b october 2016
M E E T T H E M A K E RS M I N D • B O DY • S O U L BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
O c tob e r 2016
Issu e On e H u n d re d Twe nty- Fou r
Joey Coakley Beck Publisher & Owner jbeck@beckmediagroup.com Hayleigh Worgan Editorial Director hworgan@beckmediagroup.com Sara Coakley Office Manager bella@beckmediagroup.com •••
october 2016
extraordinary women page 7 Local potters discuss their work, inspiration, and upcoming show.
breast cancer awareness pg 11-14 Education on prevention and treatment that could save your life.
ADVERTISING Jane Lake Roanoke Region Advertising Sales Representative jlake@beckmediagroup.com Advertising Inquiries advertise@beckmediagroup.com bella@beckmediagroup.com (540) 904-6800 ••• Contributors Centra Health, Anita Gillespie RTRM, Emily McCaul, Member One Federal Credit Union, Ginger Rail, Hayleigh Worgan Editorial Inquiries editorial@beckmediagroup.com Internship 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. ©2016 Beck Media Group LLC All Rights Reserved. PRINTED IN THE USA w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m
inside bella weddings
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Nesselrod on the New River is the perfect venue for ceremonies throughout the year.
exploring minimalism Is decluttering really a form of social shaming?
page 18-19
refinancing your mortgage pg 20 Consider your options before you pursue a lower interest rate.
meet the makers
page 22-23
Chateau Morissette introduces a new (& delicious!) hard cider for fall!
giving back
page 25
Therapists and llamas (yes, llamas!) changing the lives of adults and children with special needs.
veganVille
page 27
A monthly look into the life of our favorite vegan.
reading together
page 29
Roanoke Valley Reads encourages community discussion around The Submission by Amy Waldman.
bella loves
find us
page 30
Brighten up the cooler autumn days with a few of our favorite things!
lovelybella.com
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extraordinary women
Exploring the work of local potters Beth Wiseman & Elane Watson Elaine Watson working
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Blue Ridge Potters Guild will host their 17th Annual Show and Sale at Patrick Henry High School on October 14-16. This event showcases over 70 local artists and offers an incredible range of handcrafted pottery. It will also mark the 20th birthday celebration of the Blue Ridge Potters Guild, a community made up of over 115 members who share ideas and promote the work of local and regional potters. Their mission is to promote community awareness, understanding, and appreciation of pottery. Members can often be found teaching or attending workshops and volunteering their time to teach pottery in local schools. Regardless of how many years they have worked with the guild, members seem to reflect this mission in both their work and their interactions with the community. Beth Wiseman, who is serving as the Publicity Chair this year, joined the guild two years ago. Within the guild, there are those who have been creating pottery for over forty years and there are also beginners. “I’ve been doing pottery for three and a half years,” says Beth. “With this organization, I’ve found a great place for a newcomer, like myself, to reach out and get some expertise from those who are more experienced.” Beth Wiseman Beth’s pieces tend to fall more in the functional category of pottery. Her works include coffee mugs, bowls, and soap dishes. Recently, she’s been excited october 2016
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Elane Watson
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about creating jewelry pieces that she thinks are going to be pendants. Using a technique called sgraffito, Beth creates unique designs in the clay that reflect her mood. “Sgraffito is the process of painting on an underglaze and carving the negative space to reveal a design underneath. It is akin to woodblock carving. It can be used in any surface design,” she explains. As far as the design she chooses, much of her inspiration comes from her previous occupation as a park ranger. She does not strive to duplicate any design as she prefers each piece to be an individual piece of art. However, some of the process is influenced by her children, ages five and eight. “My children are with me most of the time. My husband recently set up a studio for me in our basement and they are usually in the playroom while I’m working. This allows me to do something for myself and be there for my kids,” says Beth. “Sometimes, my daughter will come over and make a suggestion. I once did a series of foxes on mugs just because she suggested it. Children are so uninhibited. They haven’t been told what’s right and what’s wrong, so some of their ideas tend to be fresher.” Of course, going into a piece of work with a plan does not always turn out the way Beth intended. “Clay doesn’t always turn out the way you think it’s going to. You have to be accepting of that, and sometimes it can turn out better than you planned. The entire process has helped me let go of being a perfectionist. As I get older, I’m far more accepting of things that don’t turn out the way I think they should. I remind myself to not let the perfect get in the way of the good,” says Beth. For Elane Watson, an experienced