Bella Magazine - January 2016

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MIND • BODY • SOUL HEALTH • MEET THE MAKERS WELL - BEING • ALL THINGS GOOD

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J anuar y 2016 I s s ue O ne H und re d Fif teen

Joey Coakley Beck Publisher & Owner jbeck@beckmediagroup.com Hayleigh Worgan Editorial Director hworgan@beckmediagroup.com Sara Coakley Office Manager bella@beckmediagroup.com ••• Want to advertise in Bella?

Email: 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 Tiffany Lee, Gwendolyn Miller, Member One Federal Credit Union, Hayleigh Worgan, Jackie Weaver of Centra Health Editorial Interns Madison Correiro, Hollins University

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MEET THE CONTRIBUTORS

SAVE THIS BUY THAT

EDITOR’S LETTER

We celebrate our 10th birthday with changes and goals for 2016!

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Four of the dedicated creators behind this issue.

page10 WELLNESS

Making the switch to natural deodorant.

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MORE ENERGY STARTS WITH YOU

A few tips to stay active and energetic during the winter.

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LLC

P.O. Box 107 Roanoke, Virginia 24002 540.904.6800 fax 540.904.6803 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. ©2016 Beck Media Group LLC All Rights Reserved. PRINTED IN THE USA

LOCAL MAKERS

Meet local maker Rich of Belle’s Place!

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Curb excess spending in the new year with advice from Member One.

page25 GIVING BACK

Lynchburg Daily Bread helps feed the hungry in our community.

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EATING HEALTHY

Snack smart with these guilt-free oatmeal raisin cookies!

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ALL THINGS GOOD

STAYING SAFE

Understanding the basics of personal safety.

page16 LIVING WELL

Editorial Inquiries editorial@beckmediagroup.com

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contents

Decreasing the visual clutter in your home.

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A Roanoke woman goes the extra mile to encourage a healthy lifestyle for her clients.

page30 BELLA FINDS

Renew yourself through the practice of honesty with The Art of Confession

by Paul Wilkes.

HEALTH

Give your baby a healthy start at Centra Virginia Baptist Hospital.

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Happy 2016!

As you may have noticed, from time to time we change the content or the look of Bella to keep up with your interests and needs. The world around us is increasingly complicated, and it is our goal to give you a publication that reminds you of the simple things that you can do to keep your life a little less chaotic. You, our readers, truly matter to us. We want you to take care of yourselves and be the best version of yourselves because together (in 2016 and beyond) we can continue to do great things for our community.

This year, we are celebrating ten years of having the privilege to do what we love and produce a quality women’s publication for Central and Southwest Virginia.

It is an achievement we could not have accomplished without such dedicated readers and advertisers. We have spent a lot of time thinking about the ways we could thank you and let you know how much the opportunity to continue this journey means to us.

That is why we have decided to change up our editorial beginning with this issue. Our focus has slightly shifted to encompass more local farmers and artisans who produce amazing products and could really use your support. Additionally, we will cover predominately chemical-free cosmetics, good-for-you products and healthy recipes. Each issue will feature a new way to make your life a little easier and highlight aspects of minimalism that can help you stay organized and focused.

We will continue to cover interesting local women, events, and organizations every month.

We are also introducing new writers both in our print publication and online. There are many talented writers in our region, and we love giving a voice to as many as we can through Bella. From philanthropic photographers to life coaches and instructors, we feel fortunate to have these inspirational women as contributors.

Finally, our events will be changing as well. Our calendar is filling up fast with luncheons and parties and you will be invited to every single one! Stay tuned for details as they are finalized within these pages, as well as on our website { www. lovelybella.com } and our Facebook page { www.facebook.com/bellamagazine }!

Of course, we can’t celebrate a birthday without gifts! Stay tuned to our social media and each issue for information on our upcoming giveaways. (Hint: There are 2 prizes within this issue!)

Once again, thank you for being a part of our Bella family for the last ten years. We will do our best to make 2016 a year to remember! w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m

Ten Ways to Change Your Life in 2016: 1. Volunteer one hour per week at a non-profit organization of your choice (we will spotlight one in every issue)!

