does, well, let me just set the record straight. I BELIEVE! For the past few weeks, they (I guess the elves), have been getting downtown Newton decked out for Christmas. They have been very busy hanging wreaths, putting out Christmas décor and hanging lights. Of course, they have to test the lights as they hang them so they leave them on as they are wrapping up the town. It is like having my very own Christmas Tree lighting. I even made a cup of hot chocolate and just watched them for a few minutes. How glorious it all is. There was even Christmas music playing. Well, not really. That was in my head. Which leads me to a question. Why does the singing that comes out of my mouth not sound as beautiful as it does in my head? That is almost as profound as another question I have yet to get the answer for. Why am I not near as smart awake as I am asleep? When I am asleep and dreaming, I must have a very high IQ. Things that I know and things that I can do are just astounding. During the day, though, I sometimes have a hard time just knowing my name. You probably don’t have any idea what I am talking about! Did I say I believe? Even Scrooge came around and he was a really tough one. How could he not? If you just open your senses to the season, your whole body will tingle or in my case, jingle! Hear the sounds, smell the scents, see the sights and just bask in the wonder of it all. So what if your singing does not sound as pretty out of your mouth. Sing it anyway! It is really pretty hard to mess up Jingle Bells. At least sing it in the shower. That always helps with the tone and if you do, I know you will feel so much better. One of my favorite Christmas hymns is O Holy Night. It sends chills through my whole body, right down to my toes. Just close your eyes and listen to it. It does not have to be on the radio or carolers singing it in front of your house…it is right there in your head and it is beautiful. Do you believe? Put me to the test right this minute and do it. Don’t you just love it? Keep those eyes closed for another minute and see the Christmas lights. How beautiful! Doesn’t that just make you relax and you feel less stress? Even if it is just for a moment. Did I say I believe? When I think of the words of that wonderful song, my mind is drawn back to the sight of other lights. The ones the angels hung that night for all to see. The Sheppard’s in the fields were just tending their sheep like any other night but they heard the singing. The guiding light that lead the way for the wise men so they could see with their own eyes. I believe every word! There was a baby born that night. A king was born in a manger and the world was sent a Savior. That is what Christmas is about. Do you believe?

From our Sophie family to yours, we wish you Merry Christmas!


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Disclaimer: Sophie Woman’s Magazine LLC is published monthly. The articles published in Sophie do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. All articles are intended for informational purposes only, and none should serve as a substitute for doctor’s advice and orders. Advertisers are solely responsible for the content and validity of information published within their ads and are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher. Deceptive or misleading advertising is not knowingly accepted by the publisher. Advertising is accepted with the understanding that all liability for copyright violations is the sole responsibility of the advertiser. All material submitted for publication is considered to be the sole propertyof the advertiser. Sophie Woman’s Magazine LLC’s publishers, staff, and other persons involved in the creation, production, or delivery of the magazine (in whatever format) or ti’s content, do not assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completness, or usefulness of any information provided in the magazine, nor shall they be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of the use of the magazine.

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21 East A StreetNewton, NC 28658(P) 828-466-0122(F) 828-466-0123

Editor: Judy Smith

Sales:Judy Smith

Debbie LewisRachel DeBlcokTerri Ferraguto

Graphic Design: Scott Hansley

Production Manager: Scott Hansley

Printing: RT [email protected]

Distribution: Scottie Townsend

Final Advertising DeadlineFor The Next Issue:

Dec 8th

SophieWoman’s Magazine

Attention Business Owners:Our readers are your customers!Designed to be a great read, Sophie Woman’s Magazine is written for and about women who are the key decision makers for the family in virtually all business categories. We regularly address matters of importance to women including health, education, home, and charitable events. Our advertisers appreciate the value of this loyal readership.

A Solid Investment During These Times Of Economic Uncertainty.You can expect solid results because together - with your ads and our content - we strengthen women, giving them confidence in themselves and their buying decisions. Your ad will be a standout in our publication and will bring greater return on your investment.

Advertise With Us!

For more information about advertising, contact one of our Account Representatives Today!

Rachel DeBlockAccount Representative(P) [email protected]

Terri FerragutoAccount Representative

(P) [email protected]

How to place an ad:Call our office at (828)466-0122 and leave a

message. One of our sales representatives will return your call as soon as possible. You may also

fax material to (828)466-0124. We reserve the right to refuse to run any ad we deem to be

controversial or in bad taste.

For more information about advertising or to view Sophie Woman’s Magazine online,

visit our website atwww.sophiewomansmagazine.com.


Please be sure to visit all our participating advertisers and remember to support area local

small businesses.

A Special Thanks To All Of Our Distributors

Follow Us On Facebook @ Sophie Woman’s Magazine

sophiewomansmagazine.com

Message From The Heart........................................pg 3Mandy’s Misadventures..........................................pg 7 The Cupcake Cutie.................................................pg 8 ‘Tis The Season For Giving.......................................pg 11The Story Behind “O Holy Night”.............................pg 12Kim Fletcher: Reaching Your Full Potential............pg 15Nicole Greer: Sophisticated Women....................pg 16Me, Myself, and Inc.............................................pg 19The Male Box.......................................................pg 20Girlfriends In God................................................pg 23Truth & Beauty by Teresa Pope............................pg 24Expectations of Christmas.....................................pg 25 The Front Porch....................................................pg 27The Sophie Shopper..............................................pg 28Dinner Diva...........................................................pg 30Let It Snow...........................................................pg 31 Passion; It’s In My Blood..................................pg 33The Gourd Lady...................................................pg 34How To Decorate Your House With A Puppy.......pg 37Shutterbuggerz.......................................................pg 39

Then enter to win our 2011 Bride of the Year Contest. Last year’s winner took home over $5000 worth of gifts and prizes from local ven-dors. To enter you can register on-line at www.sophiewomansmagazine.com or you can do it the day of the show. Must be present to win.

Brought to You By

Woman’s Magazine

The 2011 Bridal Event will be held at the:

Gateway Conference CenterHickory, NC

April 3rd, 2011 - 1pm to 4pm

We are now taking applications for vendors. For more information call 828-466-0122 or visit our website at sophiewomansmagazine.com to view the Bride of the Year information.

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Misadv en tur e sby Mandy ThomasMandy’s

Dear Santa,

I have been exceptionally good this year, and I can prove it.

I found three boogers in my coffee and did not yell, my

most favorite hairbrush was stolen and I did not cry.

My leopard heels were killed by a five year old aspiring supermodel and I hid in the closet for my meltdown so

as not to damage fragile psyches. Also, certain visiting

family members criticized my cooking, and I merely smiled and nodded. On top of all of this, a full grown

man who shall remain nameless may or may not have said in the heat of an argument that he is always right

and I let him believe it, plus, I went for three whole days without getting a shower because a girl under two

couldn’t bear to be away from me for more than five minutes.

So, Santa, I don’t think it would be too much to ask

for one day off for Christmas.

All I want for Christmas is one day where no one lunges at me, pokes my belly, hangs on various extremities, chews on my hair, pukes on my shirt, licks

me, probes up my nose with random objects, attempts

to pull off my pants in public venues, puts stickers on my body unbeknownst to me, tells me about their bodily functions, asks me how said bodily functions look, or wipes their face on my favorite shirt.

It would also be nice if the aforementioned grown man

would tell me that I’m right occasionally.

But just one day, Santa, because as much as I love the smell of my shampoo, somehow oatmeal lodged in

my hair from pudgy hands just smells better, and really,

pants are overrated.

Sincerely,Mandy

P.S. Merry Christmas to you and yours from me and my family.