potter of several decades, planning is not an issue. At 41 years old, she enrolled at Kansas State University, where she got her BFA with an emphasis in ceramics. Initially, she was interested in painting, but those classes were full. Upon receiving this news, she wandered down the hall where a pottery class with one empty seat awaited. The teacher assured her that she could paint on clay. There, she started in a form of pottery called Raku and continues to work in it today. “Basically, I don’t plan. I call myself an intuitive artist. I always start with a bowl. I call my pieces ‘Praise Pots’ because they always start with a pot. I then let it guide me as to how I end up with my design. Sometimes I will put actual arms on them. Sometimes I’ll shape them into the pots themselves,” explains Elane. Viewing Elane’s work is a memorable experience. She often records the reaction of passersby in a notebook, even if they don’t make a purchase. “My Praise Pots always have their mouths open and rejoicing,” she adds. “Everyone can recognize my work by that. Even if I don’t sell it, it makes people happy, and that is my goal.” With her Praise Pots, Elane works with a technique called coiling. This process requires that she add one coil at a time to create the piece. She also works with a slab roller for her beautiful tiles with intricate designs that often include an array of geometric shapes. Additionally, Elane creates beautiful jewelry and works of art from fused glass. Each piece is unique and showcases the skill she has developed over the years. One of Elane’s Praise Pots, inspired by the Prodigal Son, will be on display at this year’s show. The Gallery theme is “Coming Home,” and one can’t help but feel the joy of the son wrapped in his father’s arms, forever cast in a happy embrace. Several other members of the Blue Ridge Potters Guild will have work on display in the same gallery, and they will be judged by PR entrepreneur, River Laker. Winning pieces will be awarded certificates of merit based on the quality of the work as it relates to various aspects of the theme. To learn more about the Blue Ridge Potters Guild, and for more information on their annual show, go to www.blueridgepottersguild. com. The show will take place at Patrick Henry High School on Friday, October 14 (6pm-9pm), Saturday, October 15 (10am-6pm), and Sunday, October 16 (12pm-5pm). Admission is free and cash, checks, and credit cards are accepted for purchases. w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m
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breast cancer diagnosis The Difficult Truth
Early detection saves lives. The statement is straight forward and simple in repetition. Yet, women (and men) are still diagnosed late in staggering numbers. As a result, their battle is an uphill one. “Women are dying from a curable disease,” says Dr. Bob Williams, retired local breast surgeon. “We’d like to prevent it, but if you can catch it early, it can be cured.” Unfortunately, patients are not getting the help they need for a multitude of reasons. No matter your age or background, take a moment to educate yourself on the common misconceptions below. It could save your life or the life of someone you love. “It’s nothing.” People say this for a variety of reasons. Some men may not know that they can get breast cancer. A woman in her twenties will think she is too young. Another will think that, because there is no history of breast cancer in her family, she will never have it. In combination with any of these myths is an underlying sense of embarrassment. Unfortunately, without a medical opinion, there is no way to know if it could be something. If it is, the time you spent questioning the importance of a change in your breast could be the difference between life and death. “The doctor said I shouldn’t worry.” Sometimes patients (and occasionally doctors) forget that doctors are human too. This doesn’t mean you have to be disrespectful to your health care provider. It simply means that it is wise to get a second opinion. Seeing another medical professional has saved the lives of countless people—not just those with breast cancer.
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breast cancer diagnosis The Difficult Truth
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11
“It doesn’t hurt.” Something with the potential to be so devastating should at least give some warning or indication of trouble, shouldn’t it? And yet sometimes it is a silent villain, one that’s deceivingly small reminder tricks you into forgetting it until it is too late to do anything. “Breast cancer almost never hurts,” explains Williams. “However, just because it doesn’t hurt doesn’t mean it’s bad.” If you notice a change in your breast, do not wait for it to hurt. Do not avoid going to the doctor because it doesn’t hurt. Make the time to get answers.
“My insurance won’t cover preventative screening, and I can’t pay out of pocket.” There are resources available to you regardless of your age, gender, ethnicity, or economic background. Locally, the Virginia Blue Ridge Affiliate of Susan G. Komen is able to point you in the right direction. There have been occasions where women are eligible for a free mammogram, and they don’t even know until they ask. Visit their website, www.komenvablueridge.org for more information.
