December 2014

december 2014

PLATTER CHATTER

SABRA GRILL FAB FINDS

for The Man in Your Life

SHOP LOCAL!

Great Gifts From Local Businesses

Rwm’s

Last Minute Gift Guide f o r a l l t h e t h i n g s t h at yo u a r e . . . r o c h e s t e r w o m a n

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rochesterWomanMag.com :: november 2014

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w w w. r o c h e s t e r w o m a n m a g . c o m

Happy Holidays From Our Good HandsÂŽ To Yours.

Enjoy all the good moments that come with the season.

Your friends at Allstate wish you the best this holiday season and look forward to serving you in 2015.

VINCENZO SCOLLO AGENCY 585-381-3530

Insurance subject to availability and qualifications. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Co. Northbrook, Illinois Š 2013 Allstate Insurance Co.

112154

835 Fairport Road East Rochester vscollo@allstate.com

December 8

OUT & ABOUT 7 PLATTER CHATTER: Sabra Grill

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FAB FINDS 10 FASHION FORWARD 12

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SPECIAL HOLIDAY FEATURE: Decorating Tips

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SPECIAL FEATURE: Stay Balanced

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MAKING DOLLARS & SENSE

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READS & WRITES 22 SHOP LOCAL 25 POSITIVE MIND/POSITIVE LIFE

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TIPS FOR WOMEN: Look Your Best

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MENOPAUSE MINUTE 40 SNAP OUT OF IT! 42 RWM EVENTS 44 CALENDER OF EVENTS 46

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SPECIAL FEATURE: Don’t Hibernate

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an Extraordinary JournEy INSpIREd bY 5,000 YEARS Of dIvINE CULTURE HEAVENLY REALMS and timeless legends spring to life through classical Chinese dance.

Dazzling costumes, thunderous battle drums, and powerful flips fill the stage with color and energy. Exquisite melodies and animated backdrops uplift your spirit and transport you to another world.

Compassion, loyalty, and virtue lie at the heart of traditional Chinese culture. Almost lost under communist rule in China, this glorious heritage is finally being revived and shared with the world. Experience the wonder of authentic Chinese culture. Experience Shen Yun!

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Groundbreaking!”

—MSNBC NEWS

“Beautiful... A nimble mastery!”

— Chicago Tribute Based in New York, Shen Yun is th world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company.

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LETTER FROM THE

OUR TEAM...

publishers the old Bagel Bin is now a food court

“I don’t think Christmas is necessarily about things. It’s about being good to one another, it’s about the Christian ethic, it’s about kindness.” --Carrie Fisher

Don’t look now but Christmas is right around the corner. It’s time to get your Christmas cookies baked, prepare for holiday parties, food and celebration and wrap all of those presents for family and friends. As we gather together this holiday season, let’s all remember what this time of year is truly about and spread a little kindness to all of those around us.

In our December special edition for last minute gift giving, we celebrate shopping local. Check out our Special Shop Local Insert on page [25] for great gift ideas for everyone on your holiday list. Our community thrives on the support of locally owned businesses and we should all do our part to support them.

Looking for the perfect gift for the man on your list? This month’s Fab Finds features some unique local gift ideas that are sure to bring a smile to any man’s face. Check out our suggestions on page [10].

If you’re like us here at Rochester Woman Magazine, you are always looking for new and different places to dine out.

Our resident foodie, Nicole Shein, decided to check out the newly opened Sabra Grill in The Meeting Place at 12 Corners in Brighton. What used to be

featuring Brueggers, Yolickity and the afore mentioned Sabra Grill.

Specializing in fresh, Middle Eastern cuisine, Sabra is sure to satisfy your adventurous palate. Check out Nicole’s review on page [8].

our team...

Happy Holidays…Merry Christmas….

Happy Hanukkah. No matter your greeting of choice, you are bound to offend someone in this day and age. In this month’s Snap Out of It column, associate editor Margaret Madigan looks at the custom of the holiday greeting and her thoughts on how to get through the season without offending anyone. It might take some divine intervention...

Read her column on page [42].

associate editor

Thanks to everyone who attended this years RWMs Ultimate Women’s Expo on November 22nd at The Memorial Art Gallery. The over 2000 in attendance at this incredible venue enjoyed a fun-filled day of shopping, fashion, food and beverage sampling and more. Thank you to our incredible sponsors including Artistix Jeans and The Polisseni Foundation for their amazing support including a Show Stopping fashion show with a live performance painting by local artist and Artistix designer Greg Polisseni. Check out some of the great photos from the day on page [44].

As we end our fifth year of publishing Rochester Woman Magazine we want to wish you all a very happy and joyous holiday season and prosperous new year. Look for some new and exciting changes for 2015!

Sincerely

Kelly & Barb

Publishers Kelly Breuer Barbara McSpadden Editor-in-Chief

Barbara McSpadden Margaret Madigan

Creative DIRECTOR/designer Kelly Breuer

Photography

Hoyt Photography Jennifer Gattelaro Brandon Vick

Contributing Writers Joan E. Lincoln Margaret Madigan Amari Pollard Sraddha Prativadi, MD Wendy Scinta, MD Nicole Shein Elizabeth Warner, MD Thomas Nacy Warner James Woods, MD

for advertising information:

Please contact sales@rochesterwomanmag.com or call 585.727.9120

Advertise with us...

Unlike any other publication in the Rochester area, our feature articles address major topics that interest local women.

Each issue includes articles on health, fashion, fitness, finance, home matters, dining, lifestyle and personal perspectives, as well as a spotlight on local Rochester women.

The print magazines are distributed locally in over 350 locations and will be in your inbox electronically by the first week of every month. The publication is available free of charge.

Contact our home office 585.727.9120 PO Box 90798 I Rochester, NY 14609 info@rochesterwomanmag.com Download our media kit at www.rochesterwomanmag.com The magazine is published 12 times a year by Rochester Woman Magazine, llc. 1115 E. Main Street, Box 60, Rochester NY 14609.

Copyright © 2014 Rochester Woman Magazine, llc.

No part of this magazine may be reproduced or republished without the consent of the publishers.

Rochester Woman Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts, photos or artwork.

All such submissions become the property of Rochester Woman Magazine, llc. and will not be returned.

o&A MOVIES Inherent Vice – 12/12

::OUT &

about

F OA

Contemporary Vignettes Chamber Music Concert Sunday, December 14, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Art Gallery.

Society for Chamber Music in Rochester’s (SCMR) 38th season continues with Contemporary Vignettes and the world premier of Samuel Adler’s Ports of Call. The pre-concert talk with Artistic Directors Juliana Athayde and Erik Behr will begin at 7:00 p.m. The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Art Gallery at 500 University Avenue in downtown Rochester.