Mommy’s Christmas List


Marisa Brown lives in Hickory, North Carolina with her husband Eric. They are both originally from Portland, Oregon. Marisa is an Account Execu-tive at Catawba Valley Staffing, Inc. She may be contacted at [email protected]

The Cup cake Cutie

IngredientsCupcakes:2 cups all purpose flour2 cups sugar1 teaspoon baking powder2 teaspoons baking soda1 teaspoon salt1 cup unsweetened cocoa1 cup oil (vegetable or canola-I use canola oil)2 cups warm water2 eggs1 tablespoon vanillaFrosting:1 stick softened butter (½ cup)1 8 ounce package of softened cream cheese¾ cup melted white chocolate½ teaspoon vanilla2 teaspoons peppermint extract4 ½ to 5 cups of powdered sugar

DirectionsPreheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pans with paper liners.In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, bak-ing soda, and salt; set aside.In a large bowl, mix together cocoa, oil, water, eggs, and vanilla. Add dry ingredients slowly and mix until smooth.Divide batter evenly among paper liners. Bake for about 20 minutes (until toothpick is inserted and comes out clean).While the cupcakes are baking, make the frosting. Melt the white chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave; set aside, let cool slightly.Beat cream cheese in a mixing bowl until smooth, gradually add in melted white chocolate. Beat in butter, vanilla and peppermint extracts.Gradually beat in powdered sugar until it is all incorporated and smooth.I like to split the frosting into two bowls and make half red and half green with a few drops of food coloring.Transfer cupcakes to a cooling rack once baked; let cool completely before icing.

December is full of parties and gatherings; these chocolate cupcakes with white chocolate peppermint frosting are D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S! They are full of chocolaty-minty goodness. They’ll be the hit of your holiday party or potluck at work. Yummy!

Short on time this holiday season? Make chocolate cupcakes from a box and just make the white chocolate pepper-mint frosting from scratch. Believe me, the frosting is well worth it!


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Casey Winebarger is an attorney at Patrick, Harper & Dixon, LLP in Hickory, North Carolina. She prac-

tices primarily in the areas of estate planning, elder law, and business and corporate law. Casey may be

contacted at 828-322-7741 or via email at [email protected]. Patrick, Harper & Dixon is

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‘Tis the Season for GivingBy: Casey Winebarger, Esq.

It’s the little things at this time of year that make me feel like it’s the holidays, whether it’s the smell of hot cocoa, the brisk chill in the air, or the crack of a warm fire. But none of these things immediately bring Christmas to mind quite like hearing the ring of the Salvation Army bell outside my favorite stores. As the ring of that bell symbolizes, the holidays are a time when people are in the spirit of giving, whether to their family and friends, their churches, or their favorite charity. But these gifts don’t just help out the recipients. If done correctly, giving may also help you save money on your taxes. The benefits of giving are two-fold. In the long term, gifting money or property removes it from your estate and lowers the potential estate tax burden that could result at the time of your death. If you give property that has appreciated in value since it was acquired, you remove that appreciation from your estate, too. Furthermore, if the appreciated property is given in-kind, rather than sold and its proceeds gifted, there is no taxable event, meaning you will not owe any income taxes on the accumulated gains. In the short term, giving can help reduce your income tax liability. This can happen in several ways. First, if you have property that has decreased in value since it was acquired, you could sell it and give the proceeds, thereby generating recognition of a loss. That loss could then be used to offset any gains you may have on your income taxes. Second, if you give to a qualifying charitable organization, you could get an income tax deduction in the year the gift was made. There are a few requirements you must satisfy in order to get this deduction. The recipient-organization must be a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity (a list of qualifying charitable organizations can be found in IRS Publication 78, “Cumulative Lists of Organizations Described in Section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code” available on www.irs.gov; this list is updated annually). You must also substantiate your gift with a receipt or cancelled check showing the date, recipient, and amount of the gift. If the gift is not cash, the receipt must include a description of the property. Finally, the charitable deduction is an itemized deduction; therefore, you must itemize in order to take it. The maximum you can deduct for charitable donations in one year is 50% of your adjusted gross income. Any excess can be carried forward to the next tax year. While gifting can help reduce your income and estate taxes, you should be aware that it could cause you to incur a gift tax liability. The IRS imposes a gift tax on all gifts of money and property, regardless of who the recipient is, which is charged to the donor. However, there are several exclusions and credits which prevent most folks from ever having to pay gift tax. In 2010 and 2011, the annual exclusion allows you to gift up to $13,000 per recipient per year without incurring gift tax or having to file a gift tax return. Married couples can collectively give up to $26,000 per recipient per year and still be excluded from the gift tax. For gifts over the annual exclusion amount, you have a lifetime credit of $1 million. This means that you can give up to $1 million over and above the annual exclusion amount without paying gift tax. You must, however, file a gift tax return in this instance.

As 2010 winds down and we start to buy holiday gifts for our loved ones, think about how you might also be able to give a gift to yourself – the gift of a lower tax bill on April 15. Remember, to be applicable to your 2010 taxes, your charitable donation must be received by the organization on or before December 31. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

DISCLAIMER: The content of this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal or tax advice. You should not rely solely on the information herein to make legal or tax-related decisions. You should consult an attorney or CPA for specific advice tailored to your unique situation.


The Story Behind O Holy Night O Holy Night was written by Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure in 1847. The music was written by Adolphe Charles Adams. Placide was known for his poetry, and the lyrics to his song are certainly poetry. He was approached by his parish priest to write something for the Christmas Mass, and this is what he came up with. He used the Gospel of Luke as his guide, and imagined what witnessing the birth of Jesus was like. He titled it “Cantique de Noel,” which has become known in English as “O Holy Night.” The song was performed three weeks after the music and lyrics were finalized at a Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. It spread across the church and France very fast, and was performed in many Catholic services. Later, when Placide left the church, and it was discovered that Adams was a Jew, the heads of the French Catholic Church decreed it “unsuitable” for a Catholic Mass. However, it continued to be popular and sung throughout France. Legend has it that on Christmas Eve 1871, in the midst of fierce fighting between the armies of Germany and France, during the Franco-Prussian War, a French soldier suddenly jumped out of his muddy trench. Both sides stared at the seemingly crazed man. Boldly standing with no weapon in his hand or at his side, he lifted his eyes to the heavens and sang, “Minuit, Chre-tiens, c’est l’heure solennelle ou L’Homme Dieu descendit jusqu’a nous,” the beginning of “Cantique de Noel.” After completing all three verses, a German infantryman climbed out of his hiding place and answered with, “Vom Himmel noch, da komm’ ich her. Ich bring’ euch gute neue Mar, Der guten Mar bring’ ich so viel, Davon ich sing’n und sagen will,” the begin-ning of Martin Luther’s robust “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come.” The story goes that the fighting stopped for the next twenty-four hours while the men on both sides observed a temporary peace in honor of Christmas day. Perhaps this story had a part in the French church once again embracing “Cantique de Noel” in holiday services. John Sullivan Dwight introduced O Holy Night to America. But he was an old man when on Christmas Eve, 1906, Reginald Fessenden broadcast a man’s voice over the airwaves. What he broadcast was the story of the birth of Christ from the Gospel of Luke. Following his reading, he picked up his violin and played O Holy Night - which became the first song ever sent through airwaves. Now it is a song recognized the world over and sung by many people. It is difficult, musically, because of the range a voice needs to cover all the notes that drop low, and go up to the high A. It can be difficult to play ac-companiment for the song because of all the triplets in the music. But it is wonderful when done well, and has been sung for many Christmas Masses and celebrations around the world.

Oh Holy NightOh holy night! The stars are brightly shining It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth! Long lay the world in sin and error pining Till he appear’d and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Fall on your knees Oh hear the angel voices Oh night divine Oh night when Christ was born Oh night divine Oh night divine

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming Here come the wise men from Orient land The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger In all our trials born to be our friend.

Truly He taught us to love one another His law is love and His gospel is peace Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother And in His name all oppression shall cease Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, Let all within us praise His holy name.


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We wish you and your family a happy and healthy holiday season.

Melinda Travis, R.Ph.401 West A StreetNewton, NC828.466.1500

Ron Harwell, R.Ph317 East 1st StreetConover, NC 28613828.464.4491

Don’t let the flu, cough and cold season get you down during the holidays. Make sure to stop by the Medicap Pharmacy® to find a great selection on over-the-counter medications, and a variety of vitamins to keep you healthy all year long. Thank you for you business and support over the past year. We look forward to serving your health care needs in 2011!

Sophie Woman’s Magazine Dec 2010 pg 15 pg 12/ Aug 2010 / Sophie Woman’s Magazine

by Kim Fletcher, Life Coach, Author, Speaker

REACHING YOUR FULL POTENTIAL:

Will you join our “Extreme Home Makeover” team?

