Bella Magazine - January 2017

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M I N D • B O DY • S O U L COMMON GOOD B E L L A FA M I L I ES & M O R E

january 2017

Ja n u a r y 2 0 17

Is su e On e Hu n d re d Twe nty- S eve n

Joey Coakley Beck Publisher & Owner jbeck@beckmediagroup.com Hayleigh Worgan Editorial Director hworgan@beckmediagroup.com Sara Coakley Office Manager bella@beckmediagroup.com ••• ADVERTISING Meredith MacKenzie Advertising Sales Representative meredith@beckmediagroup.com (540) 904-6800 ••• Contributors Member One Federal Credit Union, Nicole Pardon, Aaren Nuñez, Hayleigh Worgan Editorial Inquiries editorial@beckmediagroup.com

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. ©2017 Beck Media Group LLC All Rights Reserved. PRINTED IN VIRGINIA w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m

inside local women page 7

Explore Page to Stage Theatre with co-owner Vanessa Mills.

mind.body.soul pages 9-12

Get back on track in 2017 to meet all of your personal goals!

bella shops

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Small businesses are ready to meet all of your shopping needs throughout the year.

save smarter

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Improve your financial health and well-being.

common good pages 18-21

Exploring the local food culture in Southwest & Central Virginia.

poppyseed

pages 23-24

Fun in the new year for your whole family!

meet the maker

pages 26-27

Stay warm with handmade accessories from Tinker Creek Handknits.

giving back

page 29

A more active approach to helping those in need.

bella loves

page 30

Our favorite new Instagram trend!

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local women

Photo by Chad Runyan

Written by Hayleigh Worgan

On stage with Vanessa Mills

The Page to Stage Theatre Company in Roanoke, Virginia, is opening doors for those interested in performance arts and making theatre accessible in our community.

Founded by Vanessa Mills and her husband, Nick McCord, it is a place for local actors and playwrights to come together, create, and perform. When Vanessa moved here from Seattle several months ago, she realized that there was an artistic space to fill. Roanoke needed an outlet for performance art, and she was going to find a way to make that happen.

“In Seattle, I learned that if you really want something bad and if you want to do a show or make a statement, then you have to create that for yourself,” Vanessa says. “Our biggest focus is to get these theatre communities together and collaborate to make art and lift each other up. So often you run into art that is competitive, and that just seems counterintuitive.”

An actress herself, Vanessa has known many actors who get broken down and discouraged after auditioning for multiple performances in a market that can be flooded. Page to Stage allows her to lead by example—making her own opportunities and creating her own realities.

“Theatre for me is therapy,” she explains. “There is a catharsis that I get with it that I can’t get with anything else. In the end, I will always be an actor. Page to Stage gives me an outlet of being able to produce a show or deciding that I want to be on stage.”

Haley Jo Morrison & Graham Grasty, photo courtesy

Page to Stage considers screenplay submissions from writers all over the of Page to Stage Theatre Company country, but their biggest focus is right here in the Roanoke Valley. Their ultimate goal is to teach people how to be involved in local theatre again.

“There is so much talent here. We are not sacrificing quality for locality.

With all of the surrounding colleges and universities and people looking for outlets, our area is rich with new work,” Vanessa adds.

This month, Page to Stage will host a workshop over the course of three days that will involve the community. A screenplay will be read by actors and there will be feedback afterwards for the playwright. Then, the playwright will make changes or notes and the play will be read again. Additionally, Page to Stage is accepting submissions for future screenplays. They also plan on having a summer camp as their relationship evolves with Community High School.