This concert features Chien-Kwan Lin, saxophone, Rebecca Gilbert, flute, Renée Jolles, violin, Nicholas Goluses, guitar, and Tony Caramia, piano. Contemporary Vignettes will include the premier of Samuel Adler’s Ports of Call (A Mediterranean Suite) for violin, flute and guitar, Astor Piazzolla’s Libertango, Joseph Makholm’s Music for the Middle of the Day, Charles Koechlin’s Epitaph for Jean Harlow, Op. 164, Evan Chambers’ Come Down Heavy!, and John Anthony Lennon’s Messengers.

Takes place at the tail end of the psychedelic ‘60s featuring a cast of characters that includes surfers, hustlers, dopers and rockers, a murderous loan shark, LAPD Detectives, a tenor sax player working undercover, and a mysterious entity known as the Golden Fang, which may only be a tax dodge set up by some dentists... Part surf noir, part psychedelic romp—all Thomas Pynchon

SCMR returns to Memorial Art Gallery with an exciting program that is eclectic and stimulating.

The works on this concert span just the last 80 years, yet this program has an intriguing range of styles from composers of various genres and parts of the world. From Piazzolla’s neuvo tango sensation, Libertango to Makholm’s jazz centric Music for the Middle of the Day this program is a musical adventure. SCMR is especially pleased that Goluses asked Adler to arrange his Ports of Call specifically for SCMR musicians and this concert will be the world premiere of his new arrangement. Athayde and Behr stated, “It was a pleasure and joy to have had these dynamic performers instigate and help plan this program.”

The Hobbit: – 12/17

Students are admitted free with a current school ID. Season series subscriptions are $100 for the remaining four concerts and single tickets are $30 each. Subscriptions and tickets may be purchased online at www.ChamberMusicRochester.org or at the door.

The movie brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield and the Company of Dwarves. Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug, the Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world. As darkness converges on their escalating conflict, Bilbo finds himself fighting for his life and the lives of his friends and the future of Middle-earth hangs in the balance.

Night at the Museum – 12/19 Get ready for the wildest and most adventure-filled Night At the Museum ever as Larry (Ben Stiller) spans the globe, uniting favorite and new characters while embarking on an epic quest to save the magic before it is gone forever.

Featuring one of Robin Williams’ last movie appearances.

The Interview – 12/25 In this action-comedy, Dave Skylark (James Franco) and his producer Aaron Rapoport (Seth Rogen) run the popular celebrity tabloid TV show “Skylark Tonight.” When they discover North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is a fan of the show, they land an interview with him. As they prepare to travel to Pyongyang, their plans change when the CIA recruits them, perhaps the two least-qualified men imaginable, to assassinate Kim Jong-un.

Concert attendees will also have the opportunity to view current exhibitions during intermission, guided by Memorial Art Gallery docents.

About Society for Chamber Music in Rochester: SCMR is the oldest, most prestigious chamber music society in the Rochester area. SCMR is a volunteer organization that provides an opportunity for the community to hear musicians of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the faculty of the Eastman School of Music, as well as selected local and visiting artists, in performances of the great works of chamber music of all periods and styles.

For more information visit: www.ChamberMusicRochester.org

Family Fun Holiday Concert and Activities Finger Lakes Concert Band’s Winter Concert Has an All-Ages Vibe The Finger Lakes Concert Band is celebrating the holidays with a fun, family concert Sunday, December 14th at 3:00pm in the Canandaigua Academy Theatre. The afternoon’s program, directed by Greg Kane, includes a medley from the movie “Frozen”, a variety of traditional holiday favorites, a selection from “The Nutcracker” with a live dancer, and much more.

Families are invited to arrive early; beginning at 2pm there will be holiday games, pictures with Santa, and the opportunity, for a fee, to make a gingerbread house.

Door admission to the concert is $5, students 18 years and younger are free. Canandaigua Academy is located at 435 East Street in Canandaigua, New York.

About the Finger Lakes Concert Band Comprised of adult instrumentalists and advanced high school students from the Greater Finger Lakes community, the Finger Lakes Concert Band rehearses weekly and gives several concerts per year featuring a wide variety of music ranging from standard wind band literature and orchestral transcriptions to music of the jazz and pop idioms. It is an ensemble of Hochstein School of Music & Dance in Rochester, NY. About Hochstein School of Music & Dance At Hochstein, our mission is simple: to provide excellent music and dance instruction to anyone who is interested - regardless of age, level of skill, background, or ability to pay.

We aim to nurture and inspire each individual, and to welcome all to our community of musicians, dancers, and audiences.

Since 1920, Hochstein School of Music & Dance has served as Rochester’s Community School of the Arts—welcoming, nurturing, and challenging students of all ages and levels of skill, regardless of ability to pay. Thanks to the school’s exceptional 140-member faculty, Hochstein annually serves as many as 4,000 students in the school’s Music & Dance and Music Therapy Programs, located at the central Rochester campus (which boasts the elegant Performance Hall).

Fresh Middle Eastern

cuisine

sabra grill

::platter

Step into The Meeting Place in Twelve Corners, and you might feel for an instant that you’ve somehow been transported from the heart of Brighton to a travel plaza on the Thruway -- after all, there’s a colorful, open-plan interior, a mix of suited business folk and families with young children, and a variety of dining options. One thing that sets The Meeting Place apart from Junius Ponds or Indian Castle, however, is Sabra Grill.

The Meeting Place, which many Brighton residents might still refer to as “the old Bagel Bin,” was re-branded late last year and now includes a Bruegger’s, the frozen-yogurt franchise Yolickity, and the independently owned Sabra. David and Ruth Cohen opened the Israeli “fast-casual” cafe in May 2014 with the intention of providing food that is fresh, convenient and kosher-certified.

Sabra offers a plethora of iconic dishes that represent a wide swath of mostly Middle Eastern cuisine: shawarma, falafel, hummus, dolmades, knishes, pargiot, babaganoush and latkes. Don’t recognize some of those names? No worries. If Ruth Cohen’s on hand, she’ll be happy to describe the dishes; the staff are equally enthusiastic and eager to help. What’s more, several of Sabra’s offerings are designed to let diners taste a little bit of everything, particularly the mezze plate, comprised of falafel, stuffed grape leaves, hummus, Israeli pickles and pita bread; or the hamsa plate, which includes your choice of five different freshly made salads as well as a delectable tahini sauce and soft, fluffy pita triangles.

Some salads will be more familiar to American palates than others: chicken, tuna, and the sweet, raisin-studded broccoli salad that you sometimes see at summer potlucks. Chances are you’ve encountered babaganoush (a spiced eggplant puree, not unlike hummus) and tabouli (bulgur wheat, tomato, parsley) as well, but don’t shy away from more exotic choices like Moroccan beet or carrot salad, or the spicy pepper-and-tomato mixture called matbucha. All of these are made in-house, from fresh vegetables and herbs.

Main dishes include crisp-fried falafel balls, spit-roasted shawarma, pargiot (marinated chicken) and ground-beef kebabs, all of which can be served either in a pita, on a large wrap called laffa, or as a plate with sides of Israeli cucumber salad and hummus. Speciality sandwiches include shakshuka, which features poached eggs and spicy sauce in a pita, or a combination of eggplant, hard-boiled egg, hummus and pickled mango sauce called sabich. For the less adventurous, there are also burgers and foot-long hot dogs.

