Sophie Woman's Magazine 3/10

Volume 6 - Issue 1 March 2010

Wo m a n ’s M a g a z i n e

In This Issue:

~ Shutterbuggerz Photos ~ Rionn’s Story ~ A Woman With Vision ~ Monthly Features

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essage M

by Judy Smith

from the

Hopefully you are enjoying the new feature in Sophie Woman’s Magazine called Shutterbuggerz. We have been overwhelmed with calls and emails commenting on how much you love the opportunity to submit pictures to us that might get printed. I am blown away at the quality of photos we get. I am not just talking about the professionals either. The creativity is endless and amazing.

One thing for sure, if you are in need of a professional photographer, there is some fabulous ones in our area.

Please don’t let that intimidate you amateurs out there from submitting yours. Since I am a grandmother, I know the pride you have in your children and grand children and I know you want the world to see them. I could fill huge books with the photos I have. Actually, I have done that very thing with scrapbooks. I want my children and grandchildren to know how proud I am of them.

Why do we take pictures? Have you ever thought about that? Do we want to save them, share them, treasure them, use them to help you remember the past or maybe even use them to motivate us toward something? There is all kind of reasons and I am so thankful someone invented the camera. I have very few photos of my parents and even less of my grandparents. I wish there were more. It is no secret to my family that if our house caught on fire, the second most important thing that I hope I could salvage is my scrapbooks. They are a window into my heart. Thank you for sharing your heart with us and our readers.

Sincerely,

Judy Smith

sophiewomansmagazine.com

pg 4 / Mar 2010 / Sophie Woman’s Magazine

Sophie

Woman’s Magazine

3354 16th Ave SE, Box 1 Conover NC 28613 (P) 828-466-0122 (F) 828-466-0123

Editor: Judy Smith Sales Manager: Judy Smith Sales: Sherry Sigmon Debbie Benge Distribution: Richard Smith Graphic Design: Scott Hansley Production Manager: Scott Hansley

Final Advertising Deadline For The Next Issue:

March 10

How to place an ad: Call our office at (828)466-0122 and leave a message. One of our sales representatives will return your call as soon as possible. You may also fax material to (828)466-0124. We reserve the right to refuse to run any ad we deem to be controversial or in bad taste.

s t n e t n o C

Message From The Heart..........................................................................................pg 3 What Is Daylight Savings Time................................................................................pg 5 Book Talk..................................................................................................................pg 6 Happy 190th Birthday Susan B. Anthony.................................................................pg 7 Mandy’s Misadventures............................................................................................pg 8 Dinner Diva: Spice It Up........................................................................................pg 10 The Fly Lady...........................................................................................................pg 13 Truth & Beauty........................................................................................................pg 14 Nicole Greer: Moving Toward The Day.................................................................pg 17 David Hudson: How Much Do They Know?..........................................................pg 18 A Woman With Vision.............................................................................................pg 21 Girlfriends In God...................................................................................................pg 22 March Monday Madness Raises Money For MOD................................................pg 23 Nancy Adams: Spring Into Cleaning Bliss.............................................................pg 25 The Front Porch......................................................................................................pg 27 The Sophie Shopper................................................................................................pg 28 Rionn’s Story..........................................................................................................pg 30 Shutterbuggerz Feature...........................................................................................pg 32

shutterbuggerz pg32 Thanks To Our Distributors

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Sophie Woman’s Magazine LLC is published monthly. The articles published in Sophie do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. All articles are intended for informational purposes only, and none should serve as a substitute for doctor’s advice and orders. Advertisers are solely responsible for the content and validity of information published within their ads and are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher. Deceptive or misleading advertising is not knowingly accepted by the publisher. Advertising is accepted with the understanding that all liability for copyright violations is the sole responsibility of the advertiser. All material submitted for publication is considered to be the sole property of the advertiser.

What Is Daylight Savings Time?

Advancing the clock one hour in the springtime and pushing it back one hour in the autumn has become the norm for many countries.

The intention is to maximize sunlight in the afternoon hours during the summer.

Some credit Benjamin Franklin or New Zealand entomologist George Vernon Hudson with devising the concept of daylight savings time (DST). It is considered controversial, and not all countries adhere to the practice. What’s more, DST has been adjusted through the years to benefit certain industries and purposes. It was even extended in 2007 in the United States and Canada. In the northern hemisphere, DST now begins on the second Sunday in March (previously the first Sunday in April). It lasts until the first Sunday in November (originally the last Sunday in October).

