WOMENSINC.NET
WINC. FEBRUARY 2015
Charlie and Charlotte Nabholz
50 YEARS AND COUNTING Couple shares anecdotes about life, keys to marriage longevity
INSIDE: TAX TIME GUIDE WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 1
WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 3
WINC. Advertising Sales Director Betsey Barham
Publisher Zach Ahrens Editor Lori Quinn
Contributing Writers Detra Clark Andrea Lennon Jill McCollum Susan O’Keefe Rachel Parker Dickerson Jennifer Stanley Kelly Sublett Chief Photographer Brandy Strain Contributing Photographers Lindsey Faith Watson
Advertising Coordinator Molly May Advertising Sales Executives Sarah Allen Tara Mallett Lisa Licht Advertising Artist Jay Prince Editorial Advisory Board Donna Benton Detra Clark Nicolle Fletcher
Haley Crafton Fowler Sarah Frost Mary Harlan Nancy Jackson Cate Ketcheside Leslie Kostecky Caroline LaVan Velda Lueders Candace Meeks Misty Morse Carol Patty Amy Reed Lori Ross Mary Margaret Satterfield Katherine Thomason Stefanie Holt Vann Jessica Zimmerman
Questions or Comments? Call (501) 327-6621, e-mail: womensinc@womensinc.net or write to P.O. Box 969, Conway, AR, 72033 www.womensinc.net
WELCOME LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Lori Quinn
Love is in the air…especially with our couple on the cover this month.
Charlie and Charlotte Nabholz are “excellent examples of how patience,
faith, and perseverance can result in true happiness.” This couple has just
celebrated 50 years of marriage, and they have mentored engaged couples at their church for more than 20 years. Happiness in their marriage is a
priority to the Nabholz’ and they graciously share their secrets to a lasting marriage. Check out our cover story on page 6 of this issue.
With our theme of love through the month of February, this leads in
perfectly to our March issue. Women’s Inc. magazine needs YOU. We need our readers to send in wedding photos! We want throwbacks too. So find
those photos of your parents, grandparents, and great grandparents. We are looking for all types of photos. It can be bride and groom, ring bearer and flower girl, detail shots of your venue...just your favorite photo. Funny,
beautiful, sentimental, or your wedding “blooper” moment, please send your photos to womensinc@womensinc.net. Until Next Month, Lori Quinn 4 WOMEN’S INC. / FEBRUARY 2015
F E B R U A R Y 2 015 / / W O M E N ’ S I N C .
CONTENTS
6 on the cover
FEATURE STORY
Charlie and Charlotte Nabholz celebrate 50 years of marriage and friendship
10
A trip for your taste buds
22 SHOPPING Valentine’s gifts for him and for her
16
AROUND THE COUNTY Greenbrier’s Southern Savvy
26 TAX GUIDE Tips for filling out 2014’s returns
columns 20. spirituality
40. art scene
42. book reviews
44. cooking tips
Speaking words of encouragement by Andrea Lennon A few favorite love stories by Susan O’Keefe
Art at any age by Jennie Strange
Valentine’s dinner from him by Chef Jill McCollum
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cover stor y
...but the greatest of these is love By Jennifer Stanley Photos by Brandy Strain, Erica Erck Photography and Joshua Duke
Charlie and Charlotte Nabholz of Conway are excellent examples of how patience, faith, and perseverance can result in true happiness. The couple, who have been married for 50 years, shared anecdotes about their life together and what they feel are keys to longevity in a marriage. About the Couple
The couple has four children: Greg Nabholz; Gwen Nabholz Azar, who is married to Steve; Sarah Nabholz Mitchell; and Camilla Nabholz Williamson, who is married to Lance. They also have seven grandchildren, three girls and four boys. Charles is a native of Conway; he grew up on a small farm three miles east of town. The youngest of 12 siblings, he is a graduate of St. Joseph High School’s class of 1954. After high school he went to work for his brother Bob, founder of Nabholz Construction Company. His contributions to and expansions of the family business are numerous and include founding Con-Ark Builders in 1962; a real estate business in Irvine, California in 1979; and Nabholz 6 WOMEN’S INC. / FEBRUARY 2015
171 or 145 pic
CHARLIE & CHARLOTTE NABHOLZ
Charlie and Charlotte Nabholz celebrate 50 years of marriage, love, and happiness.
Properties in 1983. Charlie’s additional accomplishments include being appointed director of Arkansas State Building Services from 1981-1983 by then Governor Frank White. He was elected chairman of The Nabholz Group in 2000 and served in that capacity until 2014. Charlie currently serves as Chairman Emeritus of The Nabholz Group and President of Nabholz Properties, Inc. In addition to the Nabholz posts, he currently serves on the boards of Arkansas Research Alliance, Simmons Bank Advisory Board, CHI-St. Vincent Health System, Independent Living Services, UCA Purple Circle Foundation, Faulkner County Community Foundation, and St. Joseph Church Cemetery Commission. In addition, Charlie has held numerous former board appointments. Awards won throughout his career include the Distinguished Service Award from the Conway Chamber of Commerce, Arkansas Construction Hall of Fame by AGC of Arkansas, Distinguished Citizen Award by KARK, and the Distinguished Alumni Award by St. Joseph High School. Charlie finds time to golf, travel with Charlotte, and spend time with his children and their families as often as possible. Charlotte grew up in Washington County and is a graduate of Fayetteville High School. She is also a graduate of the Arkansas Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in Little Rock, where she earned the designation of Registered Nurse. She worked as a surgical nurse for a general surgeon in Little Rock upon graduation, where she continued to take courses at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Charlotte is currently a member of the Conway Civic League and is a patron member of the statewide organization The Committee of 100, which she has been involved with for 30 years, including acting as former chairperson. She and Charlie serve together in the Couple to Couple program at St. Joseph, which ministers to engaged couples; they have served in this capacity for over 20 years. Her past community and philanthropic involvement is impressive. Charlotte served as organizer and chairperson for the Keep Faulkner County Beautiful board; is a lifetime member and past president of Conway Junior Auxiliary; served on the board of Counseling Associates, Inc. for six years, at one time as chairperson; served on the Faulkner County Council on Aging board for nine years; was on the UCA Friends of Music board for four years; is past chairperson of the Christian Women’s Organization at St. Joseph; and chaired, along with Charlie, the Young Life board when their children were involved with the group. In addition, Charlotte has organized numerous fundraisers throughout the years. Her honors include the 1999 Counseling Associates Community Service award, United Way Volunteer of the Month for June 2001, 2002 Grand Marshall of the Faulkner County Fair Parade, recipient of the 2002 Conway Area Chamber of Commerce Good Neighbor Award, winner of the 2003 Crystal ARKeeper state award from the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission, the Faulkner County Leadership Institute Leadership Award in 2006, and the 2007 naming of the Charlotte Nabholz Gazebo in the Liberty WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 7
Charlie and Charlotte Nabholz with their children: Sarah Mitchell, Camilla Williamson, Gwen Azar, and Greg Nabholz.
Garden at Laurel Park by the Conway City Counsel. Somehow, Charlotte finds time to play tennis and bridge, to paint, and to travel.
How They Met
Like many couples, there are two versions to their meeting. According to Charlie, they met while boating with others on Lake Beaverfork in Conway. “I was out there with some guys, and she came to Conway from Little Rock for the day; she was on a date with another guy. I was acquainted with him, so when I saw him a few weeks later, I asked how that pretty girl was who he brought up to Conway.” The friend became teary-eyed and let Charlie know that Charlotte had, in fact, broken up with him. “She told him she didn’t want to waste his time, then he said we might make a good couple and encouraged me to give her a call. I said, ‘You bet!’ We had a date, and a year later we were married.” Charlotte’s side of the story is similar, with a few noted additions. “I was working as a nurse for two surgeons in Little Rock. The guy I was on the date with was a great guy, but there was nothing there for me. I knew there was no future and didn’t want to waste his time or mine, so I kindly let him know. By this time I was 23, and all my friends were married. People married young back then. I’d had a few close encounters,” she laughed. “At that time, there was no interstate between Little Rock and Conway. It took an hour-and-a-half to get to Conway on the two lane highway, and it was an ordeal to get to the lake. We spent the time out there, and I thought Charlie was really nice, but I thought he might be married. He was old enough to be married,” says Char8 WOMEN’S INC. / FEBRUARY 2015
lotte jokingly. “I didn’t really pay any attention; I just knew I wasn’t going out with this guy anymore.” Charlie called and invited Charlotte out for a Friday night date. “This was in September, and the Razorbacks were getting ready to play. The first game was going to be in Little Rock that Saturday. When he asked for Friday I wondered why he wasn’t asking me to the Razorback game,” she says. Charlie took Charlotte to Top of the Rock. “I had to impress her on the first date,” he says. “We really hit it off.” Much later, Charlotte learned that Charlie already had a date for that Razorback game. An inconsequential one, as it turned out.