“Only four days into my hospital stay, I was faced with the news that I was paralyzed. My choice to live was no longer just about me. I had to choose life if my unborn daughter was going to have a chance at life.” Windi Stevenson-Ghrist My friend Windi is the classic Californian… young, beautiful, spirited, tanned and full of life. Despite being ‘SoCal’ through and through, her dreams are the same as mine and yours. She longs for more peace in her heart, healthy relationships, and a comfortable home for herself and her children. But life has not come easy for Windi. On July 26th, 1987, at just 17, she lost her closest friend and companion, her 15 year old sister Casey as a wreckless car careened through a barrier where she and her sister were competing in a triathlon… her sister was hit on her bike, tossed into the air and died in Windi’s arms on the hot pavement. For years, grief, guilt and hopelessness filled Windi’s life, pushing her to the edge of strained family relationships, as she gave in to abuse, drug use and a defeated attitude. But in recent years, married and the mother of two, Windi was making every effort to pull her life together. She longed to create a new begin-ning for her young family. July 26th, 1987 was fading into the distance, but the anniversary of this day continued to bring much reflection. On July 26th, 2003, Windi was gripped with sadness as she rushed about in heavy freeway traffic making last-minute preparations for her daughter’s first birthday party. She was

lost in thought when an an-gry driver pulled alongside of her, rushed into her lane and slammed on his brakes, leaving her nowhere to go. As she swerved, her bumper tapped his, sending her car out of control and landing on its top. As a witness stopped to put out the fire that engulfed her car, Windi fought to hold onto con-sciousness so she could alert the EMS that she was five months pregnant and that her one year old daughter was in the back seat. Just four days into her hospitalization, Windi learned that she would be paralyzed due to a spinal cord injury. Her rehabilita-

tion would be delayed until her daughter was born. Finally discharged home from rehab to her plush Southern California suburb home, Windi’s next blow came from her husband who confessed to the affair that began while she was in the hospital. A woman had taken over her bed while she slept alone in the hospital fighting for her life. Now homeless, Windi faced new depths of despair that would be complicated when a California judge chose to award full custody of her two youngest children to her husband. I got to know Windi around that time, and even visited her in the group home where she lived with other severely disabled individuals. During these years, Windi has fought to stay alive and hold onto sanity.But things would get darker still when her ‘term’ in the group home ended and she was told that she had to find another place to live. With no income and no family willing to take her in, the only place she could go was into a nursing home. Windi called me last week from that place. And guess what??? After years of praying, jumping through legal hoops and holding onto hope, Windi holds the keys to her very own apartment! In fact, as you read this article she is moving in. There is only one problem… her only posses-sions are a hospital bed and a small TV. As she shared her great news, I was filled with a vision… this is where YOU come in! For Windi, “Extreme Home Makeover” is just another TV show. But together, we can make it her reality. My vision is to raise $10,000.00 secretly for Windi by the end of this year. I have a team already lined up to travel with me to California where we will take Windi shopping for furniture, linens and kitchen appliances. The remaining money will go into an account to assist her month to month so there is no risk of her losing her new home. Windi lost her sister, her husband, custody of her children, her home, her body and her hope. But we can help her rebuild! Will you join me? Please consider making a tax-deductible donation. Also, would you pass this story along to your civic group, church or business to appeal to their end of year giving? Please include a photo with your gift so we can compile an album for Windi of her ‘new’ community. Lets bring tangible HOPE to a true survivor who is courageously reaching her full potential. Kim Fletcher is a Life Coach and Life Advocate for the ‘Windi’s’ of the world. PLEASE MAKE YOUR CHECK PAYABLE TO: Life Compass and mail to Kim’s attention at 5719 Crown Terrace, Hickory, NC 28601. ALL PROCEEDS will assist Windi in rebuilding her life and a future story will highlight the impact of our “TEAM EFFORT”. Build a rela-tionship with Kim as your coach and learn more about our outreach by visiting lifecompassinternational.org or calling 828 327 6702.

This is a picture of Windi with her son Hunter.


By Nicole Greer, PPCC Founder and Principle Coach at Vibrant Coaching

Sophisticated Women AreWise

Nicole Greer, PPCC is a professional life and business coach. At its deepest level,

working with a coach frees you to indentify your birthright gifts, discern your deepest passions, and fulfill your highest purpose. Principal Coach for Vibrant Coaching and

Workshop Leader for The Lydia Group, LLC, a collaboration of individuals focused on work, life and spiritual growth, Nicole is on a mission

to impact, energize, and influence people to lead a Vibrant Life by engaging the possibilities. As

a life and business coach, speaker and workshop leader, Nicole views her role as a conduit to

release all that you want to achieve. Join me on the PATH to move forward with authenticity, skill and confidence. www.thevibrantcoach.

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I am not a philosopher. I am not a theologian. I am not a logician. I am not a theorist. However, I do explore philosophies. I crave a deeper theology. I long for logic and seek theories to embrace. But, what I really want for Christmas is wisdom. Wisdom is the great gift. Wisdom simply put is knowing right from wrong. A wise individual seeks to understand people, things, events, and situations with an uncanny ability to effectively and efficiently apply knowledge to produce positive results. Let’s consider the Christmas story of the three magi. The magi or wise ones provide a great example of obedience, perseverance, and faith. This historic account provides treasured insight into wisdom.

Ancient writings tell us that the wise look up. 1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Looking up requires you to seek solutions. Keep an optimistic viewpoint. You are bound to see potential when your vantage point is literally and figuratively “sky’s the limit”. And when gazing heavenward, then and only then can you discern the patterns spelled out that provide divine direction. What does your future hold?

Ancient writings tell us that the wise are generous. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Generosity requires you to be willing. Not just with your money or material things but with your talents. You must take responsibility for your personal gifts. Beneath the surface of your day-to-day existence lies potential and possibility. If you set out on a journey to deliver exquisite, rare, and precious goods to the world, what would they be?

Ancient writings tell us the wise follow the instruction of their dreams. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Dreams are real. They exist. You can’t deny the fact that you have ideals, something hoped for and mental images of what could be! The key is to follow their instruction. Pay attention. Dreams contain expectations of your potential. How can you step into your dreams? Taking a next right step can land you in the most surprising situation. Little did the wise ones know that their journey would lead them to a king that was toddling around the hem of his mother’s skirt. Without reservation, they demonstrated obedience. They looked up and stepped out into the ordained journey. They demonstrated perseverance. Diligently they harnessed their talents to navigate, negotiate and deliver precious gifts. Finally, with great faith they worshipped the most peculiar king they had ever held court with without reservation.

Word to the wise…Love God Completely.Love your selves correctly.Love others compassionately.

Matthew 2The Magi Visit the Messiah

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi [a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel. 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.


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Me, Myself,

& Inc.By Sherré DeMao

Are You Ready To Rewire Your Thinking? As I mentioned in my first column, I determined more than 15 years ago that work/life balance doesn’t work. Instead, I determined that work/life synergy where you embrace the three aspects of who you are – Me, Myself and Inc. – was a better more positive way to approach life and work. In this column, I wanted to give you a bit more insight so you can further shift from the balance mindset to the empowering, exciting synergy mindset. For many years of owning a business and living my life, like you, I had been under the misguided notion that there needed to be balance. The problem was it always meant choosing, adjusting, conceding, compromising, giving up, and maneuvering this or that in order to achieve this ultimate equilibrium. Everything that was being “balanced” was viewed as separate competing forces vying for my attention, pulling me in all directions along the way. As years continued to go by, I found myself getting more and more uncomfortable with the entire idea of balance. I found myself coming to the reality that it is never achievable, at least not in the way that I or anyone else was perceiving it to be. Being the eternal optimist, this idea of it not being achievable felt frustrating and disheartening. But then, I had an epiphany. I, we as a society, have had it all wrong. We have been focusing on the wrong side of the equation in this formula for a happier, satisfying existence. Work/Life Balance has become the mantra of every executive coach, training professional, magazine article, and a myriad of other resources that range from spiritual to being professed in a corporate values statement. Look in the dictionary and the definition for balance ranges from “a state of equilibrium or parity characterized by the cancellation of one set of forces by equal opposing forces” or “a satisfying arrangement or proportion of parts or elements.” And herein lies the problem. We are viewing our lives as these elements, parts, and opposing forces. Why is that? Why do we begin the whole process by viewing everything as separate and in conflict? It was at this moment of enlightenment that I began to change my entire view of how to achieve a satisfying work and personal life. It was not about balancing at all. It was something much greater and

