february 2015
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February 2015 | Issue One Hundred Four
Joey Coakley ey Beck Publisher & Owner
jbeck@beckmediagroup.com agroup.com
Hayleigh Worgan Editorial Director ector
hworgan@beckmediagroup.com
Sara Coakley Office Manager
bella@beckmediagroup.com
•••
Cheryl Matthews Sales Director
cmatthews@beckmediagroup.com
Advertising Inquiries advertise@beckmediagroup.com bella@beckmediagroup.com (540) 904-6800
•••
Contributors ors Stacey Brugh, Centra Health, lth, Decca Knight, Member One Federal Credit Union, Tanya Ritz, Hayleigh gh Worgan Editorial Intern Danielle Raymond, Hollins University
Editorial Inquiries editorial@beckmediagroup.com
LLC
806 Wasena Avenue, Suite 101, Roanoke, VA 24015 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 publica on printed monthly and is distributed throughout Southwest and Central Virginia and beyond. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse ad space for any adver sement or editorial content the staff deems inappropriate for our readers. The concept and design of Bella Magazine, as well as the design, adver sements, art, photos and editorial content is property of Beck Media Group LLC and may not be copied or reprinted without wri en 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
february 2015
inside:7
Bella Fashion
A new app changes how we choose our favorite out its.
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Bella Sips
Pink Martini recipes perfect for Valentine’s Day.
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Bella Girl
An outstanding landscape photographer pursues her dreams.
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Bella Girl D.I.Y.
Darby Smart inspires subscribers to be creative with a convenient doorstep delivery.
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Bella Muse
Think positive, stay healthy, and choose the best care when you need it most.
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Parent in Training
Try this helpful alternative to lectures and warnings.
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Mind. Body. Soul.
Live a healthier, conscious, and inspired life.
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Save This, Buy That
Member One shows us how to save money and show our love on Valentine’s Day.
find us: lovelybella.com
bellamagazine
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bella_ _magazine
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Tales from Stacey Rae
The inspirational true love story that began with a blind date.
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Bella Finds
Thoughtful gift ideas to remind february 2015 | bella magazine | someone how much you love them!
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Bella Fashion
Outfit me Toni t The must-have app for your next shopping trip! Finding the perfect out it for Valentine’s Day can take hours. Factor in shopping at various boutiques, trying on your prospects, and sending photos to your friends—and you might spend all day looking for the perfect ensemble! Fortunately, Stephanie Smith, co-founder of the Out it Me Tonight website and app, has the perfect solution. Stephanie and her mom, Jennifer, were always close. They not only shared clothes and shoes, but opinions on each other’s out its. When Stephanie became a student at Virginia Tech and moved from her home in Richmond, they texted photos of their out its back and forth. “One evening I called my mom and said, ‘Everyone probably does this—especially when they are in itting rooms,’” Stephanie recalls. “There had to be an easier way to harness everyone’s opinions on out it choices.” Jennifer agreed, and the mother-daughter team contacted a web developer in California to help them write the code for their website. Today, Out it Me Tonight has 100-200 people using it daily to vote on out it submissions from other users. New people download the app every day, and their hope is to link it with retailers and have more people use it in itting rooms. “I think it could be a huge marketing tool for retailers to harness what their customers like best, and which out its they feel more strongly about than others,” explains Stephanie. It can be a little nerve-wracking to submit a photo for strangers to view, but there are a couple of important features that may help you ind the courage to give it a try. “There is a privacy setting on the app that allows users to send their photo to one person or their ten closest friends if they want to, and it doesn’t go out for everyone to see,” Stephanie says. “Also, there is no way to comment on photos. This way we can avoid any negative comments, and users can simply vote on which out it looks best.” Get ready to look your best for Valentine’s Day and every day this year! Download the app from their website, www.outϐitmetonight.com, and get started submitting your photos or helping other users choose their best look! w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m