2. Put technology away and take a walk after dinner each night.

3. Replace items you typically discard with reusable ones (for example, use dish cloths instead of paper towels).

4. Greet every person you pass in the morning.

5. Write in a gratitude journal a few times each week.

6. Give away items that no longer bring you joy.

7. Take a mini road trip.

8. Try shopping exclusively local for three months— no chain stores, no online shopping.

9. Meditate at the start of each day.

10. Go to one event each month that showcases the talent of a local artist.

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meet some of this month’s contributors HAYLEIGH WORGAN EDITORIAL DIRECTOR/WRITER The Place I Call Home: Moneta, VA My favorite place to visit in Central/Southwest Virginia is: McAfee Knob I spend my free time: Volunteering, hiking with my dog, and reading.

I would love to travel to: Anywhere warm and safe where I can hang my hammock.

My Goal for 2016: I want to continue downsizing and eliminating unnecessary clutter from my life.

TIFFANY LEE WRITER The Place I Call Home: Roanoke, VA My favorite place to visit in Central/Southwest Virginia is: The Rich Hole Wilderness Area

GWENDOLYN MILLER WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER

I spend my free time: Reading, spending time with my pets, and indoor gardening.

The Place I Call Home: Lynchburg, VA

I would love to visit: Rome

My favorite place to visit in Central/Southwest Virginia is: The Blue Ridge Parkway, especially as the seasons change!

My Goal for 2016: Make self-defense training more available to underserved and at-risk groups.

I spend my free time: Volunteering,crafting, photographing the world around me & reading good books.

I would love to travel to: Greece

JOEY COAKLEY BECK OWNER/PUBLISHER

My Goal for 2016: To spend more energy focusing on the present and less energy worrying about the future.

The Place I Call Home: Roanoke, VA My favorite place to visit in Central/Southwest Virginia is: Any of our wonderful trails, greenways and waterways!

I spend my free time: I’m on the VA Blue Ridge Board of Directors for Susan G. Komen.

Any free time I have is spent educating women on breast health and raising much-needed funds to find the cures for breast cancer.

I would love to travel to: The French Countryside My Goal for 2016: My middle son was recently diagnosed with a low-grade brain tumor. My goal for 2016 is to get him back to his 110% self.

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Living Natural & Staying Healthy

Our favorite natural deodorants Written by Hayleigh Worgan

Reading the labels on the products we use regularly is so important. That is why we are starting a new section in Bella dedicated to exploring the best in products that use natural ingredients and stay away from harmful chemicals.

It is entirely possible for your entire medicine cabinet reflect a chemical-free lifestyle, and to prove that we are starting with a list of our favorite natural deodorants. Check them out for yourself and let us know what you think!

Meow Meow Tweet carries a variety of items including organic soap, facial care, body care, natural perfume, and even baby care products. We especially love their Baking Soda Free Deodorant Cream in Grapefruit. If you’ve made the switch to natural deodorant but struggle with underarm sensitivity from baking soda, you’ll love this option! www.meowmeowtweet.com

iWilla Remedy’s natural deodorant called I Love My Armpits, is another excellent choice. They are made exclusively of botanical ingredients that work together to absorb moisture, prevent bacteria growth, and neutralize odor. Be sure to read the disclosure regarding the transition from antiperspirant deodorant—your body may need a couple of days to adjust and release toxins to make room for your new deodorant to get rid of odor-causing bacteria. www.iwillaremedy.com Schmidts Natural Deodorant is all natural, vegan and crueltyfree. It is also free of aluminum, propylene glycol, parabens, and phthalates. It made our list of favorites because of it’s all-day odor protection and wetness relief. Plus, it is fast-absorbing with a nongreasy, non-sticky feel. www.schmidtsdeodorant.com page 10

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Stay tuned to our website { www.lovelybella.com } for more great natural products all month long!

