THE
LIFE 400 NORTH
HEALING YOGA helping kids concentrate without medicine
THE NEW YEAR ISSUE Resolutions: There’s an app for that Food & Diet: He won’t know it’s Paleo Quiz: How was your 2016?
President Trump: An afternoon with ‘The Donald’ A few days in Camagüey, Cuba
www.cheeksac.com
Your Heating & Cooling Professionals • Over 25 years of experience • Locally owned and operated • High standard of customer service • Highly trained employees • Quality equipment
Thank You for voting us BEST Air & Heating Service Two Years in a row!
• Personalized solutions • Our work is guaranteed
Serving Forsyth County and Surrounding Areas
770-888-8788 8AM-8PM • 7 DAYS A WEEK
50
$
ANY
OFF
SCAN TO VIEW ALL COUPONS
SERVICE CALL*
300 HEATING
$
OFF
A NEW
SYSTEM*
770-888-8788 www.CheeksAC.com
770-888-8788 www.CheeksAC.com
*When work is performed. One Coupon per transaction. Not to be combined with any other offers. Not valid on prior services. This coupon does not expire. Coupon Code L400N2016
*When work is performed. One Coupon per transaction. Not to be combined with any other offers. Not valid on prior services. This coupon does not expire. Coupon Code L400N2016
DC Cheek Heating & Cooling. Heating, Cooling, Air Quaility, Duct Sealing, Duct Cleaning. Coupons cannot be commited with other offers.
from the
Editor
G
rowing up, there was never really a time I can remember when I wasn't on some type of medication for Attention Defecit Hyperactivity Disorder. I still struggle with some of the symptoms and empathize with parents who have a child who is diagnosed with the same. That's why I was so excited to help get the word out about our cover story. Courtney Waring, who comes from a pharmaceutical background, with her new yoga studio, GoodLife, is looking to spread the word about the benefits of introducing children, especially those who have a hard time focusing or dealing with emotions, to yoga at an early age. It really is a must-read. I promise you'll learn something. With the new year right around the corner, instead of just focusing on the future or the past, we decided to do both. First, take our quiz to see how exciting your 2016 was, and if you score high let us know! Next, we compiled some apps you can get right on your phone to help enhance your life in 2017, and maybe even keep those tricky resolutions you'll make on December 31. But, of course, that's not all. We've got Cuba and Trump and a mom whose figured out how to trick her family into eating healthy — I think my ADHD symptoms may be flaring up... Just check us out! — Micah Green
4
|
THE
LIFE
400 NORTH
December 2016 • January 2017
10
TABLE OF CONTENTS DEC/JAN
A few days in Cuba
10
How exciting was your 2016?
14
Let your phone keep your resolutions
17
An afternoon with Trump
20
COVER STORY: Yoga for kids
22
They won't know it's Paleo
26
Events for New Year's Eve
29
22
17 26 6
|
THE
LIFE
400 NORTH
December 2016 • January 2017
Residential & Commercial rOOFING Services
Roofing, Seamless Gutters & Downspouts, & Full Restoration Services We are Dedicated to Excellent service, quality work & Customer satisfaction
Thank You for voting us
Best
Roofing Contractor BEST OF FORSYTH 2016
Free ROOF INSPECTION
Call today! 678-771-5372
www.hopewell-roofing.com
CONTRIBUTORS Vince Johnson Publisher
MICAH GREEN Creative Director
2017 Shows
Ryan Garmon
Angie decker Graphic Designer
Advertising Director
Farewell Performance of Mark Twain and Mr. Clemens by Kurt H. Sutton January 7, 2017 Saturday | 8 PM
Kayla Robins Editor
Tracie Pike Production Manager
“The Bird Dogs”
The Everly Brothers Experience “Tribute Band”
January 21, 2017
Saturday | 3 PM & 8 PM
Chloe Agnew and Dermot Kiernan in “ A St. Patrick’s Day Celebration”– Celtic Music March 4, 2017
Isabel Hughes Staff Writer
KELLY WHITMIRE Staff Writer
Saturday | 3 PM & 8 PM
Me & 4 Others “2017” March 10-11, 2017 Friday & Saturday | 8 PM
Brian Paglia Sports Editor
Connor Kelly Advertising
Chuck Wagon Gang May 7, 2017
Sunday | 3 PM & 7 PM
cheri bullard
allison althauser
Advertising
Advertising
Facebook.com/TheLife400 www.ForsythNews.com/TheLife400 Advertising rates and deadlines available upon request. Contact Ryan Garmon at (770) 205-8960 or rgarmon@forsythnews.com.