much more exciting and exhilarating. It was and is about creating synergy in one’s life through honoring the three aspects of who each of us is – Me, Myself and Inc. Look up the word synergy in the dictionary and you find definitions such as “the interaction of two or more forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects” or “cooperative interaction that creates an enhanced combined effect.” No conflict, no forces going against one another, but rather a true sense of harmony being achieved in the most desirable way … positively and energetically. And the best part of all … the combined effort enhances and enriches to a greater sum than all those aspects separately could ever achieve. Now this is more like it! This is something I could embrace and run with … and that is exactly what I have done and you can too. So, how do you create synergy in your life? First, you must take a very honest look at what you truly and ultimately believe that you want and what will make you feel fulfilled, satisfied, and complete in your personal life and in your work life by honoring the three aspects of you. This is not as easy as it appears. Our entire mindset of opposing forces, conflicting needs, and overwhelming demands has been conditioned into our thinking at a very young age. You MUST forget about all of those things tugging at your psyche and

truly get to the very core of what you really, truly want … what gets your passion flowing, your heart a flutter, your metabolism grooving, your mind racing with ideas, your energy soaring, and brings

vitality to your future. This is where the process of synergy begins and I am thrilled to be taking you on its journey.

Bio: Sherré DeMao inspires millions through her monthly Savvy Business Owner column, her weekly Monday Motivation & Insight and her national contributing writing for FoxBusiness.com, Entrepreneur, Women Entrepreneur, and Enterprising Women magazines. An expert strategist and marketer focused on entrepreneurs, her unique perspective and innovative approach has earned more than 50 awards regionally, nationally and internationally including being named among the Top 50 Enterprising Women of North America in 2007. Her first book, Me, Myself & Inc. - A Synergized World, An Energized Business, Living Your Ultimate Life (www.memyselfandinc.com), was cited as a Top Business Shelf pick by Midwest Book Review. Her newest book, 50 Marketing Secrets of Growth Companies in Down Economic Times (www.50marketingsecrets.com) was released in fall of 2010.

...“the interaction of two or more forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects” or “cooperative interaction that creates an enhanced combined effect.”


Owner & Operator of The CORE Fitness Studio, NASCAR Coach, Master Fitness Instructor, Personal Trainer and Sports Nutritionist Wayne DeLoriea, One of NASCAR’s most successful and decorated coaches, certified in 79 countries around the world and author of Coach Without A Whistle joins forces with Healthy Lifestyles to help you realize your nutrition and fitness goals.

THE

MALEBOXby Wayne DeLoriea

Looking back over 2010, I have tried my best to shine a light upon what love is to a woman in such a way that men can understand. You see, there is a difference in the way that men and women communicate. The things that we guys think are important are different than what women find important. Now ladies, guys have to be careful about showing tenderness, because of what other guys will think. No matter how silly you think that is, doesn’t really matter, because the fact is…it will never change. Guys will do what we can do, so far as it doesn’t ruin our relationships with other guys. It is best that women just understand that there are rules and lines that guys have to operate within. Now, what I have tried to do is shine a light on some of the lies that we guys have been told. Real men…I mean lumberjack, Spartan, warrior men…guys who lead other men, will do things that seem to contradict the rules, because they know the lies. Showing tenderness, buying flowers, holding a chair and opening doors are manly things to do. Saying I’m sorry, when you mess things up is manly and keeping promises is very important to establishing the things that are most important to women…trust and security. Nothing will destroy trust faster than broken promises and the reverse is also true. Nothing builds stronger bonds of trust and security than a man that will keep his word. A man dedicated to principles…a man of character.

Kept promises: Once upon a time, there was a man named Larry. Larry was a great guy and everyone liked him. He was a man of character…a leader. Larry asked his friend Shane to come in with him and purchase a business that was going up for sale. Shane trusted Larry and decided that it could be a good move. Shane withdrew his retirement savings and applied it to the cost of the business and the two friends became partners. The business was a great success and as with many people who experience such success…Larry began to party and see women who were not his wife. Shane confronted his friend and asked him to return to the man of character that he once was. Shane was told to mind his own business, threatened and told Shane that he could have his share of the money back…if he would just leave and go away. Shane was devastated. Not only had he stepped away from a career, but now he was losing the new job and his friend. As he left the building, Shane heard a small voice in his heart say, ”One day this will all be yours.” Difficult days lay ahead for Shane, but so did future days of glorious success. During the next thirteen years, the thought crossed Shane’s mind that he must have been wrong about the voice or maybe he had done something to offend God; that the promise was retracted. It bothered Shane deeply and he prayed often to ask God if He meant what He had said or if He had been offended. Well, thirteen years to the month, maybe even the day, the phone rang and Shane was told that horrible

things had happened surrounding the business and that if he was interested in the equipment, that he once owned, it was available and that arrangements needed to be made to take possession. Promises kept… I hope you can imagine how emotional Shane felt when he walked into the warehouse full of the equipment that he so dearly loved; equipment that had become part of his identity while he partnered with Larry. To his surprise, the equipment was no worse for all the years…in fact it looked like it had not been used in all that time. What a miracle! By Thanksgiving, Shane will again have his business up and running and this time it all belongs to him…debt free now. I won’t try to find hidden reasons or answers…I’ll let you do all of that. The story is true, current, and Shane is marveling at the faithfulness of God. Shane trusts God and God is building a relationship with Shane based upon that trust. Through that relationship of faithfulness, Shane is learning even deeper character. God knows the value and importance of keeping promises. You see we are about to celebrate the most important of all promises. Christmas, the birth of Christ, the promise that we would be given a Savior , one who would come and live a sin free life, because we can’t; one who would freely pay the penalty for our sinfulness and three days later be raised to live in the hearts of all believers and ascend into heaven. Having paid the penalty, He offers eternity for any who will follow Him. Praise God for promises kept and be thankful that we have a God of character who loves us so much that He sent His son to die for all of humanity, so that all who would believe could have eternal life. Ladies and gentlemen, in this time where good examples are hard to find…look no further than Jesus Christ…our God of CHARACTER. Merry Christmas!Coach



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Operation Shoebox by Mary Southerland

Today’s Truth James 1:17 (NIV) “Every good action and every perfect gift is from God. These good gifts come down from the Creator of the sun, moon, and stars, who does not change like their shifting shadows.”

Friend To Friend Before you hit the malls and plunge into the last days of shopping frenzy, set aside some time to pray, asking God to direct your shopping trip and give you insight as you purchase each gift. Interesting thought, isn’t it? I have to admit that I tend to plan, think and worry about Christmas gifts more than I pray about them. However, I recently heard a true story that has changed my perspective on Christmas giving. Each Christmas, Operation Shoebox collects and sends over eight million shoeboxes stuffed with small gifts such as candy, school supplies, small toys, toothbrushes, soap, and shampoo to children across the world. In Mexico, hundreds of boys and girls gathered at the church in a small village, excitedly anticipating the arrival of their precious shoeboxes. Delightful chaos erupted as bulging shoeboxes, wrapped in brightly colored paper and ribbon were passed into the small, eager hands of each child. Wrapping paper was hurriedly ripped into pieces and tossed aside, a smile spreading across the face of each child as their long awaited Christmas treasures were revealed. However, one little boy dissolved into tears as he lifted the lid of his box and peered inside to see what he had received for Christmas this year. One of the Operation Shoebox volunteers spotted the little boy and hurriedly made his way across the church to see what the problem could possibly be. With the help of an interpreter, the volunteer asked the now sobbing little boy, “What is wrong? What is in your box?” With tears streaming down his face, the little boy said, “Socks!” The worker instantly understood and assured the little boy that he could trade his box of socks for another box that might have crayons or a piece of candy in it. Alarm spread across the face of the child as he vigorously shook his head and quickly jerked the box away from the now somewhat confused worker. Clutching the shoebox to his chest, the boy began sobbing out an explanation to the interpreter who listened for a few moments and then, with tears spilling out of his own eyes, turned to the volunteer and said, “You won’t believe this!” Taking a deep, steadying breath, the interpreter explained, “This little boy has a rare skin condition with which he was born. It seems to affect his feet more than any other part of his body. The doctors have tried various medications and treatments but finally told the little boy that nothing will work and his feet will never heal unless he begins wearing cotton socks. His parents cannot even afford food for this boy; much less provide socks for their