If you are interested in learning more about Vanessa, Page to Stage, or submitting a screenplay of your own for consideration, visit their website: Kalin Aubrey Honaker & Nick McCord, photo courtesy of Page to Stage Theatre Company www.pagetostagetheatre.com

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Written by Hayleigh Worgan

mind • body • soul

love your skin

Winning the battle for healthy skin in winter weather With a new year before us, it’s time to get away from the bad habits we developed during the end of the year chaos. We don’t know about you, but we’ve noticed that our skin is certainly paying the price. Let’s start 2017 with a fresh, clean slate by committing to taking better care of it with these easy steps:

Put some thought into the products you are using as part of your daily routine. We are in love with charcoal soaps. They help draw out skin impurities and make room for your moisturizer to do its job effectively. It’s also great if your poor dietary choices over the last month (ahem…guilty) are showing as blemishes on your skin. Our current favorite is by Apotheke. The handcrafted bar soap is stirred, poured, cut, and wrapped by hand. To top it all off, it is made with natural ingredients like coconut, olive, and palm oil. Find it on www.apothekeco.com.

Of course, it should be obvious that you need to moisturize.

Hydrate facial moisturizers by Obagi Medical are great for rejuvenating the skin after cleansing. It also doesn’t hurt to visit a professional and develop a regimen that works best for you. For that, we place all of our trust in the ladies at Skin Care Consulting { www.skincareconsultinginc.com }.

Protect the fruits of your moisturizing by taking one extra step before bed.

Sleep with a humidifier. Not only will it help with your sinuses and even snoring, it also comforts your skin after a day in the cold, dry air of winter. When you wake up, you will retain some of that moisture in your face, lips, and even your hands.

Make sure you aren’t sabotaging all of your effort by putting the wrong things into your body. If you want that glowing, smooth complexion to return now that all of the holiday cakes and cookies are gone, think of each meal like cleansing and moisturizing. Our favorite solutions in the winter months are adding more salmon to our diets and committing to juicing every day. Try tossing two carrots, a beet, some ginger root, an apple, and just a splash of lemon into your juicer for a drink that will boost your energy and help your skin.

Use an infuser water bottle to really get the serving of fruit that you need every day. An extra bonus? It makes drinking water a lot more satisfying. If you’re trying to cut out soda (which, let’s be honest, everyone should do), this is a great way to ease yourself into the habit of drinking water instead. You should try to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water every day, so add some blueberries and strawberries to those servings and pretend it’s summer!

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Stay tuned to www.lovelybella.com for more health and beauty advice throughout the year. january 2017

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mind • body • soul

Written by Nicole Pardon

give up your new year’s resolution Resolve to nourish your soul with Self Care

If you are looking for tips on how to stick to your New Year’s Resolution this year, this is not the place! I cringe when I see magazine headlines telling me again that it’s a “New Year, New You.” As if at the stroke of midnight, somehow I used to be old and now I need to change everything about myself.

This year, I encourage you to give up the following ideas about your resolutions:

1. Perfection — strive for progress instead.

Ditch the “all or nothing” attitude. While we all like the instant gratification and are bombarded by “Drop a size now!” or “Lose 10 pounds in 3 days” claims, that mentality ultimately leads to a self-defeating outcome.

Focus on small changes that will empower your whole self…not how you look in the mirror.

2. Diet. The true meaning of the word is “habitual nourishment.”

Stop calorie counting and focus on eating nutrient dense foods like leafy greens and vegetables, lean protein, healthy fats, and drinking lots of water. If you have this first, you aren’t as likely to have room to binge on highly processed addictive foods.

Include one healthy change at a time until it becomes habit.

3. Spending hours at the gym. Your body needs nourishment from physical activity.

Perform high intensity body weight exercises you can do anywhere in under 30 minutes.

Be a kid again. Walk, hike, dance, play. It doesn’t have to be hard core—just move!

Move a muscle. Change a thought. Don’t tell yourself you can’t. Take 15 minutes to do something that can change your whole mindset and rejuvenate your day.

4. Negative self talk. Tell that inner negative mean girl to shut up!

So many of us aren’t even aware of the negative thoughts we bombard ourselves with daily.

Your challenge is to notice (or have someone close to you tell you) when you are doing this.