8
|
THE
LIFE
400 NORTH
Johnny Counterfit June 24, 2017
Saturday | 3 PM & 8 PM
101 School Street | Cumming, GA 30041
770.781.9178
www.playhousecumming.com
December 2016 • January 2017
PASSING THROUGH A FEW DAYS IN CUBA 10
|
THE
LIFE
400 NORTH
Story and Photos by Micah Green December 2016 • January 2017
T
here can’t be many more anxietyinducing situations on this planet than standing in a customs line. In Cuba. Unable to speak Spanish. Hoping you have all the right paperwork. After planning the trip two days prior. All of this added to the fact that just a mere two months prior to this, the first American commercial flights had landed in the• country December 2016 January 2017 in five decades.
And adding on to that, American travelers still have to prove they're visiting Cuba for one of 12 sanctioned purposes. So things were still new to everyone involved. But, alas, this is where I found myself in October of this year, along with a friend of mine. My state-sanctioned purpose was journalistic. Coleman, my friend, his was a little more up in the air.THE LIFE 400 NORTH | 11
We made a bumpy landing in Camagüey around three in the afternoon and were greeted by an air-conditionless airport and some skeptical customs officials. After what I am positive was the shortest, most terrifying interrogation in the history of mankind, we were free to go. Our taxi got us to our Airbnb rather quickly. The airport was just outside the city center on the more industrial side of town. We passed huge abandoned warehouses and factories. “Sugar,” the driver said plainly. Our home for the next two days would be pink. A onestory, two-bedroom located in the heart of the city, just blocks from the main square. Nilda, a professor at one of the local universities, was the matriarch of the house. She met us with a soft smile and a hug, and then let us put our
things down before handing out a couple of beers and beginning to give us a brief history lesson of the city, completely in Spanish — which, again, neither my friend nor I speak. The books she pulled out and her pointing helped, though. Camagüey is situated in the center of Cuba and, as the country’s third largest city, is quite metropolitan, especially by Cuban standards. The city streets and boulevards crisscross and zigzag. They are lined corner to corner and stacked top to bottom with small homes and shops, most buildings not more than a few stories high. The most prominent structures in the city are the churches. Camagüey is known for them. There, steeples rise high above the surrounding buildings, ornately designed with intricate molding and brightly lit. The city is also known for
it’s beautiful women, according to Nilda. She wasn’t wrong. The cars are an attraction all their own. The curves, the chrome; shiny, brightly colored pre-revolution era stallions. Built to stand the test of time, which, so far, they have. The '57 Chevys share the tight streets with horsedrawn carriages and people on bikes and motorcycles, some peddling papayas, oth-
ers Wifi cards. Walkability is paramount for most in Camagüey it seems. The tightly knit buildings make the streets seem like hallways. With most of the homes keeping their doors open, they are more like rooms you can see right into. The locals sit outside their homes, on the steps speaking to, or at the very least acknowledging, those that pass. There is a great com-
Above: Nilda stands with her back to the street that her pink house sat on. Right: the steeple of Sagrado Corazon de Jesus sits high above the rest of Camagüey.
12
|
THE
LIFE
400 NORTH
December 2016 • January 2017
munity atmosphere, that (even as an outsider, a dreaded tourist) you can feel and want to be a part of. After only 42 or so hours in Camagüey, we made our way to a small resort in Playa Santa Lucia, just to say we checked out the coast as well. The sand was white and very fine, and the sunset we caught on our last day there rivaled any I've ever seen with ultrasaturated pur-
December 2016 • January 2017
ples and oranges and yellows and blues. But even in that moment, I could not stop thinking about Camagüey. Playa Santa Lucia was relaxing and accomodating. Camagüey was authentic and captivating. The short trip has left me wanting more answers from Cuba, more culture. And I intend on returning to look for them both.
THE LIFE 400 NORTH
|
13
HOW EXCITING WAS YOUR
2016?
Take our quiz— tally your score With the prevelence of social media, it’s easier than ever to look at someone else’s life and think, “Wow, if I could only live like that.” But what about your own life, your own story? Sometimes it’s hard to take a step back and look at our own lives and see the excitement (or lack of) unfolding in front of us. Take this quiz and see how your life played out in 2016.
___ hover boarding?
Victory & Defeat
(5 pts.)
Did you:
Did you go: ___ sky diving? (20 pts.)
___ to a win at Turner Field? (15 pts.)
___ skiing? (10 pts.)
___ to a Falcons’ game in the Dome? (10 pts.)
14
|
THE
LIFE
World Travels
___ set any kind of sports record? (20 pts.)
___ complete a marathon? (20 pts.)
___ compete in a sporting event seen by over 1,000 people? (20 pts.)
Did you visit: ___ North Korea? (20 pts.)
___ the White House? (15 pts.)
___ any of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World? (20 pts.)
___ any museum in Atlanta? (10 pts.)
400 NORTH
___ a theme park? (10 pts.)
Did you: ___ sail from one country to another? (20 pts.)