In keeping with the trendy small-plate movement, Sabra also serves knishes and borekas (puff pastries with savory fillings, like meat, potato or mushroom), latkes, and stuffed grape leaves.

Besides being glatt kosher, Sabra Grill’s dishes are entirely dairy-free, and largely gluten-free -- pita breads excepted, of course -- making this a destination for those with special nutritional needs. There is also a selection of desserts, most of which are made on premises, and which include cookies, baklava, cake, and halvah bars.

Sabra Grill I 2600 Elmwood Avenue I Rochester, NY 14618 585-244-2211 I www.sabragrillroc.com

pC

::SHIFT+CONTROL

By Nicole Shein | Photos by Brandon Vick

chatter

finds ::fabulous

Fab Finds

for the man in your life

d Exchange

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november 2014 :: rochesterWomanMag.com

::fab

Looking for that perfect gift for the man in your life? We’ve put together a list of fun and unique local gifts that every man will love.

Ron White Tickets

Give the gift of laughter for the holidays! On February 20 Ron White brings is “redneck” style humor to the Auditorium Theatre. Tickets are on sale now.

Spring for the VIP Experience and you and your man can go back stage and meet Ron in person. For more information visit: www.tatersalad.com.

Pole Position Raceway

Let’s face it, no matter what the age, our guys are all kids at heart. So why not treat him to an afternoon of go cart racing at Pole Position Raceway.

Pole Position offers the area’s premier track with electric carts that can go as fast as 45mph. And ladies it’s located in Marketplace Mall so you know the drill, he goes racing….you go shopping….everyone wins! For more information visit their website www.polepositionraceway.com.

The Art of Shaving

No shave November is over, time to tame that mane! The Art of Shaving store provides everything he needs to get that “perfect” shave from razors, to lotions to shave creams and more. Your man’s face will never look better.

The Art of Shaving is located in Eastview Mall or visit their website www. theartofshaving.com.

Iron Smoke Whiskey

If your man enjoys a good glass of whiskey, there are a number of good local craft distillers that make everything from vodka to whiskey. Iron Smoke Whiskey is hand-crafted with a subtly sweet, smokey flavor crafted from locally sourced ingredients. For more information visit www.ironsmokewhiskey.com.

Jos. A Bank

Help your man look his best for any occasion. Jos. A. Bank has been helping men dress well for 108 years; a heritage of quality and workmanship, an extensive selection of beautifully made, classically styled tailored and casual clothing, and prices typically 20 to 30% below their competitors’. Visit www.josbank.com/.

finds

F

by Amari D. Pollard

forward

A guide to holiday office party fashion

‘Tis the season. And since the holidays are here, that means it’s time for the return of snow, mistletoe, eggnog … and the annual holiday office party.

:fashion

While Christmas is an enjoyable time of the year, it can also be very stressful, but that doesn’t mean dressing up has to be. Although figuring out the perfect mixture between professional and festive for this year’s special event can be difficult, now is the perfect opportunity to play around with new and exciting pieces.

According to celebrity fashion stylist and designer Rachel Zoe, holiday dressing means being the best, dressier version of yourself.

“You want to be appropriate, but don’t try to overdo it,” said Zoe in an interview with Hollywood Life. “You should look chic and appropriate, but still fun and still party ready.”

So here are the dos and don’ts of holiday office party dressing.

Don't show too much skin. It’s important to remember that you’re still at your office; therefore, you’re still representing your company. Office parties tend to follow office hours anyway, so don’t wear anything you wouldn’t wear to work. Although your black dress with the plunging neckline is extremely cute, save it for another party in a more fitting setting — like New Year’s Eve. Do bring extra clothes and accessories to the office so you can add to your outfit, considering there won’t be that much time to change after work. Style expert Stacy London says the best way to spruce up an office outfit is by throwing on “a bright-colored shoe and add a shiny, loose-fitting jacket, like matte sequins, which aren’t quite as shiny as traditional ones, or a metallic tweed.”

Don't be tempted by the holiday spirit and reach for that bulky Santa or reindeer Christmas sweater, because the silhouette does absolutely nothing for your figure.

Do still wear a sweater if you want to. Glamour magazine fashion writer Fawnia Soo Hoo suggests wearing a colorfully patterned high-neck sweater instead of a shapeless clichéd one. (Those should be saved for the ugly Christmas sweater parties.) To be a little more fashion forward and give your outfit more edge, try pairing the sweater with a conservative leather pencil skirt that falls slightly below the knee.

Don't let sheer be your first outfit choice. Sheer can be tricky because, depending on the light, one minute it may look perfectly fine and the next you may be able to see your undergarments. So it’s in your best interest to beware of the sheer.

dress for

Success and to impress

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november 2014 :: rochesterWomanMag.com

Do experiment with different types of fabric, except sheer, of course. The holidays are always focused on texture, so try a nice classy lace dress or a modern tweed dress with leather details for contrast. And to add a bit of flare, swap your black flats for a pair of embellished heels and a chic, textured clutch.

Don't wear the staple colors of Christmas. That means no mixing red and green together — unless those colors actually look flattering on you. If you choose to go for the red and green look, Stacy London advises mixing them with metallics and neutrals.

Do invest in clothes that you can wear during any season, for any party. Try wearing a solid color dress like fuchsia or cerulean, or even red or white, where the bold color can speak for itself. Just add a little more glam with gold or silver statement earrings and a cocktail ring.

Check out @SyrWomanMag and @AmariPollard on Twitter to find more on fashion and what’s happening this month.

feature ::special holiday

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winter season

decorating tips

november 2014 :: rochesterWomanMag.com

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feature

::special

By Stacy K Floral

Getting ready to cozy up and hibernate in your home for the winter season? Here are some of our favorite tricks to change up your space and give it a cozy winter feel.

1

. Replace decor. Don’t feel like you have to keep all your everyday décor out at the same time as you install your winter. We love to change up the throw pillows, blankets and accents in a room. In a place where you usually have an empty vase, add fresh greens and unique branches.

Where there is an everlasting arrangement, package it up and get one that is seasonally inspired. If you are anything like us we get tired of looking at the same thing all the time.

Rotating your arrangements and botanical pieces helps you get a longer life of them as well as keeps your home inspired by the season.

2.

Create a Tablescape. This is the season of entertaining and in home dining. Welcome your guests to a beautifully decorated table. It not only serves as welcoming wow factor but can also be a wonderful conversation piece if you incorporate unique items into the scape. Things like osage oranges, artichokes, pinecones, that you personally select or fresh evergreens from a woodland hike. A favorite beautiful glass ornament can be a great addition to a bed of evergreens.

(Quick tip: One thing we love to suggest for the ornaments you really love. Get out your glue gun, take off the hanger element at the top and glue it to the ornament. This helps reduce the risk of breakage by the hanger coming free from the ornament.)

