Be Bold

be BOLD Curated & Creative

5 Options For No-Fail Gifts for the Grandkids BY: » Bek Mitchell-Kidd

Grandkids. From babies to teens, their preferences can be hard to predict and please, especially during the holiday season (and that’s before you even get their parents’ approval.) But, whether you’re looking for a new spin on gifts or just to win their hearts, we’ve rounded up some local experiential ideas, and some that are easy-to-ship, too. Memberships

Give the gift that will last a year. We are fortunate to have many great institutions and museums in the Charlotte area and many of them are close to the lake. For grandkids ages birth – 8, there’s Discovery Place Kids or for animal lovers consider Carolina Raptor Center and Zootastic Park. Check websites for pricing options.

kids.discoveryplace.org carolinaraptorcenter.org zootasticpark.com Fun skill classes

Are the kiddos ready to chop, ride, play or sail? There is no greater gift than fostering a passion or discovering a new skill. For the budding chefs, Flour Power, Sur la Table, and Williams Sonoma all have kid cooking classes. Music lovers can play-on at School of Rock and Bach to

The aquarium at Discovery Place in uptown Charotte. Rock. Outdoorsy and adventurous Crafty kids kids may love a horseback If your grandkids love to riding lesson at Lenux Stables make things, a gift certificate & Riding Academy or a sailing to AR Workshop Davidson class through the Lake Nor- makes a great gift, as they can man YMCA or Lake Norman attend a workshop or pick-up Community Sailing. a DIY kit for at-home fun (buy

Flour Power Kids Cooking Studios in Cornelius. one of the holiday kits for you too so you can work on it together!) Ain’t Miss Bead Haven in Mooresville also offers fun kits kids can make at home including Disney Princess necklaces and ‘Sunshine in a Bag,’ chock full of colorful beads. Ship-worthy Are you maybe not seeing the grandkids this season? Here are a few fun gifts that ship well and are sure to be well received. Great for kids of all ages, but even the pickiest of teens will love the Galaxy 360 Pro—it’s a small laser projector that transforms bedrooms into galactic magic. Check it out— you may want one too!

Whether off to college or still napping twice a day at home, weighted blankets are known to reduce anxiety and improve sleep. Amazon has a wide range of options. Subscription gifts

Subscriptions are a great option for on-going giving, with most offering duration customization from one-anddone to monthly.

Kiwi Co. has ‘crates’ are for ages birth to 100. There’s something for STEM and STEAM enthusiasts who like to tinker, doodle, explore and more.

Raddish Kids is a cooking club appropriate for ages 4 to 14. The kit includes a kid-prep friendly recipe and more. Have the kids make dinner? Yes please! If only clean-up was included in the box too. Literati is a monthly book club for ages birth to 12, you select an age group and your grandchild receives five expertly-chosen books. You pay $9.95 each shipment and they pick which books they want to keep (additional cost) and then send the rest back for free.

Have a fashionista in the family? Stitch Fix Kids is a great idea for grandkids who love to pick-out what they want to wear (and parents love it, too.) Sizes range from 2T – 18, just select a few preferences including delivery frequency. You pay a $20 stylist fee which is credited toward any items they decide to keep, and they send the rest back with free shipping.

Pursue It.

Helping you embrace your financial possibilities to pursue the lifestyle you desire now and throughout your lifetime filled with treasured moments and memories.

704.658.1929

www.karpfinancial.com

Dream It. Plan It. Pursue It. SM

139 W. McNeely Ave, Mooresville, NC

be BOLD The Finishing Touches

Lori Savio helps create the heart and soul of homes

BY: » Renee Roberson PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF : » Lisa Crates

Top: Lori Savio and Enzo. Left: Home, Heart & Soul is decorated for the holidays. Lori Savio likes to tell people that if “they can imagine it, she can help create it.” Offering design services and products through her store, Home, Heart & Soul in Cornelius, is one of the ways she can do that.

Savio has been an accomplished interior designer for more than 30 years, with a keen eye for creating calming yet functional spaces. Originally from Florida, she eventually made her way to Lake Wylie, but also rented out a space in the previous Ashley Carol Home & Garden store for her design business for many years while continuing to live in South Carolina. When she found out the owner of Ashley Carol had made the decision to sell the store, she took the opportunity to purchase it, originally leasing the space out to a variety of merchants in the historic home. She and her son made the permanent move from Lake Wylie to Cornelius after her husband passed away, and she now lives just a few miles from the store. Supporting others

As the business has evolved, Savio has taken over more of the space by bringing in her own home accessories products and those she finds locally sourced.

Savio says she supports a lot of local artists by carrying artwork and hand-painted items, as she knows they can make the perfect accessory to completing the look and feel of a decorated space. She seeks out sources of products that are unique and different, and that a lot of other stores may not be carrying. Savio says she especially enjoys supporting other female entrepreneurs and artists.