___ run off to join Cirque du Soleil? (15 pts.)
___ hitchhike? (10 pts.)
___ pilot an airplane or helicopter? (15 pts.)
December 2016 • January 2017
Paranormal Activity
Did you ever: ___ see a ghost?
___ have something named in honor of you? (20 pts.)
___ have a celebrity or anyone famous follow you on social media? (10 pts.)
(15 pts.)
Wishing you a Happy Holiday!
___ see a UFO?
(20 pts.; add 50 if abducted)
___ find out you had an evil twin? (15 pts.)
___ play with a Ouiji board? (10 pts.)
___ go see a psychic? (10 pts.)
___ have a profound religious experience? (20 pts.)
Fame & Fortune
Disasters & Calamities
Did you survive: ___ a plane crash? (20 pts.)
___ a hurricane? (10 pts)
___ a tornado?
Growing together and depending on each other.
(10 pts.)
___ a major ice storm? (10 pts)
___ a shipwreck? (10 pts.)
Did you: ___ win more than $10,000 in the lottery or from a bet? (20 pts.) ___ overdraft your bank account? (5 pts)
___ write or record a song? (15 pts.)
___ get interviewed on local TV? (10 pts.; if national TV add 15)
___ become friends with someone famous? (15 pts.)
December 2016 • January 2017
___ a major auto accident? (10 pts.)
Did you ever: ___ overcome a serious disease or illness? (25 pts.)
___ fight in a war? (25 pts.)
___ get attacked by a deadly animal or insect? (20 pts.)
___ witness a crime being committed? (10 pts.)
THE LIFE 400 NORTH
|
15
Everyday Life
Good Samaritans
Did you:
Did you:
___ save someone’s life?
___ get married?
___ save an animal’s life?
___ have a child?
___ run for public office?
___ quit a job?
(25 pts.)
(20 pts.; 5 pts. for each additional marriage) (15 pts. for each child)
(20 pts.)
(15 pts.; add 5 pts. if you won)
___ win an award? (5 pts. if local; 10 pts. if statewide; 20 pts. if national)
___ do charity work? (15 pts.)
___ donate over $5,000? (15 pts.)
(10 pts.)
___ get sued?
SCORING 0-25
(15 pts.)
BONUS: ___ add 20 points if you worked as a doctor, nurse, teacher, police officer or firefighter.
Not too shabby. You had a pretty good year! Now stop watching TV and go get some real points.
26-50 51-100
(5 pts.)
___ take part in a public protest?
BORING! Well, even if 2016 wasn’t very exciting for you, at least you made it!
101+
This is very impressive. You had quite the year! You probably have some great stories to tell. WOW! It’s hard to believe you’re even still breathing! Better start on that autobiograpghy and finish it STAT.
If you really did finish above 100, we would love to hear about your year for a possible upcoming feature! Shoot our editor an email at mgreen@forsythnews.com.
Santa’s Special Delivery by Thomas Kinkade Studios 12”x16” and 18”x24”
Holiday Hours:
Monday - Saturday | 9:00am - 9:00pm Sunday | Closed Closing Christmas Eve at 5:00pm Opening the day after Christmas from 9:00am - 7:00pm
16
|
THE
LIFE
400 NORTH
527 Lakeland Plaza | Cumming, GA
770-888-9924
www.parsonsthomaskinkadegallery.com December 2016 • January 2017
KEEPING A RESOLUTION? THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT. With 2017 right around the corner, ideas for resolutions are likely starting to make their way to the forefront of your consciousness. Though some may resolve to spend less time on their phone or tablet and more time in the present, technology December 2016 • January 2017
actually can benefit a person – at least in helping him or her stay on track of New Year’s resolutions. We’ve broken down some popular resolution categories and found apps that may add to your health, wealth and happiness. Story by Isabel Hughes THE LIFE 400 NORTH
|
17
Overall Health MyFitnessPal
An extremely popular dieting and health monitoring app, in 2013, MyFitnessPal was one of Consumer Reports’ highest-rated diet plans. It has ranked No. 1 in health and fitness apps for more than four years and has been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today and other publications. At a glance: • Easy-to-use calorie counters • More than 5 million foods in database • Contains a built-in step tracker – no Fitbit or other device is needed It also has a recipe importer, which allows users to search the web for recipes and add them into the app Cost: Free to download and use basic version; premium version either $9.99/ mo. or $49.99/year
Sleep Cycle
For years, research has shown the benefits a good night’s sleep can produce. From increased productivi-
18
|
THE
LIFE
400 NORTH
ty to enhanced memory, sleep does wonders for the body and brain, and studies have shown lack of sleep may make the brain more vulnerable to degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Sleep Cycle is the No. 1 “smart alarm clock” and the world’s most used appbased clock. At a glance: • Monitors a person’s sleep movements using sound and vibration analysis • Using analysis, finds the optimal time to wake a person during a 30-minute window set by the user • Developed “using proven sleep science and years of research and development” Cost: Free to download and use basic version; premium version one-month free trial then $9.99/year
paid app in Apple’s App store, offering exercises for all athletic types. Researchers who designed the app have chosen 12 exercises that are performed for 30-seconds, each with 10-second rests in between. The high-intensity training, they say, is equivalent to working out for over an hour, due to the little rest between exercises. At a glance: • Full video, audio, image and text instruction • Contains an activity tracker to monitor progress • Offers achievements and awards to unlock, making exercising fun and goal-oriented Cost: $2.99 to download; offers in-app purchases
Fitness
Running for Weight Loss
7 Minute Workout