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DIY Arm-Pit Detox: For optimal natural deodorant performance

We know what you’re thinking. The title doesn’t sound very appealing.

The truth is, when you are making the conversion from deodorant that uses chemicals to natural deodorant, your body has to adjust. You need to give it the opportunity to flush out old bacteria and chemical residue from the products you used before so that DIY and natural deodorants can work better for you.

Give this recipe from Camp Wander a try before making your conversion. They recommend this cleanse for about five days. We made it through our cleanse, and you can too!

You will need:

1 tablespoon organic apple cider vinegar

Filtered water

4 drops Rosemary essential oil

4 drops Lavender essential oil

2 ounce spray bottle

Add essential oils and one tablespoon of ACV to a 2 oz bottle, fill with water. Before going to bed, give the bottle a gentle shake and spray both arm pits. Let the spray dry and get a good nights rest! Next day, repeat the process! You may need to wash your armpits several times during the first 2 or 3 days but that will be short lived, you should see your body respond to the detox reasonably well after 5 days! Don’t give up!

A Few Tips: 1. The length of this process will vary for everyone but like we said, don’t give up! If you work away from home, take your detox spray with you and refresh during the day if needed. This too shall pass, you can do it!

2. Take time for an epsom salt or magnesium chloride detox foot bath at night, this too will speed the process of cleansing.

3. If you have any of the blend leftover, use Arm Pit Detox Spray as a final rinse for your hair.

Don’t rinse it out, just enjoy the shine!

Best of luck and yes, you can do it! (It will be worth it.)

now do it yourself...

DIY Natural Deodorant

An easy tutorial for creating your deodorant from every day household items!

Ready to make your own natural deodorant? It isn’t as difficult as you might think.

We love this recipe from Diary of a Mad Crafter. For more photos and additional tips and tricks, visit www.diaryofamadcrafter.wordpress.com.

You will need: 3 tablespoons baking soda 3 tablespoons arrowroot powder 3 tablespoons melted coconut oil (I used virgin, because it smells nice with lemongrass) 1 tablespoon witch hazel 10 (give or take) drops lemongrass oil Mix everything together. I used a fork to make sure everything got incorporated. Put into a container or leave in the bowl, but you will need to keep in a cool area because when coconut oil gets warm, it will become a liquid again.

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Visit our Pinterest page for more great DIY deodorants!

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New Year, New You!

A few good habits to help you live your best life

Written by Hayleigh Worgan If one of your New Years resolutions is to get healthy, then you need to be active. However, inspiration can be hard to come by when the days are short and cold. The key is to develop good habits early in the year that you can continue in the spring. Give any one (or all!) of the following suggestions a try during the month of January and you may find that staying active is easier than you think.

Don’t let the cold weather (or the snow!) scare you from getting outside. Bundle up and take a peaceful winter walk with someone you love. Occasionally, we see a few warmer days in January.

Take advantage of them if you can. There are plenty of great hiking opportunities in our area, and several parks that are absolutely gorgeous in winter.

Leave the “good” parking space for someone else. Use any opportunity you can to take the long way (on foot) to your next stop. If the weather is too cold outside, take a couple of laps inside the mall before and after you shop. It sounds so simple, but any time you increase your physical activity you are doing your body a favor.

Skip the Zumba and yoga DVDs. Yes, you can pause them and work on mastering your moves from the sanctuary of your home. But, let’s be honest, they are a disaster waiting to happen. First of all, there are no instructors watching YOU. If you aren’t working out safely, you risk injury and setbacks.

Secondly, at home it is easier to give up halfway through and eat ice cream instead. Make an investment in yourself. Sign up for classes at Just Dance Roanoke (www.justdanceroanoke.com), where you will not only have fun, but also form a bond with women who will never judge you and will always care about your well-being.

If bad weather has you stuck at home, Pinterest can bring the gym to you! Some of the one month challenges can be a little overwhelming—especially when workout terms are not your specialty. Make sure you are comfortable with the workout you choose. We like to stay simple. That’s why we use www.2sweatbees.com. They have several 30-day challenges that can help you meet your fitness goals and set the precedent for a healthy year.