The Dating Years
The Nabholz’ dated continually from that time on. The only potential issue to arise between them while dating was religion. Charlie was raised Catholic, and Charlotte was raised Baptist. The couple chose to research each other’s respective religion with an open heart and mind. “We tried to break up for about ten minutes. I always said Charlie was the best example of a Christian person I have ever met,” says Charlotte, who knew she was Catholic after studying the theology. “I was converted because I realized this is what I’d always believed. It is beautifully lived. It was what I’d been looking for all my life.” Charlotte joined the Catholic Church before the couple married. “Charlie joked that I’d become so converted he thought I might become a nun.” When the couple first began dating, Charlie would visit Little Rock on Friday and Saturday nights. Before long, he was driving in to see Charlotte on Friday, Saturday, and
Sunday, and he eventually threw in Wednesdays too. “It got too expensive to keep dating, so we decided we better get married,” jokes Charlie. He and Charlotte were engaged in July and married in October of 1964. “By the time I married, I was considered a bachelor,” shares Charlie. “My mother hoped I’d become a priest; three of my sisters were nuns, and I was her last hope since all my older brothers were married. She realized that was not going to happen. So I dated, and I thought I would fall in love at some point in time, but I was never comfortable with the thought of marrying anyone I’d dated. I was growing concerned about it happening and about even knowing if I would realize when it did. By age 25, my mother and I were praying that I would find the right person. I only had one shot. I prayed ‘let me know’ and had faith that I would.” Charlotte adds, “A lot of young people think they are in love and aren’t. It is hard. The decision I’d made is that I’d rather be miserable alone than miserable with someone else. I wouldn’t’ marry until I found the right person.” Says Charlie, “I was talking about this with a friend before I met Charlotte and asked how he knew. His advice was to just go ahead and marry whomever I was dating and hope it would work out. I didn’t agree with that, so I waited.” It was certainly worth the wait. “I feel like I am at home with Charlie. That feeling has stuck in my mind as the litmus test for knowing when you are in love. You are at peace and comfortable,” says Charlotte. “The comfort level was there on my first date with Charlotte. I felt my prayers were being answered. Of course there were things to work
Nabholz family (photo by Erica Erck Photography)
Nabholz family at Charlie and Charlotte’s granddaughter Ryan’s wedding. (photo by Joshua Duke)
out, but we worked those out, and I never looked back. This was the most important answer to any prayer I’d had in my life, and I still feel that way after 50 years. People tell me all the time that Charlotte is the best thing that ever happened to me, and I agree,” adds Charlie.
Love and Marriage
Charlie and Charlotte had four children in five years. Their lives revolved around their growing children for many years, but they also allowed time for growth as a couple. “We would plan weekends away and sometimes just tennis games or ballgames. We felt it was important for the kids to be away from us and for us to have time together. We thought the children shouldn’t be constantly hovered over by their parents.” The Nabholz’ credit their good life balance as a reason for their success in marriage. “Looking back
that was important, and we have so many memories.” Charlie also counts mutual respect and space as important to a lasting relationship. “She couldn’t change me, and I couldn’t change her, and we accepted that from the beginning. We knew we had different personalities, but we truly loved each other. We knew we could make it through anything, but it was important to give each other independence and room to be our own person. We are both coming from different mindsets, and we feel that is key.” Charlotte agrees and adds that sharing a deep spirituality and respect are also integral to longevity. “I don’t see how you can get through life together without that. Love is there first, but those are two important ingredients. From shared spirituality and respect come all these other benefits. You can’t make another person fulfill you. The
beautiful thing of marriage is that you each take on certain roles, so no one person has to do everything. It is truly a partnership if you let it work and don’t expect the other person fulfill you,” shares Charlotte. Their role in the couples ministry at St. Joseph also provides benefits for their own union. “At the church we work with engaged couples of all ages. We have been involved for over 20 years. It really gives us time to revisit what makes marriage work. When we talk to these other couples, we realize some of the things the books mention apply to us too. It has been good for us to have the refresher,” says Charlie. “I am thankful every moment of our life. I know I feel about Charlie like he is the most wonderful person I’ve ever known. He has provided wonderfully. The most amazing thing is that I’ve never heard him raise his voice against me or the children. He does get mad, but the way he handles it is amazing. He has wonderful relationships. He doesn’t have outbursts, even in business. He will calmly make a remark or will take a breather and deal with an issue later. He has always been soft spoken. I wish I could be that way. I’ve always been more demonstrative. Has good business sense and common sense,” says Charlotte. “I don’t know about that,” laughs Charlie. “It really is hard to believe it has been 50 years. It has flown by. I heard people growing up talking about how time flies. Of course when you are young you don’t think that will be the case, but it is. Hard to believe we were dating 51 years ago at this time,” he says to Charlotte, who adds, “It has been an amazingly wonderful life, and I do thank the good Lord for every minute.” WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 9
feature story
Manager, Diana Brewer, of Rocket Fizz in Downtown Conway is ready to help her customers find their favorite sweet treat.
“There was nothing like it in Arkansas. We picked Conway first because it was really starting to grow, and we had been hearing about that. We are just a good fit downtown. There’s that nostalgic feel, and it is a good location for us.” Diana Brewer, Rocket Fizz manager
Nostalgia. Fun. Family. By Kelly Sublett Photos by Brandy Strain These are all words describing Conway’s Rocket Fizz Soda Pop & Candy Shop on Oak Street downtown. “There was nothing like it in Arkansas,” says manager Diana Brewer. “We picked Conway first because it was really starting to grow, and we had been hearing about that. We are just a good fit 10 WOMEN’S INC. / FEBRUARY 2015
downtown. There’s that nostalgic feel, and it is a good location for us.” Rocket Fizz is a national franchise. Owners Danny McMullen and Diane Murray, of Russellville, brought the store to Conway in May 2014 and opened to rave reviews. The store carries novelties and vintage movie and concert posters, cardboard standees in addition to a myriad of candies and specialty sodas. “This is a family-friendly place,” Brewer says.
ROCKET FIZZ
Rocket Fizz has more than 100 flavors of saltwater taffy.
“We want everyone to be able to come in. Everything is for sale other than props — gifts, gags and toys.” Rocket Fizz carries things like Curly Wurly chocolate bars, the original Wooly Willy magnet game and sodas like “Erps’s Sarsparilla,” among the more than 400 different varieties available in the store, including those bottled under the Rocket Fizz label. You might want to try oddball flavors, too, like Sweet Corn or Buffalo Wing Soda. “It makes for a fun date night,” she says. “We get a lot of college kids. But we also get a lot of folks who were kids in the 1960s and 70s. I think the thing we hear most of the time is, ‘Wow. This place takes me back!’ We love that. “That’s the whole thing with Rocket Fizz. We want people to do that when they walk in. The children coming in for the first time are always so excited.” Rocket Fizz Conway carries more than 100 flavors of saltwater taffy and more than 100 varieties of root beer, alone. Brewer says if there is something you want, let them know. If they can get it, they will. Among the high-end goodies, customers will find British candies, gourmet chocolate and even sugarfree options available all the time. “Our biggest seller this season is this Beanboozled game,” she laughs. “We sold out of them at Christmas.” Jelly Belly’s Beanboozled is a spinner game that works like a dare. Whatever you land on, you have to eat, and people are taking their chances on tasting lookalike wild or mild flavors. Imagine biting into Stinky Socks and Lawn Clippings flavors. Perhaps the blue bean is Toothpaste flavor, or maybe it’s delicious Berry Blue. “It is so much fun,” she says. “Everyone seems to love it!” There is other edible fun, too, like Enchanted Unicorn Bandages, Tung Toos Tongue Art and a giant chocolate covered “Big Cherry.” Special orders are always welWWW.WOMENSINC.NET 11
Rocket Fizz Soda Shop and Candy Shop has thousands of sweet options to satisfy the sweet tooth in every customer who walks through the door.
come, and Brewer says the store is always willing to cater to special requests whenever possible. She has deals for bulk orders of candy, custom-label sodas for parties and events and has even helped with constructing wedding favors. “We will help people make gift baskets,” she says. “Basically, a customer will come in and tell us how much they want to spend, pick a few things out, and then we will go from there.” Future plans for Rocket Fizz Conway may include hosting birthday parties, but in the meantime, folks wanting an
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after-dinner treat can enjoy later operating hours. In the winter months, the shop is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m.- 6p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. “As soon as the weather warms up and the time changes, we will go back to our spring and summer hours, which is 8 p.m. on the weekdays and 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday,” Brewer says. Owners McMullen and Murray will soon open a Rocket Fizz store in Hot Springs, and have plans to expand to Bentonville and Fayetteville sometime in 2015-16.
