Her Magazine March 2018

W E D D I N G March 2018

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Contact Her

Mackenzie Tewksbury | Editor | 329-9585 Elizabeth Semple | Advertising | 329-9513 John Powell | Sales | 329-9632 Jason Scott | Designer Email: tellher@reflector.com Her magazine is published by The Daily Reflector and Cooke Communications of North Carolina.

On the cover

Heather and Jordan Blythe share a loving embrace in Manteo. Read more about her on page 8.

(Bill Howard)

Meet Her

8 Today means forever

Get Hitched 16 20 24 42

DIY decorations for every season Map of wedding venues Rep Express offers catering, venue Style File

Food

32 Nutrition

Inside 15 28 30 35 36 38 40

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Raid Our Closet Carla Cannon Her Panel Puzzles Gardening Her Date Night Coach Chris

From the editor

H

Meet our team

appy wedding season!

I was just recently the maid of honor in my best friend’s magical wedding. I had only been to one wedding in my short adult life, so I had certainly never been in a wedding before. I was very excited for the endeavor, but not exactly sure what to expect. Everyone tells stories, but you really don’t know what it feels like until you’re standing beside your best friend watching her say “I do” to the love of her life after months and months of planning.

I remember feeling the tears well up in that moment, just as they are now as I recount that very day.

It was a breathtaking moment for me and the whole audience, and I thank my best friend for the opportunity to share the moment with her and her groom every chance I get.

Perhaps that’s why this issue was such a treat to put together, because I have a whole new perspective on one’s big day. In this issue, us here at Her are excited to bring you the best wedding content for 2018.

On the cover, the beautiful Jordan and Heather Blythe share a loving moment. Follow their wedding story on page 8. Also, if you have a creative spirit, we’ve outlined affordable, creative ways to spruce up your wedding.

Check out 400 Saint Andrews, a wedding venue operating out of the old beef barn with Rep Express Catering and Events.

We’ve also brought you suggestions on the perfect gifts for your tribe of bridesmaids, along with some wedding tips from our trusty contributors.

The pages of this magazine are full of love. I hope you enjoy.

Mackenzie is the editor of Her and Mixer magazines and a loving mother to a rescue pup named Ficklen. She is also a band T-shirt collector, coffee shop conneisseur and die-hard Pirate fan.

Mackenzie Tewksbury Editor

Juliette Cooke is a photojournalist for The Daily Reflector and Her and Mixer magazines. She is also a loving mother to her rescue lab, Molly.

Juliette Cooke Photojournalist

Rick Glosson Illustrator

Carla Cannon Contributor

Keep spreading love,

Mackenzie Tewksbury — editor

Jason Scott Layout

Mary Gaskins Contributor

Jason is the graphic designer for Her Magazine and Greenville: Life in the East and a proud dad. His dislikes are numerous but include jazz, cold coffee and anything Kardashian.

Contact him at jscott@reflector.com.

Molly is a recent RCC photo grad, Carolina Panthers fan and cat enthusiast. Her favorite thing to photograph is sports.

Molly Mathis Photographer

Rick Glosson is a graphic designer for Her Magazine and The Daily Reflector. He grew up in Fayetteville and has been in Greenville since he came to attend ECU. He adores his wife and is father to three amazing adult children. He loves reading, painting watercolors and having coffee with friends.

Carla is a mother, six-time bestselling author, breakthrough coach and entrepreneur. She is the founder of Carla R. Cannon Enterprises, LLC and the leader of the global brand Women of Standard.

Mary is a Registered Dietitian/ Nutritionist (RDN) who graduated from ECU (BS and MS in Nutrition and Dietetics) and currently works at Vidant Medical Center in the Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Heart Failure Programs. Mary currently serves as Chair of the Nutrition & Physical Activity Partners Action Team of Pitt Partners for Health, is involved in the Pitt County Farm and Food Council and is a Certified Health Coach.

Christina is an advertising account executive, Her Magazine contributor and Hot Dish writer for The Daily Reflector; a Barnes & Noble bookseller; and an adjunct writing instructor. When not working, Christina enjoys bubble baths, drinking wine, cooking, eating and getting lost in the wonChristina Ruotolo derful world of reading. Reach Contributor her at cruotolo@reflector.com.

Christy Jones, also known as Coach Chris, is a Greenville life and business coach. Contact her at coachchris4success@gmail.com or www. coachchriscompany.com.

Christy Jones Contributor

An organic gardener of 20 years, Kimberly is enthusiastic about nutrition and seeks to encourage healthy lifestyles through education. To ask her questions or get advice about horticultural projects, email her at growinginspiration.nc@ Kimberly Newsom gmail.com.

Contributor

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Her — March 2018

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Her — March 2018

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Today means forever

By Mackenzie Tewksbury | Photos by Bill Howard and Matt Neal

I just remember staring into each other’s eyes and just thinking, 'This is the rest of my life.'

On the quaint island of Manteo, North Carolina on Oct. 28, Jordan and Heather Blythe said “I do,” promising a lifetime of love together.

