january 2019 MIND • BODY • SOUL L E T ’ S G E T H E A LT H Y VIRGINIA MADE
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january 2019 Ja n u a r y 2 0 19
Issu e On e H u n d re d F i f ty- O n e
Joey Coakley Beck Publisher & Owner jbeck@beckmediagroup.com •••
editorial
For editorial consideration: editorial@beckmediagroup.com Contributors: Katie Farrell, K.L. Kranes, Member One Federal Credit Union, Laura Richards, Hayleigh Worgan •••
advertising
With over 13 years experience in Southwest & Central Virginia, Bella is your BEST advertising option with proven results, loyal readership, wonderful content, and an award-winning design! To market yourself and your business to the women of Southwest & Central Virginia, call us at (540) 904-6800 or email advertise@beckmediagroup.com Shannon Peters Advertising Sales Representative shannon@beckmediagroup.com •••
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Virginia Made
Vector Space in Lynchburg takes skills and knowledge beyond the classroom.
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Travel Girls
Wild Terrain is the first travel company leading women-only group trips to Mexico City.
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Mind • Body • Soul
Make 2019 your best year yet with help from the microbiome diet and My Shining Year goal workbooks. Read more starting on page 11.
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Women in Business
You don’t have to go ‘big’ to make a great living. Learn about the Magic of Tiny Business, a new book from Sharon Rowe.
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Bella Finds
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Dashing Dish
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Bella Eats
New year, new products we’ve found to help you stay healthy, cozy and warm this winter.
Welcoming new contributor, Katie Farrell, to Bella Magazine. Check out her healthy and delicious recipes to inspire you to get fit and healthy each month!
operations
For general inquiries: bella@beckmediagroup.com
Thinking of incorporating juicing or a plant-based diet into your health and fitness goals this year? Check out these new and convenient mailorder companies making it easier. Also, we’ve included a recipe for smarter snacking!
Sara Coakley Office Manager
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Save Smarter
Member One Feral Credit Union helps you get financially fit for 2019. LLC
P.O. Box 107 Roanoke, Virginia 24002 540.904.6800 Bella Magazine is the property of Beck Media Group LLC. It is a free publication printed monthly and is distributed throughout Southwest and Central Virginia and beyond. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse ad space for any advertisement or editorial content the staff deems inappropriate for our readers. The concept and design of Bella Magazine, as well as the design, advertisements, art, photos and editorial content is property of Beck Media Group LLC and may not be copied or reprinted without written permission from the publisher. ©2006-2019 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
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Young Writers Club
Meet Fairfax native and young author, Sarah Hasson.
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Profile
Helping young people build a foundation for their future– check out The Making Foundation in Roanoke.
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Virginia Made
Planning for the Future
Vector Space takes knowledge & skills beyond the classroom. Written by HAYLEIGH WORGAN
Photos courtesy Vector Space
“When will I ever use this as an adult?” Sound familiar? Maybe you said it to your
own parents years ago. Maybe you’re hearing it echoed from your child now. It’s not an easy question to answer, especially when the devices we carry in our pockets do a lot of our thinking for us. Students, like their parents, are increasingly relying on cell phones and tablets to discover, create, and enjoy groundbreaking innovations. Unfortunately, even as technology advances, educational opportunities for middle and high school students have struggled to keep up throughout the country. In Lynchburg, the folks behind Vector Space are doing their part to change that. Their 8,000 square foot space provides a home for individuals and groups to work with tools and equipment to build a variety of different products from the fields of woodworking, metalworking, textiles, electronics, computers, and prototyping. This spring, their partnership with The Best Buy Foundation will also increase the resources for teenagers who are interested in learning how different subjects, specifically fashion, can merge with technological advances to create promising employment opportunities. Beginning in January, ten teens will enroll in a six-week class at Vector Space that will introduce them to hand sewing, machine sewing, soldering, and garment design, as well as electronics and computer programming. Classes will meet two evenings per week in January and February, and will be lead by two instructors, and engineer, and a fashion designer. The program, sponsored by Best Buy, will culminate in a public fashion show at Randolph College on March 24, 2019 at the Lynchburg Mini Maker Faire. “Textiles and electronics are really still at the beginning stages of coming together. There is a lot to be explored, a lot of creative ways we can merge these two fields,” says Adam Spontarelli, Director of Education at Vector Space. “This is not just the first fashion and tech class in Lynchburg, it is cutting edge in both industries.” A goal of this project is to introduce young women to computer programming. It’s hard to believe, but even in 2019, there are less men than women in computer science fields. Both organizations hope to help reduce the barriers for women and emphasize computer science skills for females during their middle and high school years. Community support is vital, because every piece of the puzzle matters as young people begin to understand how what they are learning will apply to the real world in just a few short years. With the dedication that students put into their work at Vector Space, the future of fashion, engineering, and computer science is promising—and so is the impact on our region. “This is our third annual event,” says Elise Spontarelli, Lynchburg Mini Maker Faire Producer. “World Maker Faire added a Fashion Show in 2018, and I am thrilled to have our own fashion feature at Lynchburg Mini Maker Faire.” For more information on how your child can get involved, and the membership and classes offered at Vector Space, visit www.vector-space.org/fashion.