son. So, all year long, he has been praying for socks.” Have you ever considered the idea that your Christmas gift may very well be an answer to someone’s prayer? I have to admit that I have rarely, if ever, made a Christmas gift list with that criterion in mind. Always in a hurry, my first thought is usually how to find the greatest deal at the lowest price in the shortest amount of time with the least amount of effort and hassle at the first store I enter - and hope the person likes it - because that is what he or she is going to get. Ah, yes. That is certainly the heart of God, isn’t it? Join me in making this Christmas season different. Do not allow television ads, catalogues or shopping fliers dictate the gifts you give this year. Turn your Christmas list into a prayer list and you may very well end up giving an “operation shoebox” gift to someone you love.

Let’s Pray Father, I so want to make this Christmas all about You. I pray that the gifts I give this year will be encouraging and truly helpful and not just items checked off of a list or obligations that have been met. Please direct my thoughts, my heart and my shopping trips. Help me to spend wisely, in a way that pleases and honors You. Give me Your heart, Lord, and remind me that Christmas really is all about You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn Carefully make your Christmas list for this year. Pray for each person on that list, asking God to give them peace and joy this holiday season. Consider making gifts instead of buying them. Give something of special value to you to someone on your list. Ask God to bless each gift and each recipient.

More From The Girls Wow! To think that God can and does use us to meet the needs of people across the world is just amazing and humbling to me! Life is filled with miracles like the shoebox - many of which we won’t know anything about this side of Heaven. But we can put feet to our prayers and give a gift in Jesus’ name! Look around, girlfriend. Who needs you this Christmas?


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Question: What is the appropriate style of dress and make-up for a Christmas office party? I have a co-worker, who always “dresses to kill” usually in a long, sequined evening gown, with an updo and lots of make-up. Is this appropriate?

Answer: This questions seems better suited to Ann Landers or Dear Abby, but I will give it a shot. It depends on the location, style, and time of the office party. If the party will take place at the office, during or just after work, then your usual work attire would be best, wearing your make-up as you do daily. If the company is meeting at a local restaurant, then dress as if you were going on a casual date. However, if the party is at a rented party room or other meeting facility and it is after 7:00 p.m. then a semi-formal cocktail dress would be more suitable for that location and time. Make-up can also be worn a little heavier. However, if you wear darker colors on your eyes, then go a little paler on the lips. Or visa versa, darker on the lips and more neutral on the eyes. Either way is appropriate, just try to avoided heavy dark colors on both eyes and lips, this can sometimes make you look too made up. Perhaps the party will be held at the owners home or that of another employee, than just simply ask that person, what would be appropriate. Unless your employed at a Fortune 500 company, where most of the employees are; well, how do I put this delicately?, RICH, then it probably isn’t necessary to dress in formal attire. In defense of your co-worker, it is her Christmas party also, and it may be the only time she gets to “doll up” and have fun. What girl doesn’t enjoy the whole kit and kaboodle fancy night out? So lighten up and let her have fun. You might want to even join in and have a go at a sequined gown yourself. But if that isn’t for you, just dress in a way that is comfortable for you, and if you feel good about how you look (and she feels good about how she looks) then that is the most appropriate way to dress.


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Expectations of Christmasby Lynn W. Sigmon

Ladies, it’s that time of year and what a wonderful time it is! Christmas is a time of joy, peace, and a very busy schedule! Before you get too far into the social aspects of the season, think about your true expectations of Christmas. Realize there is an array of events popping up on your calendar, and think about what you truly want to commit to during this amazing time of the year. The best way to start is to talk to your family about the various parties, church functions, family visits, etc. before you promise to attend any. You and your family should openly discuss everything on your calendar, in order to understand one another’s expectations. And what does that mean exactly? There are so many family members to see, parties to attend, and if your children are different ages, they will be involved in different types of Christmas celebrations. Commit to what you know you can do, and don’t forget to save some time for yourself. You and your spouse deserve some unique time exclusively for you amid the frantic schedule. As much as we Mom’s love to decorate our Christmas tree and the house in a special color or theme, consider what your children want. When our son was young, he always wanted a “real” tree, so every year we purchased our tree and decorated it the way “he” wanted to. We displayed Christmas ornaments he made in pre-school, and other “special” ideas he had for the tree. I’m sure some of our visitors thought our tree wasn’t elegant enough, but it met our son’s expectations, and that was the most important thing to us. Later when he was in high school, he suggested we purchase an artificial tree, which we did. He is now in college, and although he still enjoys the tree, he leaves it up to Mom. Remember, Christmas is for your children, so ask them about their expectations, and try your best to meet them. They grow up quickly! I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the expectations of those of us who recognize Christmas in a spiritual way. If you have a friend or neighbor who has never experienced the beauty of a Christmas Eve service in candlelight while singing Christmas carols, you should invite them to attend that very special service. It may be an expectation of yours to attend this service every year, and is something you always look forward to. By introducing this beautiful service to someone else, you may set an expectation for them once they experience it. With parties and social events have a great time, but don’t over-commit. Being exhausted during Christmas makes it difficult to fully enjoy it. When planning your Christmas events always try to be creative and come up with new, exciting things to do with your family. As with all things in life, consideration for other’s expectations can be an amazing reward for you and for those around you. Merry Christmas and God Bless, and may all your expectations be met during this very special time of year!

Lynn W. Sigmon, President, Business Service Associates, LLCHickory, NC Co-Author of WHAT DID YOU EXPECT? http://outskirtspress.com/whatdidyouexpectwww.expectbsa.com


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FrontPorchThe by Judy Smith

How much are you spending on Christmas presents this year? That is a huge question and the right answer depends on who’s asking it. You might think that does not make any sense but when you think about it; it does. If someone who owns a gift shop is asking, they would not be happy to hear you say you are giving all hand made gifts this year. The recipients might not be happy if you are not a great crafter. “But it is a gift from the heart” you say, made with love. Then I hope all of your gifts this year come to you with lots of “love”. My family does not wish for that kind of “love” from me. If a child is asking, the amount really depends on what is on their most wanted items Christmas list. Those lists very wildly in the amount of dollars you might be shelling out. Kids, after all, do think money grows on trees or maybe that has changed recently and they just think all we have to do is print it. Kid’s gift lists are so different than they were even when my kids were small. Do they even make Tonka trucks or pee pee dolls any longer? To be real honest, I am afraid to ask any of my grandkids what they want. Ipads or Smart phones or computers small enough to fit in your purse but cost more than my first car...what kind of gift is that any way? We used to say if we only had a penny for every ___ we had, than we would be rich. I can say if I only had the money that I spent for my grandkids electronics than I would be rich. It seemed like every year for several years when I would ask the first two grandkids what they wanted it was always a new gaming system. Of course I bought them but after a few years, I finally put my foot down and refused to buy another, newer, more powerful, more sophisticated version than the previous

year’s model. After all, they were not old enough to even know what “sophisticated” really stood for! Last year I gave in though and did buy the Wii for one family member and now look what has happened. It would not surprise me if they don’t ask for the newest system because now you don’t need to hold anything. My answer to that is; hold it anyway? Oh, now I am showing the LOVE! Speaking of buying gifts let me ask you this question. Who can afford stocking stuffers any longer and when did those stockings get so big? Don’t make the mistake of asking what they would like to have in their stockings. Did you know that games were the number one answer? I am not talking tidily winks here. The new game that I just saw that is sup-posed to be a giant hit this year, well, it is sixty bucks! Yes, I know it will fit in that $20 stocking, along with half a dozen other outrageously priced stuffers. What ever happened to a box of crayons and a coloring book? I am on a roll, so I can’t stop with that. Have you seen the price of the new “crayons”? Who do they think is using them....Michelangelo? Coloring Books are not much better. Along with all the stickers and the sparkles that are added; the prices really sparkle as they stick it to your pocked book. After I think about it, maybe I should take up knitting! I never really gave it a fair chance before and I am sure if I put my mind to it, I could make something other than a sleeve! Then again, I have not checked on the price of yarn. They might be making it “sophisticated” now a days. So who is asking makes a difference. If you ask me, I can tell you, I want something far greater than any money can buy. My children or grandchildren may not be able to tell you one item I got them ten or twenty years from now but I sure hope they can tell you how much they were loved. Much love to all our readers and I am off to the yarn store!