The couple lives in Greenville, but married at Roanoke Island Festival Park in Manteo, where Heather watched her Pinterest boards, late nights and hours of planning come to life before her very eyes.

Blythe spent most of every day between her engagement and her wedding day meticulously crafting each detail of her day herself — whether it was stamping invitations with a wax seal or wrapping greenery around objects to create the dreamcatchers that hung from the ceiling.

“It all paid off. All of the stress of doing everything was worth it. I never thought I’d say that,” Blythe said.

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"Growing up, it’s almost this little girl thing.

I wanted the first moment he laid his eyes on me to be this breathtaking moment when I was walking down the aisle."

Husband for the first time

Instead of a first look, Blythe decided on a first touch. She and her husband-to-be

It was a whirlwind of emotions. We’ve lived together, we’ve been dating a while, we’re

shared their first touch moments before the wedding, and Heather said it was a feeling almost indescribable.

obviously comfortable with each other. But there was so much nervousness. It’s not like meeting a new person, but it is. It was like, 'Today, he’s going to be my husband.’

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A vision come true Heather had a vision — things she knew she wanted, things she knew she didn’t want. When the day came, she hoped the details she had described and pictures she had shown wedding planners would be enough to bring her vision to life — and it was.

“It’s a lot easier to rent that stuff from people, but the time we spent “It was surreal that all of it came together in a perfect way. So many different elements that you’re hoping will come together...and you’re just hoping from talking on the phone with people that it will. You’re putting your wedding day in their hands.“

together making it before the wedding was fun and it meant more because I knew that my mom made something, my grandma made something, and my uncle, dad and Jordan made something.”

A family affair Most of the decorations and details were made by her, her family and her friends, including the large arbor the couple shared their first kiss in front of. Her father and new husband made it, and to Heather, it made it that much more special.

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Moments before her entrance Heather said if there is one thing she remembers the most about her wedding day, it was sitting in a room with her father moments before it was time to walk down the aisle.

I will never forget waiting in the room with my dad. It was quiet, just me and my dad, and I just kept thinking, ‘This is my wedding day.’’ Blythe said “I was told that it was time to go when I heard the knock on the door. It felt like an hour.

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Her — March 2018

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Offer includes daily access to electronic edition. Offer valid to households without an active subscription. Mail subscriptions excluded. Payment for services must be applied prior to start of subscription. NC sales tax and fees apply. Requires automatic draft from debit or credit card. Any past due balance may be deducted prior to subscription starting. The Daily Reflector reserves the right to re fuse service to any customer. Contact Customer Care at (252)329-9505 or customercare@nccooke.com.

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Her — March 2018

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style

Raid our closet

If you’re a bride-to-be, chances are you’ve got a fabulous group of women who have been helping you make your dream wedding come to life since the inception. They won’t expect it, but they deserve some love, too!

If you’re unsure of what to include, these items from Boston Bags and Tags in Greenville can help. Some ideas to get you started: cups for mimosas at the bachelorette party or a tote to carry all your wedding accessories on the big day! As an added plus, the matching cups and bags will look adorable in bachelorette party photos.

Oh! And of course, don’t forget about your flower girl!

▲

Maid of honor/ mother of groom/ mother of bride bags: $9.99

Cups: $12.99

▲ ▲

Flower girl bag: $7.99

▲ Bridesmaid flute: $4

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Her — March 2018

15

Affordable, easy wedding decorations for every season

By Christina Ruotolo The Daily Reflector

F

or the last twenty years, I have worked, organized, managed, attended, DJ’d, cut bridal cake, officiated and been a part of the wonderful world of weddings. I have worked weddings in every season at locations all over the country. I have been able to live vicariously through each bride’s wedding and enjoyed seeing all the incredible decorations, food, party favors, music and traditions that go into to making each wedding a memorable event for not only the bridal party but for the guests as well.

Did you know that over two million weddings occur in the United States every year with the average wedding in North Carolina costing $27,808, which breaks down to about $199 a person or 140 people? For the majority of people planning their wedding, this figure is way beyond what they can afford. But they still want that million

dollar wedding look on a dime-store budget. Armed with my vast library of wedding knowledge, I have developed three affordable and easy items you can use for wedding decor that will work no matter what season or state you get married in.

Add natural wonder Nature provides us with a bountiful backdrop and an array of beautiful that adds a natural beauty to your wedding for limited funds. Many people dream of getting married under a hand-carved arch beside a German castle or in a white gazebo overlooking a mountain backdrop, or under a flower filled arbor with the smell of fresh flowers haloing you and your partner in beauty. Well, sometimes our dreams do not meet our pocketbooks and we have to scale back our Cinderella picture, but we can still add beauty to our decor that will give you natural grandeur.

Here are two natural ingredients to add to your wedding decor.

Pine cones Between fall and winter, conifer trees drop their pine cones all over our yards and they end up staying there for months on end. Why not grab handfuls from you or your friends yard or go to your local craft store other times of the year, and buy a few bags of them. They are a versatile and wedding friendly that adds rustic elements to your special day.