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BEAUTY
What are
peptides and how do they work? S cience has proven that peptides can reduce wrinkles in your skin and reverse the signs of aging. So how do peptides in skin care products make your skin look younger? Many skin care products contain them, so just what are peptides? Peptides are tiny protein fragments (or small chains of amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins in the skin) that increase cellular communication within the skin. Various types of peptides exist with a multitude of functions. When peptides form a long chain of amino acids, they become proteins. When they are in a short chain of amino acids, they are able to penetrate the top layer of our skin and send signals to our cells to let them know how to function.
One important protein in our skin is collagen. Collagen gives our skin its thickness and suppleness. When collagen breaks down in the skin (from age and environmental factors like the sun and stress), smooth, young skin slowly becomes thinner and over time wrinkles form. As collagen deteriorates, it produces certain peptides, these peptides send a “message” to your skin that it has lost collagen and needs to generate more. Peptides help promote natural elements of healthy skin including collagen production (which helps plump the skin), and neuropeptides helps relax repetitive facial muscle contractions (which softens wrinkles). When skin care peptides are applied topically, your skin “thinks” that it’s a collagen break down product and that your body needs to manufacture new collagen. So you can successfully mini-
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mize wrinkles and give your skin a more youthful appearance with the application of skin care peptides that trigger the production of collagen. It is therefore important to use a good peptide wrinkle cream.
When will I begin to see results?
Peptides go to work immediately within the skin, but their results are not seen until after the collagen has a chance to plump and thicken the under layers of skin. This process may take 28 days (for younger skin) and up to 56 days (for older skin). While you’ll see immediate changes in texture and tone, give peptides a good evaluation with three months of continued regular use. In battling the signs of aging, it’s important to incorporate peptide creams and peptide serums in order to help encourage the skin to rebuild lost Collagen. Studio SKIN offers several professional grade, corrective skin care lines. Please stop by, or call Angela Jackson, Licensed Aesthetician, for a private skin care consultation. Angela Jackson, owner of studio SKIN has been a licensed aesthetician for 16 years. She currently sits as an appointed member on the Arkansas Dept. Of Health advisory committee. Angela is a member of Associated Skincare Professionals, an organization dedicated to the promotion of safe, quality skin care. Angela practices in the Fayetteville area, has for over 14 years, under the direct supervision of a board certified plastic surgeon. Angela has been offering skincare in the downtown Conway area for the last 6 years. She offers expertise and certifications in corrective skincare, facials, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, airbrush tanning, full body waxing and make-up.
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around the county
FASHION FOR ALL By Colleen Holt Photos by Brandy Strain
Frumpy clothing beware! Southern Savvy boutique in Greenbrier is kicking you to the curb and bringing awesome fashion for all shapes and sizes to the forefront. Ashton Snowden Pruitt, 27, is the owner of this smartly decorated and designed shop in the heart of Greenbrier. Southern Savvy is the rebirth of a dream that started inside of a salon in Clinton a little over a year ago. In a 400-square-foot space at Southern Belle Boutique and Salon, Ashton opened a store that offered fashion-forward clothing and completer items (such as jewelry and scarves). During the next few months, Ashton’s desire to own a unique boutique was growing larger than her surroundings. So, one weekend shortly before Christmas she decided to make a change and move into a larger space – and that space had to be closer to her family in Greenbrier. “On Monday, I moved out. On Tuesday we looked at this building. On Wednesday I signed the lease and on Thursday we unloaded,” Ashton said. Her stepdad, Robert Strick, started his work on Friday, painting and building counters. Within two weeks – and just in time for a great holiday sales season – Southern Savvy was open at “the best location you can ask for in Greenbrier.” The new 1,800-square-foot store at 52 South Broadview (at the intersection of highways 65 and 25) allows Ashton to carry a lot of new items. Some brands carried at Southern Savvy are Yellow Box shoes; Corky’s; Southern Trend (casual shirts from a designer in Fayetteville); Just Knotz (handmade headbands and bracelets); LA Idol jeans (these are popular among teens); and CC toboggans. Ashton can also do custom monogramming on bags, and has started creating custom T-shirts for individuals and businesses. Plus, the buy one get one free rack is definitely worth a trip 16 WOMEN’S INC. / FEBRUARY 2015
SOMETHING SAVVY
Ashton Pruitt (center), owner of Southern Savvy Boutique, with her mother Elisha Strick, and her grandmother Linda Dickey.
to the boutique. Online ordering is also available at www.ishopsouthern.com <http://www.ishopsouthern.com> . “You can see all our merchandise and we have free shipping,” she said. Ashton attended market this month and has hopes to start offering more brands – including one line of jeans that will excite her younger female customers. An unhappy shopping experience planted the seed in Ashton’s mind as to her ability to offer clothing for all shapes and sizes. “I was a little heavier than I am now and I was shopping in stores in Conway,” Ashton said. “I was having a hard time finding clothes to fit my curves. I wanted to dress my age, not frumpy. I left the stores feeling disheartened and said, ‘I’m going to open my own store and be just as competitive as you’. It was a not a good customer experience.” Therefore, Southern Savvy has clothing for women from Small to 3X.
“I want to make my customers feel beautiful, because they are. I want to be nice and help them feel good about themselves. I want to empower women. Clothing and jewelry are just the icing on the cake.” Ashton is definitely surrounded by family at her new store. Her grandmother, Linda Dickey, works mornings. Her stepdad’s handiwork can be seen everywhere – including a darling lighted Southern Savvy sign that helps to bring the décor together. Ashton is largely in charge of the “back side” of the business, such as ordering, web site maintenance and social media marketing (Southern Savvy is on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram). Ashton also has a blog on her website called Belle Buzz. The name of the store itself has a special significance – the double S comes from the names of her younger brother, Scott, and her little sister, Savannah. Ashton and Scott were born 18 months apart in WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 17
age and Ashton said they were both “pistols” growing up. Scott passed away in a vehicle accident in 2011, yet Ashton said he is still helping to guide her life. “We fed off each other. He was my best friend,” she said. “We started out as kids selling baseball and Pokemon cards. We tried to sell stuff to the younger kids in our neighborhood. We both have the entrepreneurial spirit.” Ashton has been selling things since an early age – first as a top seller of Girl Scout cookies and later as a 10-year employee at Joe’s Pizza in Greenbrier. Ashton said at times she will get a “gut feeling” about a decision she is trying to make, and she feels it’s Scott “telling me to do something.” Southern Savvy is an outgrowth of a gut feeling. “Scott loved clothes. He had really good taste. As a child he would lay out his clothes for the next day. I’m kind of doing this store in his honor.” Ashton also loves the definition of the word Savvy. “The definition is to have knowledge or understanding. It is a synonym for smart or wise,” she said. “I feel it was a smart decision to move to Greenbrier. I have family here, I’m a third-generation Greenbrier Panther. Without the community support, and of course my family, this would not be a success.” You would think that running her own business would keep a girl busy, but not Ashton. She also has her own morning radio show on KVOM in Morrilton called “Mouth of the South,” does freelance wedding videography, and helps her husband, Lane Pruitt, with marketing for the Clinton Livestock Auction. Lane is the youngest sale barn owner in America at age 29, and the couple recently bought the old Dairy Coop
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Building in Damascus. They plan to move the livestock auction into that space in a few months. Ashton earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and found a job at River Valley Radio before she even finished school. “I started out in Russellville, and was promoted to my show in Morrilton after six months. I’ve done the show in Morrilton now for five years.” Ashton brought home to Arkansas the Radio Personality of the Year award for three years straight from the Texas Regional Radio Awards show. Ashton leaves her home in Choctaw at 4 a.m. each weekday to exercise and “burn up the roads,” she said. She travels to Morrilton for her radio job from 6 a.m. until noon, and then ends her “official” workday at Southern Savvy until 6 p.m. “They should call me the Tri-County Rambler,” she laughed. At the top of her web site, Ashton has printed Proverbs 31:25 – “She is clothed with strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future.” These words to live by are perfect for this young entrepreneur who has clearly taken on the world, and loves it! “I always say, if you don’t do a million things, you’re not ever going to be a millionaire. If I work hard, I can achieve my dream.” For more information about Southern Savvy, visit the web site at www.ishopsouthern.com; call 501.581.3887 or email shopsouthernbelle@gmail.com. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Southern Savvy invites everyone to a grand opening weekend, which will begin with a ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27.
