december 2015
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theissueholiday
Dec 2015 | Issue One Hundred Fourteen
Joey Coakley Beck Publisher & Owner
jbeck@beckmediagroup.com
Hayleigh Worgan Editorial Director
hworgan@beckmediagroup.com
Sara Coakley Office Manager
bella@beckmediagroup.com
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Want to advertise in Bella? Email us at bella@beckmediagroup.com or call (540) 904-6800 Let us get your business in front of the decision makers of Southwest & Central Virginia... WOMEN!!
Advertising Inquiries advertise@beckmediagroup.com bella@beckmediagroup.com (540) 904-6800
•••
Contributors Lynn Phelps, Member One Federa Credit Union, Hayleigh Worgan, Eduardo Zilli, MD of Centra Health
Editorial Interns Hannah Bridges, Roanoke College Lani Maddox, James Madison University
Editorial Inquiries editorial@beckmediagroup.com
LLC
P.O. Box 107 Roanoke, Virginia 24002 540.904.6800 fax 540.904.6803
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Bella Magazine is the property of Beck Media Group LLC. It is a free publication printed monthly and is distributed throughout Southwest and Central Virginia and beyond. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse ad space for any advertisement or editorial content the staff deems inappropriate for our readers. The concept and design of Bella Magazine, as well as the design, advertisements, art, photos and editorial content is property of Beck Media Group LLC and may not be copied or reprinted without written permission from the publisher. ©2006-2015 Beck Media Group LLC All Rights Reserved. PRINTED IN THE USA w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m
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Holiday Style
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Look your best with a few of our favorite things!
Good Guest Etiquette
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Because, every now and then, we all need a refresher.
Perfect Hostess Gifts
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Unique gifts that are sure to stand out!
Holiday D.I.Y.s
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Quick and easy gifts you can make to show how much you care.
Recipes for the Holiday Season
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Delicious treats you can create to share or enjoy at home!
Save This Buy That
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Save money by making your own holiday cookies.
Mind. Body. Soul.
Important information about strokes that could help save your life. Also, don’t miss our great advice for managing your routine during the busiest time of year!
find us:
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Holiday Happenings
Good Samaritan Hospice helps honor lost loved ones with their annual Love Light Tree and Southwest Virginia Ballet inspires joy with their presentation of The Nutcracker.
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Holiday Style
looking your best
Shine bright for your holiday parties! Every year we spend far too much money on the perfect holiday attire and makeup only for it to never be used again. Ladies, it’s time to stop the madness. Let us help you find a few great staples, not only for the holidays, but for the entire year! Let’s start with the foundation of your outfit. Finding the perfect holiday dress is almost as difficult as shopping for the hardest person to buy for on your list. You want something that makes a great impression and looks festive without making you look like your host’s Christmas tree. In a sea of red, green, silver, and gold, make yourself stand out from the crowd in one of Lilly Pulitzer’s gorgeous dresses. There is a wide selection available at Punch Boutique in Roanoke! One of our favorites is the Rylee Lace Shift dress in blue from Lilly Pulitzer. For those of us who stay away from traditional holiday colors throughout the year, it can be worn again for New Year’s celebrations, Valentine’s Day, and even a mid-summer party. Now that you have your dress, accent your look with shiny accessories that will help you light up the room. Your shoes are the most important part! Those of you who are comfortable in heels, we salute you. In our office, however, we cannot live without a great pair of flats. If you are going to be standing on your feet for hours on end, consider investing in a silver pair of Tieks Ballet Flats. Yes, they may be more expensive than the strappy silver heels you’ve contemplated purchasing for the last few weeks, but they will be far more comfortable and last MUCH longer. Also, you are more likely to wear them throughout the year. w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m
more...