Whether it’s in truth or jest, our subconscious doesn’t know the difference. Those thoughts are still placed out into the universe as energy.

Start a daily morning ritual. Get up early. Meditate. Repeat your positive affirmation and your whole outlook will change.

Remember: Strong is the new skinny and self care is the new weight loss! For more information on any of these topics and the skinny on kickstarting your mindset, your metabolism and your motivation go to www.fitsoulbynicole.com Nicole is a Certified Health Coach who works with clients on establishing healthy habits to reach their goals. As a holistic practitioner, her approach is to look at the WHOLE picture including your lifestyle, your relationships, your career, and spirituality. These are all the primary foods that can lead to poor lifestyle habits when something is out of balance. If you would like to kickstart your mindset, your metabolism and your motivation, call Nicole and reach your goal! page 10

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mind • body • soul

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treat yourself!

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Fun finds to get 2017 started off on the right foot!

Whether your New Years resolution was to hit the gym or do more for your community (or both!), it never hurts to get yourself started on the right foot. Surround yourself with things that inspire you and make that journey just a little bit easier! We’ve compiled a list of our favorite new things below. Don’t forget to watch Facebook for your chance to win some of them for yourself!

1. Lush Cosmetics Volcano Foot Mask. www.lushusa.com

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2. Boss Babes Coloring and Activity Book. Find at your local bookstore.

3. Bars of Hope from Heath 2 Humanity. www.h2hsoap.com 4. Sweatshirts and activewear from Alternative Apparel (dress for success AND support a good cause!). www.alternativeapparel.com *Urban Gypsy in Roanoke carries Alternative Apparel!!

5. “Every Day I’m Hustling” tumbler from Aspen Lane. www.aspenln.com w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m

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mind • body • soul

d.i.y. get well gift Healing Asian Soup with Ginger in a Jar { Modified from Kalyn’s Kitchen }

Ginger root works wonders on the stomach and for head colds, so we’ve created a twist on one of our favorite soup recipes from Kalyn’s Kitchen. Wrap it up and deliver it to the doorstep of a sick friend—even if you don’t stick around to take the credit.

You will need: 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth 3 thick slices of ginger root 1 cup mild white sliced mushrooms 1 cup spinach leaves, sliced into thin ribbons 1 green onion, thinly sliced 2 jars for ingredients

Slice all solid ingredients for your friend (the less work they have to do, the better!). Separate solid ingredients and liquid ones into different jars. Make sure the lid is on tight and secure directions to one jar. If you plan on delivering the gift without visiting your friend, make sure they know to expect it. They will want to refrigerate the ingredients as soon as possible.

Directions for your jar (include in a card or tied around the lid): In a medium saucepan, bring chicken broth to a low simmer. Add ginger slices and let simmer for 15 minutes or longer to taste. Add mushrooms and simmer 1 minute. Add sliced spinach and simmer for another minute. Turn off heat and add green onions, then enjoy!

For more great recipes to get you thru these upcoming cold winter months, visit www.kalynskitchen.com

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bella shops

Written by Hayleigh Worgan

shop local

Purchase with a purpose in 2017!

We talk about giving back to our community a lot in Bella, and one of the easiest ways to do that is to shop local. The holidays are behind us, and too often at this critical time of year we fall into the slump of making purchases that are convenient at stores where items are on sale. That habit, though all too common, hurts both small businesses and the consumer.

With a simple swipe of your card, you are making a decision. It’s the old adage “quality versus quantity.” You aren’t going to find the same quality items at department stores that you will with local business owners. So, here are some simple ways you can change your habits for the benefit of the community this year: Buy a new rug. When cold weather comes, we find ourselves redecorating the interior of our homes. One small change can mean a lot for a room.