“When I bring on a line, I ask the rep if there’s anyone else in my zip code already carrying

it,” she says. “I like the fact that I get to support local businesses in the area.” Dreamy decor

Because Savio still offers design consulting services, the store is the perfect place for her to share her unique style of decorating. There are many customers from the original Ashley Carol store who still come in to shop, and because Savio is so involved in the day-to-day operations she can assist other interior designers when they come in looking for ideas and inspiration. Savio also offers a line of locally-handcrafted and hand-painted furniture pieces, as well as the availability to reupholster customers’ favorite pieces that may have sentimental value or family history. Her array of clients have benefitted from her expertise in helping cre-

The store is located in downtown Cornelius.

ate window treatments and accent items such as custom pillows and area rugs that help pull together a room’s look. Savio believes fabrics of all types, textures and colors can be the inspiration that begins the design process but can also be the finishing touch that can complete a room.

It doesn’t take walk-in customers long to learn about the available design consultation services. The store is a testament to Savio’s talent.

“I love being able to make a difference in people’s lives,” she says. “It’s never been about the money for me. I get to help people every day doing what I truly enjoy.”

Home, Heart & Soul 20901 Catawba Avenue, Cornelius | 704.892.4743 homeheartandsoul.com The Host with the Most Need ideas for some host gifts this holiday season? Lori Savio offers up a few of her favorite things, and Home, Heart & Soul also carries a variety of these items for purchase and gifting.

• Scented candles • Hand-painted ornaments • Personalized notepads • Wine toppers • Holiday napkins/tea towels • Tote bags • Specialty food items • Hand soaps

Dream It.

Helping you see your possibilities to make financial decisions that

will enable you to live a life of meaning, empowered purpose, and joy-filled experiences.

704.658.1929

www.karpfinancial.com

Dream It. Plan It. Pursue It. SM

139 W. McNeely Ave, Mooresville, NC

Opportunity is STILL KNOCKING When giving looks a little different

BY: » Renee Roberson PHOTOGRAPHY BY : » Lisa Crates

It was while researching ideas for this article that I came across a stark realization—because we are still living through a global pandemic, donating our time and resources may look a little different to some of us. For example, for safety reasons, traditional toy drives likely are not happening. But just because we may not be able to volunteer in our usual ways doesn’t mean there aren’t people and organizations in our community who don’t need our help. We may just need to be creative in our generosity and gifts we offer.

Lending a helping hand

You can engage with causes that are important to you remotely. This year, WCNC has partnered with The Salvation Army for “The Magical Toy Drive,” and volunteers can sign up to host their own virtual drives or donate a financial contribution to help provide toys and clothing to children in need. Their “Empty Stocking Fund” accepts contributions in order to offer store gift cards, toys, food and clothing to families and senior citizens. www.salvationarmycarolinas.org/

The Children’s Hope Alliance (formerly Barium Springs Children’s Home) offers comprehensive services and programs designed to give hope to North Carolina’s children by providing them with a safe home and encouraging a healthy new start. You or a group of friends and family can do something as meaningful yet simple as writing notes of encouragement or providing art projects that can help lift a child’s spirit, or make a financial contribution to help provide residential care essentials or a library box for a child. www.childrenshopealliance.org/advocate

Ada Jenkins Center in Davidson realizes that due to the impact of COVID-19, the families they serve are more in need than ever before. Current needs in December

Angels and Sparrows founder Sandy Tilley and current President Jessika Tucker. are toiletry items for their food pantry such as toilet paper, shaving razors, deodorant, shampoo and gallon- size storage bags. You can also purchase gift cards in small incremental amounts ($10-$15) from places like hardware stores, restaurants, grocery chains, gas stations and train and bus transit cards. Every little bit helps. https://www.adajenkins.org/impact/our-greatest-needs/

Angels and Sparrows Soup Kitchen educates the community that food insecurity is a real problem for families in the Lake Norman area, especially during this time. Their kitchen serves lunch Monday through Friday from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. year round, and they also have other intiatives throughout the year to help support area residents. If you don’t feel comfortable volunteering in person, you can make a financial contribution. They are committed to providing a week’s worth of emergency groceries to homebound seniors, families who have lost transportation due to the COVID-19 crisis, and families who are still struggling to obtain sufficient work due to the crisis. They have immediate needs for pantry staple items such as canned tuna, peanut butter, beans, bags of rice, or gift cards from places like Aldi, BJ’s or Costco are always welcome. https://www.angelsandsparrows.org/ immediate-needs-list.html

Remember that small gestures can go a long way. This could be as simple as offering to shop for food for a neighbor who may not be comfortable going to the grocery store or running other errands. Offer to walk a dog for someone who may not be as mobile as they used to be or who is feeling under the weather. There are always ways we can help others, even if it requires out-of-the-box thinking.