Hayleigh is a freelance writer, independent author, and writing consultant. In 2017, she published her first novel, The Huntsman: A modern retelling of Red Riding Hood. She spends a lot of time traveling and exploring new regions for inspiration, but Roanoke will always be her home. www.hayleighworgan.com. w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m
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Travel Girls
Wild Terrain
First travel company leading women-only group trips to Mexico City.
It’s no surprise that women-only travel is the fastest
growing segment in the travel industry today. Nearly two-thirds of travelers today are women and according to the Travel Industry Association of America, 20 to 70 year-old women make up three-quarters of those embarking on nature, adventure and cultural journeys. With this steady rise in female travelers, there’s an influx of new travel companies around the globe offering unique experiences catering to women-only travelers. Wild Terrains is a new boutique travel company specializing in small group trips for women to vibrant and culturally-rich destinations. Launched in June of 2018, Washington, DC-based Wild Terrains is the brainchild of Lauren Bates, former Chief Marketing Officer at UrbanStems. While planning a last-minute vacation, Bates researched women’s group travel only to find activity-specific trips focusing on yoga, trekking, surfing and other adventure pursuits. Desiring a deeper, culturally immersive trip highlighting the destination’s local arts and crafts, design, culinary landscape and more, Bates was also seeking to travel with like-minded, creative women who share a curiosity to meet, support and learn about the local female-owned businesses within a destination. Combining a strong passion for travel and entrepreneurial drive, Bates launched Wild Terrains to offer a creative space to connect women from around the world in culturally-rich destinations, while supporting the local female entrepreneurs and female-owned and operated businesses. As the only travel company leading women-only group trips to Mexico City, Wild Terrains fully supports local, female-owned businesses. The trip itineraries include staying in female-owned hotels, dining at restaurants with female chefs and mixologists, curating experiences that connect local women with Wild Terrains’ travelers and more. In addition, Wild Terrains donates a portion of profits from each trip to
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a local organization supporting creative and entrepreneurial women. After many trips to Mexico City, Bates began cultivating and fostering relationships with local businesses and women and decided that Mexico City was the perfect first destination for Wild Terrains. Consistently ranked among the top, global places to visit, Mexico City is a world capital welcoming more than 12.5 million visitors each year, visitors searching for renowned cuisine, vibrant culture, rich history and unique travel experiences. Wild Terrains plans to announce additional destinations in the future. Wild Terrains recently launched three new group trips to Mexico City in 2019: New Year, New You Trip (January 23-27, 2019); International Women’s Day Trip (March 6-10, 2019); Mother/Daughter Mother’s Day Trip (May 10-14, 2019). All of the trips are packed with creative activities that support local, female-run businesses, including:
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Staying at gorgeous, female-owned hotels such as the beautiful, design-forward Ignacia Guest House in the heart of the bustling Colonia Roma neighborhood Indulging in a private pop-up dinner curated by Chef Norma Listman of Masala y Maiz where she shares her experience as a female business owner in Mexico Enjoying a private, textile-shopping experience led by the women behind textile company Colorindio inside the former home of famous architect Juan O’Gorman Eating your way through the street food scene on a customized food crawl with Rocio of Eat Like A Local Mexico City, visiting all her favorite female-run food stalls and restaurants Exploring Frida Kahlo’s Casa Azul on a private tour led by a female art historian
Break out of your normal travel routine and see a part of the world in a unique way! For more information, check out their website at www.wildterrains.com.
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mind • body • soul
The Microbiome Diet
Why gut health should be a part of your daily routine. Article courtesy BIOMEBLISS
While probiotics help to balance friendly bacteria in your digestive system, prebiotics nurture the new and healthy bacteria the probiotic makes. What does this all mean? Our body needs bacteria, the good kind of bacteria, to help us maintain a healthy microbiome (or gut). Gut health plays a very important role in your health by helping control digestion and benefiting your immune system. An imbalance of unhealthy and healthy microbes in the intestines may contribute to weight gain, high blood sugar, high cholesterol and other disorders. The Microbiome Diet nourishes the healthful bacteria in your gut. It is a framework for you to pay greater attention to your 40 trillion microorganisms by consuming nutrients they need and avoiding those things that can cause havoc. A balanced and diverse microbiome is the goal. The Microbiome Diet is flexible and fits into a variety of eating styles and preferences, whether it is paleo, keto, vegan, raw, low-carb, kosher, non-GMO, etc. It is a set of guidelines aimed at optimum gut health and performance. Getting enough prebiotics is central to your overall health. To build a healthy microbiome, follow these guidelines: Foods to Eat More Of:
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A rich variety of vegetables of all kinds, especially asparagus, artichoke, spring onion, mushroom, garlic, leek, onion, avocado. Have some of your veggies raw and try new things—go with the seasons. Double the amount of vegetables you consume each day to add soluble and insoluble fiber to your diet. The recommended fiber intake is 28g per day. Double the amount of fruit you consume each day. Raw, whole fruits, especially berries, red grape, apple, pear, banana. Choose high-fiber fruits and eat them raw. Raw foods containing polyphenol antioxidants, such as blueberries, cranberries, purple grapes, green onions. These nutrients help shift microbial activity toward healthful organisms. Oats. This superfood is high in the soluble fiber beta-glucan that protects the mucosal lining and primes the immune system.