For those who don’t have a lot of time on their hands, 7 Minute Workout is a great app to try. It is currently the top
Featured in the Washington Post, the Huffington Post and Apple Insider, this app combines exercise, in the form of sprinting/running/walking, with meal plans that offer step-bystep recipes. At a glance: • Allows users to choose different meal and exercise plans based on personal goals, activity level and physical condition • Also offers a “personal trainer” who gives audio instructions for every workout Cost: Free to download and use basic version; premium version either $11.99/mo. or $49.99/year
Mind & Body Headspace
Though eating healthy and exercising can reduce stress and get your endorphins flowing, it’s important to take time to clear your mind and be aware of your surroundings. At a glance: • Gives guided meditation, which researches say can improve focus, help you exercise mindful awareness, relieve anxiety and reduce stress • Emma Watson has called the app “kind of genius” Cost: Free to download and use basic version, called Take 10; after Take 10 completion, other packages available for $12.99/ mo., $94.99/year or onetime payment of $399.99 with unlimited access to collection
Pacifica
Based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques, this app gives a user tools to address stress, anxiety and depression. According to the app’s creators, stress, anxiety December 2016 • January 2017
and depression are caused by ongoing cycles of thought, which cause physical feelings that then prompt a person to make – or not make – a certain action. At a glance: Pacifica is designed to break the cycle and was listed as Forbes’ top app in the publication’s “4 Technologies Innovating Mental Health.” Cost: Free to download and use basic version; full access version $4.99/mo., $35.99/year
• Allows you to create goals, budgets and savings plans • Sends alerts about money usage and high spending Cost: Free to download and use
Stash
Finances Mint
An easy way to manage your personal finances, this app was created by Intuit, the makers of TurboTax. • Offers secure financial tracking, allowing users to connect their bank accounts, credit cards, investment services and debt and loan services • Centralizes, organizes and displays information in a concise manner • Uses personal data to update your credit score, show how much you have earned versus spent and show spending categories December 2016 • January 2017
Investing can be daunting, especially for newcomers, and often requires a bit of capital (wealth in the form of money or assets.) This app breaks down investment-making into smaller, easier and cheaper steps. At a glance: • Users can invest as little as $5 and add $10-$20 per month, gradually building the money “stash” • Offers education to develop smart financial habits and give users an understanding of investment • Easy-to-use interface allows prospective buyers to view a company’s statistics Note: This is not a trading app; it’s aimed at investing money for the long-term. Cost: Free to download and use for three months; after three months, charges users $1/month; accounts over $5,000 are charged a 0.25 percent fee. THE LIFE 400 NORTH
|
19
THE
LIFE An afternoon with the next President Photos from a rally at the Georgia World Congress Center, months before his historic victory. Photographs by Micah Green
February 21, 2016 Georgia World Congress Center
Atlanta, Georgia 20
|
THE
LIFE
400 NORTH
December 2016 • January 2017
December 2016 • January 2017
THE LIFE 400 NORTH
|
21
g n i c i t c a r P e f i l d o o g e th The woman behind Forsyth County’s newest yoga studio offers more than a workout. She offers healing. A way to find yourself. And she is proving it in children with ADHD who are no longer dragged down by medicine. Like a big stretch in the morning, they wake up. STORY BY KAYLA ROBINS PHOTOS BY MICAH GREEN
R
italin. Concerta. Elephant pose. Metadate. Focalin. Adderall. Dextrostat. Giraffe pose. Strattera. Tree pose. Intuniv. Kapvay. All treatments for Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, in children. In a softly lit yoga studio near The Collection at Forsyth where the warmth and welcoming massage oil scents swaddle you in from the cold wind kicking up leaves
22
|
THE
LIFE
400 NORTH
outside, Courtney Waring attests only some work, and they’re the ones children see in their bedtime books and not on the side of an orange bottle. Waring knows. Not just because she’s a yoga, Reiki and meditation instructor. Because she has seen kids attain the wanted side effects by looking inward instead of reaching for a pill and a glass of water. Wa r i n g k n o w s n o t because she has read, or
heard, or seen the healing powers of yoga. Because she has felt them herself, felt the pain of autoimmune diseases and the haze of medications. She has felt the release of stress, and of pent up anger and trauma, and even of the need for doctor-prescribed treatments for an incurable deficiency. “There’s a lot of energy healing I incorporate into my yoga classes. I focus on the specific needs of clients
versus power yoga. I’m trained in power yoga. I could have opened up a traditional hot power yoga studio. I have one on the schedule, but I’ve found that a lot of people have therapeutic issues they need to work out. Yoga works out all of those things, but you won’t find that in a typical studio. I really wanted to get into the foundation of yoga, and that’s the healing property that yoga offers.” December 2016 • January 2017