SFF

just see at weddings but is really wonderful to work into your tablescape as well. Place a unique favor at each place setting for your guests to take with on their departure, something that compliments your décor and theme. Ideas include a local preserve, a small jar of honey or maple syrup, a little bell or ornament, possibly even a lovely pastry in unique packaging. This is such a simple gesture that adds a heartfelt touch.

3. Get out the candles. Not every

house is lucky enough to have a cozy warm fireplace to snuggle up to on those cold winter nights. You can create the same atmosphere and ambiance by filling a tray with candles. To finish it off with a winter feel put some fresh evergreens at the base, a bag of chestnuts, or if you are a bling girl some pearls, chains and brooches. Light them all up, turn off the lights, and snuggle up with your favorite blanket. Trust us you will be feeling cozy comfy in no time.

4. Don't entrance.

forget

your

We see it all the time a beautifully decorated interior but because it’s cold and snowy outside you don’t think of the exterior entrance. Don’t let your seasonal planters sit barren all winter. Spice them up by adding evergreens and branches of different sizes and textures. With some clients we even suggest two sets of planters, summer and winter. Maybe your winter have some sort of evergreen, such as boxwood planted in them. This will keep your entry welcoming in the winter months as well.

Wishing you all happy holidays and hoping these tips leave you inspired to cozy up your homes this winter season.

The last piece and most personal touch to your tablescape, is a favor. We feel this is a long time tradition that you tend to

rochesterWomanMag.com :: december 2014

15

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We offer FREE private, confidential consultations to help you determine which hair loss treatment is best for your individual situation.

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He had more faith in you than you had in yourself.

That’s why he’s one of the most important people on earth.

How do you care for the most important people on earth? By giving them your absolute best. At St. Ann’s, we have built a brand new skilled nursing center in Webster that gives people more choices than ever before. From setting your own schedule, to enjoying small, friendly neighborhoods, to dining in cozy country kitchens—we make life what each resident wants it to be.

We have also created the area’s first freestanding transitional care center—the only rehab center in Rochester that is not located in a nursing home.

So people can recover from major medical events surrounded by people just like themselves.

It is a remarkable new way to care for people. Inspired by the people who deserve nothing less than the best.

Learn more about the changes at St. Ann’s Community by visiting us at StAnnsCommunity.com.

Caring forThe Most Important People on Earth 11-609 STAN Print ad-Faith 8.5x11.indd 1

10/23/12 12:32 PM

feature ::special

Stay Balanced During The

Holiday Season

feature

::special

by Thomas Nacy Warner

The holidays can be a challenging time of year — so much to do in so little time. How will we accomplish everything and still maintain our sanity? Rather than be pulled around from task to task and location to location, stop, take a breath, and discover some ways to recreate your holiday experience, from the inside out. Let’s remember the most important factor in all of the chaos — you and your well-being. Let’s pretend for a moment that you are the center of the universe, that everything revolves around you. What would you change about this season? What is great and not so great? How can you be at your best, so that you have lots to offer to others? Try the six tips below to help you create balance in all aspects of your life during the holidays.

Personal development One of the biggest areas we neglect (not only during the holiday season but all year) is our personal development. Ask yourself these questions. What am I doing to grow as an individual?

What am I learning? How am I expanding? You might say, “I don’t have time for that right now,” but personal development is an important part of nurturing yourself. Take a class, learn a language, go to a museum, hike, whatever is speaking to you at this moment. There are plenty of easy outlets that take no time at all. Try learning a language from home at duolingo.com. It’s free online, there are apps for iPad and iPhone, and it takes only 10 minutes a day.

Career Depending on your chosen vocation, your workload either slows down dramatically or accelerates beyond control this time of year. Let’s also not forget that your role as mom, partner, sister, daughter, aunt and best friend are permanent positions that need very special attention. The best advice for this area?

Slow down. Remember: You are pretending that the world revolves around you, so if you slow down, so will everything else. If you were the president of a company (and some of you are), you would be focused on top-line decisions; you don’t have the time to make every single decision. Pull your team together at home or the office and work together, delegate and make it fun. People are always ready to lend a hand. You just have to ask.

Make a list of tasks and call in the troops.

Health January is a big month for starting a health kick. What about starting today? Time is of the essence. No time? Build your health routine into your lifestyle — it’s just as easy as brushing your teeth. But not everyone feels this way, especially during this time of year. It’s a little counter intuitive to start an exercise program when you may be feeling tired already. How about just getting out for some fresh air? A short, 10-minute walk after dinner, or playing in the snow with friends and family can be the kickstart to your health routine.

On the flip side, rest is crucial for revitalizing your body. If you are tired, take a nap. Check in with yourself throughout the day and see how you are feeling. Make things easy and fun. If you don’t feel like going to a holiday party or event, don’t. These won’t

be the last holidays or parties you are ever invited to attend. To check in with yourself, sit in a chair in a quiet place, feet flat on the floor, hands gently in your lap. Close your eyes. Slowly draw your attention to your breathing. Take 10 slow breaths, each a little deeper and longer than the previous. Focus only on your breath. See how your mood shifts.

Money Charge it! If you haven’t put together a holiday budget yet, you may be experiencing some trepidation about those credit card bills in January. The best holiday experience you can give yourself is one that is relaxed and comfortable in dealing with money and finances. Holidays and money can be troublesome for most of us. We have holiday traditions from childhood, expectations we are trying to fulfill for ourselves and others, and our pockets may not be deep enough to make everyone’s dreams come true, including our own. The biggest tip: Experiences always outweigh stuff. Used toys get tossed in a bin and forgotten; the to-die-for sweater is in the bottom of the closet. One thing that isn’t left behind is the memory of an amazing experience. Most experiences don’t cost a dime, but you will remember them forever.

Relationships Who are all these people? Family, friends, obligations. We often revert to a past version of ourselves this time of year when people become involved. Tradition, tradition, tradition. We struggle to hold onto pieces of our past so tightly that we lose our vision of what is important. The holidays are not a choreographed production that needs to be repeated every year because we have to do what we have always done. This is a chance to break the mold and explore newness, create new traditions. The best holiday experiences ever are when everyone contributes a new tradition they would like to experience. Explore traditions borrowed from other cultures or are perhaps a part of your culture you have never practiced. Bottom line: Make it about fun, love everyone, and make peace with everyone who crosses your path.

Playtime This is your winter wonderland! It was Mary Poppins who said, “In ev’ry job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun and snap! The job’s a game. How about making everything a game?” Try seeing how many people you can smile at and who returns your smile. How many days in a row the kids can clear the table. Let’s get crazy and build a snowman, do a turkey trot, go ice skating. Play, play, play. You are the creator of your experience. What would be the best, most fun experience?

Now do it.

Thomas Nacy Warner is a business and personal coach. He works primarily with small businesses to help them find their vision, brand and place in the business world. He works side by side with management and team members to create results and balance in the workplace. For more information, contact him at info@ thomaswarnercoaching.com.