Use small pine cones to hold place cards, or add larger ones to floral arrangements for texture. They are also easy to spray paint to coordinate with your wedding colors or attach them with a bit of super glue to heavy rope and hand as garland around the cake or hang vertically for a unique effect. For pennies on the dollar, you can add a bit or warmth and natural wonder to your special day. The best

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part is, after your wedding you can take the pine cones, slather them with peanut butter, roll them in bird seed and throw them in your backyard. The birds and wildlife will thank you.

Foliage Instead of spending some green, why not add some free greenery to your next wedding. North Carolina is home to thousands of magnolia trees filling front and back yards with glossy, deep green leaves that make the perfect addition to a table centerpiece, food display or floral arrangements. Pull off single leaves and use a paint pen to write guest names and use as place cards, make a wreath with leaves fanning the edges out or bunch them around large pillar candles. You can even line them down a table making a natural table runner for a more dramatic effect. Magnolia leaves add southern grace and elegance to your wedding and fit into any decor and theme anytime of the year.

Add floral elements Many people are under the assumption that flowers for a wedding are expensive, but if done correctly, you can get a diamond look for a cubic zirconia price. Whether you hire a florist or do them yourself, the sky is the limit when it comes to flowers. A few things to keep in mind: you can vary vase lengths and heights to create one-of-a-kind unique arrangements that add dramatic or simple touches — from table-long displays to small, intimate vases of single flowers. Each will help set the tone and add to your special day.

Here are four flowers that are cost effective, beautiful, and available all year long.

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Roses Roses are only expensive around Valentine’s Day, topping triple digit prices, but during the rest of the year, you can buy a dozen roses for less than $20.

When you use a florist who goes through a wholesaler or you go directly to a floral wholesaler, you can buy roses for around 89 cents each and they come in a pack of 25, so if your wedding is small, you can save a bundle. Roses are timeless and classic and always in style. Deep crimson red for winter events, hot pink for spring events, yellow for summer and salmon colored or purple for fall.

Baby’s Breath This is quite possibly the most underrated and most inexpensive of all flowers. It comes in huge white bundles and has the ability to add volume to your bouquet and

Her — March 2018

helps shape your centerpiece or boutonniere by adding soft romance to any wedding decor.

The estimated cost of this white beauty is only about $7 a bunch and each bunch has around 25+ stems. If you are having a summer wedding at a farm or in a barn, you use simple mason jars as vases, adding lace or burlap in a wide strip on the middle of each vase. Fill with water and Baby’s Breath. It’s clean and simple. For a spring wedding add some to your updo for the wood fairy look. Or for a winter wedding, fill a glass vase with pearls or silver or gold bling and add large bunches of snowy white flowers. It gives you an inexpensive holiday bling. Baby’s Breath is a magical flower that can stand alone of be a helper in other arrangements. The possibilities are endless.

Mums These small, delicate looking but sturdy flowers come in a variety of colors from red, yellow, burnt orange, purple, white, lime green and many other colors. We usually associate mums with fall for their vibrant blooms that remind us of fall foliage but mums are found all year long and can be used in table decor, bouquets and used in hair wreaths and other unique items.

In the fall, mums only cost a few dollars per potted plant or you can buy them by the stalk with 5-6 flower stems on each stalk. Your florist can also tint them to match your event. One idea is to take the lime green mums and hot glue them to a Styrofoam ball or you can use an oasis ball which is malleable green foam that you can soak in water and put the stems in. Add the flowers until you can no longer see any of the ball and then, glue pearls or colored accents in the center of each flower. You can give this to your flower girl to www.reflector.com/her

carry instead of a flower basket. It’s fun, unique and beautiful.

Carnations This is one of my favorite flowers. When I received my first communion as a child, each student was given a single white carnation. I never forgot that flower. Some people believe that yellow carnations are given in friendship, pink or red are considered a love flower, and white is for purity or good luck. The edges of the flowers curl into more curls and waves of color. It has a sturdy stalk and is a perfect choice if you are having an outdoor wedding.

They come in packs of 25 and cost about 30 cents per stem. For a charming addition to the entrance of your wedding, take an old metal watering can, paint the word welcome on it with white paint and fill it with Baby’s Breath and pink carnations. Set next to your sign-in table and water your event with love. Another really unique way to use carnations in your wedding is to give each guest a single carnation with

their name on it as a favor. Just like the one flower I got when I was little, give back that magic to your guests. It’s a meaningful and affordable way to say thanks for coming.

Let your love shine bright My last affordable and most romantic way to add dramatic beauty to your wedding day is to add light. Candles and candlelight hearken back to a time when we had no electricity and candles were used for our only source of light.

They were valued and cherished.

Candles now symbolize the spark that loves brings us. We add candlesticks to our holiday meal table, to our date night dinner table and we arrange them around our bubble baths. When you add light, you add love and warmth to your special day. I love taking bright, white floating candles and putting them in large tubular vases. The candles bob on the top of the water and the light moves and sparkles. You can also take lanterns and hang them from large tree branches or line your ceremony walkway

for an opulent and fairytale look. Mix silver candelabras, tall tubular vases for candles or add fat chunky, colored candles on pedestals. Just double check with the facility you are using because some businesses only allow candles that have glass around them for safety. You can always add vertical dangling twinkle lights to add behind the head table or behind food stations.