What to Expect
What you might feel: feeling of satiety and lower, less ravenous hunger; more energy; better sleep; some gas; regular BM’s, both in frequency and consistency. What is happening in the large intestine: microbial shift to producing healthful molecules in your GI (that’s actually why you can have some gas), primed immune system, protected mucosal lining, lower mealtime glycemic response; trillions of healthy functioning microorganisms in your gut. The Microbiome Diet is not a fad diet and is not a diet that asks you to deprive yourself of some favorite foods. It’s an easy to follow plan that gently changes your lifestyle to one that is healthier for you in terms of blood sugar, weight control, regularity, and energy. For more information visit www.biomebliss.com How You Can Jump Start the Microbiome Diet
Our BiomeBliss can serve as a great supplement to help reduce your calorie intake while still getting enough prebiotics. It can be hard on your budget to buy, fix and eat all the fruit and vegetables recommended each day. Containing only 60 calories per serving, BiomeBliss’ prebiotic berry powder not only nurtures the new and healthy bacteria but creates a healthy microbiome. The powder is an easy, tasty addition to your daily meal routine. Ingredients are selected based on exhaustive research and reviews of clinical trials. Active ingredients are inulin from agave, beta-glucan from oats, and antioxidants from berries in a proprietary blend. Our scientific formulation nourishes your gut’s healthy bacteria to produce signals that can trigger important benefits, even when you’re already well! Our clinical results show BiomeBliss helps control hunger, promotes regularity, supports overall gut health and manages healthy mealtime blood sugar (when already within normal range). Visit our website for more information.
Organic fruits and vegetables, when possible, to avoid pesticides and herbicides.
Things to Avoid (or to have less often):
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Added sugar. (That includes raw or brown sugar, honey and agave syrup—just because they are not refined doesn’t make them healthy.) Drinks that are loaded with sugar, including fruit juices. Foods over-cooked at high temperature, as high temperatures can degrade nutrients such as polyphenols. Processed high-calorie foods, like crackers and most snack foods, that can be nutrient deserts. They often include artificial chemicals and emulsifiers, and just add calories to your day. Red meat and eggs should be eaten in moderation as they are high in sulfur-containing amino acids, and that sulfur can end up as hydrogen sulfide gas. Red meat and egg yolks also contain very high levels of choline and lecithin, and meat-eaters have gut bacteria that can use those nutrients to produce trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a molecule that contributes to blood clotting and atherosclerosis. Over-eating in general—once you get the microbiome diet working for you, this should be easier to achieve.
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As an early adopter, our team is designing and testing innovative foodderived supplements that naturally and safely help to modulate your gut’s microbiome for a diverse and healthy state. Since our inception in 2010, we have focused on the science of the microbiome. We’ve learned how food choices today are often missing key nutrients required by the bacteria in the gut to maintain diversity and healthy function. BiomeBliss helps you fill the gaps that may be left by your normal diet. www.biomebliss.com
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mind • body • soul
Make 2019 Your Best Year Yet! Plan, create and grow your shining life in 2019!
Discover the original and best goals workbook on the market—used by over 300,000 women worldwide with incredible results! Are you ready for 2019 to be your most incredible year yet? What started 10 years ago as a small goals workbook, My Shining Year Life Workbook has become a wildly popular and powerful cult hit— and simply the best planning tool available to help you achieve your personal goals. Revamped and revitalized, the workbook will laser-focus you on exactly what you need to make your dreams come true. With proven and actionable guidance, author Leonie Dawson will inspire you to create meaningful, positive relationships and friendships; a healthy, thriving body; creative pursuits to illuminate your soul; financial goals to support you abundantly; and self-care to help you thrive! Join the revolution and the tribe of hundreds of thousands of women who use this creative and inspiring workbook to take themselves to their next level of shining success in 2019. For details visit www.leoniedawson.com.
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Women in Business
The Magic of Tiny Business You don’t have to ‘go big’ to make a great living.