SFF

sense ::dollars &

“Bounty” Share Your

with Your Loved Ones

Now that the holiday season is in full swing we will be spending a lot of time with our loved ones to share whatever “bounty” we may have. But this practice doesn’t have to begin and end with food or gifts. Why not incorporate the spirit of sharing into your overall financial strategy?

Here are a few suggestions for doing just that: Make financial gifts. You could give shares of stock to your loved ones, or perhaps give them money to help fund their IRAs. (They must have earned income, however, to be eligible to contribute to an IRA.) You can give up to $14,000 per year, per recipient. If you are married, you and your spouse can each give up to the $14,000 yearly limit.

Invest in your children’s future. To help your children meet the high costs of higher education, you might want to invest in a college savings vehicle. One option to consider is a 529 plan. When you contribute to a 529 plan, your earnings are subject to tax-free growth potential and distributions are free of federal taxes, provided they are used for qualified higher education expenses. (Keep in mind, though, that Section 529 plan distributions not used for these qualified expenses may be subject to income tax and a 10% penalty.)

Furthermore, if you invest in your home state’s 529 plan, you may receive state tax incentives. Tax issues for 529 plans can be complex, though, so you’ll need to consult with your tax advisor about your situation. Another benefit of 529 plans: You control the assets right up to the point at which they are actually used. So, if you have been putting away money for a particular child (or grandchild) and he 20

november 2014 :: rochesterWomanMag.com

or she decides against college, you can easily switch to another beneficiary.

Review your insurance policies. If something were to happen to you, is your life insurance sufficient to take care of your family? In other words, would there be enough money available to pay off your mortgage, send your children to college and help your surviving spouse meet at least some of his or her retirement expenses? A financial professional can help you determine if your life insurance is sufficient for your needs.

Consider involving your family with your estate plans. To help ensure your wishes get carried out the way you intended, consider keeping family members informed of your estate strategy, which could involve your will, living trust, power of attorney and other legal documents. And don’t forget to keep your beneficiary designations up to date on your retirement accounts and your life insurance policy. So if you’ve gone through changes in your family situation, such as a divorce or remarriage, work with your professional team, including your financial advisor and your tax and legal advisors, to make ensure your investment strategy aligns with your estate goals.

Now that the turkey is eaten and the football games have ended, Thanksgiving has drawn to a close and we move into the heart of the holiday season. Consider these strategies sharing your “bounty” with your loved ones all year long — and throughout your lifetime.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by Jessica Millan your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor located at 906 Elmgrove Road, Rochester, NY 14624

The Attention You Deserve At Brighton Securities, we believe that building the best finacnial plan to meet your financial goals starts with you. That’s why when you talk, we listen - kind of turns the whole “expert” thing on it’s ear, doesn’t it.

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::rwm reads &

writes

Readin

Give The Gift of

No Ordinary Man

BY S. Carman Knight (2014)

About the book: A contemporary romance filled with suspence and intrigue. Hannah Swift is in big trouble.

The Egyptian antiquity entrusted to her care is gone. Now she must tell her employer, Jesher Kenyon, that his priceless family treasure has been replaced with a copy. And when she does, she becomes Jesher’s number one suspect.

Just when the mystery seems solved, one final twist leaves Jesher in trouble and Hannah the only one who can help him.

Where to find it: www.amazon.com.

You Had it All Along

by Sheila Kennedy (2013) About the book: This book is the catalyst you

have been waiting for to finally release the powerful confidence found deep in your core. Sheila Kennedy outlines five keys vital to unlocking an unshakable faith in yourself that will launch you into a life filled with contentment, meaning and success. A good read to start your new year.

Where to find it: www.amazon.com.

22

november 2014 :: rochesterWomanMag.com

ng

writes

::rwm reads &

When Life Gives You Lemons…

At Least You Won’t Get Scurvy! by madge madigan (2013) About the book: A collection of humorous essays on life’s struggles as experienced by Madge Madigan. Madigan hit rock bottom, but still managed to laugh at herself while reflecting upon an abusive marriage, divorce, joblessness, food stamps, and dating, all while raising three kids. A blogger and freelance writer, Madigan somehow found a way to maintain “her dignity and fabulousness” to survive it all with humor.

Where to find it: www.amazon.com.

Josie The Singing Butterfly

by Josie Waverly, illustrated

by Jamie Rizzo (2014) About the book: In this charming children’s

tale, the title character derives happiness from singing.

Her wings glisten when she sings; the more she sings, the more they sparkle. And she longs to share her joy with others. The main lesson of the story is to “use your talents to make others happy

Where to find it: josiethesingingbutterfly.com

Until One Day

By Charlotte Symonds (2014) About the book: Until One Day by Charlotte

Symonds is a poignant affectionate account of one day in the lives of four strangers. Each lives in Manhattan and hides their despondent lives behind masquerades.

Follow each through a day in their lives where choices are presented and upon which decisions made not only alter the course of their lives but impact others as well.

Where to find it: www.amazon.com.

RWF

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life ::positive mindpositive

Impossibilities Believe

36

november 2014 :: rochesterWomanMag.com

&Shine

life

::positive mind positive

Sraddha Prativadi, MD

I love this season. The lights, the bright snow, the calm freeze causes us to pause and reflect on life. I love the season also because even though darkness is descending upon us with the lengthening nights, we celebrate the light! Darkness and light need each other. We can learn from each of these things within us. But what I love is that the light always wins.

Fill a room with darkness and light can flood it and dispel the dark. Fill a room with light, and even the darkness becomes consumed by the lights self-effulgence. The light prevails. Houses and buildings are beautifully adorned with lights. But why do so many still keep themselves in darkness, never allowing the spark of their unique genius in them to grow? We all do this to some extent. We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when we are afraid of our own light.

I would like to paraphrase this and say, the real tragedy is when women, who regularly give birth and form to others and their light, do not allow their own inner gifts and talents to be birthed. The very sacred divine nature of their own inner light and qualities is dimmed. This holiday season, with all the beautiful Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Years, Solstice and even lingering Diwali lights around, I would like you to honor and remember and acknowledge with gratitude your own inner light. Believe in this inner light. Our inner light prevails in the world and in our lives because of belief. To believe is to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof. Believe in the truth of the power of your positive potential and you will see the life you imagined manifest as reliably as a lotus blossoms in muck and mire and the rose unfolds itself in spring.

Positive Philosophy

What does all this really mean when it comes to our own self awareness and self-development? It means cultivating an unshakable selfconfidence. This does not mean the competitive, conquering, overdriving fake confidence of egomaniacs. This means confidence and faith in your true infinite self. There is a beautiful word in Sanskrit, “Atmavishwas”.

Like so many words entrenched in the deep philosophical basis of the Sanskrit language, there is no true English equivalent. The best that we can translate it is “a trust in the true-self”, self-confidence. “Atma” truly means that part of you which is the real you, untouched by space and time and it is eternal. “Vishwas” means trust, confidence and faith placed into someone or something. So, “Atmavishwas” comes to mean a trust, confidence and faith placed into the real you that is untouched by space and time and the five senses of this human body.