DST works by shifting the clock to allow for more sunlight during the hours when people are up and active. The shift in time is scheduled near midnight on a weekend to lessen disruption to weekday schedules. Generally a one-hour shift is used, but Australia’s Lord Howe Island uses a half-hour shift. Also, twenty-minute and two-hour shifts have been used in the past. DST is generally not observed near the equator, where seasonal sunrise times do not vary enough to justify it. Countries in Asia and Africa typically do not observe DST. Many people think DST was established to benefit the farming community. However, many of those who make their living with agriculture say it does not help their work, and more sun-

sophiewomansmagazine.com / Mar 2010 / pg 5

light in the morning is beneficial instead. Historians believe that DST was also used to reduce the dependence on candles or incandescent lighting. Today, however, energy usage fluctuates among regions of the world, so there is no concrete benefit measured from DST and its impact on energy usage. DSTdoes seem to help industries, like sporting goods and recreation, retailers and outdoor places that see greater participation in the summer when there are more daylight hours for frolicking after work. It is also purported to reduce automotive accidents. But it can hurt industries like farming, television broadcasting and movie theaters.

In terms of health implications, some say that DST can help with seasonal depression which is common in the winter due to less sunlight. Others report it gives individuals more time to get outdoors and enjoy exercise and recreational activities. However, time shifts disrupt sleep and reduce its efficiency. Effects of adjusting to new circadian rhythms can last for weeks and impact health. For example, a 2008 Swedish study found that heart attacks were significantly more common the first three weekdays after the spring transition and significantly less common the first weekday after the autumn transition. It can also be said that greater exposure to sunlight can increase the chances for skin cancer and other damaging effects of the sun.

Whether DSTcontinues into the future will remain a topic of debate.

However, while it lasts, remember to switch your clocks an hour ahead this spring. When doing so, it’s a good idea to check the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

pg 6 / Mar 2010 / Sophie Woman’s Magazine

BookTalk CATAWBA COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM

MARCH 2010

‘Woven into History’ to examine early textiles Melinda Herzog, executive director of the Catawba County Museum of History, will share her textile expertise in a two-part series at 5 p.m. March 2 and March 9. Both programs will be held in the auditorium of the Main Library and are free and open to the public. Early American Textiles on March 2 will feature an illustrated talk on the importance of fabrics in past centuries including discussion of quilts, coverlets, linens and more. Quilts will be discussed in detail on March 9 along with conservation tips. You may bring up to two quilts for pattern identification and dating estimates. Please note that this session is for educational purposes, not appraisal.

Libraries valued by many as community centers For years, folks have considered our county libraries as community centers. That’s particularly true in a rural area such as Sherrills Ford.

Some years ago our county commissioners made a commitment to the county library system when they decided that branch libraries would be made available within easy access of most citizens, offering regular, full-service library facilities to replace bookmobiles that allowed only occasional presence in neighborhoods.

One important function of the library is providing meeting space. The larger locations (Newton, Southwest and St. Stephens) have free rooms available to non-profit educational environmental, civic and cultural groups. Contact branch managers in these locations to schedule use of meeting space.

The neutrality of libraries makes them a comfortable, welcoming place for all patrons regardless of age, sex, socio-economic status, race or educational background. Small groups often gather there informally in lobby areas to work on projects together, while individuals use the facilities regularly for reading rooms and space to work on laptop computers using the library’s free wireless internet service. The philosophy that library services are available free to all citizens underscores that

atmosphere. Indeed, free public libraries continue to be a cornerstone of our communities and our nation.

BBQ king to visit March 21

UNC-TV regular Bob Garner, down-home food connoisseur and author of barbecue guides, will visit the Main Library at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 21 to discuss the history of smoked pork. Books will be available for sale and signing. The free program, sponsored by Friends of Catawba County Library, is open to the public. Free barbecue samples will be served by local vendors.

Become a digital whiz

An extended computer class starts March 3 at St. Stephens Branch. Digital Literacy (Into to Computers) will begin at 9 a.m. that Wednesday and continue through May for adults who wish to strengthen computing skills at their own pace.

Shirley Sipe, library services specialist, will lead the sessions. The free class is a non-credit course.

For more information, call Sipe at 256-3030 or Lynne Bolick Reed at 465-8292.

sophiewomansmagazine.com / Mar 2010 / pg 7

Happy 190th Birthday, Susan B. Anthony!