Start by finding the perfect rug at Oriental Rugs Gallery. You can count on your investment lasting for years, and it may be just what you need to enjoy all of the seasons to come. { Oriental Rug Gallery, 5999 Franklin Road, Rt 220 , just past Walmart on right. 540-776-2808 }

Try new ingredients. You’ve found some great recipes to start of the new year, but you have no idea where to begin with the oils you need to purchase. Oliveto can help! Their oils are great for bread dipping, salad dressing, as a marinade, in place of butter or vegetable oil, and more! They also have balsamic vinegars that are perfect drizzled over fruit (and the occasional pastry!). { Oliveto, 3565 Electric Road at West Village in Roanoke, (540) 725-1010 }

Find the perfect outfit. It’s never too early to get ready for Valentine’s Day. If you’re already searching for the right dress, Punch Boutique has you covered. (P.S. Ladies, you’ll never go wrong with blue—it stands out in a sea of red!) Pair your gorgeous outfit with a pair of boots or dress shoes from Yarid’s. Anyone who has ever purchased accessories from this amazing store knows that they are quality statement pieces that last for years. { Punch Boutique, 3117 Franklin Road SW, Picadilly Square in Roanoke, 540-904-6743 } { Yarid’s Shoes, 4714 Starkey Road in Roanoke at The Forum, 540-266-7750 }

Look for something that brings you joy. From something for your office to something as simple as a delicious truffle, make 2017 all about bringing joy into your life. We love the unique finds at chocolatepaper! Whether you’re going for a small, unique gift to give a friend, that planner you forgot to buy before the New Year, or a little chocolate reward for yourself—this is the place to find what is perfect for you! { chocolatepaper in Downtown Roanoke on the market at 308 Market St. SE #3, (540) 342-6061 } Most importantly, don’t let the New Year and after Christmas sales at department stores trick you. They only exist to clutter our homes with things we don’t need. Shop with a purpose where your money does the most good for both you and your neighbors! w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m

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save smarter

Article courtesy of Member One Federal Credit Union

toast to financial gains in 2017

Start the New Year off right with these money tips Oh, January 1. You beautiful, beautiful day where we get to start anew and motivation abounds. Whether you’re bursting with enthusiasm, ready to tackle the world with a fresh outlook, or just trying to get back into a routine after the holidays, it’s time to take a look at something that isn’t as obvious as fitness or career goals—your finances. Start the New Year off right with these tips to long-term financial health.

Set SMART goals. Before we get into the nitty gritty of financial wellness, it’s important to set SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely) goals; you’re more likely to achieve these as the process of setting them makes you hone in on exactly what you want, and you’ll be able to easily track your progress.

Commit to monthly savings. Have money from your paycheck automatically drafted into your savings account. This effortless strategy will help you save big over time, and if it is withdrawn from your paycheck before you can see it, you won’t even miss it.

Put that money into a high-earning account. Money without interest isn’t helping you.

Savings accounts are great, but they’re not all created equal. Research credit unions (since they’re not-for-profit entities, their savings rates tend to be higher) in your area. Additionally, put your money into a high-yielding share certificate. These certificates have higher return rates than regular savings accounts because you must leave your money in there for a pre-determined period of time.

Enroll in your employer’s retirement plan (if applicable). Many employers offer to match your monthly retirement contribution. That is literally free money. Allowing your retirement plan it to grow until you’re ready to leave the workforce is a worthwhile investment. If your employer doesn’t offer this, it’s still incredibly important that you contribute to a retirement plan or 401K. You can find several options with a quick Internet search or a sit-down with a financial planner.

Educate yourself. The ins and outs of personal finance can seem like a different language.

Commit some time to reading books and articles, listening to podcasts, or even attending free classes in the region. Consulting a financial professional is also a great way to start investing and growing your money.

So there it is—our fresh start. Whether you killed it in 2016 or you barely made it out alive, follow this advice for smooth financial sailing in 2017 and beyond.