Too many of us feel trapped by work that keeps us from living our purpose. We fantasize about stating our own business, yet we’re warned against falling into debt, working eighty hours a week, and coping with the pressure to grow. Eco-Bags Products (maker of our favorite reusable cotton net bags) founder Sharon Rowe says there’s another way: go tiny! Like a tiny house, a tiny business is built on maintaining focus on what is essential by living an intentional life. As an entrepreneur and mother, Rowe is most concerned with putting family first, maintaining financial security, and doing something that makes an impact in the world. Using the success story of Eco-Bags Products, Rowe distills the step-by-step process of building a profitable, right-scaled, sustainable venture that doesn’t compromise your values with her new book, The Magic of Tiny Business. She shows you how to test your concept, manage your money and priorities, and more, while staying true to the ‘tiny’ ethos. You don’t have to go big to make a great living. Find The Magic of Tiny Business through your favorite bookseller or visit www.sharonrowe.com (and find Eco-Bags at www.ecobags.com).
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Girls being fearless. Girls being silly. Girls being wild, stubborn, and proud. Girls whose faces are smeared with dirt and lit up with joy. So simple and yet so powerful, Strong Is the New Pretty celebrates, through more than 175 memorable photographs, the strength and spirit of girls being 100% themselves. Kate T. Parker is a professional photographer who finds the real beauty in girls, capturing it for all the world to see in candid and arresting images. Find at your favorite bookseller.
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Bella Finds New Year, New Finds
A few great products to help you stay healthy, cozy & warm this winter.
Leaner Creamer is the first natural powdered creamer formulated to help promote healthy weight management. It’s the perfect addition to coffee, tea, smoothies and even baked goods! Leaner Creamer comes in five healthy and delicious flavors (Original, French Vanilla, Hazelnut, Mocha and Caramel) and is available through select retailers, Amazon.com and the website, www.leanercreamer.com. Heat Holders socks are specially developed with thermal yarn which provides high performance insulation against the cold with superior moisture breathing abilities. They are better than heated, electric or battery-operated socks. Your feet will stay warm and dry all day. Check out their other products too, including neck warmers, hats and gloves for everyone in your family. www.heatholders.com
InstaNatural Skincare began as a small business in Florida with a mission to create natural and effective skin care products. Since the launch of their first product, 100% Organic Argan Oil, consumers have fueled them to continuously improve and re-imagine the skin care routine, inspiring them to develop products that truly make a difference in the skin. We love their Early Aging collection that includes products designed to smoothen and lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, packed with Vitamin C and other extremely moisturizing and hydrating skin care ingredients meant for making your skin plump and bright. www.instanatural.com
The Love Heals Journal - An interactive journal that you gift a loved one who is going through cancer or a bad health diagnosis. The journal comes as a pre-printed book with inspirational quote, witty commentary, interactive activities, and other unique surprises like: creative doodles, sarcastic phrases personalized storytelling and fun suggestions that help express emotion. www.lovehealsjournal.com
Now that winter is arriving and fresh fruits are becoming scarce, Crispy Greens can tide you over until growing season picks back up! Picked from the fields, cleaned, cut and freeze-dried. No additives, non-GMO, gluten and allergen free makes it a perfect snack for all ages. Just fruit and no sugar added, the vacuum sealed, convenient pouches keep your fruit crispy and easy to grab as your start your day. Find in your favorite grocer or online at www.crispygreen.com
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Bella Finds
With its modular design and leak-proof lids, ECOlunchbox’s 3-in-1 Splash Box is a three-piece set that stacks and nests. It’s a powerful plastic-free lunchtime tool and you’ll love the space-saving design featuring three food compartments, including upstairs and downstairs sections as well as a nesting snack container called the Mini Splash Pod, which tucks inside the top layer. Plus, what’s not to love about no-leak lids? This plastic-free lunch packer has it all when it comes to convenience. Holding 4 cups of food, it straps together with a wavy silicone band that attaches to a wave-shaped latch. The nubby waves on the strap are non-slip and easy to use for all ages. www.ecolunchboxes.com
I’d Rather Be Reading - A charming, relatable and highly readable essay collection for book lovers everywhere. For so many of us, reading isn’t just a hobby or a way to pass the time—it’s a lifestyle. Our books shape us, define us, enchant us, and even sometimes infuriate us. Our books are a part of who we are as people, and we can’t imagine life without them. In this collection of charming and relatable reflections, beloved blogger and author Anne Bogel leads you to remember the book that first hooked you, the place where you first fell in love with reading, and all the books and moments afterward that helped make you the reader you are today.
Angels, Spirit Guides & Goddesses A sparkling reference to the angels, saints, masters, and deities of the celestial realm. Featuring 100 figures from a variety of spiritual traditions – including Judeo-Christian, Buddhist, Celtic, Greco-Roman, Asian, African, and New Age – this guide offers a fascinating biography of each deity. Each entry also includes an invocation readers can use to call upon them for help in their everyday life and a beautiful portrait from artist Audra Auclair.