As tempting as it can be to curl up in front of the TV when you have downtime, remember to keep your mind active. Take up a new hobby, start a gratitude journal, or read something new. Personally, we are very excited about the companion book to Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Released on January 5, Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up, promises to be a great read for those interested in decluttering and taking back the joy in their lives. Plus, it might just inspire you to jumpstart your spring cleaning! w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m

Visit our website { www.lovelybella.com } during the month of January for more ways to stay active and fun events to cure your cabin fever! january 2016

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Staying Safe

Understanding the basics of personal safety

Written by Tiffany Lee

Women receive a lot of personal safety advice. Chain email and social media bombard us with well-intentioned tips and warnings. If we took the advice of all of them, we’d never leave our houses. The information women receive can be terrifying, contradictory, or just incorrect. Fortunately, it is possible to protect your personal safety without constant fear.

The most important thing is to learn to trust yourself. Everyone gets ‘gut feelings’ on occasion, an instinct that something isn’t quite right, but usually, we try to ignore those feelings. That instinct is there for a reason; your mind is always noticing things in your surroundings and it can warn you about danger you haven’t consciously noticed yet. Don’t suppress this instinct, respect it.

This doesn’t mean you need to panic. Take a deep breath, look around, and evaluate your situation. You may not need to take action immediately, but if you feel uncomfortable, pay very close attention to what is going on around you.

Secondly, most of us have been taught to be polite, and this can occasionally place you in uncomfortable situations. If someone offers to help with your groceries and your instinct says something is wrong, say no. No always means no, and a ‘nice guy’ will accept that. Don’t do something against your better judgement to avoid appearing rude. Pay attention to your instinct here too, it will help you see potential risks.

Unfortunately, some situations can’t be avoided and we need physical self-defense. There are hundreds of self-defense classes available and choosing between them can be a challenge.

Look for a course that doesn’t rely on strength or speed and is adaptable to a wide range of abilities and situations. Keep in mind you may be injured in an attack and need to modify your selfdefense skills.

You also want a class that will teach you to both take a hit and hit another person. We’ve all be told not to hit people, and if you’ve never done it, you may freeze during an attack.

Hitting a foam pad will not help you overcome that instinct. Learning to take a hit is important too; you need to learn to deal with that feeling before your life is in danger. page 14

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It is possible to be safe and live without fear. Learning to respect your instincts will keep you out of many bad situations, and practical training will help if an attack can’t be avoided. Check out Valley Systema in Roanoke for ongoing martial arts classes, self-defense seminars, and private lessons to help you learn practical self-defense skills. Self-defense seminars are also available for community groups, businesses, churches, and schools.

For more information or to schedule a class, visit our website at www.valleysystema.com or call 218-248-2874.

Tiffany Lee is a certified instructor at Valley Systema in Blacksburg, Va. She has over 15 years of teaching experience in a variety of fields with all age groups. w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m

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Exploring Minimalism

The first step is always the hardest Written by Hayleigh Worgan

By now, you’ve heard about The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. If you have not yet read it, you are missing out on an inspirational book that will truly change your life for the better.

Minimalism can sound intimidating, especially in a culture where we are inundated with suggestions on what we should buy next. For those that attach a sentimental value to many things (like myself), the thought of tossing that movie ticket you have kept for ten years is enough to give you an anxiety attack.

However, the truth is, the moment we let go of the things that no longer bring us the joy they did once upon a time is the moment we can begin to focus on the things that really matter. The things that bring you the most joy are often only visible once you remove the mass of accumulated clutter.

This article is the first of a monthly series in which we will explore minimalism and how downsizing can truly change your life for the better (regardless of the size of your family). Some of the clutter will be easier to part with than other things. For our first installment, we want to talk about something simple: words.

Ask yourself how many words are visible in your kitchen alone. You may want to do this while standing in your kitchen, because the truth is that you are surrounded by far more than you think.