No matter how you decorate your wedding day from simple and elegant to bold and dramatic, your guests will share in the beauty of your vision. Make memories, smile, laugh, dance, take lots of pictures and have fun! Your wedding day is the beginning of your forever with your partner. I wish each and every bridal couple many beautiful years of wedded bliss.

Christina Ruotolo, 39 is a freelance writer and advertising account executive for The Daily Reflector and a monthly contributor to HER magazine. She is also a duly ordained minister through the American Marriage Ministries since 2012, a bridal consultant, wedding planner and event manager.

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illustrated

The best is yet to be Green Roof Farm

, If you re getting married, look no farther than eastern North Carolina! From the countryside to the city-feel, these places are sure to make for a beautiful wedding.

Saint Anne,s Chapel

Big Mill B&B

, The Robin s Nest

The Martinsborough

Longstraw Farms

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The Martinsborough The Martinsborough: This premier wedding venue is located right in Uptown Greenville in the beautifully renovated Jefferson Blount-Harvey building. Whether your wedding is casual or lavish, folks at The Martinsborough have it taken care of. Weddings are customizable with Scarborough Fare Catering and guests have the option to rent tables, chairs, linens, china, glassware and event tents.

330 Evans St., Greenville. 252-714-4948.

Big Mill B&B

Big Mill B&B: This farmstead bed and breakfast is an intimate place to say “I do!” All inclusive packages are $2,100, can accommodate up to 15 people and include: one night’s stay at the Inn, wedding officiant, bridal bouquet, wedding cake, champagne, professional photography.

1607 Big Mill Road, Williamston. 252-792-8787, info@bigmill.com

The Robin,s Nest

Saint Anne,s Chapel

Green Roof Farm

Longstraw Farms

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The Robin’s Nest: In the middle of nearly eight acres of garden and ground, this Greek Revival home is a great choice for your wedding.

The company can provide event planning, decorative design and set up, floral arrangements, vintage and custom rentals, dining ware rentals and linen rentals.

3674 Mobley’s Bridge Road, Grimesland. 252-717-9351.

Saint Anne’s Chapel: Saint Anne’s Chapel is full of eastern North Carolina charm and offers a beautiful, reasonable space for a wedding.

Located in Tarboro, the property features two changing suites with bathrooms, large front porch, barns, woods and meadows for photographs and landscaped grounds for outdoor weddings.

3244 McNair Road, Tarboro. 252-641-0262.

Green Roof Farm: This farm boasts impressive family history and provides a beautiful, rustic location for a wedding as it sits on about 100 acres of farmland. Guests will get the freedom of enjoying the venue from Friday through Sunday when renting with Green Roof Farm. All outside vendors are allowed.

1822 Old Market Road, Fountain. 919-724-7548, laurendaigle22@gmail.com

Longstraw Farms: Located right outside of Greenville, Longstraw Farms is a quaint outdoor wedding venue with country chic details.

With big entrance doors, church pews and burlap decor, it’s got everything it needs to be rustic yet elegant.

3977 Jolly Road, Ayden. Contact: 353-531-7949, longstrawfarmswedding@gmail.com

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business

Rep Express offers venue, catering, hospitality

By Mackenzie Tewksbury

T

Photos contributed by Rochelle Brown

ucked quietly off of Greenville Boulevard in what’s formerly known as the old beef barn, now boasts a rustic red barn, perfectly equipped for anyone’s dream wedding.

Rochelle Brown, executive officer at Rep Express Catering and Events, has been operating the business out of the old beef barn for the past three and half years. Only now, it’s not the old beef barn, but a renovated building known as 400 Saint Andrews.

It didn’t happen overnight, as renovating the old beef barn took some work. Once the carpet was stripped and the

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I have over 65 years of chef experience in this kitchen and it shows. Everything is hand-made, everything is scratch-made. I know absolutely every ingredient that goes into our food.

original flooring was revealed, she added her own touch to the interiors. And if by magic, it is now a trendy wedding venue that can seat up to 400 guests.

And it’s one that has history.

“Every day we have people call and say they got engaged here 25 years ago, or their parents or grandparents got married here. There are so many memories here. That’s kind of neat. The historical value and the sentimental value this location provides is neat,” Brown said.

Brown has had clients who have gotten married at the barn to “keep it in the family,” because they are children of parents who got married at the old beef barn, and stories just like that are a dime a dozen. She said she enjoys the challenge of upholding that tradition at 400 Saint Andrews. The company also uses the plantation at Greenville Country Club for brides who are looking for a more traditional vibe, and they hold smaller non-wedding events in the venues as well.

Rep Express wasn’t born in the most traditional way, Brown said. It started as a corporate delivery company www.reflector.com/her

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operating out of the Greenville mall nearly 11 years ago, and not many even really knew they were there. They then moved into Arlington Village for eight years doing strictly catering, just trying to help the business as much as they could. “It was just an innocent, honest, ‘Let’s do this,’� she said.