Ultimately, it is time to stop giving this disease so much power by being uninformed and frightened into submission. Invest in your health—if for no one else, than for yourself. Your life is too valuable to make excuses.
Giving Survivors a Little More than Hope
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Jordan Kantor works as a permanent makeup artist at Skin Care Consulting, Inc. Recently, she and her mother, Melinda Kantor, trained with Vickie Martin in the art of areola tattooing. "Vickie is a permanent cosmetic tattooist from England. She creates the most realistic 3D areola tattoos we've seen," explains Jordan. "Some women choose not to have their areola reconstructed after breast cancer surgery. Through tattooing with can give them the 'illusion of protrusion.'" She adds, "After completing my first areola tattoo, I felt so honored to finish the reconstructive details for such an inspiring, resilient, powerful, and deserving woman. The opportunity to hear the stories of these women and help empower them is one I will never take for granted." For more information and amazing before & after photos, visit www.skincareconsultinginc.com.
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knowledge is power
Written by Anita Gillespie, RTRM Director of Centra Breast Imaging Services
Mammograms Provide Early Detection in Breast Cancer Battle
Article courtesy of Anita Gillespie is the director of Centra Breast Imaging Services. For more information about breast cancer and mammography or to schedule a mammogram, contact Centra Breast Imaging Centers in Bedford (540.587.7806), in Farmville (434.315.2770), in Gretna (434.200.4048) and in Lynchburg (434.200.4048) or visit CentraHealth.com.
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Breast cancer affects thousands of women each year, but monthly breast self-exams and annual mammograms provide the best opportunity find cancer in its most treatable stages. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, except for nonmelanoma skin cancers, and it is also one of the leading causes of cancer death among women of all races. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2016, about 246,660 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the United States, and the disease would kill over 40,000 women. Screening mammography is an important line of defense against breast cancer because it can identify tumors even before they can be felt. When a woman participates in regular, annual mammography and a cancer is detected, it is normally the size of a pea. For women who forgo mammography and self-breast exams, the cancer is normally the size of a walnut when first detected. Earlier detection gives a woman greater advantage in terms of long-term survival, and easier, better treatment options. The American Cancer Society reports a decrease in deaths from breast cancer, particularly among women younger than 50, and attributes this positive news to earlier detection through mammography, increased awareness and improved treatment. Physicians believe that even more lives would be saved if more women took advantage of mammography screening. A mammogram is a specialized X-ray (using very low radiation doses) of the breast that enables a radiologist to see tissues in the breast that cannot be felt. Screening mammograms are performed on women who are asymptomatic or without any breast symptoms. Diagnostic mammograms are performed if a woman has a particular problem with her breast or if abnormalities are detected in the screening mammogram. High definition breast ultrasound may be used to distinguish between cancerous and noncancerous cysts (fluid filled sacs), and benign and cancerous solid masses. There is no guaranteed way to prevent breast cancer—one more reason why regular mammograms are important. A woman’s best overall preventative health strategy, according to the American Cancer Society, is to reduce her known risk factors as much as possible by avoiding obesity and weight gain, increasing physical activity, and minimizing alcohol intake.
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bella weddings
A Wedding Getaway: An exceptional venue for weddings throughout the year in Radford, Virginia.