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Bella Sips
Valentine’s Day Sips The perfect pink martini recipes Satisfy your sweet tooth oth with one tini combinaof these delicious martini om Martie tions! The irst one is from fect for Knows Parties and is perfect eat drink cotton candy lovers—a great to serve for Valentine’s Day and to enjoy this summer: w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m
CoƩon Candy MarƟni
2 ounces ounce raspberry ϔlavored vodka 1 ounce C Chambord liqueur Splash of Grenadine G Splash of Champagne, C Prosecco or club soda for some ϔizz Cotton candy for garnish Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the vodka, Chambord, Grenadine, and Champagne. Shake until the shaker is frosty and the cocktail is well chilled. Serve in chilled martini glasses and top with a wisp of cotton candy. february 2015
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Bella Sips For the chocolate hocolate fans, here is an am amazing recipe from Inspired by Charm:
SweeƟe MarƟni
2 ounces vanilla vodka 2 ounces Godiva white chocolate ate liqueur 1 ounce amaretto liqueur 1/2 ounce ce grenadine 2 ounces half and half Honey and sprinkles for garnish Pour a small amount of honey onto one plate. On another plate, put some sprinkles. Coat the rim of a martini glass in the honey and then in the sprinkles. Set aside. In a cocktail shaker ϔilled with ice, add the remaining ingredients. Shake vigorously. Strain into your rimmed martini glass. Looking for a creative way to incorporate the delicious taste of Sweetheart candies into your Girls’ Night Out? 11 Magnolia Lane has the perfect yummy recipe for you!
Sweetheart MarƟni
2 ounces sour mix (not sweet and sour, use simple syrup if you cannot ϔind sour mix) 2 ounces peach schnapps 7 ounces of pink lemonade vodka 5 ounces of simply lemonade with raspberry Shake until mixed thoroughly (they recommend until your hand is too cold to shake anymore!). Strain the drink into a chilled martini glass. Squeeze fresh lemon juice into the drink as soon as it’s poured. You can also add lemon to the rim of the glass. Finally, our editor’s favorite is this beautiful creation from Fragrant Vanilla Cupcake. Although the drink looks sweet, it does have a little bit of a tart taste to it as well. Give it a try and let us know what you think!
Pink Panther MarƟni
4-6 large ice cubes 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 3 ounces Prairie Organic Vodka 2 ounces Chambord or raspberry liqueur 2 tablespoons full fat coconut milk 2 ounces fresh blood orange juice In a martini shaker add the ice, vanilla, vodka, raspberry liqueur, coconut milk, and orange juice place top on shaker. Shake until well blended. Pour through a strainer into a chilled martini glass, and serve! page 10 | bella magazine | february 2015
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Bella Girl
The Adventure of a Lifetime Photographer Michele Sons prepares for journey to Antarctica Michele Sons is a single mother with a full-time job based in Southwest Virginia who still inds time to pursue her photography talent. Recently, she won a trip to Antarctica from The Luminous Landscape, a website devoted to the art and technique of photography. How did you get started with landscape photography? Landscape photography represented the convergence of many of my interests and I knew after my first workshop that I had discovered my passion. I took two more workshops in Arizona, and spent many, many hours studying and practicing over the course of another couple of years. In 2014, I decided I wanted to really focus on my home, Appalachia.
What are some of the unexpected challenges you have faced? For the first couple of years, I was so wrapped up in understanding the technical side of shooting and working a landscape that I simply didn’t have the mental bandwidth to think about what I was trying to say with my work. This past year the shooting finally began to happen naturally, and so I was then able to explore what it was I wanted to say about the landscape. I have also faced the challenge of finding ways to get out in the field. I work a regular day job and I’m a single mom, so just finding the time and the means to get out there isn’t always straightforward, but I make it happen because I love it. I typically travel solo and on a tight budget.
What are you most looking forward to about your upcoming trip? Antarctica qualifies as the most exciting destination I’ll ever visit. I’m drawn to the wilderness element of it, the scale, the shapes and the colors. Equally exciting is the opportunity to meet and learn from some of the world’s finest landscape photographers including Art Wolfe, Charles Cramer, Christian Fletcher, Peter Cox, and Joe Cornish, as well as Kevin Raber and Michael Reichmann of The Luminous Landscape who gave me this trip. I’ve been studying their work, and look forward to talking to each of them about their approach, their vision, and their experiences.