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Holiday Style
looking your best
Okay, let’s talk hair and makeup. Some of the most gorgeous looks are stunningly simple. Our must have cosmetics for the holiday season include:
Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes+ Mascara by Younique You don’t want to be applying and reapplying fake lashes all night. As the weather gets colder, your eyes are more likely to water. Slowly but surely, the glue that holds your eye’s
equivalent of Cinderella’s glass slipper begins to disappear.
Don’t depend on all of the stars aligning to keep your lashes from looking like they are trying to escape. Use a mascara
you can depend on to elongate your lashes and stay put for your celebration. You can use it for three months and is far less expensive than investing in extensions.
Naked Lunch eyeshadow by MAC
While everyone else is dusting their eyes with white eye-
shadow, give this slightly pink shade a try. It works with the natural hues in your skin (whether you are pale like many
of the people in our office or you have a darker complexion) to give your eyes and your overall face a warm and healthy
glow. Pair it with a grey or brown shade on the outer edges of your eye and your favorite liquid eyeliner for the ever popular smokey eye.
Aveda Inner Light Mineral Tinted Moisturizer Cheap foundation from the drug store isn’t going to give your skin that lovely holiday glow you desire for all of your Ins-
tagram photos. We love this tinted moisturizer from Aveda
because it spoils our skin during the cold winter months and
it gives our face a sheer, fair tone with a dewy finish. Add just
a touch of your favorite bronze or blush to complete the look.
CHI Shine Infusion Spray
If you make one purchase for your hair this year, make it
CHI’s Shine Infusion spray. It is the one universal item that
should be in every girl’s bathroom. Whether you wear your
hair straight or curly, the most important part is that it shines when the light hits it just right. It works great on every hair
color and it’s relatively inexpensive. Most importantly, the more simple you can keep your holiday look, the less stress you will encounter preparing for the event and touching up your outfit, hair, and makeup throughout the night. The holidays are about enjoying yourself and spending time with the people you love, not looking “perfect.” Let the light within you be the brightest thing that shines through, and you are guaranteed to make a great impression every time. Visit our website and Facebook page throughout the month of December for more hair, style, and makeup tips! page 8 | bella magazine | december 2015
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holiday parties! Tips on how to be a good guest
Good Guest Etiquette
’Tis the season for holiday parties! It is easy to get caught up in the excitement and overwhelmed by the busiest time of the year. That’s why we compiled a short list of things you can do to make your host’s evening easier (and be the first on the invitation list for future events)!
RSVP ASAP
If you can’t make it, then let your host know as soon as possible. The holiday season is going to keep you on your toes. At some point, you will likely need a break from all the festivities. Be honest if you can’t make it to a party. Tell your host you need to take a night off and you’ll make it to the next one. Yes, missing their party may hurt their feelings but saying you may go and then not showing up or canceling at the last minute is far more inconvenient for the person who is expecting you.
Prepare any dish you have at home, not in their kitchen
First and foremost, make sure to ask your host before you show up with a dish. There may not be enough room on their table for your famous casserole. Secondly, bring a dish that is easy to make at home and transport to your destination without much fuss. A dip or hummus is great because you won’t have to heat it up when you arrive. Oven real estate is very valuable to your host, and something as simple as heating up your creation for ten minutes can cause them a lot of unneeded stress.
Keep your phone hidden
It may be tempting to Instagram the pretty drink your friend made for you or post photos to Facebook of your best holiday look, but keep in mind that the moment you pull your phone out you set the precedent for everyone at the party to do the same thing. Give the people you meet over the course of the evening your full attention. Your phone will be waiting for you when the night is over.
Make new friends
Since your phone is hidden away in your pocket, this is an excellent opportunity to make new friends.Talk to someone who appears to know no one other than the host. Not only will you make the evening more enjoyable for that person, but doing this allows your host to move around the party without feeling guilty for leaving them alone. You don’t have to latch on to that person for the entire evening, but the initial gesture will be appreciated by everyone.