But soon after that, clients starting asking for wedding services. With no real experience in weddings, Brown and her husband put their clients first — if their clients wanted weddings, that’s what they’d get. “It’s trial by fire, baby. We had no experience doing weddings. It was really just our customers coming to us saying they want a wedding, and listening to what they want and making sure that’s what is happening,� Brown said. “That’s how our company was really built.�

And now Brown marvels in the fact that she’s able to play a role in someone’s happily ever after, and it’s a sentiment she echoes to her team, as well. “I tell my staff every single day, ‘You are in someone’s memories forever. You have control and you’re responsible for what they remember about this day,�’ Brown said. “That is not a responsibility we take lightly.�

Even though they’ve added weddings to their repertoire, they haven’t lost their taste for delicious food. Brown’s mother, “Chef Jen� is the brains behind all of it, along with a trusty team of chefs following her lead. “I have over 65 years of chef experience in this kitchen and it shows,� Brown said. “Everything is hand-made, everything is scratch-made. I know absolutely every ingredient that goes into our food.�

Brown said the company has multiple partnerships with local and regional services, so they can provide the couple with everything they need for the wedding, creating a onestop-shop feel for the couples.

So, with a veteran team, Brown and her family continue to march towards providing beautiful wedding venues and upholding history and tradition for Greenville families.

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advice

The Fairytale Marriage

DOESN’T EXIST

By Carla R. Cannon

"The Trailblazer" | www.CarlaCannon.com Her Contributor

Yes, you read the title correctly and I repeat: the fairytale marriage doesn’t exist. Often times as women especially, we tend to spend more time ensuring we experience the perfect wedding day rather than preparing spiritually, mentally, financially and even physically to be a wife.

Being a wife is more than having a ring on our finger. Being a wife is a major responsibility and marriage is indeed for grown folks. I have yet to take that road, however, after years of studying human activity I have learned what to do and not do from my peers as well as family members.

Here are some of the things for you to keep in mind when preparing for your ideal wedding or mate: Get rid of your list The Law of Attraction states that we attract what we are rather than what we desire. Therefore, focus on becoming the list of all you desire. If you desire someone in great shape physically, grab a gym membership and get to shedding those pounds yourself. If you want desire someone with a great credit score, work on paying off creditors, saving 28

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money and paying your bills on time.

Again, we attract what we are, not what we desire.

Once the wedding is over, life gets real. So many people I know share how they regretted not going through pre-marital counseling prior to getting married to know what to do when certain issues arise. Have important conversations such as their thoughts on parenting (or if they even desire to

who get married after only a date or two and go on to remain married for over 30 to 40 years. You don’t want to just be married; but happily marGain a second opinion ried. I know too many couples who Just as you would not allow a sureven now are still together but sleep geon to operate on you without receivin different rooms in the house, or ing a second opinion to ensure surgery even two separate houses altogether. is needed, the same is Now, there may be some true for marriage. I am cases in which this may not a fan of a couple getHow are you choosing to decorate? Are there any colors be necessary depending ting eloped. The reason on each of your career that you must include or dishes that you have to have? choices however, it’s imbeing is certain people are in our lives to prevent portant that you identify us from making decisions if this is an option that that can affect and infect us for the rest have children), career choices, as well you can live with. Another advanof our lives. It’s a great idea for your as their goals, dreams and visions. tage of dating for all four seasons is family, spiritual advisors and friends Having these conversations up front it gives you time to get to know the to meet your mate a few times before help prevent heartache in the end. person. You learn how they handle you decide to take that next step. Often disappointments, death, surprises and times others can see what we can’t.

Date for all four seasons first more. It truly takes a lifetime to get to Now I am not saying this is a reknow someone but it’s always a great Focus on life after the wedding quirement but you should definitely start to not rush the process but enjoy The wedding is only for one day consider it. We all have heard of peobeing pursued, dated and the process but marriage is to be for a lifetime. ple who believe in love at first sight of courtship.

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www.elizabethrichards.com 310 W. 9th Street, Greenville (Inside Jefferson’s) 252-355-3141

Her — March 2018

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panel

How did your partner propose to you?

We had never discussed getting married. We were on our way to dinner one evening and he had an engagement ring behind a glass of wine. Needless to say, there was a discussion then!

Connie Moore Corey

At home on Christmas Eve. He got on one knee.

No formal proposal! We just talked about the next step in our relationship and decided that since we were truly committed to life together the honorable and obvious thing to do was get married.

Dede Smalls, 48, Winterville

Mary Anne Pennington, 73, Winterville We dated for six months, he was getting ready to go off for boot camp with National Guard. Going down Highway 11, he told me to look in glove compartment and ring was there. He did ask my Daddy before asking me. Not very romantic, but been going strong 46 years.

Jeannie Clayton, 68, Ayden

We were in the car getting ready to go to his daughters' Christmas play at church. My husband pulled a black box out of his coat jacket and proposed. We had only been dating six weeks. That was 26 years ago!