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spirituality
Speaking Words of Encouragement
R
By Andrea Lennon
ecently I went for a much-needed walk around my neighborhood. It was one of those nights when my mind was swirling with the details of life and my heart was heavy.
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As I walked, I saw an elderly couple that lives down the street. I visit with this couple from time to time, but we are not close friends. We talk about their health, which isn’t good, and my kids, and we let our dogs sniff noses. When I saw this sweet couple in their yard, I decided to stop and visit. It was a short visit but a nice one; and I was happy to hear that they were doing well. As we talked, I noticed that my heart did not seem as heavy as when I left my house. My mind was not swirling with all the details of life. Instead, I was just thankful to be on my walk and to hear that God was at work in my neighbors’ lives. As I started to leave, the frail husband did something that I will not soon forget. With great effort he lifted his head in order to look at me. He then worked hard to focus his eyes on my face. Slowly and purposefully he told me, “We love you.” Surprised and touched by the effort that it took for him to say this, I didn’t know how to respond. I simply said, “I love you too.” As I said goodbye and continued on my walk, I started thinking. I thought about the significance of his words. I then thought about the chance that we have each day to bless the life of others. I was reminded that we never
know how a small thing like saying, “we love you” can actually be a big thing in another person’s life. That night the man’s words rang “big” in my heart. Speaking words of encouragement involves using words to bless the life of others. The significance of a spoken blessing cannot be overstated. The Bible is full of wonderful examples of God’s people blessing one another. In the Old Testament, God instructed His people to bless one another by saying, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26, New International Version) This passage of Scripture, along with others, teaches the importance of using our words to help others not hurt them. Have you noticed that the words of others can leave a scar in your life that is deep and painful? It grieves the heart of the God when this type of words are spoken between His children. I am sure that you can think of examples of words that have hurt you. My question is, can you think of words that have helped you? If so, you know the significance of the spoken blessing. Maybe the words came in a card, email, text, phone conversation, or face to face. No matter how the words were delivered, they made an impact because they were delivered with love and sincerity of heart. Here are a few ways you can share words of encouragement with the people that you love. On special events like birthdays, anniversaries, or “send off ’s” to camps or activities, take time to encourage the family member who is being celebrated or sent off. This time of encouragement involves each family member sharing one or two things that they recognize and value about the individual. Then pray for the person and ask God to bless them in a special way. Also, written notes in backpacks or lunch sacks can remind our family members that we are praying for them throughout their day. I also intentionally look for opportunities to speak words of encouragement into the life of my extended family members and friends. Again, special occasions like birthdays, job promotions, and important life events offer opportunities to bless the life of others. Some practical ways to bless the life of extended family members and friends include creating a top ten list where you record all the things that you love and value about the person being recognized. You can also write a letter to them and chronicle your family or friendship journey. In the letter, take the time to highlight all the ways that God has used that person in your life. There is a good chance that you remember details of your relationship that the other person has forgotten or never knew touched you. Remember to share with your family member or friend how you are praying for them. Isn’t it good to know that as wives, mothers, aunts, friends, or co-workers, we can use our words to build up the most important people in our lives? This week take time to bless the people around you with heartfelt words of love and encouragement. Andrea Lennon lives in Conway, Arkansas, with her husband, Jay, and sons, Jake and Andrew. Andrea ministers to the women of Arkansas through a speaking and writing ministry called True Vine Ministry. To learn more about this ministry, access Andrea’s website at www. andrealennon.net. WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 21
shopping
r e h for HydroPeptide with volumizing peptides and skin enhancing peptides. Gift certificates available at Studio Skin
Red/White Quarter Foil Bucket $32.95 The Resident Chef Gourmet dessert, soup & dip mixes. $6.95 Red/White Scarf by Mud Pie $18.95 State bracelet $12.95 Mud Pie infant socks $7.95 Teething Bling Jewelry $22.95 Available at Cornerstone Pharmacy 14ct white gold, garnet and diamond ring sterling silver, CZ and garnet stones. Available at Dayer Jewelers
Petit Santore onsie Sam & Sydney infant jumper Ann Loren Toddler 2 piece outfit Sandals, all sizes Available at Leigh Ann’s Children’s Boutique 22 WOMEN’S INC. / FEBRUARY 2015
Stephen Dweck carved bronze bangle bracelets Stephen Dweck ring. Available at Fletcher Smith’s
FOR HER Hobo Lauren wallet $110 Estee Lauder Modern Muse perfume starting at $60 Pandora bracelet starting at $65 (gift set as shown $200. $235 value) Available at Lefler’s
Michael Stars red paisley print scarf $58 Aquiesse Mission Fig Candle and Pink Peony Candle $27 G. Spinelli freshwater pearl/copper hoops $65 Prayer bead/freshwater pearl bracelet $25 Multi-color agate bracelet $45 Double chain/rhinestone cluster $125 Quartz/baroque pearl and tassel $125 Available at Grand on Oak
Metallic tank $29 Sequin shorts $46 Long bronze necklace with turquoise detail $25 Available at The French Lilly
14kt white gold and 1/2ct total weight floating diamond earrings $1,199. Personalized stackable rings available in white, yellow, rose gold or sterling silver: starting at $25. Exclusive in-house designed sideways cross pendants starting at $42. Available at Brooks Fine Jewelry “You and Me” pillow $39.99 Mr. and Mrs. Ring dish $9.99 Conversation heart lip gloss $2.99 Hot pink scarf $14.99 Available at Statements
Brighton Ecstatic Heart necklace $88 Ecstatic Heart earrings $72 Love Beat pill box $21 First Kiss Coin Purse $48 Alcazar travel mirror $54 Available at Tickled Pink WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 23
FOR HIM
m i h for
Yeti Ramblers hot and cold insulated $29.99-$34.99 Kershaw pocket knives made in the USA with lifetime warranty $29.99-$149.99 Craftsman tool sets lifetime warranties $19.99-$299.99 Available at Ace Hardware
Men’s Citizen Echo Drive watch Available at Dayer Jewelers 24 WOMEN’S INC. / FEBRUARY 2015
Men’s Reactor Warp watch with Never Dark Technology Pen (gift with watch purchase) Available at Fletcher Smith’s
Moonshine cologne $76. State Traditions hat $25. Happy Socks $12. Saxx underwear $31.95. Smathers and Branson cufflinks $55. Smathers and Branson key fob $28. Available at Bell & Sward
Red plaid toiletry bag $19.99. Men’s heart argyle socks $9.99. Razorback magnetic bottle opener $24.99. Available at Statements
sweet treats
l l a r fo
Patticakes - Cupcakes, cookies and more for your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day.
Edible Arrangements - Enjoy extra sweet savings on our fresh fruit gifts!
Julie’s Sweet Shop - Choose from a variety of sweet treats for your favorite Valentine.
Dunkin Donuts Valentine’s Day Donuts Available at Dunkin’ Donuts for a limited time!
Ed’s Bakery - Check out our Valentine Specials on Facebook!
WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 25
tax time guide
Tips to filing your 2014 Tax Return Did you know?
Tax season is on the horizon. Organization and good record-keeping are keys to filing an accurate return in a timely manner. Failure to submit income and expenditure information can subject a person to an audit and additional financial repercussions. To stay organized, set aside a folder to contain any items applicable to your tax filings. Make a list of expected documents, including income summaries from work, bank interest statements, student loan information, mortgage documents, charitable donation receipts, and similar items. Check these documents off your list as you place them in the folder. If documents are missing, promptly seek them out from the appropriate sources. Once all of your the necessary documents have been compiled, make an appointment with an accountant or tax professional.
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TAX BREAKS
These tax breaks are often overlooked
Taxpayers across the country are looking for ways to lower their tax bills or increase their tax refunds. Perhaps the most effective way to do just that is to take advantage of the numerous potential tax deductions available. Though tax laws change each year and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always best to consult with a tax professional before making a questionable deduction, the following are a few oft-overlooked deductions that might trim your tax bill and keep your money in your pocket and out of the coffers of the Internal Revenue Service.
Charitable items
Many taxpayers are fully aware they can deduct donated vehicles or monetary gifts to charities, but there are other items related to charitable efforts that might be deducted as well. The cost of supplies you purchase for use in charitable endeavors or uniforms purchased that you wear while doing charitable work can typically be considered charitable donations, making them worthy of a tax deduction.
percentage of your adjusted gross income before they can be deducted, so look into the law and examine your expenses to see if you qualify.
Moving costs
Relocating for a new job? Then chances are you can write off many of your moving expenses. New college grads may also be eligible to write off some of their moving expenses if they are relocating for their first job out of college.