DiamoTech is the next generation in non-stick pans and would be a great holiday gift item for any cooking connoisseur. DiamoTech’s innovative 4-layer design enforces aluminum for uniform heat distribution, enabling home chefs to cook without oil, butter or grease. This new collection is affordably priced beginning at just $19.99. We are loving the 9.5” Fry Pan! www.DiamoTechPan.com
Salonpas Pain Relief Patch is the only OTC pain reliever labeled to relieve mild to tougher, moderate pain. Now, this long-lasting patch is double the size and comes in a 9-count Value Pack. Salonpas Pain Relief Patch LARGE contains two powerful pain fighting ingredients, menthol and methyl salicylate (an NSAID – a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug). www.salonpas.us
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The Rise: An Unforgettable Journey of Self-Love, Forgiveness, and Transformation As one of America’s leading health experts, founder of Mindful Health, LLC and The Rise Movement, a best-selling author, fitness expert, and renowned motivational speaker, Danette May has fast become a rare and unique voice for empowering women to construct the life of their dreams. With The Rise, Danette taps into what she believes is her deepest and most important mission in life: to inspire others to unlock their presence, discover that life is working for them, and help to manifest what is in their heart. Sharing her own personal, often painful, always inspiring story, Danette provides the guidance and tools needed to take action and creating the satisfying, love-filled life of your dreams. www.danettemay.com w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m
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Dashing Dish
Welcome to Dashing Dish
Delicious recipes, practical tools, and life-giving encouragement that will inspire you to get healthy for life! Written by KATIE FARRELL
Photos courtesy Dashing Dish
Welcome to Dashing Dish! My name is Katie Farrell, and I’m the founder of Dashing Dish, a place to find not only wholesome and simple recipes, but encouragement, inspiration, and motivation for your journey to get fit for life. At Dashing Dish, it is truly my greatest heart’s desire to help others find encouragement and fulfillment through a balance of healthy living principals. I will teach you how to make easy healthy meals and provide practical encouragement to nourish both your body and soul. Dashing Dish is created to inspire you to get fit and healthy for life, all while enjoying the journey.
Clean Eating Instant Pot French Onion Soup This Clean Eating Instant Pot French Onion Soup is ready in less than 30 minutes thanks to the Instant Pot, but I also provided a crockpot method* if you don’t have an electric pressure cooker! It is everything you love about french onion soup, caramelized onions, rich broth, and melted cheese...but in an easy to make healthy version right at home! Ingredients: 4 large Onions, halved and sliced [1] 2 tsp Garlic, minced 1/4 tsp Dried thyme (optional) 3 cups Beef broth [2] 3 tbs Oat flour 1 tbs Balsamic vinegar 1/4 tsp Pepper 1 1/2 tsp Salt Topping: 1 cup Swiss cheese [3] [1] I prefer vidalia or sweet onions, but any white onion will work great [2] Or chicken/vegetable stock [3] Or shredded cheese of choice such as greyer, white cheddar, etc.
*
Method: The estimated total time to make this recipe is 25-30 Minutes. 1. Turn the Instant Pot (or any brand electric pressure cooker) to sauté mode. Spray with cooking spray (or add 1 tbs oil of choice to coat the bottom of the pot). Once hot, add the onions, garlic, thyme, and stir to combine. Cook, stirring, until onions are starting to turn golden brown about 3-5 minutes. Stir in the rest of the ingredients (except for the topping). Cover and seal the Instant Pot, then set to cook on high pressure (manual setting) for 25 minutes. Release pressure to vent immediately. Remove the lid, and stir the soup, scraping up any brown bits that have collected on the bottom of the pot.
Katie’s Tip
“I also provided a crockpot prep method if you don’t have a pressure cooker such as an Instant Pot.”
2. When you’re ready to serve, preheat your oven’s broiler. Divide soup among oven safe bowls and sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese on top of each serving. Broil until bubbly and golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes, watching constantly towards the end so that the cheese does not burn. Enjoy! *Crockpot Preparation: Spray a large pan with nonstick cooking spray. Add onions and 1 cup beef broth and garlic. Sauté onions until broth is completely evaporated, and onions begin to caramelize. Add the rest of the ingredients (except for the swiss cheese) to the crockpot and add onions. Turn crockpot on high for 4 hours, or on low for 8 hours, or overnight. When you’re ready to serve, preheat your oven’s broiler. Divide soup among oven safe bowls and sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese on top of each serving. Broil until bubbly and golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes, watching constantly towards the end so that the cheese does not burn. Enjoy!
Katie Farrell is the founder and face of Dashing Dish, a healthy lifestyle website and recipe subscription service designed to nourish readers’ minds, body and souls. A registered nurse, author, blogger, healthy lifestyle advocate, and mother, Katie launched Dashing Dish to teach women across the across the country to end misconception about healthy eating and prove that it is easy and budget-friendly to make delicious, healthy food balance in their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual healthy, all while enjoying the journey. Katie has authored three books and lives in Michigan with her high school sweetheart and daughter. www.dashingdish.com w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m
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Bella Eats
Convenient Healthy Eats Eating healthy is becoming more convenient.