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The Sophie Shopper

Body Rejuvenation

Dr. Garlitz Orthodontics828-322-1535garlitzorthodontics.com

Midway Carpet828-465-1033midwaycarpetdist.com

Fitness / GymsHighland Recreation Dept.828-326-5000hickorygov.comThe Perfect Workout828-465-4055theperfectworkout.net

JewelryThe Bisanar Company828-322-5090bisanar.com

Medical / Health CareCompounding Pharmacy828-324-4115thecompoundingrx.comFrye Medical Center828-315-3391fryemedctr.com

A Woman’s View828-345-0800awomansview.com

Medicap Pharmacy828-466-1500medicap.com

Photography

Retail

Pure Reflections828-345-1290purereflection.com

InsuranceState FarmNewton 828-466-3888Hickory 828-324-9333

YMCA828-464-6130ymcacv.org

RX for Healthy Living - No Side-EffetsAlways Safe, Always Works - Guaranteed

#1 Natural Nutrition Company In The USA

Maria GoldsteinWellness Consultant

828.328.1829/866.637.8870mgoldstein-healthy@embarqmail.comwww.livingsolutions.myshaklee.com

Automotive

Dental Care

Scrapbooking

Pam Starnes (828) 327-4090www.mycmsite.com/pamstarnes

Customized Scapbooks For:*Weddings

*Anniversaries*Senior Year/Athlete

*Celebrations of all kinds*Memorials for loved ones

Event Centers / Family Fun

The Peacock Inn828-464-5780thepeacockinn-newton.com

Hair Accessories Chic Wigs828-324-5375chic-wigs.com

Physicians Plan Weight Loss828-485-2833physiciansplan.com

Catawba Furniture Mall1-866-702-7361catawbafurniture.com

Hickory Plastic Surgery828-322-8380hickoryplasticsurgery.com

Brand Jewelry828-478-4800Mooresville NC

2 Pink Magnolias828-466-19762pinkmagnolias.com

Style Exchange828-267-7200styleexchangeofhickory.com

Shoppes On Falls828-313-2119Granite Falls

Gigi’s Consignment Boutique704-732-0085 / 828-464-0888Downtown Newton

Statesville Civic Center(704) 878-3493ci.statesville.nc.us

Advanced Vein Center828-322-8485Graystone Place, Hickory

SkinLogix828-291-2213skinlogixofhickory.com

Hair Care / Hair Salons

Furniture / Home Decor

Catawba Surgical Associates828-322-8485Conover, NC

Union Square Emporium324-SHOPusehickory.com

Cosmetics

Food/Groceries

Josh’s On The Square828-324-JOSHjoshsonunionsquare.com

Restaurants

Warehouse 2120828-855-0407warehouse2120.com

Horizon Surgical Specialist828-758-5501Lenoir, NC

Dana’s Fine Jewelry828-466-1999danasfinejewelryinc.com

Hickory Dickory Dock(828) 322-3625hickorydickorydock.net

Strandz Salon828-261-0035Hickory, NC

Cafe Gouda828-267-1300cafegouda.com

T h a n k s T o A l l O f O u r A d v e r t i s e r s ! Joy HeffingerStylist / Color Specialist


Certified In:Brazilian Blowout &

Keratin ComplexSmoothing Therapy


828-228-0552

Licensed Insurance Agent 828-640-1344

IIS000071

Susan M MedesLicensed Insurance Agent 828-640-1344

IIS000071

Susan M MedesSue Medes 828-640-1344 [email protected]

Child Care

USDA Food Program•State Licensed•Three Secured Outdoor •Play Areas

Infants $140Toddlers $1302-3 yrs. $1254-5 years $120

Fundraising Opportunities Available

704-881-8557Let me assist you in making all your

career dreams come true!

Shawn Geiser Photography828-234-2792shawngeiserphotography.com

Beauticontrol / Nancy Jones828-459-2424beautipage.com/nancy101

Simply Sylvia Personal Chef Servicewww.chefsylvia.com 828-443-2860

Classic TouchAuto Wash, Inc.

2121 Hwy 70 SE Hickory, NC 28602 “A Full Service Car Wash”

828-322-8938

Alterations

Sherry’s Sew ‘n SewA l t e r a t i o n s & C u s t o m C l o t h i n g

From wedding gowns, formal wear, prom, and pageants, to baby rompers, doggie coats, or a Batman costume for a horse, I can sew it!

[email protected] Sigmon 828-302-2107 105 West K Street Newton NC 28658

Catering

Nail Care

Experience the Diva Difference! 2103 Catawba Valley Blvd. SE • Hickory, NC Call for Appointment 828-431-2331 M-F 10-8 / Sat 10-6

Choice Weight Loss Spa828-855-3553Hickory NC

Canella Heating & Air828-327-9680canellaheatingandair.com

Deborah’s Gracious Gifts828-328-5599deborahsgifts.com

Buthca Hut828-322-1184Conover, NC

LeGrande Salon & Day Spa(828) 327-9949legrandesalon.com

KolorQuik Photo828-324-6032Hickory, NC

Heating & Air

TaxesFull Range Income Tax & Accounting Ltd.(828) [email protected]

AccountingFull Range Income Tax & Accounting Ltd.(828) [email protected]

Posh Salon828-328-6477poshsalon.net

Tracy’s On The Square828-322-6651Downtown Hickory, NC

Baby In Me 4D Imaging828-345-0945babyinme4d.com

Catawba Science Center828-322-8169catawbascience.org

Hickory Spings828-328-2201hickorysprings.com

Exquisite Threading & Spa828-310-3194Conover, NC

Hickory Tree Consignment(828) 324-1655hickorytreeconsignment.com

Hen & Chicken Papers828-328-6039henandchickenpapers.com

Professionaly Guided Weight Loss828-326-9020Hickory, NC

Graystone Eyecare828-304-6656graystone-eye.com

Vitality Anti-Aging Med Spa828-322-1498vitalitymedicalspa.com

The Crushed Olive828-485-8635crushedoliveofhickory.com

Studio 321828-304-8258studio321inc.com

Kingston Residence(828) 327-9955kingstonhealthcare.com

Barringer Moving & Storage(828)-851-4383Free Quote

Santorini Grill828-855-1997Hickory, NC

Catawba Valley Medical Center828-323-1551catawbavalleymedical.org

Catawba Shoe Store828-431-4804Hickory, NC

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Leanne Ely is a New York Times bestselling author of Body Clutter and the Sav-ing Dinner series. The Dinner Diva syndicated newspaper column appears in 250 newspapers nationwide. Learn how to cook great and save significant money with the Dinner Diva?s menus, recipes and shopping lists at www.savingdinner.com

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Ever since the first caveman cooked an animal over the fire, there has been cooking oil. Today there are various cooking oils used in cooking for frying, stir frying, sauteing, and in salad dressings. And as you can imagine, there are good cooking oils, those that aren’t so healthy, and some that are downright dangerous. Cooking oils mostly come from vegetables. You’ve seen them in the stores-- olive, corn, canola, soy, safflower, avocado, sesame, sunflower, grape-seed, cottonseed, peanut, walnut, almond, coconut, hazelnut and more. Olive oil is among the healthiest of all the cooking oils. This oil offers a good balance of both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. I recommend regular olive oil for cooking; extra virgin olive oil for salads and other uncooked foods. Other healthy oils fall among the nut groups including coconut. Peanut and walnut oils both have high smoking points and are best used for high heat cooking. On the flip side are the oils that are considerably unhealthy. Canola oil shouldn’t be used for human consumption because it’s a genetically developed plant from Canada that uses the rapeseed plant as its base; a known industrial oil used for machinery and such. The word “canola” comes from the words “Canada” and “oil.” The rapeseed plant that’s used to create canola oil has been found to be toxic to humans and animals. The worst bad oil of course is any hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil; these are cheap fats high in trans fats that wreak havoc in the body. These types of fats should be avoided at all costs. The best oils are a variety of oils, the ones that are expeller or cold pressed are the healthiest.(With the exception of any olive oil, all oils should be kept in the fridge to keep their delicate fatty acids intact.) Keep in mind smoke point when cooking and remember, extra virgin olive oil should only be used in its raw state, never cooked.