Greet the hostess with a gift
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This can be something as generic as a bottle of their favorite wine or more specific, like a book you know they will enjoy. It is an especially appreciated gesture if your host is providing dinner for the party. Most people stay within the $10-$25 range, but it never hurts to spoil your friend a little for all their efforts! Be sure to check out our Hostess Gift Guide in this issue and stay tuned to our website during the month of December for additional gift ideas! december 2015 | bella magazine | page 11
gifts for the hostess
Unique ideas that will add joy to any occasion! Your host deserves an amazing gift for all of their hard work in organizing and preparing for holiday festivities! Treat them to one (or a basket full) of the following gifts! Not only will they appreciate the gesture, the chances of them receiving the same thing from someone else or regifting any of these ideas are very slim!
Rifle Paper Company Planners Rifle Paper Company products are available at chocolatepaper in Roanoke!
The Dharma Door Hemp String Bag (preferably filled with their favorite fruits!) www.dharmadoorusa.com
Lo & Behold Hand Salve www.loandbeholdnaturals.com page 12 | bella magazine | december 2015
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Il Morso Coffee Bars www.ilmorso.com
The Little Book of Mindfulness (available at your favorite bookstire)
A Walk by Roanoke-native Chris Skelton www.blurb.com
Holiday Mint Chocohappy cones www.chocohappy.com
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One Hope Sparkling Wine Glitter Bottle www.onehopewine.com december 2015 | bella magazine | page 13
d.i.y. holiday gifts Some of the best gifts are those handmade with love! You don’t have to pile on credit card debt to let all of your friends and family know you love and care about them for the holidays. Pinterest has a huge selection of DIY gift ideas that will be treasured for a lifetime. Here are a few of our favorites:
No-Sew Leather Jewelry Pouches { www.somethingturquoise.com }
These are great last minute, personalized gifts that you can fill with trinkets, homemade candies, or a gift card to the recipients favorite store. Make sure to visit their website for additional instructions and beautiful photos from Studio 11 Weddings! You will need: Leather Crop-A-Dile hole punch (easily cuts through leather!) Scrapbooking Eyelets Thin ribbon Sharp scissors Bowl (ours is 7.5″ in diameter) Charm or bead Pen
Use a bowl to trace a circle on your leather square. Cut out the circle you traced. Set your hole punch depth using the Crop-a-Dile guide. Something Turquoise used 3/4”, but you can use whatever you need to fit your project. Then punch all around your circle. Each hole should be about an inch apart. Make sure to have an odd amount of holes as this helps with the threading. Go through and remove any remnant cutout that the Crop-a-Dile leaves behind. Using the other end of the Crop-a-Dile, set an eyelet in each hole. This protects the leather from wear and use and adds color. Thread your circle with a thin ribbon. You should finish on the same hole, on the outside. Pull the ribbon to close the pouch. You can add a personalized charm or bead onto both strands of the ribbon to tailor your gift to the recipient. Pull the pouch ribbon tight. Stretch around and over the gathered weaves of leather and hold tight. Then, tie a very tight knot around the charm. Once removed, the ribbon will open to reveal a beautiful jewelry pouch that opens to the perfect circle! Trim the edges of the ribbon and it is complete!
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DIY Sharpie Dinnerware { www.thesweetestoccasion.com }
This is a much more versatile craft idea in that the entire family can participate! Bright colored sharpies allow you to involve your children in the project if you want or simply make a few personalized dishes on your own. You will need: White dinnerware Sharpie markers Glass cleaner A lint-free cloth Oven
Remove any labels that might be on your dishes. Wash, dry them, and give them a good scrubbing with a glass cleaner and a soft, lint-free cloth to make sure they are clean and shiny. Then, if you wish, use a stencil to trace a pattern on your plate or mug. Place each dish directly on the rack in a cool oven. Then, heat the oven to 350 and bake the dishes for 30 minutes. You may want to recommend that the recipient hand wash their gifts instead of putting them in the dishwasher. Although the decoration should be permanent, you wouldn’t want it to wash off!