Susan Leggett, 59, Greenville

My husband officially proposed to me at a fine Italian restaurant, namely, Eddie Romanelli's in Wilmington with a Bailey's box. It was a delicious evening spent with family and friends and of course I said, "Yes!" Lien Hou, 44, Grimesland

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Her — March 2018

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Ours was small and I loved it. I prefer a more intimate surrounding with close family.

Dede Smalls, 48, Winterville I think think this depends on the nature of the bride and groom. We have a large family and friend basis, so we had to do all or none. We decided since this was neither of our first marriages, we would make it a huge celebration.

Big wedding or small wedding: what's better?

Connie Moore Corey Having had both a big wedding and a small wedding I vote for the small one. It was easier to plan, less expensive, relaxed and intimate permitting us to interact with everyone at a luncheon following the ceremony. Of course the experience of a big, traditional wedding made me know exactly what I wanted the second time around!

Mary Anne Pennington, 73, Winterville We had a small wedding at my home Church, four bridesmaids, a friend sang two songs, very short ceremony.

Many years ago, there were not venues, huge receptions. I didn’t want for my parents to be burdened with a lot of bills for our wedding.

Big, $50,000, or small $500 weddings, you are married, and get the same certificate.

Jeannie Clayton, 68, Ayden Small wedding is better. More intimate.

Susan Leggett, 59, Greenville

Rented a bigger venue.

Dede Smalls, 48, Winterville That’s a tough one. Our wedding was perfect for us. I can’t think of anything we would have done differently.

What is something you wish you did at your wedding, but didn't?

Connie Moore Corey Our ceremony included everything we wanted but I wish more photos had been taken because some older people important to me were not photographed and died shortly after our wedding.

Mary Anne Pennington, 73, Winterville There was no music and dancing at our wedding, would have liked to have had first dance with my hubby, and to dance with my Daddy.

Jeannie Clayton, 68, Ayden Eat! We were so excited and talking to people that we never ate.

Susan Leggett, 59, Greenville

National Nutrition Month

By Mary Gaskins Her Contributor

National Nutrition Month® is a campaign by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) which focuses on the importance of making informed food choices and developing healthy eating and physical activity habits. It also promotes the Academy and its 100,000 plus members as the credible source of scientifically-based nutrition information. March 14 is Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day, which is celebrated to increase awareness of registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) and to recognize their commitment to helping people enjoy healthy lives and tasty foods.

"Go Further with Food" is the theme for National Nutrition Month 2018. The foods we choose daily make a difference and managing food resources at home and within the community can help people adopt healthier eating styles, while reducing food loss and waste - saving both nutrients and money, because eating healthy has numerous benefits, but does not have to cost too much.

To help you "Go Further with Food" try to: 32

1. Include a variety of healthful foods from each food group daily.

2. Consider the foods you have on hand before buying more.

3. Buy only the amount that can be eaten or frozen within a few days. Plan ways to use leftovers.

4. Be mindful of portion sizes. Eat slowly and enjoy your foods.

5. Use good food safety practices.

6. Find activities you enjoy and work toward a goal of 150+ minutes of activity per week.

7. Speak with a RDN for personalized nutrition advice to meet your lifestyle, preferences and health-related needs.

To celebrate National Nutrition Month® 2018 and thanks to funding and support from Share Our Strength, Nutrition & Physical Activity Partners, a subgroup of Pitt Partners for Health, will offer Cooking Matters At The Store tours. Tours will begin in March and will be offered throughout 2018. It will teach participants about reading food labels and shopping for healthier foods on a budget. Participants completing a

Her — March 2018

tour will also do the $10 Challenge to practice what they learned by purchasing healthy foods/meals for $10 or less!

And, yes! It can be done!!

For more information or to set up a tour for your community group, please contact 252-847-8265.

Healthy lifestyles and behaviors are commitments, so use this year’s National Nutrition Month® theme, "Go Further with Food”, to get moving, reduce food waste and add nutritious and flavorful foods to every meal! Be sure to visit www.eatright.org or Pitt Partners for Health Facebook page for more information and resources.

Mary is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (RDN) who graduated from ECU (BS and MS in Nutrition and Dietetics) and currently works at Vidant Medical Center in the Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Heart Failure Programs. Mary currently serves as Chair of the Nutrition & Physical Activity Partners Action Team of Pitt Partners for Health, is involved in the Pitt County Farm and Food Council and is a Certified Health Coach. www.reflector.com/her

Black-Eyed Pea Soup with Collard Greens and Sausage Prep time 10 minutes | Cook time 35 minutes | Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil • 1 cup chopped yellow onion • 1 cup peeled and sliced carrots • ½ cup sliced celery • 1 tablespoon fresh minced garlic • 1 (14 ounce) package smoked sausage, sliced – use a lower sodium and/or lower fat variety as desired • 1 teaspoon thyme leaves • 4 cups low sodium chicken broth • 1 (28 ounce) can low-sodium or unsalted diced tomatoes • 6 cups tightly packed chopped collard greens, tough stems removed • 1 (15.5 ounce) can black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed • ¼ teaspoon pepper (or to taste)

Instructions

In a dutch oven or large soup pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add sausage slices, onions, carrots and celery and cook for 7-8 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring frequently. Add garlic and thyme and stir to combine.