Planning a wedding is a beautiful experience. Selecting the right venue, often the earliest and most important step, can predict whether or not the subsequent items on your list will be stressful or enjoyable. We have spent the last several months in search of the perfect venue that offers multiple services and a phenomenal back drop for your celebrations. When we came across Nesselrod on the New River, we knew immediately that we had found the perfect wedding location. Nesselrod is a romantic oasis surrounded by formal boxwood and hemlock gardens in Radford, Virginia. Its outdoor gazebo, gothic arches, and ethereal florals create a magical environment for weddings, receptions, rehearsals, and bridal portraits. Their outdoor season is from April through October, and during it they can accommodate up to 250 guests. From November to March, their guesthouse is perfect for more intimate weddings of up to 25 guests. Couples may choose from one of four wedding packages. All packages include a wedding coordinator, parking attendant, and sound system for the ceremony. They also include tables, chairs, and linens on the patio and reception area for up to 120 guests. Additionally, gourmet meals are prepared by an onsite chef and served by staff, and the grounds are available for engagement and bridal portraits. For a truly unique experience, couples can add a horse and carriage to their ceremony and take advantage of amenities like golf, paddleboarding, fishing, tubing, or kayaking. Photos courtesy of Nesselrod on the New River The Unforgettable Wedding package allows exclusive use of the estate from noon on Thursday until noon on Sunday, dinner on Thursday night for guests of the Inn, a massage for six guests of the bridal party, a bridal luncheon on Friday, a rehearsal evening complete with dinner options on the patio or in the gardens, and much more! Those looking for a smaller ceremony with a reception inside the inn and a honeymoon suite for the bride and groom can find everything they need with the Intimate Wedding package. There are packages offered for elopements, mid-week and off season weddings, and everything in between. Couples married during the month of October will have the added benefit of the fall foliage to create beautiful photos and priceless memories. “A fall wedding at Nesselrod is unforgettable as it is a bride’s exclusive haven amongst the beautiful foliage and grounds that are unique to Nesselrod,” says Wedding Coordinator Kelsey Macintosh. “Brides can expect so many colors and backdrops for their October wedding, from the most vivid of greens to beautiful rustic oranges.” This venue is the definition of unforgettable. Nesselrod brides will have their own dressing room, decorated with 18K gold cherubs and fine antiques. It is complete with a vanity, full-length mirror, ironing board, and shower. Here, the bride can relax with her bridesmaids and family before embarking on her special day. A venue that helps you plan the length of your wedding weekend and includes the amenities best suited for your needs? Count us in! (Don’t forget to send an invitation to your favorite Bella girls!) For more information or to book your special day, visit www.nesselrod.com. page 16
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exploring minimalism
The Invisible Burden of the Objects that Own Us
Written by Hayleigh Worgan
In July, I read an article in the New York Times titled, “The Class Politics of Decluttering.” In it, the writer argues that decluttering is only for the well-off middle class. She concludes by saying that minimalism is often a form of social shaming, encouraging those below the poverty level to do with less when they simply cannot. In response to this argument (one I hear frequently), I would like to start an open dialogue on the topic of minimalism. First, it is important to emphasize that I have never had the intention of socially shaming anyone through my musings. Secondly, I firmly believe that parts of minimalism—from decluttering to being a more mindful consumer—can benefit anyone, regardless of your financial circumstances. In the New York Times article, the writer states, “For people who are not so well off, the idea of having even less is not really an option.” With these words, I am instantly sent back decades to my first grade year and the bags of clothes I received from cousins for school. They were so obviously second to me that a group of my young peers took me aside during a lunch period to tell me that I would not be popular unless I wore better clothes. I think, “I know what social shaming is, and minimalism in and of itself does not fall in that category.” Instead, I would argue that the same Black Friday ads the writer defends in this piece socially shame those facing financial difficulties into rushing to a big box store at 3 a.m. for “deals” on televisions (where they will undoubtedly see more shows and advertisements telling viewers if they work just a little bit longer over the holiday season, they can afford another trinket promising happiness). In that spirit, I’m going to share a secret with you that isn’t really a secret at all. The people in charge of these large corporations don’t care if you had to work five hours to afford a new dress at their department store. They don’t care about how many dresses you already own. They only care about selling you a temporary retail high. And, if you can’t afford full price, just pull out your credit card or wait until it hits the sales rack where, if you’re lucky, you can still purchase it at 30% off. Telling yourself that such purchases provide lasting comfort is believing a lie you’ve been socially shamed to try until it works. Except surrounding ourselves with objects isn’t working to distract us from the fact that we never really have enough resources to obtain the magic number of items to achieve lasting joy. Case in point? The writer of this article says that she and her daughter were forced to downsize and move into an apartment that did not have space for “car loads of clothes, school papers, books, movies, and art work.” She describes these items as “things that I grew up with that brought me back to a time of living a care free life.” Car loads of clothes. School papers from the childhood of an adult raising children. I’ve been under the weight of those objects when I was forced to downsize after a career change, and the anxiety caused by this burden alone was overwhelming. I’m not advocating that the poverty-stricken do without. I can’t speak for other minimalists, but I don’t think that is their intention either. Instead, I hope for a world where we can find comfort outside of the big box stores. I long for a time when people cancel their cable subscriptions and fill the libraries again to read—not get lost in the internet. Most importantly, I need to believe that a place exists where people can spend more time enjoying the sites around them with the people they love instead of suffering from the crippling anxiety that accompanies starting over with car loads of clothes and papers tethering them so firmly to the past that they cannot breathe in the present.