Maybe you want to give someone a homemade gift, but making it is just going to take more time than you have during this busy holiday season. We can help on that front too! Knitted dishcloths make great stocking stuffers and additions to gift baskets. Our favorite local supplier of handmade dishcloths, 92-year-old Amelia Stadtmueller, is selling her creations just in time for the holidays! Email us at editorial@ beckmediagroup.com for more information on how to get a few for the people on your gift list (& a few for yourself)!
Happy Holidays, Bella Girls!
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delicious gifts
An endless source of inspiration for edible delights to share all year!
We can’t get over the gorgeous presentation of unique recipes in Maggie Battista’s Food Gift Love! There are more than 100 recipes inside to make, wrap, and share with family and friends. Pick up a copy today to find shareable recipes like the following one for Graham Cracker Toffee! You can also visit www.eatboutique.com for more information on Maggie and to purchase products sourced from other passionate makers, farmers and purveyors.
graham cracker toffee A traditional holiday treat, Graham Cracker Toffee recipes have been passed between families for generations. It’s less toffee and more a delicious hack of graham crackers, butter, and sugar. A dear girlfriend gave me a batch of this toffee, along with the recipe, years ago. In that simple act, she fueled years of effortless holiday food gifts for my friends and family. I slip a few pieces—because a little goes a long way—into my cookie boxes during the winter holidays. They’re always the first treats to get gobbled up. INGREDIENTS 12 large graham crackers, broken into halves 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter 3/4 cup light brown sugar, loosely packed 3/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1 tablespoon coconut oil Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line two baking sheets with aluminum foil, setting one aside for later use. Arrange the graham crackers on a lined baking sheet, with each cracker touching the next. Set aside. Melt the butter in a small pot over low heat. Stir in the sugar and simmer (do not boil) about 10 minutes just until the sugar melts. Stir occasionally to help the sugar dissolve. Pour the hot mixture over the graham crackers and spread it evenly to cover all the crackers. Sprinkle the nuts over the graham crackers. Bake about 10 minutes or until their nutty fragrance begins to fill the kitchen. Keep a close eye on them so they don’t burn.
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After 10 minutes, remove the graham crackers from the oven and let cool on a cooling rack 8-10 minutes. Remove each cracker to the second lined baking sheet, taking care to make sure the crackers do not touch each other this time. In a double boiler set over medium heat, place a bit of water in the bottom pot—making sure the water doesn’t touch the underside of the top pot. Assemble the double boiler. (If you do not have a double boiler, just place a metal or glass bowl on top of a medium pot.) Place the chocolate and coconut oil in the top part of the double boiler. Stir and melt until the chocolate forms drippy ribbons when you lift your rubber spatula from the pot. Pour the melted chocolate into a plastic bag. Cut a tiny corner off the bag and immediately begin drizzling the chocolate all over the graham crackers (like you’re making a Jackson Pollock painting) until all the chocolate is used. Let it harden overnight at room temperature, and store in an airtight container up to one week.
GIFT WRAP Boxes Tissue Paper Ribbon Line each box with tissue paper. Place the toffee in the box and seal. Cut a long length of ribbon, and tie in a bow around the box. Cut the loops of the bow to the same size as the extra ribbon.
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get warm and Cozy
Hot chocolate by the fire will never be the same!