Positive Purpose

What allows you to shine your inner light? What is it that you love? What do YOU love? You know, that feeling that you just can’t stop smiling, there is a warm glow in your heart, your chest lightens and opens up and all your muscles relax and you are in the flow? What is that for you?

What do you do that makes others smile with gladness?

What is it you do that makes your heart sing?

What is it that you do that when you do it, time passes in a flash and everything seems effortless?

Is there something that you do during which people comment, “You were aglow, you were glowing, you were radiant!?”

This is your purpose. This is when your inner light is shining forth. If you haven’t found it yet, get out into the world and explore. Experiences in the outer world allow you to explore your inner world. And it is when you are in touch with your inner world that you can deliberately create your outer world.

Positive Processes

Keep doing more of that which allows your light to shine most brightly and feels feelings of lightness and flow. For some it is singing, some dancing, some doing surgery, some counseling, some making a sale, for some it is managing money or raising a healthy household and seeing smiles on the faces of their family.

PP

Start to pay attention to your heart space and the sensations in your body.

You will know what your inner light is when you feel your heart lighten and your chest open up. Believe in big ideas and big possibilities. This not only affirms your self-confidence and belief in your light, it opens up the doors of possibility and manifestation.

“Alice laughed, “There’s no use trying,” she said. “One can’t believe impossible things.” “I dare say you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day.

Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” From Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

Mmm. I LOVE that. People told the Wright brothers what they were trying was impossible. Now we not only fly, we eat, do business, watch movies and even take showers way up in the atmosphere! Susan B. Anthony, Amelia Earhart and Harriet Tubman were all told that what they believed in was impossible. People told Thomas Edison his idea was impossible. His light bulb sparked a revolution.

Here is my “Impossible before Breakfast” list: With our Rochester city child poverty rate being the 2nd highest in the country, I believe that we can significantly reduce it and get ourselves off the list within the next 5 years by investing our belief and time in developing parents and their inner light so they may be beacons for their own children.

With our city high school graduation rate at 5% (!!), I believe we can catalyze a tsunami of high belief, vision, expectation and effort to help young people formulate their own impossible dreams to turn into reality and manifest their potential.

I believe that within the next 5 years, the Rochester and Syracuse areas will come to an awakening of its true inner greatness and we will see unprecedented growth and prosperity in our hometowns. I believe that our communities will grow closer together in heart, higher in spirit and lower in stress and strain as we come together as sisters and brethren and family. I believe that I can personally help 500 people attain goals over the next year that they never dreamed were possible. I believe that I will hit a pinnacle of self-expression this year that I had not even allowed myself to think of until I unabashededly began to believe in my own light.

Do these sound crazy to you? Good. I’m on the right track!

Be a Thomas Edison for your inner light bulb. Turn it on and don’t let it be a flicker . . . let it be a mind-blowing, retina-frying million watt stadium light . . . heck just be like the self-effulgent sun! Shine forth in the world with complete belief, generosity and confidence without consideration for what you receive but for all that you create and allow to grow, the most important of which is the power of your positive potential.

“Imagine a world where fullness, rather than deprivation predominates.

Tap into your inner light and allow it to dispel the darkness.”

David Simon, MD I would like you to honor, remember and acknowledge with gratitude your own inner light. It is there and waiting to shine forth like the selfeffulgent sun!! Believe in it! Believe in YOU! I do!

Sign up for FREE Positive Notes from Doctor P at www.YourDoctorP.com Sraddha Prativadi, MD is an integrative holistic physician and Assistant Professor at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. She is a Thinking into Results Program for Leaders facilitator with the ProctorGallagher Institute and founder of Doctor P: Power of your Positive Potential, providing individual, group, corporate and elite training to tap into your greatest asset - the marvelous mind. rochesterWomanMag.com :: november 2014

37

TW

the Holi women

::rwm’s tips for

Look your Best For

With these fashion tips from Joeval’s Formalwear!

This holiday season is all about fun, fashion, Your nails and hair want to party Your nails and hair want to celebrate too! Make sure friends and family. We’ve got all the tips too: you treat your nails to a color that will go nicely with all to help you look your best throughout the of your fun looks this holiday. Dark burgundies, chocolate browns, deep purples, gold’s, and black are trending colors season. this season. Don’t forget your hair. No outfit is complete

Turn that little black dress into a big without the perfect hairstyle. Whether your hair takes on statement: Already have a dress? Perfect! The art more of a laid back, casual look or a fun formal one, it ads

of accessorizing is a beautiful thing. Add some pop to an existing dress or outfit by adding statement jewelry, belts, fur boleros, or even fun stockings. A simple black dress is great for any occasion, so make it special and add your own special touches. Any simple little dress that you may have in your closet can be turned into the perfect holiday outfit by using some of these fun tips so mix and match away!

There is no such thing as too much sparkle: This holiday season is all about sparkle, shine,

and glitter so have fun and glam it up as much as you want!

Find that perfect sparkly dress and rock it at a holiday party, formal dinner, winter gala or of course a new year’s celebration! Sequins and crystals are the perfect match for any holiday outing.

Bold colors have arrived with a vengeance: Don’t forget to bring out all those fun

winter colors like red, burgundy, black, gold, emerald, and Bordeaux! All these colors and so many more will help you to feel your boldest this holiday season so don’t be afraid to really make a statement with them.

the finishing touch to any outfit.

Don’t forget about the makeup: This holiday season it’s all about smokey eyes, warm gold tones, and bold lips so make sure to try one of these fun trends.

If you don’t have time for a full glam session on your eyes, make sure that you don’t forget the lipstick. Sometimes just a little color on the lips can go a long way especially if you don’t have time for anything else!

From day to night: The holiday season is the perfect time to break out those fun shoes that may have been a little too fun for your other events. We all know that shoes can make any outfit so make sure to stand out in your favorite pair and show them off with flair. You can easily transform any office look to go to your holiday office party with a perfect pair of heels, scarf, and clutch. Jewelry is another great way to accessorize your office outfit to a more festive evening look. Pop a sparkly pair of dangling earrings and shimmering bracelet to add some shine to any office party.

Most importantly, whatever you may be celebrating, have a

Layers to keep you warm: Layering clothes is fun and safe holiday!

always ads warmth and comfor in the winter, especially in Rochester. While you’re loving all of your fun fashionable looks don’t be afraid to layer them with scarves, sweaters, statement socks, and jewelry. Who says you can’t be fashionable and warm at the same time? We say you can.

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november 2014 :: rochesterWomanMag.com

Joevals Formalwear is located at 2217 Monroe Ave, in Rochester.

Visit them online at www.joevalspromandpageant.com

women

::rwm’s tips for

idays Sparkle Don’t be afraid to a little brighter

rochesterWomanMag.com :: november 2014

39

minute ::menopause

Did the

?