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Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Dreaming of a white Christmas? Many people look forward to new-fallen snow to add to the picture of the holiday season. How many, though, give thought to how snow actually forms?

Snowflakes are ice crystals that form in the clouds. Water vapor freezes and clings to the dust particles in the air. As the crystals group together, they form snowflakes.

Snowflakes are hexagonal crystals, meaning they always have six sides. Snowflakes can grow in different forms, including columns, needles, plates, dendrites, columns with plates, and irregular shapes. Complex shapes emerge as the flake moves through differing temperatures and humidity levels.

When snowflakes melt and refreeze they may come down from the sky in the form of a ball instead of a flake. These are known as graupel.

Snowflakes are unique in that no two are the same. Because they are ice crystals, they are also clear in color. However, when gathered on the surface of roadways or other items, they collectively reflect the light and give off that white hue.

A snowflake is often the universal symbol for winter or wintertime conditions. In Russia, people have long made paper snowflakes during the Christmas season and hung them in the windows. A snowflake also was the symbol of the winter olympics in 2002.

Although snowflakes are cold, snow can actually act as an insulator. The intricate shapes of snowflakes trap air in between the flakes as they pile up. These tiny pockets of air prevent air from circulating, thus preventing heat from being transferred by convection.


TM

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w w w . w e w i n u s a . c o m


pas·sion- any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling as love or hate.

This is the definition of passion according to the dictionary. When I talk about passion and my life I think of the things that I am truly am passionate about including my wonderful family, friends, owning my own women’s clothing boutique, fashion, cheerleading, dance, community service and most importantly my faith in God! With all these things that I am passionate about, my inspiration in life comes from many unique places but for me nothing has inspired me more than the lives of my late grandparents Thad and Louise Lewallen. Growing up my mother would always tell me the most fascinating stories of her parents and how she felt I was so much like them. I never could get enough stories about them. I felt close to them and I always felt like I knew them based on my mom’s stories. They passed away when my mom was just eight years old but her memory is just as vivid and clear of them as if they were still here today. She would talk about my grandmother Louise as this beautiful, vivacious woman who loved to socialize with her friends, play bridge, take her family to church, bowl with her husband Thad, go to the theatre, traveling, and of course shopping! She loved being a mother and wife! She loved to dance and was a member of the dancing boots dance team at RJ Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem, NC. Thad was a lover of all sports especially the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. He was an Army war veteran from World War II and was in Amendola, Italy on VE Day May 8th, 1945. He was a business man who loved taking his family to church, sweets from Dewey’s Bakery, golfing, bowling, baseball, traveling, racing and of course spending time with his family and friends. I have always dreamt of being an entrepreneur in the fashion industry and I finally was able to make it happen. Business is apparently deeply rooted and in my blood. My great grandfather A. Thad Lewallen Sr. bought a patent in 1936 for a headache powder from a local pharmacist Martin Goodman. At the time almost every pharmacist had their own headache formula, however Thad Lewallen Sr. saw what he could do differently in a highly competitive field. He has been called a marketing genius because he felt “the best form of advertising is sampling” and that is just what he did. He had his friends and family hand out this headache powder to local factory workers at shift changes and soon the demand outnumbered production and Goody‘s Headache Powder had arrived! As the product had become known throughout the South for its legendary speed of relief, Goody’s took the logical step of becoming one of the first non-automotive sponsors of NASCAR in 1977.This led to Richard Petty, the undisputed “King” of NASCAR, becoming the company’s official spokesperson. A. Thad Lewallen Sr. died on April 8, 1945 when his son A. Thad Lewallen Jr. was away at war. When he returned he went to work as Vice President of Goody’s Manufacturing until his untimely death. Goody’s continued to be a family run company until 1994 when the family sold the company. My grandfather Thad Lewallen Jr. passed away unexpectedly from a massive heart attack on February 6,1964 and my grandmother Louise Lewallen passed

away 10 months later from a year long battle with Melanoma Cancer on December 14, 1964. My mom Linda and her two brothers Thad and Mark were left in the care of Louise’s sister Millicent. Growing up I couldn’t have asked for better parents. My dad Dale has been my Pastor my whole life and together with my mom they instilled in me and my brother, Chip, our faith in God and love for the church, integrity in everything I do, importance of family and of course a zest for life. My mother has been through a lot in her life with losing her parents at such an early age but I have learned such a humbleness and grace from her. I learned to appreciate having my family there because she was not fortunate to spend a lot of time with her parents and it makes me appreciate this wonderful woman I get to call Mom. My parents prayed for a Christian husband to come into my life and four and half years ago I met Jacob who I know God created to be my husband. We were married on June 30th, 2007 in Hickory, NC and I truly know what it means to love someone with your whole heart. I could not thank God enough for my wonderful marriage and to feel so loved everyday. I can only hope that I can be half the woman and mother that my mom is because Jacob and I are expecting our first child, a little girl named Elouise in December! Hearing these stories of my mom’s family my whole life always made me feel so close to them and inspired me so much in everything I did. From cheerleading and dance, to spending time with my family and friends and of course opening my own business with my best friend Stetson Patton, appropriately named after my grandparents Thad & Louise Boutique. We are a women’s boutique offering luxury clothing and accessories at affordable prices. We are moving into the Union Square Emporium which will open on October 1st, 2010 .We are also available online at www.thadandlouise.com and available for in home boutique parties. Having a love of athletics and cheerleading and dance, Stetson Patton and myself were named the advisors of Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Cheerleading and Dance Team in 2010. We also are co-chairs for the American Heart Association Auction Committee. I love being able to serve my community with an organization that has greatly affected my family’s lives and I love being able to share my passion and inspirations with my dear friend and business partner Stetson Patton. My grandparent’s lives deeply inspired me and has definitely directed me in my life and my career path. The deep roots that my ancestors have set for me make you realize that family definitely helps define who you are. It’s worth taking that look back to see where you came from and also to see where it can take you.

by Christy Watts Creson

Passion; It’s In My Blood

Christy Watts Creson


Is there anyone left in western North Carolina who hasn’t heard of Margaret Sparkman (AKA Sparky, The Gourd Lady, and The National Gourd Lady)? Maybe that’s too narrow a scope. Is there anyone left in the nation who hasn’t heard of the 94-year-old Conover resident who’s been creating folk art with gourds for 52 years? Besides newborns and recent immigrants, of course. But, hey, thanks to the Internet, even some of our overseas neighbors caught Margaret’s Oct.29 appearance on The Tonight Show. “People around the world have sent messages [saying] they saw it,” said Margaret. That was her second trip to the coveted seat next to Jay Leno’s desk. In 2003, Margaret stunned Leno and everyone watching when she bonked him on the head with an especially long long-necked gourd. How in the world did sweet little Margaret Henry grow up to be so famous? It’s the result of a series of events, a whole lot of innate talent, and being at the right place at the right time.