Veestro
A delicious plant-based mailorder company. Thinking of incorporating a plant-based diet into your fitness goals this year? Just wanting to eat more veggies and plants without changing your current diet? Meet Veestro! Their mindset is: “You don’t have to be hardcore vegan to get big benefits from eating more plants. And you don’t have to go cold-tofurkey, either. Eating more plants can simply be an easy change here. A meatless Monday there. It all adds up to make a difference.” Their philosophy is simply more plants in your diet are better, however and whenever you can. Siblings Mark and Monica created Veestro—a mailorder food and juice company that makes it super simple to get more plants in your every day, whether it’s one dinner a week, a healthy juice every breakfast, or whenever you’re too busy for anything else. It’s all good. Not to mention, delicious. You can order a la carte, meal packs, diet plans and even juice cleanses on their website. The items arrive frozen and are ready when you are! With recipes like Soba Noodles with Peanut Sauce and Veggie Empanadas, you’ll find something for every tastebud made of fresh and organic ingredients with chef crafted recipes! There are several ordering options so check them out online at www.veestro.com.
Raw Generation
Making healthy raw foods & juices convenient. Drinking a green juice each day can have a spectacular effect on your overall health and well-being! Why? No matter what you’re doing, if you do not eat greens every day, you are not as healthy as you could be. Incorporating green juice into your daily routine can help bring about amazing transformation in your life by losing weight faster, having more energy, getting clearer skin, feeling more focus and even preventing (and possibly reversing!) aging. A daily serving of cold-pressed green juice doesn’t just help you lost weight and feel fantastic. Packed with essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, complete protein, and chlorophyll, leafy green vegetables (think spinach and kale) are an excellent source of powerful nutrition that meet all your body’s needs. Raw Generation was created with the goal of making healthy, raw foods and juices convenient. Raw Generation’s cleanses, juices, and smoothies were designed for people who want to lose weight in a healthy way without counting calories, keeping track of points, or spending hours in the kitchen. Using whole fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and spices, without any preservatives, chemicals, and artificial ingredients Raw Generation is creating the highest quality products to help anyone lose weight, have more energy, feel better, and be healthier. They offer cold-pressed juices, cleanses, protein smoothies, and detox waters. Visit their website for more details and how to order at www.rawgeneration.com page 22
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Bella Eats
Smarter Snacking
Keeping nutrition goals in mind by snacking smarter.
Planning health-conscious New Year’s resolutions typically includes cutting back on unhealthy foods during meals from breakfast to dinner. However, it’s also important to cut out sugary, calorie-laden snacks that can counteract all your hard work throughout the rest of the day. Rather than skipping snacks entirely, it’s possible to instead incorporate nutritious options that pack protein to help you recharge without going overboard on calories, sodium and sugars. Opt for quick bites like Baked White Bean and Artichoke Dip paired with light, crunchy, low-sugar crackers to get the fuel you need between meals. This snack idea can be especially filling yet nutritious when you dip with an option like gluten-free, non-GMO Crunchmaster Protein Snack Crackers, made with wholesome ingredients crafted to fit healthy, active lifestyles. With five grams of plant-based protein per serving, the cholesterolfree crackers can aid in providing energy without unnecessary sugars. As you take steps to incorporate a healthier lifestyle in the New Year, be sure to take into account healthy activities along with nutritious eating habits from the first meal of the day to the last, and each snack in-between. For more nutritious snacking ideas and recipes, visit www.crunchmaster.com.
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Baked White Bean and Artichoke Dip with Crackers Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes Servings: 8
1 can (15 ounces) organic white cannellini beans, drained and rinsed 1 can (14 fluid ounces) water-packed artichoke hearts, drained 1/3 cup olive oil 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives, divided 1 teaspoon lemon zest 1tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar 2 cloves garlic 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper Pinch of cayenne pepper 1 package (3.54 ounces) Crunchmaster Protein Snack Crackers in Roasted Garlic flavor Heat oven to 400 F. In food processor, puree beans, artichokes, olive oil, 1 tablespoon chives, lemon zest, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper and cayenne until smooth. Scrape into 4-cup baking dish and smooth over top. Bake 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. Sprinkle with remaining chives and serve with crackers. (Tip: Substitute parsley or mint for chives, if desired.) Nutrition information per serving: 200 calories; 10 g fat; 1 g saturated fat; 580 mg sodium; 21 g carbohydrates; 4 g fiber; 1 g sugar; 7 g protein.
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Save Smarter
Get Financially Fit for 2019
Make these four financial resolutions now to start your year off strong. Written by MEMBER ONE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
It’s January and the gyms are full—we hope
you’re making good progress on your new year’s wellness resolutions so far. But there’s another type of fitness you should also be focusing on at the start of 2019: your financial fitness. Flex your money muscles for the new year with these goals.