Women’s Health Initiative help or hurt W OMEN

------------------------------By James Woods, MD and Elizabeth Warner, MD

Most women are familiar with the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), the largest randomized controlled trial to date, sponsored by the National Institute of Health (NIH), to evaluate the role of hormone therapy in menopause to protect cardiovascular and bone health. Begun in 1991 as a proposed 15 year study, women in menopause were randomized to take orally either a placebo, or PremPro, a combination of Premarin, a conjugated equine estrogen (CEE), and medroxyprogesterone , a synthetic version of progesterone. Women with a hysterectomy were given either CEE alone, or placebo. In part, this $725 million study was intended to resolve the controversy over whether menopause should be embraced as a natural transition in life, a position taken by the feminist movement at the time, or as proposed by such books as Feminine Forever (Pocket Books, NY, 1968), menopause was a hormone deficiency totally preventable with hormone therapy.

In 2002 the entire study was abruptly stopped due to a statistical increase in breast cancer and stroke and no apparent benefit to reduce cardiovascular risk. This bold action by NIH prompted the New York Times article entitled “Hormone Replacement Study: a Shock to the Medical System. “ As one physician later wrote “I may have taken my last pill this morning. “ By 2003, there was a precipitous reduction in hormone prescriptions, ushering in a decade of menopausal women without hormone support. But was the WHI study done correctly?

The purpose of hormone replacement in menopause is to compensate for the lack of estrogen, primarily estradiol, of which 95% is produced by the ovaries during the reproductive years. The role of a progestin is to duplicate progesterone, produced cyclically by the premenopausal ovaries, whose sole purpose is to prevent overstimulation of the uterine lining by estradiol.

Three aspects of the WHI deserve closer scrutiny: the age of the women in the study, the choice of the hormones used, and the significance of the statistical risk.

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december 2014 :: rochesterWomanMag.com

With an average age of 63 years, many of these women may already have had vascular damage from age-related changes, thus increasing their risks for cardiovascular events. The average age of menopause in the United States is 51 years.

In the WHI, Premarin, derived from the urine of pregnant mares (Premar-in) contains 10 different estrogens, but almost no estradiol, the most powerful of the body’s estrogens. Taken as an estrogen pill, it is absorbed in the intestine, with a “first pass” through the liver, increasing production of many clotting factors. This explains the increased incidence of stroke in both arms of the study. Conversely, transdermal estrogen does not stimulate these clotting factors. Medroxyprogesterone was used as the progestin. This is a synthetic chemical version of progesterone. Women on PremPro did show a statistical increase in breast cancer. Yet those women with a hysterectomy and therefore only on Premarin showed a reduction in breast cancer mortality. Was it the progestin? Recent data suggests that medroxyprogesterone in breast tissue may alter hormone receptors adjacent to the estrogen receptors, thus increasing the risks of estrogen-stimulated cancers.

Applying statistical risk to clinical risk also is a challenge. In the WHI, out of 10,000 person-years, there were seven more cardiac events, eight more strokes, eight more pulmonary emboli, and eight more breast cancers. The WHI frightened women (a negative) but it lay the groundwork to improved menopausal care (a positive). Today there is a growing sense that if women are begun on hormone replacement in their late 40s or early 50s, and are administered pure estradiol by a patch or cream, and pure progesterone, that the original hypotheses of the WHI might have been better served.

James Woods, MD, is a practicing gynecologist certified in menopause medicine and a regular contributor to Rochester Woman Magazine.

Elizabeth Warner, MD, is a retired gynecologist living in Rochester. For questions regarding this menopause minute or other topics that you would like to see addressed in future editions, please email him at James_woods@ urmc.rochester.edu.

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it ::snap out of

MY

holiday

is bette

it

:snap out of,

By Margaret Madigan

I ask myself sometimes, “Is nothing sacred anymore?” And I usually come up with the answer, “No, not really” and I don’t mean that in a self-righteous Michelle Duggar kind of way, I mean it as wow, we just don’t honor some stuff like we used to… but ya’ know, it’s a different world now.

I got to thinking this as the usual onslaught of holiday propaganda started cropping up. It first started with all the rumblings on social media about the pros and cons of Black Friday and the calls for public lynchings of CEOs of companies that would - *gasp* - be open on Thanksgiving Day. Which does seems a little crappy. Which by the way, did you ever notice no one really complains about stores not being closed on Christmas? It’s because everyone is usually so sick of holidays and their family by then, they can’t wait to get the hell out and go to the corner bar or movie theater. Well, and that there needs to be something open for the non-Christians as well. Hey, we are supposed to be a country that welcomes all, right? For decades my Jewish friends (not just characters in Woody Allen movies) just went out for Chinese and a movie on Christmas, it’s just what you did.

Anyway, I was thinking back to when I was a kid in the 60’s and 70’s, nothing was ever open on Thanksgiving or Christmas. Heck, nothing was even open every Sunday back then! It seemed the whole country shut down to be with family and friends and honor and worship… whatever.

I remember a strange eeriness to the empty streets when on Thanksgiving or Christmas we would go to pick up my Father’s elderly cousin Agatha O’Connor, who didn’t drive, to join us for the holiday meal. She had no other family left than my Father and she never married so she was kind of like my surrogate Grandmother. (Back then every Irish family had one old maid or bachelor relative that we all had to take care of, it was mandatory) Thinking back now though, it seemed like a magical time, the world, at least our corner of the world was quiet for a moment on that day.

And oh my God, if the phone rang and it wasn’t my Grandmother or one of my older siblings who couldn’t make it home for the holiday, you got the death stare to get off the phone. You were to say “Can’t talk now”, quickly hang up and get back to being happy with the family, damnit! You rotten ungrateful kids come back here and be loving right now! No, it wasn’t that bad, but you felt like it when you were 10 or 12. When you’re under 10 you think it’s awesome because of all the food and people around and it was time to make up a show to put on after dinner! Then you become a moody pubescent for a while and everything sucks, then it gets fun again as you are of drinking age. The drinking age was 18 back then, I remember being allowed to start having a glass of wine around 16 at holiday meals.

Good times. Again, different world. I never understood why sitting around the adult table after the food was all gone and drinking wine and laughing hysterically was so interesting that no one wanted to see our little kid show… until I became eligible to sit at the adult table. I enjoy those times with family immensely.

everyone happy but just pull up your big girl panties and take what anyone gives you, be it a Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays, and give whatever you want back whether it be Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Festivus, Happy Hanukkah, or Happy Kwanzaa. Getting all bent out of shape about it, kind of defeats the spirit of the season, doesn’t it?

Getting mad at others for their war on your holiday, kind of makes you look silly and not very religious-like. We’ve become an awful group of entitled people, don’t you think? And it’s on all sides, don’t get me wrong. Shame on the people who insist you respect their beliefs and NOT wish them a specific holiday and instead must give a generic “Happy Holidays”, and shame on the people who insist you respect their beliefs and wish them their appropriate holiday greeting. Hello?! Did you notice a recurring theme there? I say just feel lucky someone said hello and wished you a happy something!