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Join Member One here each month for more money-saving tips and financial advice! Be sure to visit their website, www.memberonefcu.com, for more information on the products and services they offer. january 2017

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common good Exploring the local food culture in Southwest & Central Virginia

fresh start

A recipe for comfort from Well Fed Farm Written by Aaren Nuñez Well, I am hoping everyone made it through the holiday season with minimum trauma and maximum enjoyment. While I am not big on proclaiming resolutions, I am a proponent of taking stock and putting everything in order for the days, and year to come. One of my favorite parts of doing this out here on the farm is seed catalog time! When I finally get a chance to grab the big stack of catalogs that have been trickling in from the mailbox, my garden notebook from the season before, a few pens, a hot cup of milky homemade chai, a small bowl of popcorn, and then make my way to the sheepskin covered couch I am prepared to settle in and breath everything else out. As the big red woodstove burns through another round of locust inside the farmhouse and just through the window I can see the garden all tucked in and dormant, I am in my happy place. Oh, the possibilities.

While I do save many types of seeds year to year (there is an ox-heart type tomato that came from a friend years back, known simply as “Orange-It’s So Good!”) the excitement of new varieties has a hypnotic pull and I know I am not alone here. Sometimes it’s tracking down that elusive variety you sampled the summer before: a tomato that woo-ed you or those perfectly salty pan-fried Shishito peppers you cooked up after bringing them home from the farmers’ market. Other times it’s adding a vegetable variety just for the novelty of it. Mexican Sour Gherkin cucumber, anyone? (BTW they are not truly cucumbers and totally worth growing because they are adorable, as well as, delicious). The magic, and its ensuing promise is all there inside these catalog pages full of images and convincing descriptions. There’s the gorgeous scarlet colored Rouge Vif D’Etampes pumpkins, the ever sexy and otherworldly looking Tardivo radicchio with it’s deep burgundy white ribbed leaves, and the early ripening Liebesapfel sweet pepper with it’s lovely ruffled shape. I always end up circling more than I could ever realistically plant, grow, and harvest.

Flipping through these pages and circling the garden workhorses along with the “well, why not give it a try?” choices reminds me of why I do what I do. Dreaming of all those fresh meals that lie ahead and all the folks you look forward to sharing them with is good winter cheer indeed. As I hear the kids stomping ice off their boots on the front porch and gaze out at the beautiful belted cattle standing around the round bale hay feeder looking like dusted sugar cookies in the snow I feel grateful indeed.

try aaren’s stove top duck fat popped corn recipe! turn the page...

Aaren Nuñez is a Mother, Farmer, Cook, and Photographer. She lives with her partner, Craig and two sons in Floyd, VA where she owns and operates Well Fed Farm raising heritage breed livestock.

She enjoys being in the farmhouse kitchen just as much as working out in her ridiculously large vegetable garden. On any given day you can find her milking a cow or two, developing a recipe, driving a tractor, photographing food, and of course thinking about her next meal. Say Hello! aaren@wellfedfarm.com // Instagram: @wellfedfarm // Facebook: Well Fed Farm, Floyd VA w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m

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common good Stove Top Duck Fat Popped Corn

with Sumac, citrus zest, and Nutritional yeast Serves 4-6

Ingredients: 1 ¼ cup quality popcorn kernels ¼ plus 1 Tbsp. rendered duck fat* Zest of one half (well rinsed) orange or zest of one full clementine** Several healthy pinches of sumac, nutritional yeast, + salt** Method: Melt 1 tablespoon of duck fat in a small container and set aside.

Set a tall, heavy bottomed stockpot over high heat. Add remaining ¼ cup duck fat and swirl pot to keep fat moving as it melts. Once melted, add in popcorn kernels all at once and cover pot with lid. Using a kitchen towel to hold the stockpot by a handle, begin to shake it gently keeping the bottom of the pot on your burner. Very soon you should begin to hear the corn start to pop. Keep moving the pan every ten seconds or so. The pops will start to speed up and then begin slowing back down. This all only takes 2 minutes or so. Listen for the popping to taper off and then immediately pull the pot over to another cool burner and remove lid. Pour popped corn into a large bowl or clean paper bag and add remaining tablespoon melted fat along with sumac, zest, salt, and yeast. Give a few good shakes and taste, adding more sumac or salt as you please.