For holiday parties (or just a cold weekend inside with your family!), give this recipe for Thick and Creamy Crockpot Coconut Hot Chocolate from www.howsweeteats.com a try! It is a little messy, but well worth the effort! You will need: 4 (13 oz) cans full-fat coconut milk 2 (14 oz) cans sweetened condensed milk 8 ounces high-quality dark chocolate, chopped 1/4 cup dutch process cocoa powder 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 teaspoons coconut extract 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup unsweetened flaked or shredded coconut Frosting to rim the mugs For topping: Whipped cream or coconut whipped cream Marshmallows Add coconut milk, condensed milk and extracts to your crock pot, whisking to combine. Stir in salt, cocoa powder and chocolate, whisking again. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours. You want to stir and whisk every 15 minutes or so, making sure the chocolate melts nicely and is thoroughly distributed throughout the mixture. The best thing I can say here is to “know” your crockpot. I knew that mine could sit on low for a few hours while being mixed at least once every 30 minutes. After a while it began to thicken and bubble on the sides, so I left it on but removed the lid and whisked well. Just keep your eye on it and whisk everything together. Before serving, add coconut to a small saucepan and heat over low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon. Toast for 5-6 minutes until golden. Let cool, then add to a paper or ziplock bag and crush with you hands under small flakes remain. To serve, rim the edges of a mug with some frosting or glaze or something sticky, then dip the rims in the toasted coconut flakes. pressing gently to adhere. Pour hot chocolate in the mugs and garnish with whipped cream and marshmallows. [Note: if you don’t have a crockpot or are wary of using your crockpot, you can definitely make this in a large stock pot. Cook over very low heat while whisking, stirring until totally combined. Continue to stir along the edges where chocolate may stick and burn. Serve!]
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Article courtesy of
Holiday Sweet Treats
Join Member One here each month for more moneysaving tips, giveaways and all things awesome! Be sure to follow @SaveThisBuyThat on Twitter and check out our board “Save This Buy That” on Bella’s award-winning Pinterest page.
You won’t regret treating yourself to these: White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies | 50¢ per serving 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 stick unsalted butter, softened 1 cup white chocolate chips 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/3 cup peppermint chips 2 cups flour 1 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 egg
*
In a bowl, combine the flour, salt and baking soda. In another bowl, mix butter and sugar together with an electric mixer until creamy. Add vanilla extract and egg into mixture. Add dry ingredients into the wet, mix together slowly. Cover mixture and place in fridge for 30 min. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper and roll dough into balls. Place on cookie sheet and bake for 10 min. Remove from oven and let cool. Store in fridge for up to one week.
With the holiday season in full swing, there’s nothing quite like treating yourself to some delicious and budget-friendly sweet treats! These recipes are perfect for a decadent post-dinner treat or even as holiday gifts for friends.
Classic Sugar Cookies | 28¢ per serving 3 cups flour 1 cup unsalted butter, softened 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup sugar 1 egg powdered sugar
Sift salt, baking soda and flour. Combine butter, sugar and egg. Beat with an electric mixer. Gradually add flour until dough mixture pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Split the dough in half and refrigerate for 2 hours. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Before rolling out dough, sprinkle surface with powdered sugar. Roll dough into 1/4” thickness. Cut into desired shapes and place 1” apart on greased baking sheet. Bake for 8 min or until golden brown. Remove cookies.
Want more holiday savings tips & recipes? We got you. Visit: www.SaveThisBuyThat.
com
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Mind • Body • Soul
stroke prevention
Control risk factors to help prevent stroke Written by
Eduardo Zillo, MD
Someone in the United States just suffered a stroke. Forty seconds from now, someone will suffer another one. Four minutes from now, someone will suffer a stroke and die. Stroke strikes about 795,000 people annually, killing nearly 130,000 of them and forever changing the lives of many who survive. The third leading cause of death in the United States, stroke is the foremost cause of serious, long-term disability across the country. You can help prevent stroke by making healthy choices and taking control of the risk factors for stroke. This means eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight and getting enough exercise. It also means not smoking, controlling your blood pressure, lowering your “bad” cholesterol levels and managing your diabetes, if you have it. High blood pressure is the most significant risk factor for stroke. The ideal is 120/80. By lowering your blood pressure, you reduce your risk of having a stroke.