I get it, I get it, there are some corporate or government entities that have made waves with the “stay generic” for the holidays mandate. This city puts up a nativity scene, that person says “You offend me” with your scene of a kid laying in hay being sniffed by a camel because it represents Christianity, a specific religion which contradicts the ole separation of Church and State thing. I get it. That corporation says “No Christmas trees in our store and just say Happy Holidays”, and this person says “Hey I can say Merry Christmas if I want to!” I get that too. It’s all misguided and for someone to think it’s all some vast conspiratorial plot to undermine Christianity, well…

I think it’s time to up your meds. Getting mad is counter-productive. In my book, at least. I would be remiss to perpetuate the cycle by getting mad at you for getting mad at them… and so on, and so on.

Think of it this way… say you are a non-Christian and you go through the checkout line and the clerk wishes you a “Merry Christmas”. Do you think there was much thought put into it other than, I hope you enjoy the day or time of year? If you are non-Christian, will you grab them by the collar and yell, “I’m not about that Christmas %$#@!”? No because you’ll make poor McKenzie making $8.00 an hour after school, cry. Wish ‘em whatever you want back then! Say “Happy Holidays”, “Happy Hanukkah”, or “Happy Vulcan Feast Day” if you want. It’s the sentiment, not the literalization of it.

Yes, this missive seems like a contradiction as I reminisced about keeping things sacred but wanting people to lighten up in staying strict about their holiday. But it was just that, it was indeed just reminiscing. It’s not the same.

It’s a different world. However, you can still celebrate things in the manner you wish and that doesn’t require being a jerk to others. We start calling for heads to roll and adhere to strict religious beliefs, sooner or later we’ll be stoning women for showing their hair, or sending people away on rail cars never to be seen again. Seems a bit extreme? Yes, no, maybe. But that’s sometimes the direction things go as people try to force their beliefs on others, it sometimes gets carried away. I don’t mean that to be a paranoid theory to induce mass-hysteria, I just meant it as well, take a look at history.

holiday

However, don’t think I’m one of these people that wear a snippy button that says “You can wish me a Merry Christmas”, or bitterly proclaim to be a victim of the “War on Christmas”. Oh stop being a victim, would ya’? So it’s not as sacred as it used to be, sad but true. Get over it. Yes, some people take the “Let’s be all inclusive and just wish everyone Happy Holidays as to not rock the boat” thing too far. And yes, some people were just trying to make

er then your

SIF SF

Just wish each other well in the manner you are comfortable and accept that from others as well. Vive la difference is what I say. From me, Merry Christmas… but you all enjoy whatever you like now, ya’ hear?

Margaret “Madge” Madigan in the Associate Editor of Rochester Woman Magazine, and author of the best selling book, “When Life Gives You Lemons…

At Least You Won’t Get Scurvy!”

Rochester Woman Magazine

events Photos by Jennifer Gattelaro & Hoyt Photography

december 2014 EVENTS CALENDAR

Holidays at the Market Organization: Rochester Public Market

Where: 280 N. Union St When: 9:00am-3:00pm Website: www.cityofrochester.gov/publicmarket

7 & 14 Breakfast with Santa

13-21 (weekends only) Great Russian Nutcracker

15 Mannheim Steamroller Christmas

17 Reindeer Run

20

Organization: Seneca Park Zoo Where: 2222 St. Paul Street When: Times vary (check website for listings) Website: www.senecaparkzoo.org Where: Auditorium Theatre When: 7:00pm Website: http://www.nutcracker.com/yourcity/rochester-ny

Presented by: Rochester Broadway Theatre League Where: Rochester Auditorium Theater When: 7:30pm Website: www.rbtl.org Organization: Strong Museum of Play Where: Strong Museum of Play When: 7:30am Website: yellowjacketracing.com/events/reindeer-run

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woman ::healthy

Don’t Hibernate this Winter —

motivate yourself ------------------------------by Wendy Scinta, MD, MS Here it comes — you can feel it! The days are shorter, temperatures are colder, the snow is falling; it’s hibernation time. I see it every winter in Rochester: folks locking themselves inside and not emerging until spring, pasty white and several pounds heavier.

But it’s not everyone. If you look carefully, you will find smiles breaking through the sea of sullen expressions during the nastiest of storms. They are the faces of Rochesterarians who embrace winter. They get outside and romp around in the snow. If the weather is too harsh to frolic, they switch to indoor activities. Some bike, dance, swim or run on their treadmills. The important thing is that they move.

So how can the rest fight the overwhelming urge to hibernate? Here are some tips to help you become a source of warmth and sunshine during the cold, dark winter months.

Restore your serotonin Shorter days and less sunshine mean less serotonin — that feel-good chemical from your brain that is responsible for sleep, mood, energy and overall sense of well-being. When your serotonin is low, you become tired, unmotivated, depressed. Exercise raises your serotonin level, making it closer to pre-winter levels.

Learn to frolic Just because you’re an adult doesn’t mean you can’t still get outside and play! Build a snowman, have a snowball fight or make snow angels.

Play like no one is watching. Ski, sled, go skating. One of my best investments was a pair of snowshoes that fit right over my boots. With the extra resistance of the snow, I can burn twice as many calories. If that doesn’t entice you, just bundle up and go for a winter walk — even when the moon is out and shining bright. We take the beauty and quiet serenity of winter for granted in Upstate New York.

Commiserate Is there someone you know that would be willing to go on a walk, run or take a trip to the gym with you? Research shows that if you are accountable to someone else, you are more likely to exercise.

Challenge yourself

There are some fun winter walks and runs near Rochester. Winter is also a time to prepare yourself for a spring event. Consider a “Couch to 5K,” which you can do in your own home. Having a goal means you are more likely to follow through and also ties you with a community that shares your interests.

Make it mornings Consider getting up 30 minutes earlier in the morning. Even if you are not a morning person, the earlier in the day that you plan your exercise, the more likely it will happen. To encourage yourself to get up, put your workout clothes by your bed at night, or better yet, try this humiliating trick: Sleep in them! You will feel so ridiculous if you wake up and skip exercise when your clothes are already on that it won’t happen again.

Have a cup of coffee ready, and put a water bottle in the fridge the night before. Then, go directly to the gym, to your basement or hit the pavement. You will be so happy when you finish! And I promise — you will have a surprisingly productive day.

In summary, you can choose to hibernate, or choose to be among the living, getting out there and embracing winter! When you exercise, you are happier and more productive, you think more clearly, you tend to crave foods that are healthier and better for you, and you sleep better at night. At the end of the day, exercise gives you a sense of peace and clarity that you would be missing without it. It makes you a better mother, employee, boss, partner and friend.

Wendy Scinta, MD, MS, practices at Medical Weight Loss of NY in Fayetteville. More information can be found by calling 315-445-0003, or by visiting weightlosscny.com.

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