Add chicken broth and tomatoes with juice. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Add chopped collards and stir well to combine. Reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer, cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until collard greens are tender. Stir in rinsed black-eyes peas, season with salt and pepper and cook for an additional 5 minutes Inspired by Eating Well

Per 1 cup serving:

220 calories; 7 grams fat; 14 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams fiber 7 grams protein; 20 mg cholesterol; 665 mg sodium

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Her — March 2018

33

DJ GOOD VIBRATIONS Parties, Weddings, Business Functions

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Her — March 2018

www.reflector.com/her

Level: Intermediate

CLUES ACROSS 1. Elaborate silk garment 5. Fleet 11. Egyptian deity 12. Hundredth anniversary 16. Chew the fat 17. Doctor of Medicine 18. Large, edible game fish 19. Revitalization 24. Personal computer 25. Unfettered 26. Clumsy persons 27. Japanese classical theater 28. Part of a ship 29. Rate of movement 30. How much 31. Image taken with a camera 33. Sharp mountain ridge 34. Czech capital 38. One who treats poorly 39. By right 40. Relating to odors 43. As soon as possible 44. Israeli Olympic swimmer 45. Scored perfectly

49. Financial ratio (abbr.)

50. Unpleasant emotion 51. Sign of the zodiac 53. Promotional material 54. Your parents’ parents 56. Monetary unit 58. Farm state 59. One of Hollywood’s Bridges brothers 60. Not the plaintiff 63. “Night Train” novelist 64. Martens valued for their fur 65. Discount CLUES DOWN 1. Bone in the lower back 2. Goddess of wisdom 3. Comedic honors 4. A way to grasp 5. Apex 6. British soldier 7. Manganese 8. Indicates position 9. Decompressions in scuba diving (abbr.)

10. Soon

13. Blood type 14. Clever reply 15. One who travels by luxurious boat 20. Once more 21. Rural delivery 22. Mexican dish 23. Nigerian City 27. Is not (Span.)

29. Italy’s longest river 30. Grand __, vintage 31. Monetary unit 32. The man 33. Basics 34. Poster 35. Small remains 36. Gelatinous substance 37. A narrow opening 38. Artificial intelligence 40. Algerian coastal city 41. Canned fish 42. Milligram 44. Carrot’s partner 45. Single-celled animals 46. Movie theater 47. Necessitate 48. A state of not being used 50. Small folds of tissue 51. Gallium 52. Trauma center 54. Commands to go faster 55. New England’s football team 57. Pianoforte 61. Unit of loudness 62. Atomic number 13 Puzzle solutions on page 41

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Her — March 2018

35

garden

Cultivating Love

By Kimberly Newsom Her contributor

“Remember that children, marriages and flower gardens reflect the kind of care they get.”

— H. Jackson Brown Jr

M

arriage is a promise.

A promise of commitment, caring, attention and time. The promise of love can be symbolized in multiple ways: a ring, diamonds, a locket, initials carved into a tree, a tattoo. Whichever item is chosen the symbolic significance lies in its permanence and longevity. Our hope is to internalize these symbolic traits into our own hearts and our relationship. There is another way to plant commitment in the heart beyond jewelry and body art. A garden can be a symbolic gesture that grows and matures alongside your love and marriage for decades to come.

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Her — March 2018

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Garden furnishings and decor Traditional marriage ceremonies often accept gifts to the bride and groom and the guests are provided with access to a gift registry, possibly filled with china and housewares they may never use. There are alternatives.

Several popular companies known for wedding gift registries also sell garden furnishing and outdoor products.

Frontgate, Crate & Barrel and West Elm are a few examples. They offer multiple items to furnish your garden:

Perennial plantings Plants are an expensive investment when you are first planning your landscape. It often takes years to establish a beautiful home garden.

Why not add perennial plants to your gift list that can be obtained either by mail-order of from local nurseries? You could opt for donations to a garden fund or give your guests a specific list to purchase from. Some beautiful and long-lived perennials include:

• Furniture

• Lanterns

• Peony

• Bee Balm

• Art Pieces

• Grills

• Iris

• Gardenias

• Planters

• Entertaining &

• Daylily

• Hydrangeas

• Fire pits

Dining Equipment

• Daffodil

• Tea Roses

• Outdoor rugs

• Black-eyed Susan • Shrubs and Trees

Wedding garden plan Some couples have chosen to draw up a landscape plan for their home, listing the plants by name and quantity as a gift registry and host a planting party after the ceremony in place of a reception. A wedding is a time of new beginnings and so is the planting of a garden. Each new plant and sapling is just starting out and with each passing year a garden can remind the couple of their vows as the seasons pass. They may not notice the growth of their marriage throughout their day to day living, but on a spring morning filled with garden blooms, it will be hard not to notice how much they’ve grown.