Educational expenses
Men and women who want to further their education might be eligible to earn tax breaks because of that ambition. The tuition and fees deduction allows you to take up to a certain amount off your taxable income without even itemizing. Other
credits, including the American opportunity tax credit, are available as well. Visit the IRS Web site (www.irs.gov) or discuss your situation with a professional tax preparer to determine your eligibility.
Home improvements
Some home improvements might still be eligible for tax credits thanks to a provision in the 2013 tax bill. Residential energy upgrades to energyefficient products might not be worth as large a deduction as they were in the past, but they can still help homeowners trim a little off of their tax bills.
Costs related to job hunting
Men and women who are currently employed but looking for work within their fields might be able to deduct the costs associated with their job hunt, including resume design and printing and employment agency fees. These costs typically must exceed a
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TAX BREAKS
How to prepare for tax time
Although some are ready to say their fond farewells to 2014, thought needs to be given to the 12 months that just passed as tax-filing season approaches.Tax season is here, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never too soon to begin preparations for filing income taxes. Some people prefer to toast the new year and then arrange appointments with their accountants, while others use the new year as an opportunity to get organized and start compiling paperwork and tax questions. Preparing for tax time at the dawn of a new year can make the process go more smoothly in the months ahead. Here are some tips on how to prepare for the upcoming tax season. Start a documents folder. Employers,
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charitable organizations, banks and other financial institutions begin mailing out tax forms from the previous year in early January. Individuals should keep their eyes open for any mail that appears to be tax-related. Store these documents in a folder that can protect any sensitive information. Such folders also make information more accessible as more and more documents arrive in the mail. Begin collecting receipts and itemizing expenses. Many expenses are tax-deductible. These can include education costs, moving expenses, home improvements, medical expenses, charitable donations and childcare costs. Store receipts and other documentation, including canceled checks, with the
other tax documents. These will come in handy should an audit ever be ordered. Create a spreadsheet of important information. It is handy to have all financial information at the ready. Some accountants will lower their fees if people do some of the filing preparation work themselves. This can include creating a profit/loss statement on investments, or working up a tally of charitable donations. Make an itemized list of all pertinent information so it will be handy when tax-filing time arrives. Decide on a filing option. Technology has made filing taxes much easier. Tax preparation software is available for those who choose to file their taxes themselves.
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events
30 WOMEN’S INC. / FEBRUARY 2015
B lackbird A cademy A lchemy S ong w riting S ho w case
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events Conway Regional State of Health Luncheon
Conway Regional President & CEO Jim Lambert emphasized the importance of recruiting more physicians to Faulkner County, the positive impact of the Private Option for Arkansas hospitals and the cost and health benefits of corporate wellness plans at the third annual Conway Regional State of Health Luncheon held at Central Baptist College on Jan. 13. For the past several years, Lambert said Conway Regional has been working hard to recruit enough physicians to Conway to keep up with the growing population of Faulkner County. One such effort to provide access to care was the opening of the Conway Regional After Hours Clinic several months ago as an alternative to the emergency department, Lambert said. Lambert said with the Private Option now offering insurance coverage to those with incomes between 0-138 percent of the poverty line, Conway Regional has been able to serve 7,229 more people in Faulkner County, and an additional 13,236 in the hospital’s five-county service area. Arkansas has seen the largest reduction in the underserved population than any other state, Lambert said, and he thinks it’s a reflection of the Private Option. Arkansas’ uninsured population went from 22.5 percent in 2013 to 12.4 percent in midyear 2014 — a 10.1 percent decrease in those without insurance. Before the Private Option, Conway Regional lost about $3.9 million paying for the uninsured. This year, that number has improved by about 11 percent, and the hospital lost about $3.5 million. “We’re still losing,” Lambert said, “but we’re losing less than before. We’re still taking care of these patients, but the difference is, we’re being compensated for the care,” he said.
32 WOMEN’S INC. / FEBRUARY 2015
in the news Family Run, 5K and 10K on Saturday, Feb. 7 in Conway. The race was initiated by the chapter as a way to honor the memories of Charlotte and Stella Mulhearn, two children from Conway who received treatment at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. In addition to the race, First United Methodist Church in Conway will be hosting a Pasta Party on Friday, February 6. All proceeds from Freezin’ for a Reason will directly benefit Arkansas Children’s Hospital. To register for the race, or for more information, visit freezinforareason.org.
Conway Public Schools Foundation Kick-Off Event Chase Race and Paws
March 7 is the date for the 10th Annual Chase Race and Paws. You may register online at www.chaserace.info. This is the third year for the new course. The race will start/finish at Simon Park, 805 Spring St., Conway. Chase Race & Paws is a non-profit event. All proceeds from the event are donated to “Arkansas Children’s Hospital” for brain trauma research and “Friends of Conway Animal Shelter” for care and/or treating rescued animals annually. Proceeds from the previous 9 years of the race totaled $103,000. Each agency has received $51,500. Thank you Conway and all race participants.
Arch Jones, President of the Foundation Board of Directors, and Conway Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Greg Murry address a crowd of supporters at the kickoff event for the Conway Public Schools Foundation. The foundation hopes to raise $1-million dollars for an endowment to fund teacher grants. For more information about the foundation and the campaign project, you can go to cpsfoundation.com.
Freezin’ for a Reason Race to Benefit Arkansas Children’s Hospital
October 2, 2014 – The Faulkner County Circle of Friends chapter, a group of individuals working to raise funds and awareness for Arkansas Children’s Hospital, will be having their 3rd annual Freezin’ for a Reason 2K WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 33
A Look into sinuses
Winter Sinus Infections
Winter colds and sinus infections are more common due to the prevalence of the common cold virus and other factors that allow transmission of infection-close proximity (putting all of us into a fish bowl inside our homes, schools, and work places), and increased incidence of bacterial infection during the winter. Infections are acute if they last up to 6 weeks and chronic if longer. Many adults have persistent symptoms with minimal relief, even after antibiotics. If their infections are recurrent, meaning 3 to 4 or more, this is abnormal since adult infections should be less than 1 to 2 per year.
OUTPATIENT OR IN OFFICE SINUS PROCEDURE
Why do some patients require a sinus procedure in the outpatient surgery center and others in the office setting? • Some insurance companies allow procedures only in the outpatient surgery center while other insurance companies will allow procedures in the office. • Some patients have other problems that can only be addressed in the surgery center, such as intra-nasal polyps, septal deviation (crooked partition separating the nostrils) and turbinate hypertrophy (enlargement of the tissue in the nose). Why do you enjoy doing sinus procedures? • Sinus surgery is very challenging. Every patient has similar symptoms, but a different story. The diagnosis is easy and some of the procedures are often easy, but some are more difficult. We helped 280 patients get sinus
GUATEMALA MISSION (APRIL 2015)
I understand that you are going on a mission trip to Guatemala this spring! Yes, I am taking my office surgical assistant, Karon Leach, and my operating room surgical assistant, Jamie Burbridge. We are going to Western Guatemala to operate on patients in the mountainous region. We will be the first medical mission team to complete the balloon sinus procedure (there are no physicians in Guatemala that have completed this procedure). This will be the biggest challenge of my career. We will do the procedure under no anesthesia, depending upon translators for communication, and our patients will only have one x-ray view of their sinuses (no CT sinus like we use here). I am open to this because of their medical needs and our faith that God will allow us to help these people. We will certainly accept any donations to assist in the purchase of supplies that are needed to make these sinus balloon procedures a success. Please contact our office for any additional information regarding donations for the mission trip.