“They’re not even in their bodies” Waring has seen the need for healing, both in herself and when she worked in a pharmacy out of college. According to the Federal Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about 11 percent – 6.4 million – kids aged 4-17 have been diagnosed with ADHD in the U.S. as of 2011, up from 7.8 percent in 2003 and from 9.5 percent in 2077. Children are being prescribed medicine as early as 2. A study detailed by the CDC showed children aged 4-17 with ADHD received either medication or behavior therapy, and “many were not receiving treatment as described in the best practice guidelines from 2011.” “I would see kids come in, and they’d be getting Adderall refills or you name it, it’s a bunch of them, and they’d be like walking zombies.
They’d be just totally quiet, eyes are like glazed over. It’s almost like they’re not even in their bodies. And even if you talk to them, it’s a delayed response. And that’s what the medicine is doing to them.” Those kids were, on average, 9. “They’re supposed to be hyper and curious and wanting to know about the world, you know, just looking and fanta-
sizing about all kinds of things and having day dreams and just still living in their imagination. But all of that medicine, it really robs kids of that and it shuts all of that down. It shuts down that entire creative portion of who they are.”
Fostering their imagination Waring has seen the need for healing, and she has witnessed the healing power
Offering a wide variety of Anti-aging, health and beauty services • Botox, Dysport, Juvederm, Restylane Mention this • Laser Photorejuvenation • Laser Hair Removal ad and receive • Chemical Peels 10% Off your first • Microneedling treatment. • Massage & Body Treatments & much more 1080 Lumpkin Campground Rd.,Suite 200, Dawsonville, GA 30534 • 706-265-6467 www.serenitymedicalhealthandbeautyspa.com
Conveniently located across from the Premium Outlet Mall in Dawson County December 2016 • January 2017
THE LIFE 400 NORTH
|
23
I called it GoodLife because once you tap into the inside of you and heal all that smut that’s going on in there, you get to see the benefits on the outside. - Courtney Waring of yoga. “With kids, you know, they don’t know how to deal with [stressors]. They don’t even know how to release what’s going on. A lot of the time they don’t even know how to talk about what they’re feeling. Not to mention they don’t understand their feelings. They have no idea.” When people – especially kids – learn how to handle stress, she said, concentration and behavior is a byproduct. Waring takes kids on what she calls imagination trips in the studio, where “we might be going through the forest and they see an elephant so they’ll do an elephant pose, or they’ll see a giraffe or tree … so it helps foster their imagination
24
|
THE
LIFE
400 NORTH
Who is Courtney Waring?
and their creativity.” She’s had parents take their kids off medication after practicing yoga. They’re more focused. Making better grades. Acting respectful. Calmer. “Yoga and meditation gives
us time to sit down, to calm down and to let our body do what it does naturally. Because naturally, your body can heal itself. It can regenerate and do everything it needs to do – if you help it.” •••
Courtney Waring’s story used to be one of pain. Physical pain. Mental pain. A story she felt but did not know when and why the pages began turning. She was a 20-year-old cheerleader in college when she was diagnosed with lupus and fibromyalgia. For the next eight years, she was taking eight or nine medications a day. She was fresh out of college. She had a house. A car. A high-paying job working in a pharmacy. “At 23, I was surpassing my peers, and they didn’t know I wasn’t happy. Because I had all these things. And I’m able to hang out whenever I want and to travel all over the place. They didn’t see what was
December 2016 • January 2017
inside at night. But I did, and I was crying and I couldn’t figure out why I was so sad.” The thing about your story, though, is that it is your own. You can change it. That’s what Waring did. “I was going into my 29th birthday, and it dawned on me, ‘Hey, I’m not even 30 yet and I’m on eight medications. Am I really going to do this for the rest of my life?” She started researching alternative treatments. She always knew of yoga, but she never took it seriously. “I thought it was just a workout.” She credits her practice as “90 percent of the reason I healed, yoga and meditation, and that I came off my medication.” “The main thing I learned about myself is I was holding onto childhood trauma. That was my biggest issue. I was still holding onto anger at my mom, and just anger at different things that went on in my childhood, and with yoga, it kind of teaches you to just release all that stuff because it doesn’t matter anymore. It’s over. It’s done. We’re in the now. Now is the only time that matters. Yoga is very
big on teaching you that and to focus on this moment.” So that’s what Waring did. Her story used to be one of pain. Now it is one of awareness, one of healing, one of light. “It’s truly like everything just started melting away once I just said, ‘OK, that happened when I was a kid. It happened. I need to get over it.” That breakthrough was in 2009. After becoming certified to teach yoga in 2012, she stayed in Charlotte, North Carolina at the studio where she trained until July 2015. Since relocating to Forsyth County, she taught at the YMCA until opening her first private studio, GoodLife Yoga Studios, on Bethelview Road in November. “I called it GoodLife because once you tap into the inside of you and heal all that smut that’s going on in there, you get to see the benefits on the outside. You see the world in a more positive light. You create your world, so if you want a positive environment, you can create that yourself.”