Stroke Symptoms
Stroke symptoms include sudden onset of weakness, numbness, speech difficulty or visual impairment. Think FAST and call 911 if you or someone you know has symptoms of a stroke. F – FACE. Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop or appear crooked? A – ARM. Can the person lift both arms in the air? Only lifting one could be a sign of a stroke. S – SPEECH. Are the person’s words slurred, or is he or she unable to speak? T – TIME. Call 911 immediately if any of these symptoms are present. Don’t wait.
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Article courtesy of
Eduardo Zilli, MD, is a neurologist with Centra Medical Group Neurology Center in Bedford. For more information, visit Neuroscience.CentraHealth.com or call 434.200.3600 to make an appointment.
Getting to the hospital quickly after the onset of stroke symptoms translates to rapid intervention and the best chance to return to a normal, healthy lifestyle. Anyone suffering from a stroke should come to the hospital immediately. Depending on the type of stroke, some patients who arrive within three hours of the onset of stroke symptoms are eligible for a clotbusting drug known as t-PA that can improve the chances of recovery. Centra Lynchburg General Hospital holds The Joint Commission’s national Certificate of Distinction for Primary Stroke Centers, a certification that recognizes centers that make exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke care. If a stroke victim fails to arrive at the hospital in time for thrombolytic treatment, Centra’s specialized nursing and physician care and rehabilitation services also can improve outcomes. The most important steps you can take are good health choices to limit your risk of stroke. december 2015 | bella magazine | page 25
conquering holiday Stress A few tips for navigating the holidays Written by
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Lynn Phelps is a photographer, author, health and business coach in Southwest Virginia. You can see her work at www.lynnphelps.com.
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Lynn Phelps
Feeling stressed and overwhelmed this holiday season? You are not alone. Especially if you, like many of us, find yourself staring at social media and wondering why everyone else’s holiday resembles a scene in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” while yours is running for top spot on the list of Pinterest fails. It’s going to be OK! The reality is, no one will notice if it’s not. Our friends, family, acquaintances, are caught up in the magic of the holiday season. Most will not notice if you didn’t have time to deck your halls. So relax, focus, and let’s talk about what’s important. First, get in the right frame of mind to celebrate. Start by recalling your favorite holiday memory. Most of the time it’s from our childhood. Concentrate on how that memory makes you feel. Do you feel the spirit of the season? Excitement? Warmth? Simplicity? Jot down a few of those feelings. They become a great place to come back to when you are feeling stressed. Next up, prioritize your list. We tend to make things harder than they really are, and outside influences can add to the chaos. Retailers want you to feel stressed because when you are stressed you are more likely to purchase gifts in a hurry, order pre cooked meals, spend too much money, and completely forget to enjoy life’s special moments. Get organized before you run your errands so you don’t get overwhelmed by last minute suggestions. Next, ask yourself what feelings you want to share with others regarding the spirit of the season. Whether it’s family, friends, clients, or customers—if you are projecting stress they will feel stressed, if you are projecting peace, they will feel peace. Finally, don’t be afraid to delegate! Asking for help is important and not just at work or at home. Let’s begin with your gift list. This year, I asked each person for a list of six gift ideas with Amazon links. I chose a gift from the list, knowing it would be something they would use and it would still surprise them! All holiday shopping can work this way. Don’t be afraid to ask for hints. The less time you spend looking for a gift with no clear direction, the more time you can reallocate to celebrating with friends and family. There are several other ways you can delegate, find extra time, or find help while keeping it light and fun: • Have a tree trimming party at work or at home. • Organize a cookie exchange. • Have each dinner guest bring their favorite dish to share. • Cook enough for leftovers twice a week. You’ll free up extra time for holiday activities and avoid eating poorly from the drive thru. By organizing, sharing responsibilities and surrounding yourself with things that bring you joy, you can make time for the important things—like enjoying a glass of eggnog by the fire!