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relief last year alone! How do patients feel after having a sinus procedure? • All patients will have nasal congestion which last 7 to 10 days. Considering that most patients have nasal congestive symptoms before surgery, it’s a necessary trade off. • Over 90% of patients have very little pain. They can take narcotics for less than 24 to 36 hours and then can take extra strength Tylenol, Advil, or Motrin if needed. • Most patients are ready to return to work in 2 to 3 days, some even sooner! What is upcoming with the Sinus Balloon Procedure? • We are presently using the balloon to dilate maxillary (cheek sinuses) In children and adolescents in conjunction with adenoid removal. • The balloon is being approved to use to dilate the Eustachian tube which is the tube that connects the back of the nose to the middle ear. I can see doing this in the future for many of our adult patients who require long term ear tube placement. There is constant research and development that I have been involved in at the Acclarent Headquarters in San Francisco recently. What can I do if I keep getting sinus infections or I am tired of recurrent sinus infections? • Contact “The Sinus Guy”, Dr. Doug Stroud at Conway Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic. www.conwayentclinic.com Dr. Stroud grew up in central Arkansas; he graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas Medical School in Little Rock. He interned at Emory University and has been a licensed medical doctor for over 30 years.
real estate review
2014 a great year for Faulkner County By Bill Tobias
Year End Highlights Faulkner County
It was another great year for Faulkner County homes sales overall. In 2014, home sales were flat as compared to 2013, which was a very good year compared to the recent past. We did see our market sales tied to both interest rates and world events, Q2 was slower than historical patterns as interest rates rose slightly and we did see a drop in sales across all price bands. During the second half of the year, interest rates dropped to at or below the 4% range and sales were at or better than the past 5-year monthly trend. Pricing was also flat or down very slightly in some cases as compared to 2013. Other key factors of interest were the type of financing used in 2014: 18% of home sales were paid by cash, 42% conventional loan, 18% FHA, 9% VA and also RD, and 4% other methods. Two years ago FHA loans accounted for over 50%, however, based on changes with FHA mortgage insurance, lower lender down payments on conventional loans, and changes in the stock market has shifted the focus from FHA to other loan types. FHA is considering lowering their mortgage insurance from 1.35% to .85% which should make FHA loans more competitive. As we start 2015, inventory levels are significantly lower than last year and even
lower than the typical seasonal declines, so this coupled with the current low interest rates make it a great time to buy and sell in Faulkner County.
2015 Predictions
Economists say the housing market is showing mixed signals because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s normalizing, leveling off of a much more rapid recovery we saw in 2013 - 2014 and this would be unsustainable going forward. In the 2014 national market, we have seen an increase in job creation, improved gross domestic product, and historical highs in the stock market which have all contributed to the steady advances in the housing market. We have also seen the return to normal price appreciation and the projection is that the national market will experience increases in home prices albeit slow going forward. This coupled with the return of historical low 30-year fixed interest rates would indicate the increase in home ownership in 2015. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae announced a 3% conventional loan down-payment program will be introduced that will be available for qualified first-time homebuyers. In my opinion, there are, however, some offsetting factors which include tight credit standards, foreclosures have falling back to pre-recession levels, fewer first-time home buyers in the market and sluggish new home building sales. Although no one knows what the Federal Reserve will do,
many economists believe with the national debt that interest rates will increase during the second half of 2015. Based on all the facts, I believe that we will have a flat market in Faulkner County in 2015 compared to 2014. I suspect 2015 we will have a better first half with slowing sales in Q3 and Q4 as interest rates start to climb. We did see local housing sales slow when interest rates rose in Q2 of 2014. Although Faulkner County does not directly correlate with the national market, there is clear evidence that when the interest rates rise nationally, home sales do slow down in Faulkner County.
Housing Market Trends
The kitchen will continue and increasingly be the hub of the home with more buyers wanting an open floor plan. Although granite will still have great appeal, quartz countertops are becoming a hot contender, as it is a nature stone that is more durable and needs less maintenance than granite. We will also see an increase in porcelain floors, as you can now get porcelain floors that imitate wood and other floor coverings but are more durable. In the area of new construction, you will see more multiple master sites, each having its own bathroom area. Such an arrangement allows for grown children and aging parents to move in for short or long-term stays. When empty, this is also ideal for out-oftown guests.
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homes
“I got down there, and you couldn’t see a rooftop. I thought, ‘Are my eyes playing tricks on me? Are there really no rooftops?’”
Anne and Bob Mann are enjoying their new home in Vilonia. 36 WOMEN’S INC. / FEBRUARY 2015
Anne Mann looks at what is left of her Vilonia home after the April 2014 tornado.
REBUILDING AFTER TORNADO
ALL IS NOT LOST
MANNS REBUILD FOLLOWING DEVASTATING EF-4 TORNADO By Rachel Parker Dickerson Photos by Brandy Strain After losing their home in the April 2014 tornado, Anne Mann of Vilonia and her husband, Bob, and their 17-year-old twins, Connor and Chloe Porter, moved into a new home at the end of October. “We finally feel settled,” Mann said. “We got to have Thanksgiving and Christmas here, so we’re excited.” The family lived in their previous home for five and a half years before the EF-4 tornado wiped out nearly their entire neighborhood — about 50 homes, she said. Mann recalled the events of the evening. Her husband was at work far from Vilonia. Her children were safe in Conway. She was home alone and had the weather on in the background while attending
to other tasks. Friends and family members began to call and text, asking if she was aware of how the weather was shaping up. She started to take shelter in the home, but her husband called and insisted she go to the shelter at the high school. “I had only been there about three minutes when someone said (the tornado) was across the street,” she said. When the storm was over, she heard it had hit her neighborhood. She drove as close to the area as she could, and then she and all her neighbors were out of their vehicles, moving debris, trying to get in. “I got down there, and you couldn’t see a rooftop. I thought, ‘Are my eyes playing tricks on me? Are there really no rooftops?’ It looked like a bomb went off. There was nothing left.” Following the devastation, the family moved
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This cross and Razorback were some of the only things the Mann family was able to salvage from the tornado.
38 WOMEN’S INC. / FEBRUARY 2015
into a rental house where they planned and built their new home with the expertise of Shayne Hobbs Construction. The brick home has a Craftsman look with natural cedar shutters and columns, a sturdy wooden front door with a multiple-paned window, and three-pane windows throughout the home. Stacked stone is used at the base of the columns and inside in the living room, where it reaches from floor to ceiling around the gas fireplace. The mantel has an antique finish, which matches the kitchen cabinets that remind Mann of the ones in her former kitchen. “I told my husband, ‘I have to have my
antique cabinets back,’” she said. Oil-rubbed bronze cabinet pulls in the kitchen coordinate with various other types of fixtures throughout the home. The kitchen backsplash tiles are alternating thin strips of glass, ceramic and chrome. “We were really happy with the way it turned out,” Mann said. She was also excited to get granite countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms — an upgrade from their previous home. The floors are hardwood (a deep brown called Monte Cristo) in the common areas, 18-inch tile in wet areas and carpet in the bedrooms. A cozy brown called Portabella covers most of the walls other
than the bathrooms, which are painted in a comforting blue called Refuge. Among the local vendors used in the construction process were Ridout, DeBoard Electronics, Southern Pipe and Plumbing, and Spivey Painting. Mann was pleased to report they added an in-ground storm shelter to their new home. The family also had a nice surprise in all the excitement of rebuilding. Without anyone realizing it, the family who lived across the street in their old neighborhood built a new home across the street in their new neighborhood. She concluded, “We love it. We’re happy to be settled.” WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 39
the arts
Arts Scene Art at any age
Often when I tell people I run an arts academy, they have visions of adorable little children finger painting and skipping and singing – which is all fine and well, except for the fact that all they see are little kids. These assumptions are the result of a somewhat unspoken idea in our society that the arts ARE just for kids. Something fun to do after school, like baseball or track, something to enrich our lives until we grow up. But the arts aren’t meant to be a placeholder only in our younger years – just as intramural leagues and marathons provide outlets for adults to continue to enjoy sports past their school days, there are a variety of options for people to continue to explore the arts at every stage of life.
Toddlers/Preschool
them the freedom to explore their creativity without any pressure. Eventually they’ll find something that clicks.
Jr. High/ High School
As children get older, they are often encouraged to put all their focus on schoolwork, getting into a good college, and participating in activities that will gain them the best scholarships. All of which are valuable endeavors. But keep in mind that the teenage years are often the most difficult socially, emotionally, and developmentally. Which means that it’s also when your kids are most in need of positive outlets; for many teenagers the arts are the only thing that can fill that need.
This is the age when our little brains are like sponges waiting to take in whatever comes our way. While enrolling your toddlers in local arts classes or lessons is a great way to introduce them to art, it’s not the only way. Incorporate art projects at home- with Pinterest at your fingertips even the most hesitant parent can find fun ideas. Do art with them; show them its okay to get messy, to color outside the lines. Dance with them, play dress up, make up your own stories. Encourage them- even if you can’t tell the difference between their drawing of piglets from their family portrait, don’t worry about correcting them or fixing their work. Now is when they need to learn its okay to express what they need to through art.