Notes: * Yes, I am the type of gal that takes having various fats on hand for cooking as serious business. No ball dropping allowed here. I usually have farmstead lard, rendered duck fat, and raw cultured butter in the fridge at all times. Not to worry though, if your shop doesn’t stock duck fat plenty of online retailers these days do or you can substitute coconut oil, grape seed oil, or even saved bacon fat!

Please use this recipe as a guide and adjust measurements & ingredients as necessary.

** Use organic citrus if possible. A Microplane rasp makes zesting a breeze. Sumac, which imparts a tangy tart and (to me) entirely moreish aspect to the popcorn, can be found at an ethnic grocery store. Nutritional yeast can be found in bulk at your local co-op or online. It is a powerhouse of B vitamins and is NOT the same as brewers yeast. I use Himalayan pink salt.

Enjoy! ~ Aaren

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common good

Eat Drink Paleo Cookbook Making the change to a paleo-friendly diet is a great way to boost your energy and feel better. However, the longer you have used the same old things in your recipes, the more challenging it may seem to adjust your ingredients and your habits. Fortunately, Irena Macri has compiled a cookbook, Eat Drink Paleo, to help make that transition a little easier.

Born in Ukraine, Irena traveled to Australia as a teenager. She had an unusually developed palate as a child and continues to travel and sample food from around the world as an adult.

Irena is paleo 80 percent of the time, and the remaining 20 percent consists of occasional butter, cheese, rice, quinoa, fresh corn, beer, dumplings, and gelato. This is reflected in her recipes, and it is refreshing to consult a book that doesn’t make you feel guilty for the occasional indulgence.

Her recipe for Zucchini Carbonara is perfect for those cold winter nights when pasta is the only thing that can really keep you warm. Of course, Eat Drink Paleo includes over 110 paleo-inspired recipes to try, so this is one book you will want to have on your shelf for years to come!

Zucchini Carbonara

1 tsp ghee or macadamia oil 4 slices bacon, diced 1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 1 garlic clove, minced 4 zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise 1 tsp lemon zest 1/2 tsp sea salt 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper 2 eggs, beaten 2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

In a medium frying pan over medium-high heat, melt the ghee until sizzling hot. Add the bacon and cook until crispy.

Turn the heat to medium. Add the olive oil and garlic and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the zucchini, lemon zest, salt, and pepper and stir well. Cook for about 1 minute, then add the eggs. Stir constantly until the zucchini is well coated and the egg starts to cook and thicken, 1 to 2 minutes. Don’t overcook the zucchini; it’s all about the crunch. Remove from the heat, fold in the Parmesan, and serve.

Support local business owners by participating in Downtown Roanoke’s Restaurant Week January 20-29.

Some of Roanoke’s best downtown restaurants are participating in this event and there are four affordable price points for lunch and dinner: Restaurant’s Choice Lunch (less than $10) $10 lunch (includes side and drink) $20 three-course dinner $35 three-course dinner This popular event usually has limited space, so reservations are encouraged. Visit www.roanokerestaurantweek.com for all the details. w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m

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poppyseed

It’s back!! Bella’s guide for all families of Southwest & Central Virginia

fun in the kitchen Enjoy Crispy Sweet Potato Fish Sticks from The Paleo Kids Cookbook!

A paleo-friendly diet can work for your entire family! We love The Paleo Kids Cookbook by Jennifer Robins. Not only does it help transition your family to delicious grain-free and glutenfree food, it also helps them prepare for a lifetime of healthy eating. Check out the recipe below for an alternative to fish sticks that is free from grains, gluten, dairy, nuts, eggs, AND soy!