That’s a lot of candles, Miss Anthony. And today we have a lot to celebrate. One hundred ninety years ago On Feb 15th, Susan B. Anthony and a great human rights legacy was born. She and her movement pushed the doors of political life open for women. Our organization’s namesake, we celebrate that she also saw the connection between human rights of all people, consistently rejecting the notion that one person’s fundamental rights could come at the expense of another’s. She stood for the rights of every human being – especially the most vulnerable.

She was an abolitionist: property rights could not be built upon the broken backs of slaves. She believed in women’s rights: political power for women should be used as a hedge against abuse of women.

And she believed in the right to life of the unborn child: women’s rights could never be built upon the broken bodies of unborn children.

Not surprisingly, many women’s groups tend to leave that fact out. But it’s true! Susan B. Anthony’s pro-life stance is evident in her writings. The proprietor and business manager of the early feminist newspaper The Revolution, Anthony published many articles under a simple pseudonym, “A.” In an article entitled “Marriage & Maternity,” Anthony referred to abortion as “the horrible crime of child-murder,” and said that abortion would “burden [a woman’s] conscience in life, [and] it will burden her soul in death.” Even at a time when her newspaper was in dire need of advertisers to prevent it from folding, the paper refused to place advertisements for abortionists masquerading as legitimate health providers.

She never sat on the sidelines, watching the great human rights battles of the day play out – come what may. She stepped up, never gave up and never lost hope. She died before the 19th Amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote passed. But she never stopped fighting for it.

This is the model my husband and I want for our children. When someone is being bullied, never stand idly by. When a stranger is hurt or in need, YOU be the one to step into the void and help. And when unborn children and their mothers are in crisis; LOVE THEM BOTH. When almost 4,000 children per day die from abortion at the hands of an abortion industry that feeds on mothers who need and deserve better, NONE of us should stand by.

We can all do something to rally our nation to the point where all children are protected in the law.

I know that if Susan B. Anthony were alive today, she would be overjoyed by the strength of the growing American pro-life majority. It’s this brand of original, authentic pro-life feminism that resonates with today’s American woman. And it’s why the old guard of abortion-promoting feminists struggles to remain relevant.

In our increasingly pro-life culture, the ‘pro-choice’ label has worn out its usefulness. The modern feminist mantra calling for a taxpayer-funded abortion in every home flies in the face of Susan B. Anthony’s legacy of equal rights for all, born and unborn.

The pro-life team advances the true woman-centered approach to politics; the approach that honors the dignity of both mother and child.

With that vision, you and I are taking back lost ground for Life. And we are rolling back the culture of death that brought us here.

As we remember Susan B. Anthony on her birthday, I encourage you to celebrate her legacy: -Urge the women in your life to follow in her footsteps by doing all they can to defend Life in the political process.

-Prayerfully consider whether you or any woman you know is called to public service.

The voice of pro-life women is critical to ending abortion in this country.

Thank you for your support and dedication toward advancing Susan B. Anthony’s Legacy in honor of women and the innocent unborn.

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’s y d an

M

Misadventures

by Mandy Thomas

Traveling Blights

We travel a lot. It’s a necessity since both sets of our families live eight hours away from us, and the city we live in is smallish, which sometimes makes it imperative to travel just to find the right size jeans.

I enjoy a good road trip, but sometimes I get a bit concerned, “what if “situations rolling around in my head like so many marbles. What if a deer runs out in front of my car and I have to slam on the breaks and this makes me hydroplane into a ditch? Or worse, what if I hit the deer? What if I have to pee during that wretched stretch of nothing between Quitman, Mississippi and Citronelle, Alabama? What if Savannah opens the car door and tries to toss the dog out? I could go on and on, but you get the point: traveling is a concerning issue.

But it wasn’t until I went to pick up my mom in Mobile, Alabama that some of the “what ifs” came to fruition.

Mom had hitched a ride with one of her friends from Florida, where she lives, who was headed to Mobile for a family function. Since Mobile is only two hours from my house, I volunteered to pick her up. So, I got the girls some snacks and toys and grabbed a couple of their most annoying, um I mean, wonderful childrens’ music tapes, and we were on our way.

It went really well as far as the kids go. Savannah is a road trip pro; she’s been traveling since well before she could walk. Addison doesn’t like it so much, but I think she’s come to terms with the fact that it is a necessary evil. We had gone through most of the trip in peace and were in that last little stretch of woods dotted with small traces of civilization before we got to Mobile when it happened.

A nice, big opossum lay in the road and I smashed right smack dab into the middle of him. Of course I did the first thing that seemed natural to do after

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sophiewomansmagazine.com / Mar 2010 / pg 9 hitting a random opossum in the middle of nowhere, and that was to start screaming. Which, of course, got my kids started screaming.