Hayleigh is a beginner minimalist who loves going anywhere she can hang her hammock. When she's not writing for and editing Bella, she enjoys trying new things in the community.
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the refinance rundown
Low mortgage rates have people scrambling to refinance. Should you be scrambling, too? Article courtesy of
You’ve heard the chatter: refinance now because mortgage rates have dropped to historic lows. Mortgage refinancing is paying off an existing mortgage with a new one. How do you know if this strategy is right for you? Let’s take a look at the numbers and explore our top three factors to consider before refinancing.
Look at your interest rate. Refinancing is financially wise if you can reduce your interest rate by at least two percent. Many lenders even say that one percent is enough. Locking in a lower interest rate will reduce your monthly mortgage payment, allowing you to reallocate those savings to other items in your household budget. Search online for the current mortgage rates. If your rate is a few percentage points higher, then you should consider refinancing.
Think about the future. If you have a 30-year loan, think about where you’ll be in life when the loan is finally paid off. Switching to a shorter-term mortgage could save you years of mortgage payments that could instead be invested toward retirement. With rates so low, switching from a 30-to 15-year fixed mortgage might only equal a slight increase in your monthly payment. Refinancing might be right for you if your budget can handle the extra cash it would require to make a higher mortgage payment each month. Consider your homeownership goals. The quicker you can build equity, which is the difference between the value of your home and the amount you still owe a lender, the better. Refinancing your mortgage will only help you build equity faster. Having equity in your home also means that you can tap into that value with a home equity loan or line of credit and use it for things like home improvements, education expenses, or even debt consolidation. If the idea of building equity faster is appealing, or you’re thinking about upgrading your kitchen in a few years, refinancing could be your ticket. Be aware that refinancing includes closing costs, which you can pay up front or roll into the new mortgage. Also think about the length of time you plan to remain in your home. If you’re a short-timer, the cost of refinancing is probably not worth it. But if you plan to remain long term, refinancing could save you money. So listen in on that chatter. It might pay off (literally)! 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. page 20
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David Morrisette
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MEET THE
MAKERS Just in time for Fall, Chateau Morrisette’s new Hard Cider Written by Emily McCaul
Brian Smyth
Chateau Morrisette, Virginia winery and restaurant, unveiled its newest drinks this past Labor Day Weekend. Nestled beautifully within the town of Floyd, Chateau Morrisette now serves a line of three hard ciders: Barrel-Aged, Cherry Ginger and Chai Spiced. “While we are winemakers, we are also farmers,” explains Keith Toler, Director of Marketing at Chateau Morrisette. “We maintain a good relationship with other local farmers for both our winemaking endeavors and our restaurant.” Chateau Morrisette Winery and Restaurant is known for its wines, dog-friendly grounds and event hosting, but after careful consideration and talk of expansion, the concept of a hard cider arose quickly. “From a marketing standpoint, we recognized a trend for wines with a lower alcohol content,” Toler says. “Our ciders are made from apple wine at the base, and through the development process, we were able to bring that alcohol content down to 6.9 percent, providing customers with a low-alcohol alternative to our other fruit wines. Handcrafted ciders work really well for people who do not like the bitterness of beer, but do not want the higher alcohol content of wine.” Also playing a large role in the cider development at Chateau Morrisette is Brian Smyth, winemaker and cider connoisseur. Smyth oversees the decisions and tasks such as fermentation, picking, and fruit harvest times--all key elements in the development of Chateau Morrisette’s ciders. “We’ve been trying to develop the ciders here for about a year, so we’ve spent a long time on the ciders just to get them together,” says Smyth. “This run is mostly a trial run, so the volume is relatively small. We’ve made about 300 gallons of each of the three flavors.” The three new ciders are currently offered exclusively at Chateau Morrisette. Tastings can be scheduled throughout the week in the winery’s tasting room. Tickets are $5 a person, and tastings are held at the bottom of the hour. “We want to hear customer feedback and gauge future demand,” Toler said. “If well-received, then we will use our distribution network to bring the ciders to retail outlets throughout Virginia—and possibly beyond.” For more information about Chateau Morrisette, wine tastings, cider tastings, directions, or events, visit www.thedogs.com.