1. Strengthen your savings. If you don’t
currently have an emergency savings fund—or you do but it’s looking a bit scrawny—this needs to be a top priority. Many financial experts recommend stashing three to six months’ worth of necessary expenses in your emergency fund. It’s best to keep this money separate from your checking account. Once you have several thousand saved, consider depositing your emergency funds into a money market account, where you’ll earn more interest without sacrificing instant access to your savings.
2. Beef up your credit. Many of your longterm financial goals will depend on this, so make sure your credit is in good shape. You can get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and Transunion) once every 12 months via the federally authorized website annualcreditreport.com, and the start of the new year is a perfect time to do so. Scan your report for discrepancies and signs of identity theft. If your credit isn’t as good as you’d like, take steps to improve it, such as getting your credit card balances below 30 percent of your total available credit. 3. Burn fat from your budget. Take a
close look at your spending and you’ll likely find areas that could use a slim down. Budgeting apps like
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Mint.com, Goodbudget.com, and Youneedabudget.com make it easy to track spending on your smartphone, or good old-fashioned spreadsheets work just as well. Another trick to try is starting the new year with a month-long cash diet, which means taking out a set amount of cash each week and using it to pay for everything other than monthly bills (no swiping plastic allowed). Just like at the gym, exercising your budget works best when you have a specific goal, so visualize what you’ll do with the extra money you save—whether that’s paying off high-interest debt or treating yourself to a tropical vacation.
4. Set the pace for retirement. By looking at your current retirement savings and considering how many years you have until your target date, you’ll get an idea of whether you’re running a marathon or a sprint at this point. If your retirement savings are a little behind where they should be, it might be time to start pushing yourself a little harder. Consider your age and risk tolerance when determining how aggressive you’d prefer to be with your retirement accounts, and aim for a good mix of stocks, bonds, and share certificates. It’s always wise to speak with a financial advisor about your specific situation. Article courtesy of
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 info on their products and services. Member One Federal Credit Union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration.
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Young Writers Club
Creating Her Own Universe A Discussion with Young Writer, Sarah Hasson
Written by K.L. KRANES Photo courtesy Sarah Hasson
It started in fifth grade with the cartoon TV show My
Little Pony. Not quite understanding why, Sarah Hasson opened her notebook and began to write a new four-hooved magical character for the series. A pony with a pink flowing mane and a coat fading from orange and red. The name of the new character: Sunset Pony. To Sarah’s surprise, words previously bottled up inside her, flowed out onto the page as the character galloped to life in her mind. That day, a young girl discovered the joys of writing through fanfiction. Until that point, Sarah struggled to write. The poetry and stories she scribbled on the page all felt wrong. But with fanfiction, she could use the old to create something new. As Sarah grew as a person and a writer, her fanfiction universe expanded to Percy Jackson and Harry Potter, where she continued to create original characters for established fiction series. Soon Sarah began creating her own original stories. As a sophomore in high school in Fairfax, VA, Sarah now focuses her writing talents in genres such as realistic fiction and poetry. Her affinity for poetry came about in a unique way, through the forensic team at school. (Not to be confused with forensic science, a forensic team is a competitive speech and debate group, which can span several genres of verbal expression.) Always one to enjoy the stage, Sarah found by reciting poetry in a competitive environment she could demonstrate the power and impact of the words. Participating in the team enhanced Sarah’s appreciation of poetry and inspired her to write her own. “There’s something about imagery and how words are used in poems that’s just so beautiful. Poems can be whatever you want them to be and they still end up being enjoyable for the reader and the writer,” says Sarah. Sarah describes herself as passionate, creative, Jewish, wordy and enthusiastic. An avid reader as well as a writer, Sarah has found one thing lacking in all the books she read as a child, an under-representation of realistic Jewish characters. While Sarah agrees there are many powerful books that explore the Holocaust and the Jewish struggle, there are significantly fewer books portraying the typical, everyday lives of girls like Sarah. In all the books she read, Sarah never saw herself on the page. “Everyone reads about the Holocaust and persecution, which is super important. But that’s all there is,” Sarah explains. “Representation isn’t having two books (Book Thief and Night) be an example of your entire religion. Representation is having realistic Jews with modern problems that kids can actually relate to.” In her own writing, Sarah expands the universe of books beyond what she finds in bookstores. Through her stories and poetry, she strives to break down these types of barriers, not just in terms of the lack of representation of Judaism, but also by creating characters and stories that can reach all different types of teens and people.