The car shuddered and began jerking raucously, which only amplified the wailing inside. I’ll just let you think that my kids were screaming louder than me, if it’s all the same to you. After a few more feet of shaking and pitching, I realized I had better pull over on the side of that highway. A quick survey of my back tire told me all I needed to know; it was shredded.

Stupid opossum.

In that moment a recent conversation played back in my mind of me asking Chris if he would show my how to change a tire.

“Sure, sure,” he had said noncommittally. “Of course.” But here I was, days later, a flat tire and absolutely no knowledge of how to change it.

Well, I thought, I sure showed him, didn’t I? I called Chris at work and thankfully I was close to another store in the chain of stores he manages, so he was able to call in a favor and all I had to do was wait.

No problem, right?

It was at about that moment Savannah flung open the car door and threw herself into the grass sobbing “I can’t take it! I’m gonna have a PAINTER attack!” (which I would later learn meant “panic attack,” and I plead the fifth as to how she knows about panic attacks.)

I got her back into the car and settled down, figuring it would take, at most, a half hour for Chris’ guy to show up, so all I had to do was get the car off the highway and entertain the girls.

Only a few feet away was a drive with a rusty iron gate and looked like it hadn’t been used in a while, so I figured it was better than nothing. I got the car to the drive, parked and unhooked the kids so we could stand outside for a while.

It was cold, and I was thankful I had told Savannah she couldn’t wear her flip flops and had grabbed a hat for Addison.

We waited, and waited and waited.

A car pulled up and rolled down the window. “Are you okay?” asked the lady inside, “because this is a real bad area. I only ask because of the children.”

I assured her we were fine and simply waiting for help to come.

With her warning in mind, I put the kids in the back of the car. I have a hatchback car, and so between the back seat and the hatchback, there’s a space that was perfect for them to play in. I threw their toys back there, got the heat going in the car to keep them warm, and shut the door, satisfied with myself for being so inventive.

About that time, a truck pulled into the driveway, and the man inside rolled down the window to ask if I was okay. I nodded, and he was just about to pull away when Savannah started banging on the window of the car and yelling “Hey! HEEEEEEYYYYY!!! IS ANYONE OUT THERE????”

Thankfully, he didn’t ask any questions, but pulled off and was on his way. Soon enough, Chris’ friend showed up and fixed the tire, and I was able to leave, but not without a check list of things to do before traveling again.

Learn how to change a tire and dye my hair in case the local news was looking for a blonde who’d kidnapped two innocent children and then broke down on the side of the road.

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pg 10 / Mar 2010 / Sophie Woman’s Magazine

Spice IT UP

By Leanne Ely CNC

Cooking with herbs and spices make all the difference in the world to the end product, your meal. But if you’ve never learned how to use the mountain of spices available, sometimes you need a little guidance.

Never fear, the Dinner Diva is here! Do yourself a favor and copy this list and stick it to your fridge. The Dinner Diva Spice Primer is guaranteed to get you cooking in no time!

1. Bay Leaf -- Used in stews, soup and great with pot roast. Go easy.

Bay leaves are strong, especially California bay leaves, which are the kind most grocery stores stock. I use 1/2 a leaf in my stews.

2. Basil -- Ah, the taste of summer. Who can resist fresh basil and tomatoes from the garden tossed with olive oil and garlic on a plate full of pasta? Dried, it’s wonderful in soups, pasta dishes and chicken.

3. Dill -- It’s not just for pickles. Try some dill sprinkled on fish, chicken or even in a light cream soup.

4. Garlic -- Nectar of the gods, well, bulb of the gods anyway. Garlic has a way of making the most ordinary food gourmet. Try sprinkling garlic powder (not garlic salt) into a prepared box of white cheddar macaroni and cheese. Surprise! It’s pretty good.

Fresh though, is best. Squeeze it from a garlic press into almost anything. Don’t use with chocolate though.

5. Ginger -- Sprinkle it in your stir-fry, try it on baked chicken breasts with a little soy sauce and garlic. For fun, get it fresh (it’s that alien-looking root mass in the produce department) and freeze it. It will keep almost indefinitely when frozen. To use, hack off a piece, peel it and grate into your recipe.

6. Nutmeg -- I love nutmeg. If you can find nutmeg nuts and the itty, bitty grater that comes with it, buy it. Once you’ve had freshly grated nutmeg, the powdered stuff in the jar is beneath you. Obvi ously an ingredient in baking, it’s also good grated on sautéed squash, green beans, and carrots.