Visit Michele’s blog for more info about her travels and to view her photos: www.michelesonsphotography.com w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m
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Bella Girl D.I.Y.
d.i.y. delivery Darby Smart makes crafting more convenient
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We love the opportunity to bring you the most unique and beautiful DIY projects we ind every month—but we realize that some of you may have trouble inding time to go to the store and hunt down every item you need to recreate them. Fortunately, there is an alternative. Darby Smart is a service that turns projects created by leading designers into kits that include everything you need to recreate a speci ic DIY project in your home. There are several ideas to choose from on their website, and you can even choose to “be surprised” with a random craft. We chose to create Confetti Champagne Flutes, inspired by Kate Spade Larabee Dots. These lutes will make a great addition to any Valentine’s Day party, or more elegant gatherings throughout the year. The kit came with four lutes, glitter beads, and a lyer indicating where to go online for project directions. First, we cleaned the surface of the glass. We then began applying bubbles. Darby Smart advises that you hold the tip of their Beads in a Bottle about 1/16” above the surface of the glass and squeeze beads on to the desired size (they do shrink slightly when dry). Lifting straight up when you release the squeeze creates a bead effect. Repeat until desired pattern is achieved. Darby Smart Tip: Beads in a Bottle is self-rounding and will harden when dry. Let your creations dry for at least four hours, or until your bubbles have fully hardened. This will secure your design so your lutes can be hand washed. Visit www.darbysmart.com today to choose your DIY project! With a variety of crafts available, you may ind yourself learning a new skill while expressing your creativity and personal style. Don’t forget to check out our Pinterest page throughout the month for more of our favorite DIY ideas!
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Bella Muse
Produ Spotli t An editor’s new obsession: Argan Oil Written by
Hayleigh Worgan
a
Argan Oil is the most exciting new item in my medicine cabinet. Like many of you, I am often skeptical about bottles containing mystery “cure all” ingredient—so I was a little hesitant to try a trendy product that made a lot of promises I was afraid it could not keep. However, lately, I have been all about getting back to basics—incorporating more products that come from nature into my daily skincare, health and beauty routine. Argan Oil comes from Argan trees, native to Morocco. Its reported medicinal bene its make it a staple to the way of life of those who have cultivated and used it for generations. Recently, cosmetic and food industries have incorporated the oil into their products. Not only is it rumored to aid against rheumatism and the healing of burns, it is also used as a moisturizing oil for wrinkled, laking, or scaly dry skin. One of my personal favorite uses for Argan Oil is to tame my frizzy red hair. As many of you with naturally curly hair already understand, there are few products out there that actually soothe fried split ends. Many make the promise, but are illed with chemicals that cause more damage, thus encouraging you to “reapply when needed” several times throughout the day. Hoping to eliminate harmful chemicalladen products from my life, I made the plunge and began using John Masters’ Argan Oil on my page 16 | bella magazine | february 2015
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wet hair, applying it to the ends and massaging what was left into my scalp. On the irst day, I made the mistake of starting with my scalp and working towards the ends of my hair. The heavy concentration made the top of my hair appear greasy and I had to rewash after it dried, but I did not give up! Once I developed the right pattern, I noticed a difference almost overnight. My hair was softer, and the frizz was minimal. Some days I let my hair dry by itself. On special occasions, I blow dry and lat iron it. After it dries, I use a dime size amount of Argan Oil on my split ends and it controls any ly-away hairs all day. The success with my hair made me curious, and I began using the oil on my skin at night. What a difference! My complexion is brighter and even the harsh winter air does not leave my face feeling dry or chapped. There are several ways to make Argan Oil part of your hair care (or overall beauty) routine. Spend some time researching the ingredients in your shampoos and conditioners. You may ind that they contain the oil already. If you want to use pure Argan Oil, you need to be prepared to make a small investment. In its pure form, it is a little expensive. The small sacri ice was worth it to me, because the oil replaced all my hair care products (except shampoo) and a small bottle has lasted over two months. Visit www.johnmasters.com to purchase your bottle of Argan Oil today and let us know what you think of it on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/bellamagazine.