The most obvious are the products that, for lack of better phrasing, “toot their own horn.” You know which ones I’m talking about—the diet snack foods that are covered in phrases like, “Glutenfree!”, “No added sugars or starches!”, or “Voted number one!” The labels that might be important to you in the store when you are identifying what will fit your needs are really not as important once you get the product home. If you can simply remove a sticker, do so. If not, consider transferring the items that are on display to clear storage containers that seal.

Next, there are the products that you don’t even realize are a distraction. Transfer your spices to clear jars with small labels. This storage method can also be used for staples like flour, sugar, and oatmeal.The further out of sight the better, but don’t use the excuse of hiding them behind a cabinet door to leave them in their original container. You will find that your cooking experience is much better when you are not overwhelmed by a torrent of words every time you open the cabinet.

Moving on to the bathroom. It is so difficult to keep a bathroom from appearing cluttered, especially when you have a large family. One of the easiest ways to make your bathroom appear clean with little effort is to keep things simple. Purchase your soaps, cosmetics, and lotions from local farmers who use natural ingredients. You should know what your products contain to prevent allergic reactions, but (as in the case of your food) you don’t have to keep the label for its life span.

Finally, your living room. DVD collectors, we are looking at you. Not only do DVD cases take up more space than you realize, they are also very distracting. If you don’t have digital copies, consider storing them in sleeves. There are many media storage options that will take up less than half of the space you are using, and you no longer have to worry about guests surrounded by every movie choice you’ve ever made (good or bad) when they visit your home. In the digital age, where every movie summary known to man is available online, there is really no logical argument for keeping a DVD case. It’s time to let go.

Now, let’s talk about words that matter. Inspirational phrases carefully placed in locations where they will have the most impact can change the entire mood of your space.

We get so caught up in the chaos of our every day lives, that it is often easy to forget what our priorities should be. Surround yourself with phrases that remind you of the people and things that bring you the most joy. If you love being outdoors, a phrase (in small lettering) reminding you of your passion for nature over a peaceful backdrop can center you on your most stressful days.

For your living room, a small reminder to focus on the important things can be enough to get you through your most stressful days. For us, nothing is more true than this sign from www.jetmakestudios.com, “Where you invest your love, you invest your life.”

You may benefit most from having your bathroom and kitchen free of words. The more open and light your keep your space, the more clean you will feel when you use it. If you absolutely MUST have some sort of signage in your kitchen, let it be a reminder to fill your diet with healthy, clean ingredients.

Ease your way into minimalism by eliminating the small stuff first.

Come back each month as we continue to explore the idea of living with less, and visit our Pinterest page thoughout the month for additional decluttering ideas!

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Written by Jackie Weaver, RN

Baby Friendly

A healthy start makes all the difference

Article courtesy of

Central Virginia has reason to cheer. Centra Virginia Baptist Hospital was named the region’s first Baby Friendly® hospital this year. Awarded by Baby Friendly USA, the coveted designation recognizes the hospital’s efforts in 10 key areas, including breastfeeding, rooming-in and skin-to-skin contact, all designed to increase breastfeeding success rates. Centra Virginia Baptist Hospital is one of only four Baby Friendly designated facilities in Virginia.

While the hospital has always been a warm and caring place for moms and babies, the Baby Friendly designation showcases great strides made in boosting the hospital’s breastfeeding rates. Research clearly points to breast milk as the best nutritional source for newborns and children up to one year old.

Achieving the Baby Friendly designation required collaborations with community leaders, physicians and staff, all with an eye towards healthier babies. Research shows breastfeeding benefits babies by lowering the risk for diabetes, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, ear infections, obesity, allergies, asthma and pediatric cancers.

Breastfeeding mothers are at a decreased risk for female cancers, osteoporosis and postpartum depression.

A recent report indicates breastfeeding rates at Centra Virginia Baptist Hospital climbed from 83 percent a year ago to 92 percent. To put the improvement in perspective, breastfeeding rates were 55 percent in 2009.