Wishing for legs that are spider vein free? Or worried about the throbbing, swollen varicose veins on your legs? Vein disorders can be more than just unattractive. Varicose and spider veins can cause pain, throbbing, swelling and even serious medical conditions such as blood clots. If you suffer from vein disorders, restless leg syndrome or blood clots, you need treatment from medical professionals skilled in vein disorder and phlebology.
We Offer
Various Treatments for Varicose & Spider Veins including: • Phlebectomy • Perforator Schlerotherapy
• Radiofrequency Ablation • Compression Stockings
10% OFF Juzo Stockings
*Must present ad for discount (Coupon Code FCN12-2016)
Almost all vein procedures are covered by insurance! December 2016 • January 2017
THE LIFE 400 NORTH
|
25
UNLIMITED WASHES
$
19
99
per month
Open 7 days a week • 8AM - 8PM
Voted Forsyth County’s Best Car Wash NEW LOCATION - NOW OPEN!
930 Peachtree Parkway | Cumming 1780 Buford Highway | Cumming www.CastleCarwash.net
770.889.3322
They won't know...
... it's Paleo
Photo by Micah Green
By Kelly Whitmire
After receiving diagnoses of Hashimoto’s thyroid disease and celiac disease years ago, Bre’anna Emmitt was severely limited in what she could cook and eat. These days, she is helping others with similar conditions to prepare great food. Emmitt runs her own blog and has published a cookbook, both called “He Won’t Know It’s Paleo,” coming from Emmitt’s experience of changing up her cooking style without her husband knowing. “I knew my husband would not be on board, because going gluten free … he’s from south Texas and thought it was, like, un-American,” Emmitt said. “After about six months we were standing in the kitchen, and he goes, ‘Man, the 30s have been good to me. I’ve lost weight and I’m feeling better and feeling good.’” At that point, she said, he couldn’t be mad about six months of dinners he had enjoyed and found it funny. As the name implies, the Paleo, or ketogenic, diet is meant to mimic the hunter-gatherer lifestyle, meaning yes to meats, veggies, nuts and pretty much
December 2016 • January 2017
anything that can be caught or picked and no to grains, starches, dairy and things processed or farmed. While Emmitt had to work around her husband, their four children have come around easier. “They have gotten used to it,” she said. “I have found that if you cook food your kids will like, they’re going to eat it. If you cook good food, your family is going to eat it. It’s when you start cooking things that are not good that they complain.” Emmitt said there is always a way to make something Paleo, the ingredients just need to be switched to alternatives, like coconut and almond flour. And practice makes it come easier. For her part, Emmitt will continue showing others how to make healthier meals, especially given the comments she has received. “That’s why I keep doing it,” Emmitt said. “Just when I think I’ll stop and not worry about it anymore is when I get emails and Facebook comments of people just saying, ‘This changed my life.’"
THE LIFE 400 NORTH
|
27
One of the most intimidating parts of starting a new diet is finding meals that both fall into the diet and taste great. Luckily, Bre’anna Emmitt has provided some easy and delicious recipes for those wanting to give the Paleo diet a try.