610-D Old Tar Village Road in Winterville, NC

252-321-5200 t XXX $PBTUBM3JWFST DPN www.reflector.com/her

Her — March 2018

37

date night

Painting with Love

By Mackenzie Tewksbury Photos by Juliette Cooke

Sick of the same old thing? Dinner and a movie is classic “date night,� but sometimes, it's fun to do something a little different! Here at Her, we've got you covered. Look here for a creative date night idea that will sure to have you and that special someone smiling and having fun whether it's a first date or 100th.

A

t the Painted Peacock, customers can expect a creative atmosphere mixed with a fun, whimsical vibe.

The paint your own pottery creative studio offers over 300 styles of pottery for customers to paint, from kitchenware to Christmas ornaments. There is no experience necessary -- the staff is welcoming and help painters through the process while showing customers different techniques to make sure they walk home with a piece they are proud of.

“I think a lot of people are intimidated by art,” owner Susan Bucci said.

“We have techniques that have wow factor to them, but they are achievable.

We have art for everyone. Child, adult, experience or no experience.”

And the fun doesn’t stop at painting, either. Customers are allowed to bring beer, wine and snacks any time they are painting. The business also recently debuted a “Brunch and Boards” event, where customers can come in and paint whatever they like on hand cut wooden boards while enjoying snacks and mimosas.

And while the business sees mostly women, Bucci said she sees a good amount of dates come in to paint, as well. And almost like clockwork, the

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It makes a great first date because it brings people together, you get to talk. You really learn about someone. You can joke around and you get to loosen up and have some fun.

Her — March 2018

men always tend to have a great time, whether they admit or not.

“It happens all the time. They seem like they’re being dragged in here, but by the time that they’re done, they’re actually being dragged out,” Bucci said.

Bucci said it’s a fun, low-pressure way to get to know someone and have an effortlessly good time with someone, making it a quintessential date night idea.

“It makes a great first date because it brings people together, you get to talk.

You really learn about someone. You can joke around and you get to loosen up and have some fun,” Bucci said she’s even seen men plan proposals out of the studio, noting moments where boyfriends came in to paint a plate that read “Check yes or no,” or painting special phrases on a small box used to hold an engagement ring.

“Someone had their first date here and they proposed here. Another one proposed and had a puppy outside.

That was the works,” Bucci said.

The Painted Peacock is located at 631 Red Banks Road in Greenville. They are open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

Walk-ins are welcome.

39

tips to handle transition advice

W

ell ladies, it is March. Can you believe that we are already three months into 2018?

Time is flying! Normally, March is the month where we are reviewing the goals that we set forth in January and we are preparing to transition into the next quarter.

This month, I want to share with you five tips I have found have helped me with transitions in my life. When I speak of transitions, I am talking about simply moving from one place to the next. This could be a new job, a new venture, a new skill and even a new relationship. Life is all about movement and being able to be fluid.

Here are the tips I know for sure will help you if you find yourself in a transition or about to go into one.

tip1

Out with the old, in with the new but keep some of the good parts

tip2

Trust the process

40

Most times, we have heard the adage “out with the old and in with the new!” While this has some validity, I want to encourage you to keep some of the old because it could help you with the new. In other words, don’t throw away everything, because all you have experienced was not all bad.

Life doesn’t always guarantee a smooth ride but sometimes, you must just trust the process.

You may not always get it right

and it may not always feel like you are going in the right direction but trust the process.

Sometimes, you may have to shift and change directions.

Don’t always look for perfection but be okay with progress. You may start out one way but in the middle of the transition find that another way may work out better…change if you must.

It is important that you remain aware that transition is difficult.

Change is not easy. There will be challenges. There will be mishaps. Don’t take it personally.

You are human and that’s a fact.

Depending on your personality make up, you may not be one to readily ask for help. We all need help at one point or another in our lives. Do not be ashamed during a transition if you need assistance to ask for it. It is better to have a helping hand than a hand over you because you refused to ask for what you needed.

Take these tips and transition well…you are well on your way to a great 2018!

Christy Jones, also known as "Coach Chris," is a Greenville life and business coach. Contact her at coachchris4success@gmail.com.

Her — March 2018

tip3

Change Direction if you must

tip4

Don’t take it personal

tip5

Get help

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First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes happily ever after

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41

style file

Heather Blythe 26, Greenville

Hometown: Wilson, N.C. Wedding venue: Roanoke Island Festival Park, Manteo, N.C. Flowers: Flower Girls OBX Dress: Halo Gown - Blush by Hayley Paige Wedding planner: Southern Hospitality Wedding and Events Hair and and makeup: Glimmer Hair and Makeup, Kill Devil Hills, N.C. Photographer: Matt Neal and Bill Howard Band: Jeremy Russel Calligraphy: Kustom Krafts, Wilson, N.C.

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WINTERVILLE

3750 Sterling Pointe Dr. (beside New River Pottery)

252-756-5304

GREENVILLE MALL (near the food court)

252-756-1900

www.shimmerboutiqueonline.com/

www.facebook.com/theshimmerboutique www.instagram.com/theshimmerboutique