Here’s the greatly condensed version: Margaret married Clyde Sparkman in 1938. They adored each other and supported each other in their hobbies: Clyde’s was fishing; Margaret’s, flowers. At the same time, Margaret honed her innate salesmanship at JCPenney. Later, she worked the reception desk at the Shuford YMCA in Conover. In the meantime, Margaret grew an acre of flowers each summer, joined garden clubs, trained to be a flower show judge, won local and state blue ribbons for her arrangements, put altar flowers in her beloved Concordia Lutheran Church in Conover nearly a month of Sundays each year, and earned her first nickname: The Flower Lady. Whew! That’s a lot, but that’s not anywhere near the whole story. In the 1950s, Margaret started growing ornamental gourds, because, as she explained, “I thought gourds would be more permanent.” When her garden club decided it would be nice to take funny things to shut-ins to make them feel better, Margaret fashioned a little gourd chicken and took it to Ollie Morrow (deceased) of Claremont. Ollie looked at Margaret’s chicken and said, “That little chicken looks sick like I am.” “I knew right then I had to improve on my critters,” laughed Margaret. Margaret and Clyde grew three acres of gourds one year. Working in her kitchen, which continues to double as her folk art studio, Margaret started looking at gourds from all sides, visualizing them as animals, holiday characters, fruits and vegetables, and so on. Using paint, glue,

and other materials from nature, such as seed pods and acorn caps, Margaret set to work. For 17 years, she and Clyde exhibited Margaret’s gourd creations at the N.C. State Fair. During those years, they added the Southern Christmas Show in Charlotte to their gourd-selling venues. “Clyde went along with it because he knew I enjoyed it so much,” said Margaret. When set-up at the State Fair became too difficult for them, they focused solely on Charlotte. For nearly 50 years, Margaret and her gourds have been regulars at the Southern Christmas and Spring Shows. “Every year I say is going to be my last year,” Margaret pointed out, but she packed up her gourds again last month and headed to Charlotte. Then, without even trying, Margaret caught the attention of Mike Redding in 2003. At that time, he was hosting a show called Carolina Traveler. “He saw my things [at the Southern Christmas Show] and thought they were so unusual,” Margaret explained. “That’s what got me on Carolina Traveler.” And that’s how Margaret got on The Tonight Show the first time. It was Redding whom a Tonight Show representative contacted, asking “if he knew a down-to-earth person with a unique hobby,” said Margaret. “Mike sent four tapes of people with hobbies, and they picked mine.” Margaret didn’t whack Leno on Oct. 29, but she did run after Denzel

Washington. Margaret had been invited to be in the audience of the Oct.28 show. Margaret’s limo driver and Washington simultaneously pulled into the parking lot of the studio in which The Tonight Show tapes. Without waiting for the driver to open her door, Margaret jumped out and ran to Washington’s car. “People aren’t supposed to talk to celebrities,” said Margaret. “If security would have seen me, they wouldn’t let me talk to him, but they couldn’t see me because I was between two cars. I don’t think they could have stopped me if they tried. “He hadn’t parked his car yet when I went over. I said, ‘Denzel, is Pauletta with you? She grew up in my hometown, Newton-Conover.’

He pulled out his phone and called her and said he met a friend of hers in the parking lot. He let me talk to her. We talked about a benefit we’d been to in Newton. She’s bought gourds from me before. “[When he appeared on Leno’s show], Denzel told first thing that a friend of his wife’s from Newton-Conover was there. He said, ‘Margaret, stand.’ They turned the spotlight on me.” Actually, the spotlight turned toward Margaret the day she decided to grow gourds. She’s been on Charlotte TV programs, featured in numerous publications, had a Shuford YMCA building named in her honor, and recently was the subject of a documentary filmed by James Smith of Charlotte. On Nov. 1, she received the Mayor’s Citizenship Award. It reads, “Promoting our agricultural heritage / Conover’s International Goodwill Ambassador and the National Gourd Lady.” “Clyde would be real proud of me,” Margaret mused. We all are.

Margaret Sparkman on the Jay Leno Show

The National Gourd Lady

by Mary CanrobertFreelance Writer & Editor


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Susan Guest, ASID is an award-winning interior designer in Hickory

and owner of Guest Interiors, LLC. She is one of the designers featured

in “Spectacular Homes of the Caro-linas”, found in high-end bookstores around the country. For more infor-

mation, visit www.guestinteriors.com.

by Susan Guest, ASID

HOW TO DECORATE YOUR

HOUSE WITH A PUPPY

How can you resist a puppy- those expressive eyes, that cute little nose, that wiggly tail? Most of my clients have pets these days and consider them part of the family. Having four dogs and two cats qualifies me either as a certified pet designer or a crazy person! Needless to say, designing around pets creates interesting challenges that keep me on my toes. We have a new family member this year and have been in shock at the havoc an eight pound puppy can bring. My piano bench has been stripped of the leather. A floor lamp with glass globe was destroyed when she pulled the cord out and toppled the 40 pound lamp hitting the piano and breaking the glass globe. I have retrieved everything from thumb tacks to important business cards out of her mouth. When the puppy started in on my shoe closet, all war broke out! There are so many nice products out there that were created for pet-friendly households. In one client’s home, I used a performance fabric on a window seat where the dog looks out the window. Performance fabrics promise not to fade and can be cleaned with bleach. These fabrics can be used outside and are great for families with young children. Most are pricy, but last longer and look better than most fabrics. At our home, we tend to go through sofas fairly quickly. The four dogs, which enjoy sunning on the sofa in front of the window, destroy the back cushions quickly. We budget for a new sofa every two years. This is against everything that I have been taught about getting the best and keeping it forever; but it is the best solution for our family. I guess it does help the local economy since we try to buy locally made sofas! Another life-saver for households with pets is that indoor/outdoor rugs have improved in looks over the last years. These are great under a breakfast table or in a family room. To clean, simply take them outside and hose them down. Outdoor rugs would have been nice in some of the fraternity houses I visited in college! Now it is time to decorate for the holidays. Time again to try to outsmart the puppy who is curious about every little thing and way smarter than her owners! I can decorate the mantle since I don’t think she can climb that high (even though she can jump on a dining table and clear out smoked salmon hors-divers). I can decorate the front door and the outside of the house. The large Christmas tree will stay in the basement this year and we will use a small tree on top of the piano or on a tall pedestal in the dining room. Cords will be an issue since the little demon likes to pull them out of the outlet. I guess the decorating theme this Christmas will be “Sparse, high, and outside.” Christmas will still have the same incredible meaning even though our decorating will be minimal this year. Celebration of the birth of Jesus will still be the center of all of the craziness that the season brings. Hearts will melt with tenderness at the music and togetherness of the fellowship with family and friends. Meanwhile, the puppy will be in her crate having visions of sugarplums and tearing up Mommy’s new shoes.


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shutterbuggerzOur Monthly Feature

Local Photos of Everyday people, places, and events as seen through the eyes of the area's

professional and amateur photographers!

s h u t t e r b u g g e r z . c o m

Submitted by Wiseman Photography ©2010

shutterbuggerz.com pg 39


Photo Submitted By:Elements Photography

Photo Submitted By:Nicole Cullum

Photo Submitted By:KB Photography

Photo Submitted By:Jessica Horton



Photo Submitted By:Debbie Few

Photo Submitted By:Michelle Tomlin

Photo Submitted By:Tony L. Moore Photography

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Photo Submitted By:Glenn E. Deal

Photo Submitted By:Dawn Wilson



“Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments

that take your breath away.”

how this worksEach month our readers are going to submit photos to us via our web site or email. During that month, visitors to our web site at shutterbuggerz.com will vote on their favorite photo(s). Each month, the winning photographer (professional and amateur) will receive a prize.

Prizes:Professional photographers will receive a free 1/4 page ad space in the next issue of Sophie Woman’s Magazine. The amateur winner will receive a $25 Gift Certificate to a local restaurant of their choosing. Promotional apparel provided by:

Please read the submission guidelines and disclaimers on our web site at shutterbuggerz.com.

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Enter Your Photos At shutterbuggerz.com

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Photo Submitted By:Leslie Taylor

Photo Submitted By:Capture Life Photography



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Photo Submitted By:Leslie Taylor

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Photo Submitted By:BKing Photography

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If You Are A Professional Photographer, Enter Our Contest For Your Chance To Win A Quarter Page Ad In Sophie Woman's Magazine.

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Sophie Woman’s Magazine Dec 2010 pg 55 For all of life’s little “gifts”... We ‘ll be there.

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From our receptionists, to our nurses, to our physicians, you’ll know that we share every concern, every fear, and every celebration that you go through.

Because we are women too.

Happy Holidays from:


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Documents

Sophie Woman's Magazine Dec 2010 Issue