Roasted Chicken over Hearty Vegetables
All photos submitted
Prep Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 90 minutes Yield: 6 servings Ingredients 1 large yellow onion, cut into 2-inch pieces; 2-3 sweet potatoes, cut into 2-inch pieces; 5 large carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces; 1/2 large head green cabbage, cut into 2-inch pieces; 1 whole chicken, innards removed, rinsed and patted dry; 1 head garlic, cut in half; 1 lemon, cut in half; 1/2 bunch fresh thyme; 1 tablespoon avocado oil; sea salt Steps 1. Preheat the oven to 425°F. 2. Place the onion, potatoes,
carrots, and cabbage in the bottom of a 9 by13-inch or larger casserole dish. 3. Stuff the garlic, lemon, and thyme into the cavity of the chicken. Tie the legs, if desired, for presentation. 4. Lay the chicken on top of the bed of vegetables, breastside up. 5. Rub the oil onto the chicken skin and season with salt to taste. 6. Roast, uncovered, for 90 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Let rest for 10 minutes before carving.
the pork tenderloin, and set the tenderloin aside. 3. In a large oven-proof skillet or pot, stir the honey and coconut oil over medium heat until melted. 4. Brown the tenderloin in the oil mixture for 1-2 minutes on each side. Be careful not to burn honey. 5. With the tenderloin inside, place the uncovered oven-proof skillet in the oven for 15 to 20
minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches145°F. Watch carefully to avoid burning the honey mixture. If it begins to turn dark brown, move the skillet down to a lower oven rack. Remove the skillet from the oven, cover with aluminum foil, and let sit for 5 minutes before carving. 6. Slice the pork diagonally and drizzle the pan drippings over the top to serve.
The Healthy Mint Shake Prep time: 5 minutes Yield: 1 serving Ingredients 2/3 cup coconut milk or almond milk; 1/4 large avocado; 2 handfuls spinach; 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract ; 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract; 2 tablespoons honey; 1 cup crushed ice; 2 tablespoons collagen, optional, for added protein Steps Place all the ingredients into a blender and blend on high until smooth and creamy.
Honey-Seared Pork Tenderloin
Chocolate Mousse
Prep Time: 5 minutes Cooking Time: 25 minutes Yield: 4 servings Ingredients 1 1/2-pound whole pork tenderloin; 1/4 teaspoon sea salt; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon onion powder; 1/8 dried oregano; 1/8 dried thyme; 1/8 ground cloves; 2 tablespoons honey; 1/4 cup coconut oil Steps 1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. 2. In a small bowl, mix the herbs and se a s o n i n g s together. Rub them into
Prep Time: 5 minutes Yield: 4-6 servings Ingredients 3 large avocados; 3/4 cup coconut milk; 2/3 cup honey; 1/2 cup cocoa powder; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional); pinch sea salt Steps Blend all the ingredients in a food processor until completely smooth and creamy. This keeps well for 3-4 days in the refrigerator when covered with plastic wrap.
28
|
THE
LIFE
400 NORTH
Mashed Fauxtatoes Prep Time: 5 minutes Cooking Time: 20 minutes Yield: 4-6 servings December 2016 • January 2017
Ingredients 1 head cauliflower, stemmed and cut into large florets; 1 medium white-fleshed sweet potato or parsnip, peeled and coarsely chopped; 3 garlic cloves, halved; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 teaspoon sea salt Steps 1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the cauliflower, sweet potato or parsnip, and garlic and boil 20 minutes, until the vegetables are fork tender. 2. Drain the vegetables and discard the water, shaking off as much liquid as possible. Return cooked vegetables to the pot. 3. Add the olive oil and salt. Blend with a hand mixer or immersion blender until smooth.
Buy any Restylane Filler or Sculptra & receive $100 off Dysport done at same visit.
World’s Easiest Banana Bread Ingredients 4 eggs, room temp (soak in hot water while gathering ingredients to warm them quickly); 1 cup mashed ripe banana (2 large); 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted; 2 tablespoons honey; 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar; 2 teaspoons vanilla; 2 1/2 cups almond flour (A finely-ground almond flour works best. Emmitt recommends Honeyville or Anthony’s brand available on Amazon. com); 3/4 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon sea salt; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 2/3 cups pecan pieces (optional) Steps 1. Preheat the oven to 325 F and line a loaf pan with parchment paper. 2. Blend the wet ingredients on high for 30 seconds or until smooth and frothy. Add the dry ingredients, and blend again on high for 30 seconds until completely smooth with no lumps. Scrape down as needed. 3. Pour batter into the prepared pan
and bake for 60 minutes, until the top is lightbrown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
Choose to only do Dysport and receive a 10% discount.