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“I guess most of the people I write about are somewhere in the middle because everyone is a mix of different cultures,” Sarah says. For this thoughtful and outgoing teen, writing is a way to sort through these types of real-life issues and tame the barrage of thoughts and ideas constantly swirling in her head. “There is something about being able to write down all the things you’re saying that makes you feel in touch with your mind,” Sarah explains. “In my opinion, putting words on a page is one of the most freeing things you can do. Once your thoughts are out there, they’re no longer your responsibility to manage. You don’t have to worry about that thought anymore because it isn’t in your head, it’s on the page.” Unlike many writers who hide their work away in drawers, Sarah craves sharing her ideas about writing with others. On blogs and forums like Tumblr, she posts her work and joins online writing groups. She finds the feedback helpful. “It seems kind of ridiculous when you think about it. Just sharing your emotions and words with random people and trusting them with these things,” Sarah says. However, it is Sarah’s friends who are the biggest influence in her writing life. They are the inspiration for most of her characters, plotlines and poems. “When someone influences me as a person, they usually end up inspiring something in my writing,” Sarah says. Someday Sarah hopes to take her love of writing and sharing the written word with others and turn it into a career, perhaps as an English teacher. Regardless of how Sarah decides to use her writing talent, it will certainly be in a way that continues to expand the world of books and stories.
K.L. Kranes is a blogger and author of young adult novels. Her debut novel, The Travelers, was published in 2016 by Saguaro Books, LLC. See more from K.L. at www.klkranes.com/blog.
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Profile
The Making Foundation
Helping young people build a foundation for their future. Written by HAYLEIGH WORGAN
Photos courtesy The Making Foundation
By the time a child enters high school, they have often already started down the path that will lead them through their career as an adult. With any luck, the influences that have brought them to that point have mostly meant well. Teachers, guidance counselors, and some parents frequently encourage average and high-performing students to pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree. Of course, not all students are interested in that pursuit. Even those who are may face severe student loan debt or other financial, societal, and educational barriers that prevent a “traditional” college experience. What happens to the teenager who does not attend college after high school graduation? Unfortunately, children who do not thrive in an academic environment may believe their career options are limited based on the lack of skillsfocused classes at school. This can lead to distractions, punishments, and exclusion from their peers. Additionally, the manufacturing industry as a whole faces consequences. Labor-related jobs that provide more than a livable wage have sat unfilled, even in the Roanoke Valley, due to a lack of qualified workforce. According to Aaron Dykstra, creator of The Making Foundation, those unfilled positions have many leaders of manufacturing companies worried about the future. They are calling it a “silver tsunami”, because all of the experienced workers in the trade field are retiring and there is no one to replace them. When presented with this problem, Dykstra, a bicycle mechanic turned successful entrepreneur, considered where his own interests and experiences transformed into a meaningful career as a young adult. “I started spit-balling this idea of, ‘what if we did something to reach students sooner than high school and college-age?’ There are certainly an amount of students that will fall into the skill-trade world because of parents or accessibility, but there are so many students that don’t know that exists as ninth or tenth graders. They probably are not going to be adventurous and take a welding or woodworking course. It’s difficult to break into if you are coming from a disadvantaged background,” Dykstra explains. Thus, The Making Foundation was born. The Making Foundation is a place where students, ages 8-18, can come together and learn through hands-on experiences that will lead them to become “the next generation of creative thinkers, skilled workers, and entrepreneurs”. There, students often show up of their own accord, and have to be told to get on the school bus at the end of the day. Despite any mistakes they make, they want to return and continue learning. Perhaps the page 30
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magic is in the adults’ response to both their successes and their failures. “As a society, we have a bad habit of trying to correct what students are bad at, and not focusing on what they are good at,” Dykstra says. “[Some kids] go through their whole school existence without feeling like they have much of a purpose, and it is a real missed opportunity in growing these little people into productive members of society who can live a fulfilled life.” Of course, there is more to The Making Foundation than building tangible objects. Instructors are building relationships with students who may have encountered difficulties in public school or are facing hurdles when it comes to entering the job market. They need someone who will be patient enough to see their potential and willing to devote the time and resources needed to help them go above and beyond their goals. “We have students who are trying to get a job, and they don’t know what a resume is,” explains Dykstra. “I can come up with twenty bullet points immediately on their skills. We end up exposing some of the things they haven’t had elsewhere, and have found ourselves tutoring students on finance. Part of that success is that we are outsiders, and not typical teachers. We are able to meet them where they are at, and not make them feel like they are in trouble all the time.” Overall, Dykstra and his team are helping students find their purpose, which is a long-lasting strength for them and the community as a whole. You can help The Making Foundation make a difference by learning a few new skills yourself ! They offer classes for adults as well, and those classes help fundraise to provide materials and education for the kids year-round. Visit www.makingfoundation.org to find out how you can participate. Hayleigh is a freelance writer, independent author, and writing consultant. In 2017, she published her first novel, The Huntsman: A modern retelling of Red Riding Hood. She spends a lot of time traveling and exploring new regions for inspiration, but Roanoke will always be her home. www.hayleighworgan.com. w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m