College
Elementary School
Adulthood
Depending on where your kids go to school, they may already have access to regular art and music classes. But if you see that your child has a talent or an inclination towards a specific genre, cultivate that. After-school classes, summer camps and programs, workshops at the library or the arts center- make an effort to seek out these opportunities. If your child hasn’t quite found their creative outlet, let them try new things – a pottery class, sewing, voice lessons- whatever it may be, give
40 WOMEN’S INC. / FEBRUARY 2015
For countless young people, college is a time to start over – a new town, new friends, newfound freedom. It’s also a great chance to venture out and try new things. Now is the perfect time to enroll in photography, sewing, modern dance class. Take advantage of this time when you are surrounded by so many options and a plethora of talented, knowledgeable instructors. Maybe you find out in sewing class that you can’t sew a straight seam – now you know! But maybe, just maybe, you find out you love the act of creating pottery, or that you actually have an eye for black and white portraits. You might just have a semester of fun, or find a brand new hobby, or perhaps even a new career path. I meet adults all the time who tell me they used to dance, used to sing, used to act or paint or play a musical instrument. And even as they admit that part of their history to me, I can see they miss it. That some part of who they once were feels absent. I get it- being an adult is hard, with trying to balance work and bills and family and friends and still maintain some semblance of sanity in the process. How do you fit the arts into all that too? If you used to sing, why not look into the
church choir? If you used to act, maybe it’s worth a shot to audition for a local production. If you used to dance, what’s the harm in trying an adult ballet class again? Or if you never got a chance to do those things, why not try now? Show your kids its okay to try to explore, to put yourself out there in the world. Maybe you can’t enroll in a year round class, but there are all types of 4, 6, 8, or 10 week workshops specifically for adults offered by local arts schools, extended learning branches of universities, museums, and arts centers.
Retirement
I’ve seen men and women in their 50’s pick up a paintbrush after 30 years of ignoring their creativity. I watched my grandpa teach himself to play the piano in his 60’s. My father, who hasn’t written for fun since college, just asked for a computer to put in his room at the nursing home so he could write again. All of these people have shown me that you truly are never too old to express yourself, or to learn. Instead of the Golden Years, why not make them the Colorful Years? Whether it’s reviving an old passion or finding a new one, don’t hesitate. In most cases retirees have worked hard all their lives- now’s the time to enjoy yourself! My grandmother never got to take dance class when she was a kid, and always regretted it until age 79 when she enrolled in my adult tap class. She may not have been moving along with Gene Kelly, but she picked up a few steps. What have you got to lose? All in all, the beauty in the arts is that they can be what you what them to be, what you need them, in different ways at different stages. The important thing is to not be afraid to find where they fit in your life. Jennie Strange is the founder and Executive Director of Blackbird Academy of Arts, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing quality performing and visual arts education. She lives in Conway with her husband, Statler, and a random assortment of dogs, goats, and chickens. To submit your arts calendar events, email Jennie@blackbirdacademy.org
Artist Highlight Elizabeth Williams
Actor with the Lantern Theatre; Production Assistant at Episcopal Collegiate School
FEBRUARY Arts Events
Please check out the event website for more information and pricing. February 16 February 1 • UCA Jazz Ensembles Con• Theatrical Experience: cert @ UCA Snow Fine Arts Charming Princes @ Reynolds Performance Hall; 10:00 a.m. Recital Hall; 7:30 p.m. www. www.uca.edu/cfac (G) uca.edu/cfac (G) February 5 • Jessica Fellowes- A Distinguished Lecture @ Reynolds Performance Hall; 7:30 p.m. www.uca.edu/reynolds (PG13) February 9 • Justin Cook, UCA Faculty Trombone Recital @ UCA Snow Fine Arts Recital Hall; 7:30 p.m. www.uca.edu/cfac (G) February 10 • Common – A Distinguished Lecture @ Reynolds Performance Hall; 7:30 p.m. www.uca. edu/reynolds (PG13) February 11 • UCA Symphonic Band Concert @ Reynolds Performance Hall; 7:30 p.m. www. uca.edu/cfac (G) February 12 • Catherine Kehoe-Paintings and Drawings Reception and Talk @ Hendrix College Art Complex; 5:00-6:30 p.m. (A)
How long have you been a working actor? Two years.
How did you get started in theatre?
I took a couple drama camps as a kid, but what really sparked my love for theatre was my drama class at Greenbrier High School.
Current projects?
Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead (The Lantern Theatre) and The Secret Garden (Episcopal Collegiate School.)
Favorite role you’ve played
Titania in Midsummer Night’s
Dream and CB’s sister in Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead.
What do you love most about acting?
Acting has given me the opportunity to learn and empathize with others I wouldn’t have the opportunity to due to the fact that they are so different than me. It allows me to experience other people’s lives and see the world through a new lens. You can next see Elizabeth perform: in These Shining Lives at the Lantern Theatre.
February 17 • Ellen Hopkins, Public Reading and Book Signing @ UCA College of Business Auditorium; 7:30 p.m. www.uca. edu/cfac (G) February 19 • The Harlem Gospel Choir @ Reynolds Performance Hall; 7:30 p.m. www.uca.edu/reynolds (PG) February 19 • Kelly Johnson, UCA Faculty Clarinet Recital @ UCA Snow Fine Arts Recital Hall; 7:30 p.m. www.uca.edu/cfac (G) February 21 • The Great Gatsby @ Reynolds Performance Hall; 7:30 p.m. www.uca.edu/reynolds (PG13) February 27 • The Isaacs @ Reynolds Performance Hall; 7:30 p.m. www. uca.edu/reynolds (PG)
February 12-13 • Catherine Kehoe Drawing Workshops @ Hendrix College Art Complex; 10:10 a.m. and 1:10 p.m. (PG13)
February 27-28 • These Shining Lives @ The Lantern Theatre; 7:30 p.m. ConwayLanternTheatre@gmail.com (PG13)
February 12 • Borromeo String Quartet Public Concert @ UCA Snow Fine Arts Recital Hall; 7:30 p.m. www.uca.edu/cfac (G)
February 28 Taming of the Brew, Event for Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre @ The Venue; 7:00 p.m. www.arkshakes.com (A)
February 12-14, 19-20 • Theatrical Experience: Doubt @ UCA Snow Fine Arts Bridges/Larson Theatre www. uca.edu/cfac (PG13)
Rating key: G – Suitable for all ages PG-Suggested for ages 7+ PG13- Suggested for ages 13+ A- Suggested for Adults 18+ WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 41
book review
A few favorite love stories ...and then some
A
By Susan O’Keefe
s you search for a special gift for your Valentine, consider the following books with love themes woven along the way. One is about the love a pediatrician has for his patients, his own family, and his God. Another story follows two unlikely characters who hold on to love for decades until in an unlikely yet, perfect place, their love is finally free to blossom. And finally, there’s the story of the new, young love a floundering caretaker experiences for her handsome charge, a man confined to a wheelchair who asks her to prove her love, in a most deadly manner.
The Burden of Being Champ
Jerry A. Miller, Jr. The author is anybody’s dad, granddad, and as common as the man next door. Yet, his insightful and inspiring stories set him apart in a captivating way. Readers are touched by his candid, sincere recounts of milestones along his life’s path. Woven intricately are Jerry Miller’s own spiritual memorial markers as his Christianity 42 WOMEN’S INC. / FEBRUARY 2015
is absorbed and emanates from his very being. It’s a sweet book chronicling the good doctor’s thirty years as a practicing pediatrician and the roads that led to his passion for life. There are stories from overseas as Miller and his young family served those who had never seen a real doctor. There are tears and sadness as death strikes at an early age. Ecchymoses and petechiae are uncommon words in most vocabularies, but in Dr. Miller’s dry, witty humor, he relays stories from every mother who has become frantic in the middle of the night. There are funny vignettes such as the witty description of the time most moms want to talk during their child’s examination, which just happens to be as soon as the doc’s stethoscope rests in his ears! As a father to four grown children, Miller casually and personally shares highlights and even a few regrets. His experience makes him a top candidate as advisor. Readers are sure to find varying degrees of love and laughter on every page. For the medical student, for the parent, for the elementary kid who didn’t perform well in school, for the athlete whose basketball career ended earlier than expected, and for all of us somewhere in between, this heartwarming book serves as a reminder of the important love stories we all have to tell.
The Story of Beautiful Girl
Rachel Simon The type of love demonstrated in this book made me ache. Out of love, people made decisions for those who mentally cannot. At the School for the Incurable and Feebleminded in the mid1960s, scores of people were left to languish and were simply forgotten. They were dead to their families. One of the strongest supporting characters in the book was Kate. She was the main character’s only confidante at the institution. Kate was the advocate. Kate was the kind of woman who showed love for the unlovable by staying late, baking birthday cakes and seeking to treat patients with tenderness. As the novel spans four decades, Kate and four other very different characters find their lives completely separated and completely intertwined at the same time. There are astoundingly insurmountable obstacles for each of them, but in the end, it is the common thread of extraordinary love that brings them back together. Early in the novel, one of the characters comments, “Sometimes you think you know what you want until you see how much more you can have.” There’s a lesson for all of us, both the strong and the simple minded.