The Baby Friendly initiative encourages breastfeeding to heighten health among babies and mothers. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months, followed by continued breastfeeding as complimentary foods are introduced for one year or longer as mutually desired by mother and infant.

Enhancing breastfeeding rates is an important community health issue. According to Womenshealth.gov, which tracks health statistics, research shows if 90 percent of families breastfed exclusively for six months, nearly 1,000 infant deaths could be prevented.

Breastfeeding rates also effect the economy. According to statistics, the United States could save $2.2 billion in healthcare costs through higher breastfeeding rates since breastfed infants typically require fewer sick care visits, prescriptions and hospitalizations.

For employers, breastfeeding leads to a more productive workplace. Mothers who breastfeed miss less work to care for sick babies than mothers who formula feed.

Employers also save on medical costs.

Centra Virginia Baptist Hospital offers a wide range of breastfeeding support for new mothers, including certified lactation consultants and Baby Café, which meets twice a week to provide lactation support, free baby weight checks and peer support from other nursing mothers at the Center for Childbirth and Family Education at Centra Virginia Baptist Hospital.

Through the Baby Friendly initiative, the hospital embraces skin-to-skin contact immediately after delivery, allowing newborns to spend their first hour on mom’s chest. Skin-to-skin contact enhances bonding, regulates a newborn’s temperature and enhances breastfeeding success.

The hospital also promotes rooming-in, which keeps moms and newborns together at the hospital. Statistics show rooming-in reduces a newborn’s crying and encourages better sleep by allowing parents to learn a baby’s sleep cycle and feeding cues.

Centra embraces a mission of “excellent care for life.” The journey begins with a healthy start.

Jackie Weaver, RN, manages the Mother Baby Unit at Centra Virginia Baptist Hospital. Centra offers childbirth and family education classes through the Center for Childbirth and Family Education at Centra Virginia Baptist Hospital. To register for classes or for more information, visit CentraHealthRegister.com or call 434.200.4573.For more information about care at Centra Virginia Baptist Hospital, visit WC.CentraHealth.com.

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MEET THE

MAKERS Written by Hayleigh Worgan

Meet Rich Vavala of Belle’s Place

Belle’s Place began as the tragic story of a beautiful Great Pyrenees named Belle and her litter of puppies. Brought to a family farm to

protect their chickens, ducks, birds and livestock from being slaugh-

tered by coyotes, Belle soon began a family of her own. One night, she heard a noise, ran to investigate and was killed by a train.

The farmer, Elizabeth Dotson, did some research and deter-

mined that goat’s milk would help her feed and nurture the puppies without their mother. What began as two dairy goats grew to a total of 40. Suddenly, she had more goat milk than she could use. She

began making soap with the help of her father, Rich Vavala, who now runs the business.

Today, Belle’s Place products are sold in several locations

throughout Southwest Virginia including Tink’s Place (Downtown Roanoke), Ikenberry Orchards (Daleville), Eats Natural Foods

(Blacksburg), Fringe Benefit (Blacksburg), and Floyd County Store.

Rich also sets up at the Roanoke City Market on Fridays and Satur-

days. For seven years, they have sold unique handcrafted goat milk soaps, lotions, and other bath and body products for people AND dogs!

For more information, be sure to like Belle’s Place on

Facebook and visit Rich at the Roanoke City Market for a free soap sample. Be sure to tell him the Bella girls sent you!

Are you a maker? Know of one we should cover? Let us know! bella@beckmediagroup.com w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m

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10 Simple Ways to Save Money in 2016

Article courtesy of

A new year means a fresh start for your bank account. Ditch the silly spending habits and give these simple ways to save money a try. Your wallet will thank you!

1

Practice the 30 day rule: Really want to purchase an item? Wait 30 days and see if you still have the impulse to buy it. It’ll definitely help to keep your spending on the low!

2 3 4 5 6&7 89 10

Write a list before you shop: Making a list before getting your shopping on helps you focus on your main purchases.

Drink water: Stick to drinking water at restaurants. Drinking soda/tea while out to eat can really add up since most drinks are $2+!