Beyond the Fringe:
Q&A Written by
Tanya Ritz
What are the expiraƟon dates on cosmeƟcs? Some cosmetic items seem to sit in our drawers longer than others. Sometimes you buy that teal liquid liner or dark berry lipstick on impulse or for a special occasion, but they do not become your daily go-to staples in your stash. So how long will they be safe to use? For mascara and liquid eye liners, you have to be really particular about throwing them out and replacing regularly, about every three to four months. These products can store a lot of bacteria and be contaminated easily. Lip stick and lip gloss are usually good for two to three years. Eye and lip pencils typically last for three to ϔive years. Foundations in bottles can be good for a couple of years. If your foundation doesn’t come in a squeeze tube or with a pump applicator, make sure your hands are thoroughly cleansed before touching the foundation to cut down on contamination. My rule of thumb for items such as lipstick or gloss (because I hate clutter—even fun clutter like makeup), is if I haven’t used it in the past 6 months, pass it along to a friend who might!
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Tanya is a hair stylist & colorist at Gloss Salon in Roanoke and lover of all things beauty. She specializes in precision haircuts and custom color. For more ps, trends and informa on, visit her page at www.facebook.com/tanyaritzhair
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Written by
Parent-In-Training Bella Do-It-Yourself
Decca Knight
The Low Down on Le uring & Warnings I try to avoid lecturing my child as much as I try to avoid eating baked goods. I know that neither is good for me, but sometimes I slip. After all, I am human. During one particularly dismal afternoon, I found myself in the car lecturing my son about staying on his bottom when we were eating in a restaurant. It was an epic lecture, well thought-out, with lots of supporting details and discussions on social rami ications. After the ifteen-minute diatribe, I patted myself on the back for the knowledge I had imparted. I believed that now that he had all the facts, he would make immediate changes. I knew, just knew, that he would say, “Mom, you are right, I will never get up again. I can’t believe that you have talked to me about this so many times. This time, I am ready to change.” But, my will was shattered, and my perfectly constructed vision was crushed when I asked, “So, do you get what I am saying buddy?” My angelic little boy replied, “So mom, what’s for snack?” In all honesty, he probably stopped listening to me after thirty seconds. After that he probably started thinking about Disney World, Legos, and of course Gold ish. My voice became white noise. As parents, why do we believe that having the same lecture, over and over with our child, will enact change? If, after the irst discussion, our offspring continue with the same behavior, this should be a red lag to us. It should cause us to pause and consider a different plan of action. Perhaps we should consider giving immediate consequences for a behavior. Perhaps we should consider restricting an activity until meaningful change takes place. As I considered my son’s issue with sitting on his bottom in the restaurant, I realized that it would have been much more effective to leave the restaurant when he was continually getting up. Giving multiple warnings and a hearty lecture sure wasn’t doing the trick. Nevertheless, we usually steer clear of more reasonable actions because they are uncomfortable or dif icult for us as parents. It is much easier to warn over and over and lecture about a behavior
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Decca is a wife, mother, counselor, and paren ng educator. In an effort to further help kids and parents, Decca began studying a variety of paren ng philosophies. She teaches classes, consults with other “Parents-in-training,” and runs Blue Ridge Paren ng and Consul ng LLC. For more informa on about paren ng classes and consulta on visit Decca’s website www.blueridgeparen ng.com
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than to give a consequence and watch your child have a meltdown in public. But, who are we hurting when we do this? Not ourselves, but our kids. We are teaching them that they are not responsible for their own actions and that there will always be someone else there to remind and explain. Why should they worry about getting it right the irst time when there will always be a well meaning adult picking up the slack? So, the next time you have the urge to warn or lecture, take a deep breath and consider doing something more impactful. If your child is continually throwing a toy, don’t say, “Stop!” over and over. Take it away. If your teenager has gotten her third speeding ticket, don’t give her a long lecture on the dangers of driving fast. Take away her car. Be an effective parent and stop wasting your breath. Use it for more productive things like nagging your signi icant other to inish their “honey-do” list.