Your kids are sure to love them, and you can be confident that all of the ingredients are safe!

You will need: 4 ounces crushed sweet potato chips (fried in avocado, olive or coconut oil) ⅓ cup tapioca starch 1 tsp garlic sea salt ⅓ cup avocado, olive or coconut oil, ghee or sustainable palm shortening ¾ pound wild caught cod (or other white fish)

Preheat the oven to 350˚F. On a clean plate, combine the sweet potato chips, tapioca starch and garlic sea salt. Preheat the frying oil in a large skillet over medium/high heat.

Slice your fish into sticks and dredge them in the breading mixture. If your breading isn’t sticking well, mash the chips smaller and use your fingers to press the breading onto the fish. Fry the coated fish sticks in small batches, flipping them after a minute or so on each side. You’ll want to crisp them up a bit before removing them.

Once the fish sticks have been fried briefly, transfer them to a baking rack placed atop a baking sheet. This will help excess oil drain off while your fish sticks continue to cook in the oven. Bake the fish sticks for around 20 minutes. Remove and serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce.

* FOR LITTLE HANDS: Allow your child to help smash the chips into crumbs, combine the crust ingredients on a plate and dredge the fish sticks to coat them. Older children may help fry the fish sticks while supervised as well.

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This recipe makes four servings—a perfect amount for the whole family!

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poppyseed Check out Storybook Science at the Science Museum of Western Virginia on Saturday, January 7. It is perfect for pre-schoolers interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) topics. It is free for Science Museum members and included in the regular museum admission for non-members.

Each story provides a fun and engaging way to explore these topics. The accompanying crafts give participants the chance to explore them more directly while promoting motor skill practice. Additionally, the museum tries to include supplemental ma- used by scientists in that field or objects to examine with magnifying terial to investigate such as tools glasses or microscopes. Visit www.smwv.org for more info!

family wellness Yummy recipes to start the year off on the right foot!

Chocolate with a Cherry On Top In a blender, mix the following: 1 1/4 cup ice cold water 1/4 cup frozen cherries 1/4 cup frozen pineapple 1/2 frozen banana 2 scoops Kids Chocolate Smoothie powder

Kids PB&B

In a blender, mix the following: 1 cup milk 1/2 tbsp. peanut butter 1/3 frozen banana 2 scoops Kids Chocolate Smoothie powder Check them out for your kids’ nutritional needs and visit www.olly.com for more recipes and the check out their other products, like vitamins for the whole family!

Sneak in the good stuff (like protein, fiber, and nutrients) to help your kids stay healthy! Check out these awesome smoothie recipes from Olly Kids Smoothies. page 24

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MEET THE

MAKERS Stay warm and lovely with Tinker Creek Handknits!

Written by Hayleigh Worgan

Photo by Amanda Malone at Amanda Kelly Photos

Lisa Uotinen, of Daleville, Virginia, began knitting right after she graduated from college in 1993. Back then, she was working full time at Colonial Williamsburg and needed something to do on breaks between shows. There were no classes available then, so she learned by watching people around her and from books. She took a break when her children were born, but picked the hobby back up almost a decade ago.

As her talent developed, she decided to sell the items that she was making. In April of 2016, she opened her business, Tinker Creek Handknits.

Most of her yarn comes from Cascade Yarns and is ecologically-friendly, made from natural fibers and minimally-processed wool that hasn’t been dyed using chemicals.

“When you buy minimally-processed wool, some people really do fare better when they have it on their skin because there are no chemicals or dyes.

You are also choosing to support a sustainable industry in an environmentallyfriendly way,” says Lisa.

Of course, wool itself is a sustainable industry. It is one that has proven to be useful for centuries. Lisa harbors no ill will against yarns that are processed, because the sale of that wool also helps the farmers who raise the sheep that provided it.