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Holiday Happenings
honoring loved ones
The holidays are a wonderful time of year to reconnect with your family and relive memories from years past. Unfortunately, losing a loved one can make what was once a joyous occasion a very difficult time of the year to stay social. Finding a way to include their memory in your holiday traditions can help you process your grief without missing out on special moments with family and friends. Good Samaritan Hospice’s annual “Love Light Tree” is the perfect way to honor your loved one during the holiday season. Not only will you honor the memory of the light that person brought into the world, your donation will help support end-of-life care in the Roanoke and New River Valleys, alleviating some of the financial stress that those with terminally ill loved ones are facing. Throughout the month of December, you can donate $10 to have a “love light” placed on the tree of your choice with the name of the loved one you wish to honor. For a donation of $25, individuals receive a handmade porcelain ornament to keep or to have sent to someone as a gift, a reminder that their loved one is being thought of during the holidays. “By participating in the Love Light Tree program, you will not only light up the holidays for someone you love, you will also help Good Sam to light up the holidays for a terminally ill person in our community,” says Cindy Hagerman, Director of Community Relations. “It’s an opportunity to help those who need hospice care, as well as remember and recognize the special people in your own life.”
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Memorial gifts, grants and programs like Love Light Tree allow Good Samaritan Hospice to remain the only not-for-profit, community-based hospice in our area that maintains the belief that anyone who qualifies and desires hospice care should receive it, regardless of their ability to pay. The Love Light Trees will be officially lit on Wednesday, December 2 at 10 a.m. in Tanglewood Mall and Thursday, December 3 at 10 a.m. in the New River Valley Mall during a remembrance ceremony that will include music and refreshments. Donation forms are available at either mall or by calling Good Sam at 540-776-0198 (Roanoke) or 540-381-3171 (NRV). You can also download a form at www.goodsamhospice.org
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Holiday Happenings
Southwest Virginia Ballet Presents
the nutcracker
Katie Muson Photo by McDilda Photography
If you need a little inspiration to get into the holiday spirit, look no further than Southwest Virginia Ballet’s 20th production of The Nutcracker! Beautiful music, lush scenery, and lavish costumes perfectly complement E.T.A. Hoffmann’s timeless story as patrons of all ages have their imaginations sparked by a Christmas tree that grows to huge proportions, mice and soldiers in battle, and snowflakes whirling through falling snow. The Nutcracker is a timeless tradition in Roanoke. Those who attend a performance every year know that each one offers something different. Audiences will be treated to new choreography and costumes with this production. Perhaps most importantly, the central message of this performance is, “Love will prevail.” With all of the chaos happening in the world around us, it is a helpful reminder to inspire happiness in our community for the holidays. “You will feel the love and joy of the people on the stage. The goal is to help the audience enjoy life,” says choreographer Pedro Szalay. That goal is one that the dancers and artists take very seriously. The students involved have made sacrifices all year to perfect their performances including attending rehearsals on Saturdays and Sundays and even missing school dances. High school senior Katie Munson will dance the role of The Sugar Plum Fairy. This year marks her 12th performance in The Nutcracker. She began at a very young age as a reindeer in the play. Under the guidance of Szalay, she has blossomed into a performer that can fill the demanding role of The Sugar Plum Fairy . “This role is very technical,” explains Szalay. “You need to be regal. She is the guider of the Land of the Sweets and everyone looks up to her. It is about the technique and the artistry. Katie has both.” “This year is special because it is my last performance [as a student of Southwest Virginia Ballet],” says Munson. “I have had an amazing experience with them, and am grateful for the opportunity to showcase the artistry and talent that go into the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy.” The cast of this year’s production will include the 57 members of Southwest Virginia Ballet’s junior and senior company as well as over 150 community members from the ages of seven through “adult.” Performances will take place at the Berglund Performing Arts Theatre on Saturday, December 12 at 2.p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 13 at 3 p.m. You can also purchase tickets for Clara’s Tea Party, a special pre-performance event on Sunday, December 13 at 1:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.svballet.org.
page 30 | bella magazine | december 2015
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