Me Before You
Jojo Moyes Define love. Define sacrifice. Put those words into practice. That is precisely what English caretaker Louisa is asked to do. She is nearly the antithesis of her charge, Will, and yet an uncommon love affair makes them inseparable in an emotional sense. Forever, they will be tied together. Shortly after Louisa is hired to be Will’s caretaker and cheerleader, she slowly morphs into more than just a paid companion. She listens. She observes. She realizes that no one touches Will except for medical reasons. No one reaches out to simply hold his hand. There is no pat on the back or high five. Even if someone did touch Will, there is little chance that he would feel it. Still, there is a physical need. There is a physical desire. Readers of this gripping novel toiled with their own stance on assisted suicide and furthermore, the sacrifices parents are willing to make to honor the choices of their children, especially their grown children. Love is redefined. Susan O’Keefe is a wife to Jack, mother to four children, and eager to face the crazy, awesome, fun things God delivers daily. She and her family recently moved to Oxford, Mississippi, where Susan will continue to read and review, instruct fitness classes, and embark on this next adventure in life. WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 43
food
‘Men, we don’t expect a meal from a 5 star restaurant, its simply the thought that counts.’
Chef Jill McCollum, CC is the Caterer and Food Service Director for Central Baptist College. Jill is the owner of Jill McCollum Catering in Conway. She can be reached at jmccollum@cbc.edu or (501) 730-4422
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A special Valentine’s dinner from him By Chef Jill McCollum, CC Photos by Lindsey Faith Watson If you’re currently scrambling to get a prime table for two at some place that doesn’t involve ordering at the counter, I’d like to encourage you to relax, put the phone down, and reconsider your strategy. Cook for her this Valentine’s Day! Women love a great cook. We also love a bad cook who’s at least willing to try. The vision of a man confidently deglazing a sauté pan is enough to melt our flower-grubbing, jewelry-coveting hearts. Cooking dinner is a gesture that’s just as appropriate and endearing on your third date as in your 30th year of marriage, and it has the added bonus of allowing you, the man, to sidestep the awkward matter of how much to spend at a restaurant. Cooking is more intimate, it’s almost always more memorable, and it allows you to engage in adults-only conversation without the inclusion of 15 other adults by your side. Don’t think that your final dish needs to be masterful. Just edible. Unlike that ill-advised necklace you bought her last year, cooking really is all about the thought. Plan ahead, this is a must when trying to get this dinner to come out perfectly. Get all your groceries ahead of time, plan a simple salad, entrée and please oh please, don’t forget the dessert!
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Fettuccini for Two
4 ounces fry fettuccini pasta 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 clove garlic, diced 2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves 2 tablespoons Italian style salad dressing 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 4 ounces fresh button mushrooms, quartered 1 (14.5 ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes 2 ounces cream cheese, cut into cubes 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil 2 tablespoons freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
First begin any recipe by washing strawberries and letting them towel dry. In a microwave-safe bowl, or in the top of a double boiler over simmering water, cook chocolate until melted. Stir occasionally until chocolate is smooth. Holding berries by the stem, dip each one in molten chocolate, about three-quarters of the way to the stem. Place on parchment paper until hardened. There are numerous variations of this recipe. Here are a few. Bakers Dipping Chocolate and 1 pint strawberries Chocolate or White Almond Bark Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips, this will be a thicker consistency, you may need to add oil.
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Cook fettuccini according to package directions. Drain and set aside. Heat the olive oil in a skillet, add garlic and cook for one minute, add the chicken breast halves and cook over medium heat until lightly browned, about 5 minutes per side. Pour the Italian dressing and balsamic vinegar over the chicken, add the mushrooms and cook, covered until the chicken is no longer pink inside. Remove the chicken breasts, and cut into strips. Stir the tomatoes, cream cheese and basil together in the skillet with the mushrooms over medium-low heat until the mixture comes to a boil. Stir to melt the cream cheese into the sauce, add the chicken strips and the cooked fettuccini, and toss together. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve.
Easy OREO Truffles
1 (16 ounce) package OREO Chocolate Sandwich cookies, divided 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened 2 (8 ounce) packages semi sweet baking chocolate, melted
Crush 9 of the cookies in to fine crumbs in food processor, reserve for later use. (cookies can also be finely crusted in a resalable plastic bag using a rolling pin). Crush remaining 36 cookies to fine crumbs, place in medium bowl. Add cream cheese, mix until well blended. Roll cookie mixture into 42 balls, about 1 inch in diameter. Dip balls in chocolate, place on wax paper-covered baking sheet. Sprinkle with reserved cookie crumbs.
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flavors to savor
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shopping
Love It!
This is the most exciting time of the year at The Kitchen Store & More! Bridal and Baby Registries are in full swing. New merchandise is coming in everyday - something for your valentine, mom, or grad. Hosting a shower this spring? Freshen up your wardrobe with one of these new accessories. Lots to Love at The Kitchen Store & More! Jeanne Smyers - owner of The Kitchen Store & More
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imatter
imatter Caleb Aich: ‘Not Caught Stealing’ By Kelly Sublett
Ten-year-old Caleb Aich knows a thing or two about baseball. He’s been playing since age 4, after all. Often the smallest in stature on his league team, he’s the biggest personality by far. Nicknamed “Little Ozzie Smith,” Caleb is known for his on-the-field antics, turning back flips in the infield. He’s a crowd favorite, says his grandmother, Vickie Blaylock. “Baseball Youth Magazine gave him the nickname,” she says. “He’ll even do a back handspring in his catching gear!” Caleb is the older of two children for Wooster couple Heather and Josh Aich. His little sister Aubrie, 4, is also an athlete. Caleb plays league baseball for Greenbrier’s Crushers, but plays travel ball for the Central Arkansas Blue Socks (coached by Sean Fisher) all over the country. New Year’s Day, Caleb played in the Disney’s New Year’s Baseball Classic at former Dodgertown spring training complex in Vero Beach, Fla., on the very same ballfields where Dodger greats honed their skills. The tournament was hosted by ESPN’s Wide World of Sports. “My birthday was on Dec. 29, and I was there for that,” Caleb grins. “I played for Coastal Blue, and was the only one from Arkansas. We played the 6A champs, and we beat them 17-2 — we pretty much
crushed them.” His elite team came in third overall out of seven teams in the 9-10 age bracket. Caleb has tried out for upcoming elite tournaments set for this spring, and will find out if he made the cut in late January. “I practice once a week, and we have a game time every Saturday and Sunday, usually,” he said. “I also take extreme trampoline and boys tumbling classes at Sonshine Academy twice a week when my sister is in
cheer practice (Aubrie started Cheer Force All-Stars at age 2.).” Caleb is not unlike any other 10-year-old boy — full of energy and spunk. He eats his favorite breakfast of waffles before bounding out the door for school. He turns up his nose at reading, but loves writing (about sports) and math. He makes straight A’s. “I have to,” he says with certainty. “You cannot be a good athlete without good grades.”
Young people are often the pulse of a community, as sporting events, school events and activities bring them into the spotlight. Women’s Inc. wants to showcase these young people in a special feature each month. iMatter will seek to tell the stories of a new generation of community, skill, success and achievement. Do you know a student in Faulkner county, ages 10-23, who is truly one of a kind? Send youth’s name, school, parents contact information (if under 18) and a brief explanation of why you think your youth or you would make a iMatter candidate to womensinc@womensinc.com.
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His favorite Major League Baseball players are middle infielder Dee Gordon and pitcher Clayton Kershaw, both of the LA Dodgers. Caleb plays second-base, shortstop and catcher. “I think this year, I have improved,” he says, his championship rings from various tournaments dangling heavy from a chain around his neck. Vickie says the boy’s determination is incredible for a child his age. “He sets goals for himself,” she says. He’s got the focus, and that’s not something we taught him.” Caleb’s next goals include improving his hitting and getting those double plays he loves on defense. On offense, his speed allows him to steal bases on a regular basis. “I have a shirt that says it all,” he laughs. “It says, ‘Not Caught Stealing.’” But this kiddo is special for something else, too. Vickie has been battling cancer for two years. When she first began chemotherapy, it was Caleb who went with her. Aubrie also helps her grandmother on those visits. “If it was not for these kids,” Vickie says with a catch in her voice, “I just wouldn’t have made it. When I started losing my hair, Caleb gave me a baseball cap and said, ‘You’re still beautiful.’” And for his future? This reporter asked if he might like to write sports stories for the Log Cabin Democrat. “I want to go play for the MLB, the Dodgers or Kansas City Royals. I’ve got family up there I would get to see more often. So, when I get done with the MLB, I might,” he grins.