“People are becoming more aware of the impact they have on the environment. This is just one way that I can choose to support an ecologically-friendly industry. There are people who have made chemically processed yarn, and there is nothing wrong with that. Whenever you are using wool, you are supporting a sustainable industry,” she explains.

Tinker Creek Handknits is operated out of Lisa’s home, where she also raises three young daughters. All three know how to knit, but it is something they have pushed to the back burner as they have grown older. Instead, they help Lisa in other ways—like modeling her creations and giving their opinions on what will and will not sell.

“Their sense of style is usually right on point,” she says. “If they don’t like or wouldn’t wear something I make, chances are that it isn’t going to sell. They are teenagers, so they are on trend and know what will look right for people their age.”

Instead of buying your knitted items from big box stores this winter, make sure that you are supporting small businesses like Lisa’s. Not only are you putting money back into your community, you are also creating a relationship that will allow you to own unique and personable items. Lisa is happy to create custom lengths and knit with requested colors for her customers.

That, of course, is the difference between something that you can specifically request and something that is mass-produced.

Lisa will be unveiling new products and styles in early 2017! Follow her on Instagram (tinkercreekhandknits) or visit her website, www.tinkercreekhandknits.com to stay up to date on the latest products and to purchase something new for your winter wardrobe!

Our monthly Meet the Maker feature is proudly sponsored by HomeTown Bank. Each month, we recognize local makers selling their unique handmade products. Visit our website, www.lovelybella.com, to view these features throughout the year.

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january 2017

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bella magazine

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page 27

Written by Hayleigh Worgan

giving

Our new, active approach to helping the community

back

You may notice something very important is missing from our layout this month. Don’t worry, we are still committed to bringing you information on all the ways you can give back to your community. It’s just that, this year, we want to be a little more active in the process ourselves.

We are currently compiling our list of ways to give back in the coming months. Beginning in February, we will replace “Giving Back” with an active volunteering article. The goal is to promote a general understanding of the commitment many nonprofits need to survive and help those in need right here in Southwest and Central Virginia.

To begin this series, we want to tell you about smaller efforts we are making as a staff to brighten up the world around us. We hope that they will inspire you to complete random acts of kindness in your own life so we can all work together to make our community a better place.

We adore the girls over at Project Goodness { www.withgoodness.com }. They are “a community dedicated to noticing and adding to the goodness in and around us.” Their interactive signs are popping up all over the country, and encourage passersby to take a random act of goodness to complete during their day. They send PDFS out for free, and you are welcome to contact them or us (editorial@ beckmediagroup.com) for copies of your own! (Just make sure to ask permission before you hang them!)

We are also captivated by the Craftivist Collective community. Created by activist Sarah Corbett, it allows artists to approach activism in a gentle, respectful, yet targeted manner.

Sarah’s goal is to explore global issues “using craft for critical thinking.” Check out some of their awesome projects like “Stitchable Change-makers” at www.craftivist-collective.com.

It is easy to be overwhelmed by the information and resources available for the cause you want to support most, but don’t let it distract you from your purpose. A simple, random act of kindness or a moment spent learning and reflecting on the lives of others can help you achieve the personal growth you seek on a daily basis. Give one (or both!) of these a try and stay tuned for our volunteer adventures in 2017!

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january 2017

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bella magazine

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page 29

bella loves bullet

The minimalist approach to keeping track of your day-to-day activities

journaling In our opinion, Bullet Journaling is one of the most beautiful trends to take over Instagram in a long time. There is an entire movement behind it, but we’ve found the most valuable basic information on how to create our own bullet journal on www.bulletjournal.com. The idea is to create something that can have multiple purposes: a to-do list, a sketchbook, a notebook, and a diary. By taking this step, you can reduce the amount of things you carry around and keep up with every day. Here are a few of our favorite bullet journals floating around Instagram. Feel free to share yours with us on our Facebook page!

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january 2017

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