Programmable thermostat: Having a programmable thermostat can cut your energy bill by 10-20%.

Generic wins!: Generic brands are usually way cheaper and they are just as good, if not better!

Want more savings tips, delicious recipes and all things awesome? Head to:

www.SaveThisBuyThat.com

Join Member One here each month for more money-saving 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.

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Pack your lunch 3x a week: Can save you up to $1500 a year!

Have a movie night at home: Host a movie night in the comfort of your home and save $1776 a year!

Don’t underestimate the Dollar Store: Picture frames, hand soap and makeup brushes? Yep, you can get all of these at the Dollar Store!

Skip the impulse: Ditch the items at the end of aisles and save $135 a year.

Attend local events for FREE: Once a month, the Grandin Theatre will host a free midnight movie and admission into the Taubman Museum is free. january 2016

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written by gwendolyn miller

Giving Back

Lynchburg Daily Bread provides meals for the hungry in our community

Written by Gwendolyn Miller

Access to affordable and nutritious food can be difficult for individuals and families just trying to make ends meet. On the corner of Eighth and Clay Street in Lynchburg, Virginia, sits Lynchburg Daily Bread, which provides anyone who is hungry a delicious meal with food donated by local grocery stores, restaurants, and colleges. Meals are served by caring volunteers, 365 days a year, from 10:50am until 12:20pm. There is also a breakfast of light cereal, coffee, and milk provided from 7-9am that allows homeless guests a place to warm up and have a meal in the morning.

Lynchburg Daily Bread has a staff of all parttime employees, nine total, and they are always outnumbered by their volunteers! It takes a group of 10-15 volunteers to help cook and serve lunch to the hungry guests who show up each day. On any given day, approximately 100-275 people are served a nutritious meal at Lynchburg Daily Bread. In 2014, a total of 57,642 meals were served. Knowing how many guests will show up each day is the most unpredictable component of the operation. Luckily, thanks to a generous donation by Columbia Gas in 2013 of high performance ovens, volunteers can quickly prepare food for additional guests if needed. No matter what, everyone is welcomed and guests may have as many servings as they wish of the available food.

Founded in 1982, Lynchburg Daily Bread started out of a Sunday School class at First Presbyterian Church of Lynchburg. Originally, meals were of-

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fered Monday through Friday at the Old Nichols Tavern.

It quickly grew to a seven days a week operation and, in the 1990’s, found a permanent home at 721 Clay Street. They have even expanded their meal outreach to surrounding low income apartments in Lynchburg and Amherst. Tracey Dixon, the executive director, hopes to continue this service into other surrounding communities in the future.

Interested in how you can help? In-kind donations needed include Dawn dish detergent, bleach spray cleaners, laundry detergent, paper towels, napkins, 8 and 12 oz foam cups, salad dressing, Pam cooking spray, olive oil, salt free spices, pepper, ketchup, and mustard. Also, personal hygiene items such as toothpaste,toothbrushes, deodorant, to even socks, gloves, hats, and umbrellas are special treats for guests at Lynchburg Daily Bread. Donations are accepted from 7 am until 1 pm seven days a week.

Visit www.lynchburgdailybread.com for more information on where to send donations. You can also offer the gift of your time—the day to day operations would not be possible without volunteers!

If you’re interested in volunteering you can call the Lynchburg Daily Bread Volunteer Coordinator at (434) 845-5703 or email volunteer@lynchburgdailybread. com. Their greatest need for volunteers is on Sundays and Mondays 9am-1pm.

Gwendolyn Miller is a breast cancer survivor, photographer, and volunteer in Lynchburg, Va. She loves to travel, but is also passionate about giving back to her local community.

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january 2016

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get healthy Snack smart with these delicious Guilt-Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

One of the easiest ways to stick to your goal of eating healthy is to make your own snacks at home to keep at work with you. We really enjoy these Guilt-Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies from www.eat-yourself-skinny.com. They also make a great addition to your child’s lunchbox for a delicious energy boost!