North Atlanta
Dermatology Adult & Pediatric Dermatology
www.naderm.com
770.814.8222 10% off CoolSculpting done in Buford & Duluth (Treatment must be scheduled by 12/31/16 & complete by 3/1/17)
10% off Products (excluding Latisse)
Buford | Call Melissa, ext. 209 Duluth | Call Cherylyn, ext. 210
Offices in Cumming, Suwanee, Buford & Duluth
December 2016 • January 2017
THE LIFE 400 NORTH
|
29
New Year’s Eve Top
3’s
For Families
Noon Year’s Eve at Fernbank
Inside the Perimeter Atlanta NYElectric 2017
Six DJ’s playing house and top 40’s hits, Five hour open bar, Four areas to mingle, Three massive ballrooms, Two floors of excitement, One electric count down, plus complimentary party favors and VIP perks. Westin - Peachtree Plaza | Atlanta, GA AtlantaNightLife.com
Downtown Countdown ATL
The largest and longest running New Year’s Eve party in the Southeast with 3 DJ’s, Live Band, 4 Comedians & Atlanta’s Largest Hotel Balloon Drop. Plus we will have the College Championship Playoff game on the big screen at the party! Hyatt Regency | Atlanta, GA DowntownCountdownatl.com
New Year’s Eve Shizzazzle
Ring in the new year with a belly full of laughs and somewhat palate-able champagne! You’ll see a cavalcade of ridiculous improvised games and scenes starring a collection of the finest improvisers in our ensemble. Choose from two shows: 7pm or 10pm
Dad’s Garage Theatre Co. | Atlanta, GA DadsGarage.com
9am - 12:30pm Ring in the New Year with Atlanta’s biggest party animals well before bedtime. Celebrate the Noon Year with bubbles of gigantic proportions by Georgia Bubbleman. Pin your Noon Year’s resolutions to the board, play games and dance your way into the Noon Year with the best DJ in town and a countdown at noon leading to over 2,000 balloons cascading over the world’s largest dinosaurs. Activities are included with Museum admission. Fernbank Museum | Atlanta, GA FernbankMuseum.org
Stars & Strikes New Year’s Eve
Live DJ, win cash in our Fun Machine, party favors, and a Champagne toast at midnight. Two parties to choose from 6-9pm or 10pm1am. New Year’s Eve package for 8 people includes unlimited bowling, shoe rental, pizza & wing buffet, one extrame attraction and a $5 arcade game card.
Book online at StarsAndStrikes.com
New Year’s Bubble Bash
Outside the Perimeter NYEve with Blue Billy Grit
From the side porch of an old gristmill to the main stage of The Telluride Bluegrass Festival, BlueBilly Grit has quickly become a force in Bluegrass and Americana. Their modern style, which blends these two genres of music, has a way of appealing to the newer generation of the grassroots movement and to those that have a love for the more traditional sound. $18 advanced/$22 day of show. The Crimson Moon Cafe | Dahlonega, GA Dahlonega.org
New Year’s Eve Party with Southpaw One of the best New Year’s Even Dance parties in Atlanta. Southpaw will be playing a mix of Classic Country, Classic Rock, R&B and Oldies. There will be NO DANCE LESSONS. Enjoy a catered dinner, champagne toast and balloon drop at midnight. Dress to your nines and come join the fun. $40 per person.
10am - 4:30pm Countdown to 2017 with Atlanta’s favorite New Year’s party for kids! Join us for a dance party, special guests, bubblewrap fireworks, and some new surprises. This year we will celebrate twice, with countdowns at 12pm and 4pm. This event is sure to sell out so guests are encouraged to purchase tickets early! Tickets will not be sold at the door. The museum will be closed to general admission.
An evening filled with activities, music, food, and great entertainment in a family friendly atmosphere. This FREE event is wrapped up with an amazing firework show and the rise of the Duluth icon. Festivities start at 7pm.
Children’s Museum of Atlanta | Atlanta, GA ChildrensMuseumAtlanta.org
3167 Main St. | Duluth, GA DuluthGA.net
Club 201 at American Legion | Alpharetta, GA AwesomeAlpharetta.com
New Year’s Eve Extravaganza
Count Down to the New Year... New Year’s Eve Peach Drop
Ring in the New Year at the 28th Annual Peach Drop with family fun and Atlanta’s own 800 lb. peach! The largest New Year’s Eve Countdown celebration in the entire southeast! Underground Atlanta | Atlanta, GA PeachDrop.com
The Possom Drop
Bring in the New Year with an evening filled with music, fireworks and fun activities for your entire family. At midnight a stuffed possum named “Spencer” is lowered in a holiday lights covered ball from atop one of the cities oldest buildings. Food Vendors available. Tallapoosa, GA ThePossomDrop.com
Up The Cup NYE Celebration
Raise a toast to the New Year in true SavannahStyle at the Savannah Waterfront. Don’t miss out on a digital light show, countdown clock, and a non-traditional “ball drop”, countdown the final seconds of 2016 as we raise (not drop!) our six foot to-go cup to the New Year followed by a firework display to officially ring in 2017! Historic River Street | Savannah, GA RiverStreetSavannah.com
December 2016 • January 2017
THE LIFE 400 NORTH
|
31