Emily McCaul is a second-year, multimedia journalism and creative writing double major at Virginia Tech. Her goal is to impact the world of media, construct enticing, innovative content for readers, and build relationships within the community while gaining more experience doing what she loves. w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m
Are you a maker? Know of one we should cover? Let us know! bella@beckmediagroup.com
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giving back
Animals & Therapists Changing Lives at Creative Therapy Care
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Creative Therapy Care is a local nonprofit organization that supports children and adults with special needs through the use of occupational, physical, and speech therapies by incorporating animals. They also provide music therapy onsite through Anderson Music Therapy Services. Their newly-expanded campus includes a gym for sensory integrative activities, a woodworking station, and a shop where items made by clients are sold. It will soon include a room renovated for expressive art. Occupational therapist Mona Sams owns and cares for all of the animals used at Creative Therapy Care. Dogs, rabbits, and llamas comfort and bond with clients on the grounds. This unique form of treatment is not only soothing, but also helps in the development of key life skills. “Animals help because they don’t pass judgement,” explains Mona. “They give unconditional acceptance. They also help in that they create an awareness that beings other than just yourself need to be cared for. It helps develop a nurturing aspect and social skills. They each pick a llama to care for and they share.” In addition to occupational therapy, clients can participate in music therapy with Noel Anderson and Cassie Smith from Anderson Music Therapy. Music is used therapeutically to address physical, psychological, communicative, cognitive, behavioral, and/or social functioning. Often clients are co-treated with the two therapies since they are at the same site. This allows parents and caregivers to take advantage of both in the same trip. “Sometimes a client has been in a session with me and Cassie will come down and I can let her know what we’ve done during the day,” says Mona. “They can then make up a song about something that happened with a llama. If the client gets restless we can walk around the building again with the llama.” Through a door in the music room awaits a gym. Once a garage, it is now a room of discovery and growth. There, nonverbal children learn to communicate with the animals without speaking by making motions with their hands or indicating direction with their bodies. In the last few months, clients have been using the gym to practice with the llamas for Llama Fest, which will take place on Saturday, October 8 from 10 am to 4 pm (with a rain date of Saturday, October 15). The event will take place at their location, 8209 Williamson Road, Roanoke. Clients will lead their llamas through obstacles and it will be categorized according to skill. There will be judges present for the event, which helps teach sportsmanship and self awareness. If you are interested in learning more about Creative Therapy Care and Anderson Music Therapy, their websites are www.monasark.org and www.amusictheraphy.com, respectively. Don’t forget to check out Llama Fest on October 8! We’ll see you there! october 2016
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veganville Written by Ginger Rail*
Clash of the Vegans
Becoming a vegetarian is not as simple as flicking a switch. Fortunately, I have created an indispensable cheat sheet to help you navigate through what all too often has become fiery public discourse on what’s for dinner. There’s a whole hierarchy to this meatless thing. Roughly, it can be broken down like this:
Level I: Vegetarian “Vegetarian” means that you don’t eat meat. However, for some, “meat” can be a variety of things. It can include red meat, pork, fish, and chicken. It can refer only to red meat, or it can mean you get to eat lobster every time you go to the beach. It can mean you only eat meat when it’s in other foods, like spaghetti sauce. Milk, eggs, and cheese generally get the green light. Level II: Vegan This level means you’re getting serious. Your diet is now basically fruit, vegetables, so many beans your local supermarket is beginning to think you’ve stumbled on the formula to turn toilet paper into crystal meth, and grains that were extinct even before the Aztecs perfected that whole civilization and irrigation thing. Tofu and tempeh are your new besties, and you can’t remember a time when you didn’t have a bottle of Bragg’s Liquid Aminos in the pantry at all times.
Level III: Raw Food Diet It’s been said that while dinosaurs are the most visually imposing and most ferocious beasts ever to have walked the earth, they had only the tiniest speck of a brain. That’s a pretty good description of me, too, so I need to admit right now that I’ve never been able to fully wrap my skull around why anyone would choose to willingly give up using fire. I do know that raw food consumers eat raw food to preserve the enzymes. They avoid anything processed, homogenized, or chemically-treated. Level IV: Fruitarians No, really, this is a thing. Fruitarian diets are comprised mostly of raw fruit, although sometimes sprouted seeds or a few leafy greens might be tossed in the mix. Various celebrities have touted Fruitarianism from time to time, including Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. He’s dead now, just saying, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t Fruitarianism that killed him. Anyway, bless the Fruitarians’ low-fat, healthy hearts, I don’t know how they do it. That’s a bit much for me, at least at this point in my earthly life adventure.