You will need:

1 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats

1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. allspice

1/2 cup mixed nuts, finely chopped (She used pecans, walnuts and almonds)

1 cup raisins

3 ripe bananas, mashed

1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In one bowl, combine rolled oats, coconut flakes, salt, cinnamon, allspice and chopped mixed nuts. Stir in raisins and set aside. In a smaller bowl, whisk together mashed bananas, Greek yogurt and vanilla extract until smooth and all lumps are gone. Pour over dry ingredients and mix well. Using a round cookie cutter (or shape with your hands), spoon mixture into the cutter pressing firmly then removing the cutter.

Shape should keep form; do this until you have 20 cookies or you run out of batter. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 15 to 20 minutes and enjoy!

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Visit our Pinterest page throughout the month for more great recipes to keep you on track! january 2016

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Written by Hayleigh Worgan

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Amy Garland Owner of Little Green Hive How did Little Green Hive get its start?

I’ve been a health coach for about eight years and thought more about it being a smoothie bar in the beginning. It was about opening up a spot where I could coach people right here in my community as they started their journey towards better health. However, the space needed a coffee shop so we figured out a way that it could be both.

Why is it so important to have options like this in Roanoke?

I moved here from Manhattan, where there were more choices for people who wanted to eat “clean.” At the time, it was more difficult to find things like that here. Eating healthy is hard when the only convenient options are not good for you.

The goal is to be a resource for people downtown to pick up healthier items quickly while they are out and about. Our smoothies don’t have any sugar added to them. The ingredients we use in our shop do not include any artificial flavors, sweeteners, or colors.

What are the origins of the food & beverages served at Little Green Hive?

Local foods became very important to me because our local artisan famers offer an abundance of them. We incorporated milk from a local dairy, local coffee from Red Rooster Coffee and non GMO fruits. The idea was to keep everything as local and quality as possible and keep it affordable for our customers.

What else do you do?

I have a Web Development Firm called 23 Hearts (www.23hearts.com), and work with clients like Just Dance Roanoke, Community High School, and Breadcraft. Additionally, I continue to work with women as a health coach to balance hormones and improve their health. I am also involved with building design and renovation projects throughout our area.

What’s next?

I am creating new programs for my health coaching clients. You can find more information at www.nourishedfeminine.com.

How do you spend your free time?

I love getting outside in the valley on the greenways and hiking. My husband and I are also part of the Virginia Inland Sailing Association (VISA) and we go sailing on the weekends. I enjoy metalsmithing and jewelry making in my spare time.

Know a fabulous local woman who deserves to be in the spotlight?

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bella finds The Art of Confession Renewing Yourself Through the Practice of Honesty by Paul Wilkes

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Regardless of the magnitude and consequences of a secret, we all seek some sort of audience or approval for our actions. This is evident by the multitude of chat rooms and apps where people can anonymously confess their darkest moments.

Wilkes opens by addressing our confessional society, where people seek “acceptance, community, and absolution—though they would never call it by that name—for they have done nothing wrong but have simply ‘acted out,’ ruffling the feathers of convention and bruising a few feelings along the way.”

In the beginning, Wilkes seems to be suggesting religion as a tool for exploring confession and living an honest life. However, on a whole, The Art of Confession is more about the discipline of personal reflection and the freedom it gives us to be the best version of ourselves.

He also suggests that not only should you practice the virtue that is opposite of your fault, but you should also focus on the virtues that have always been strengths rather than your faults. For example, you may be impatient but you are also generous. Focus on expanding your generosity, and you will have less time for impatience. Your faults, which often lead to dishonesty because of the shame that accompanies them, will gradually be overrun by your virtues.

Don’t let the mention of religion dissuade you from giving this book a try.

As we all know, not all religious people are honest and not all non-religious people struggle with dishonesty. The overall goal appears to be thoughtful introspection that allows you to get the most out of your confession. At the end of the day, we must be able to live with our own choices and their consequences. Accepting responsibility instead of casting blame on someone else is the first step towards living a healthy life.

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