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Written by
Arley Baker, RN
Mind. Body. Soul.
Centra Ho ice Hope & compassion in difficult days Helping patients and families achieve the highest quality of life possible is the very heartbeat of Centra Hospice, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Centra Hospice focuses on identifying the needs of their patients and setting goals with them. Each person wants to enjoy life as long as they have it. Hospice helps people attain the most out of their life after they have been told there is no cure or treatment available. Hospice provides a multi-disciplinary team, including a medical director, doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, chaplains and social workers, offering compassionate care and ful illing the unique needs of each patient. After receiving a terminal diagnosis, the hospice team begins charting a course— working closely with the patient and family—to manage pain and other symptoms, provide spiritual life support and make the most of the time left. Hospice professionals ask each patient, “What is it you want to do every day?” They help them achieve those daily goals, while providing quality of life and helping patients and families as they begin to grieve. In some cases, hospice allows people to carry on their normal life if care is provided early in the diagnosis. Hospice care is most bene icial when there is suf icient time to manage symptoms and establish a trusting relationship. The hospice staff brings a strong clinical background to their position, but also a passion for providing comfort and quality of life. Their commitment is to care for the patients and support families. These staff members know what it means to lose someone you love and they know what it means to be a caregiver. They want to make a difference and they do every day. Hospice also provides bereavement services and grief support groups, connecting individuals with others who are having similar feelings. Many grief groups continue meeting long after the course ends through friendships that last a lifetime. The hospice doors are open to patients and families to provide comfort, support and encouragement. Hospice care is provided wherever patients may be—in their home, a family member’s home, a nursing home, an assisted living facility or a hospital. No matter where they live, hospice professionals are dedicated to helping patients live out their days fully and completely, in the best way possible.
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Article courtesy of
Arley Baker, RN, is the director of Centra Hospice. Centra Hospice includes offices in Lynchburg, Farmville and Bedford. For more informa on, call 434.200.3204 (Lynchburg), 434.315.2885 (Farmville) and 540.587.6592 (Bedford) or visit AtHomeWithCentra.com.
Centra Hospice is celebrating its 30th anniversary with Heroes of Hospice program, recognizing the patients,
families, volunteers and staff that make a difference every day. Visit Centra’s Facebook page (CentraFan) or YouTube channel (CentraHealth) to follow the Heroes of Hospice video series. w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m
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Mind. Body. Soul.
heart health A few simple steps to take care of your heart
Heart attacks can be more dif icult to identify in women than men, and ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for heart disease or stroke. Sarah Fedele, Communications Director for the American Heart Association, explains that the dif iculty in pinpointing symptoms may be the reason that fewer women than men survive their irst heart attack. “Men often present with pressure in the chest—but women are somewhat more likely to present with more of the less common symptoms such as shortness of breath, jaw pain, nausea, back pain, and vomiting. I have heard women survivors talk of ire in the chest, tightness in the chest, and even of overall lu-like symptoms. The best key we have is for women to know their own bodies and to be their own advocates when they feel that something is not right,” says Fedele. For your health, and your sanity, now is the time to start making changes in your lifestyle to keep your heart healthy. Of the many people who will experience a heart attack or stroke, EIGHTY percent of those problems could be prevented. “When people work on getting more active or eating a heart-healthy diet they will see most of their numbers head toward healthier ranges,” says Fedele. If you are curious about your own cardiovascular health, you can go to www.mylifecheck.org to take a free personal assessment and the American Heart Association will recommend a personalized plan to help you reach your goals. Join Bella on February 6, as we recognize National Wear Red Day and do our part to help break barriers against heart disease and stroke. For more info visit www.heart.org. page 22 | bella magazine | february 2015
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Mind. Body. Soul.
Positive Thinking Can a positive outlook change your life?