Sub-basement: Junk Food Vegans Then there are the rest of us. Most of the folks in the previous categories hate us. While we eat a fairly healthy diet most of the time, there are occasions when only a cold one and a heaping pile of sweet, greasy, salt will suffice. I mean the good stuff, like chocolate, potato chips, candy (and after all, Halloween is upon us). I know my attitude horrifies the more highly evolved levels of vegetarians. I sense their perplexed antipathy in their blogs and magazine articles. For example, the author who, (I’m sure) was addressing me personally, when she wrote this in the Huffington Post piece humbly titled 5 Things Vegans Should Never Do: “Junk food veganism is not the way to go. Besides the obvious health issues, do you think corporations like Nabisco actually care about animals?” To this I can only respond, “I hate it for you that you were weaned on sour pickles. Now pass the Oreos.”
*Ginger Rail is the pen name of our favorite vegan writer in Southwest Virginia. She spends her spare time entertaining her friends and family with her hilarious adventures–and now she’s also sharing them with us! Be ready to laugh with her each month (and maybe learn a few things too)! w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m
october 2016
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opening hearts & minds Roanoke Valley Reads addresses tough topics in an effort to unite our community through education.
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Roanoke Valley Reads, an annual community-wide reading experience, has brought our community together for several years. The program encourages people to make reading part of their daily lives, fosters a sense of community by bringing together diverse groups of people, promotes tolerance and understanding of different points of view, and emphasizes the importance of literacy. This year, their selection is The Submission by Amy Waldman. The fictional novel is perfect for a discussion around current events. It begins as a jury meets to discuss a memorial for victims of a terrorist attack. They choose the design without knowing the artist who designed it. After they make their decision, it is revealed that the artist is an American Muslim, Mohammad Khan. Claire Burwell, the sole widow on the jury, supports the design from the beginning and her opinion does not waver. However, as the news is made public, she faces a new set of challenges in navigating a healing nation, other family members, the media, politicians, and the artist himself. This novel is perfect for stimulating a discussion on issues including immigration and assimilation. It also offers the opportunity to talk about the roles of government, media, and the arts in this process. As a community, a platform on which to discuss the nature of Islam, national tragedy, and what it means to be American. With that in mind, Roanoke Valley Reads will host three events to address the book and any (or all) of the above topics. Each of these events will be free and open to the public. On October 12, the Grandin Theatre will present Inside Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think at 7:15pm. This 55-minute documentary provides a perspective of Islam not often provided by popular media outlets. It includes several interviews from a collection of tens of thousands conducted with residents in 35 predominately Muslim nations, as well as smaller populations in Europe and the USA. The second event will be a panel discussion on Thursday, October 20 from 7-9 pm at the Taubman Museum of Art. The panel entitled, “Moving Beyond Hate and Mistrust,” will include Dr. Russ Merrit, Dr. Saleem Ahmed, Dr. Dana Ackley, and Sam Rasoul. This event offers an excellent opportunity to ask questions and generate an educational discussion to alleviate fears and concerns based on misconceptions. The final event in this series will be a conversation with author Amy Waldman at the Jefferson Center on Thursday, October 27 from 7-9 pm. The Submission is Amy’s first novel, although she has been published in several other outlets and in addition to her work as a reporter for The New York Times. Discrimination and hate can only end when we open our hearts and our minds as a community to learn more about cultures and groups with whom we do not immediately identify. We encourage all of our readers to read The Submission and join the discussion as a community. Follow us or Roanoke Valley Reads on Facebook for reminders on events, and visit www.roanokevalleyreads.com for more information. october 2016
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bella loves
Acquarella (petrochemical-free!) Nail Polish { www.acquarellapolish.com }
Our Autumn Must-haves October is that beautiful time between summer and the holidays where we begin making our wish lists and purchasing products that perk us up. As the leaves fall around you, don’t forget to be good to yourself. Check out our Fall Favorites here and stay tuned to our Instagram throughout the month for more cool finds!
Swell water bottles { @ Urban Gypsy in Roanoke }
Mochidoki Ice Cream { www.mochidoki.com } Buddhi Box { www.buddhiboxes.com }
ToeSox { www.toesox.com } page 30
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