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A positive attitude is one of the most powerful assets you can have. Positive people ind success, good health, happiness, wealth and rewarding relationships throughout their lives. This is not because they are already successful, or because they are more con ident, it is simply the attitude. The law of attraction is that positive thoughts lead to positive results. Your thoughts are much more powerful than just electric signals between synapses. They have the ability to de ine you and affect those around you. However, it’s not easy to summon this way of thinking on command. It may take years of patience and practice to change your overall mentality. The most successful people throughout history have all recognized the power of positive thinking. Even Gandhi was a strong advocate of positive thinking. He is reported to have said, “A man is but the product of his thoughts; what he thinks, he becomes.” So what are some proven methods to developing mastery in positive thinking? Well for starters, believe that you can become a positive thinker. “Invest and commit yourself to your own personal development,” suggests Stanley Murphy, department chair for the Graduate School of Business and Management at Argosy University. “You must irst believe in yourself. When you do, you will notice that others believe in you too. See if your personal investments are constructive or destructive. If they are destructive, then try to eliminate them. If constructive, then perfect them.” Brian Salinas, professor at Argosy University, recommends interacting with people who are on the same journey, whether they are ahead or behind. “People project who they are and you will too. You’ll start to pick up their traits and ways of approaching things,” says Salinas. “Read books that talk about handling the lessons and challenges that come up in life and that mirror those you want to overcome in yours. In a few years, you’ll ind that your story of triumph over adversity mirrors those you read about.” Consider the physical aspects as well. Try to incorporate the practice of daily meditation. “Moderate exercise, balanced diet and adequate rest will keep you physically it for your daily task.” Everyone has down moments, and that’s alright. “Positive attitude is more than the sum of your feelings at any particular moment. If you are facing a challenge that feels overwhelming at the moment, it doesn’t mean that you’re not a positive person,” adds Salinas. “Positive people have every right to feel sad. It’s even healthy to express those feelings from time-to-time. Just remember that those moments don’t de ine us.” w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m
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Events & Happenings
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Article ticle ti l courtesy t off
Join Member One here each month for more moneysaving ps, giveaways and all things awesome! Be sure to follow @SaveThisBuyThat on Twi er and check out our board “Save This Buy That” on Bella’s award-winning Pinterest page.
Valentine’s Day Done on ne the Happy Wallet Way Valentine’s Day can de initely dent your wallet. A dozen roses, chocolates, card, dinner and a movie – it all seems so overwhelming, especially for your inances! We can help. Whether you’re in a relationship or a single lady, we’ve got you!
52 Reasons Why I Love You
We can’t help but be totally smiƩen over this idea! The perfect ValenƟne’s DIY giŌ is wriƟng 52 reasons you love your boyfriend or girlfriend on a deck of playing cards! Did we menƟon a deck of cards is super cheap?
Deck of Cards Sharpie Paper Scissors Glue Measure out the middle of the card, cut out paper in that size. Glue paper to card. Write a note why you love that person in Sharpie.
Chocolate Coma
A day where indulging in chocolate is acceptable all day—count us in! Peppermint Bark is one of our favorite chocolate-y goodness treats, plus it’s cheap to recreate at only $0.27 per serving! Visit SaveThisBuyThat.com for the recipe!
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You’re DINO-Mite! DIY ValenƟne’s Card
3 different colors of paper Scissors Glue Marker Heart-shaped candy Cut one sheet of paper into a dinosaur (we used a stencil from the internet). Cut another sheet large enough to place the dinosaur on it & another strip that spans the length of the card. With marker, write “Have a DINO-mite Valentine’s Day!” on the long strip. Glue the dinosaur onto the larger sheet and glue the long strip above it. Add candy hearts to the dinosaur’s back to give effect of Stegosaurus plates. For more money-saving tips & all things awesome, visit SaveThisBuyThat.com!
For more money-saving tips and all things awesome, visit SaveThisBuyThat.com!
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Tales From Stacey Rae
Written by
Stacey Brugh
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blind dates & true love
I am a sucker for a good love story. It’s all about timing. One of my favorite words is serendipity—the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or bene icial way. Blind dates are a terrifying concept for many people. However, now and then, serendipity intervenes and a true love story is born from one of these encounters. Such is the case for one of my favorite couples, The Tolley’s—two people I am honored to know, who are celebrating 49 years together. They met in 1964. Gayle was working at VMI and her coworker Nancy (who became her sister-in-law) had a brother, Brownlee, who was serving in the USAF. He was coming home for Christmas and she wanted Gayle to meet him for a blind date. Gayle accepted the invitation. It was love at irst sight. They met in Lexington on a beautiful snowy evening. It was not long after their irst date that Brownlee began driving into Amherst County to learn more about this long-legged preacher’s daughter. Brownlee had six months left to serve of his commitment to the Air Force, so letters began to arrive on the mountain where Gayle lived. Brownlee’s only trip from his station in Massachusetts was to be in his brother’s wedding in April that year. Gayle anxiously awaited his arrival and the added bonus of meeting his large family. The summer of ’65 found them enjoying a wonderful courtship (outdated terminology these days). An unusual time and place, during halftime of a Natural Bridge High School football game, Brownlee asked Gayle to be his wife. On April 16, 1966, at the Stone Church of the Brethren in Buena Vista, the two strangers who had been set up on a blind date were married. They moved to Louisa County in 1972. There, Brownlee was a partner in a construction business with his two brothers. In 1974, their son, Justin, was born. In 1975, Brownlee’s mother (forever known as “Granny”) asked them to consider moving into the home place with her in Natural Bridge. They accepted her offer. Granny’s special gift of hospitality and friendship was freely given throughout her life. She welcomed all visitors, sending each one home illed to the brim with her beautiful spirit. She lived to be 100 years old, and was blessed with a crystal clear mind. “We could never re-pay her for her diligent care of our children,” says Gayle. “Granny proclaimed to others, ‘They keep me young.” In 1977, they purchased the home place at Natural Bridge Station, giving Granny a lifetime residence. It was a decision they never regretted. In 1976, they were given another bundle of joy to love when their daughter Suzanne was born. “Ours was a household of music,” recalls Gayle. “Brownlee played in a combo that played p y the music of the 40’s on through the top 40 tunes. Both children were active in sports music all through school.” and in musi Justin inherited the music bug, and has recently moved to Nashville to pursue his dreams. Today, Gayle and Brownlee continue to enjoy their relationship in addition to retirement. Brownlee continues to amaze everyone with his ability to build rock walls and add to the natural beauty of a very blessed home. Stacey Brugh gh lives in Roanoke, but grew up iin “Making your home in the place where you grew up is a wonder“Brughville” e” in Buchanan. She says, “My parents par taught me to live each day to the fullest and we ful experience. Our home is the hub of never-ending excitement: gatherings do! My days ys are always filled with fun stuff!” throughout the year, and notably the inimitable Tolley Thanksgiving, a celShe claims to be just a “small town girl with a big ebration of family and friends,” Brownlee explains. smile.” And big dreams! Read about her life—past So, fear not when you hear the phrase “Blind Date.” The Tolley’s are and present—here each month. For more of this living proof that a real connection is possible—even between strangers. story, visit www.lovelybella.com.
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february 2015
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bella magazine
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page 29
bella loves
Unique giŌs you will adore!
Rose Clay Heart Cleansing Sponge. www.oneloveorganics.com
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner—and inding the perfect gift is not always easy. Chocolate and lowers are great ideas, but adding a little surprise to your thoughtful gift might make this February 14 the best one yet! Ladies, we won’t blame you if you sneak this list of our favorite things into your signi icant other’s wallet!
Unique scents from Commodity Goods. www.commoditygoods.com
Edible Cookie Dough from Edoughble. www.edoughble.com
Broccoli, Love & Dark Chocolate by Liz Pearson.
Zuny Classic Series Elephant Pink Animal Bookend. www.zuny.info
Pavane No. 1 Candle or Perfume. www.gwendolyn-mary.com
page 30 | bella magazine | february 2015
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