7. Oregano -- A staple in Italian cooking, it’s also good in stews and salad dressings.

8. Rosemary -- This beautiful plant grows wild in my garden and provides an intoxicating aroma to meats, stews and root veggies.

Try some crumbled in your carrots for a change of pace.

9. Tarragon -- An almost licorice flavor, this delicate herb takes front and center in vinaigrettes, as a delicious sprinkle on the top of baked or poached poultry and fish.

10. Thyme -- Make time for thyme! It’s strong and adds a hint of character to an otherwise pretty standard dish. Use it with chicken, soups and beef.

Even though I?m not numbering these last two, I need to give a shout out to plain old salt and pepper. But not just the stuff in the blue cylinder with the little girl on the label or the familiar pepper sitting in the red and white can; I?m talking about sea salt and freshly ground pepper. You can buy both ready to go with their own grinders anywhere. Once you?ve used this kind of salt and pepper, you?ll never go back to the old stuff. It?s that much better.

And while this is an abbreviated list of spices, it’s a good start.

I’ve skipped a lot of them because they are used so infrequently or just take up room on the Lazy Susan. Feel free to add or subtract ones you know you won?t use or you know you need!

Leanne Ely is a New York Times bestselling author of Body Clutter and the Saving Dinner series. The Dinner Diva syndicated newspaper column appears in 250 newspapers nationwide. Learn how to cook great and save significant money with the Dinner Diva?s menus, recipes and shopping lists at www.savingdinner.com

Oxymorons

sophiewomansmagazine.com / Mar 2010 / pg 11

1. Is it good if a vacuum really sucks?

2. Why is it called “after dark” when it really is “after light”?

3. Why is the third hand on the watch called the second hand?

4. If a word is misspelled in the dictionary, how would we ever know?

5. If Webster wrote the first dictionary, where did he find the words?

6. Why do we say something is out of whack? What is a whack?

7. Why does “slow down” and “slow up” mean the same thing?

8. Why does “fat chance” and “slim chance” mean the same thing?

9. Why do “tug” boats push their barges?

10. Why do we sing “Take me out to the ball game” when we are already there?

11. Why are they called “stands” when they are made for sitting?

12. Doesn’t “expecting the unexpected” make the unexpected expected?

13. Why are a “wise man” and a “wise guy” opposites?

14. Why do “overlook” and “oversee” mean opposite things?

15. Why is “phonics” not spelled the way it sounds?

16. If work is so terrific, why do they have to pay you to do it?

17. If all the world is a stage, where is the audience sitting?

18. If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?

19. If you are cross-eyed and have dyslexia, can you read all right?

20. Why is bra singular and panties plural?

21. Why do you press harder on the buttons of a remote control when you know the batteries are dead?

22. Why do we put suits in garment bags and garments in a suitcase?

23. How come abbreviated is such a long word?

24. Why do we wash bath towels? Aren’t we clean when we use them?

25. Why doesn’t glue stick to the inside of the bottle?

26. Why do they call it a TV set when you only have one?

27. Christmas - What other time of the year do you sit in front of a dead tree and eat candy out of your socks?

28. Why do we drive on a parkway and park on a driveway?

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pg 12 / Mar 2010 / Sophie Woman’s Magazine

Side Dish With a Southwestern Twist

With barbecue season right around the corner, many grilling enthusiasts are readying themselves for another season spent in the backyard around the grill. While steaks and burgers might be on the horizon, it’s important to remember the side dishes as well.

Finding something that goes well with barbecued chicken and meat can be tough, but the following recipe for “Southwest Cornbread” from Linda Collister’s “Quick Breads,” (Ryland, Peters & Small) is sure to please grilling afficionados and their guests.

Southwest Cornbread Makes 1 medium bread Serves 6 to 8 2 2/3

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1 1/2 1/2 1 1 1 1/4 2 1 1 1

cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen cup fine yellow cornmeal, preferably stoneground teaspoon baking powder teaspoon sea salt cup pine nuts, toasted rounded teaspoon chopped fresh sage leaves scallion, sliced cup unbleached all-purpose flour cup corn oil extra-large eggs cup buttermilk pat of butter 9-inch cast-iron ovenproof skillet or an 8-inch square cake pan

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Put the corn kernels, cornmeal, baking powder, salt, pine nuts, sage, scallion, and flour in a large bowl and mix well.

In a separate bowl, beat the oil with the eggs and buttermilk, then stir into the dry ingredients to make a thick batter.

If you are using the skillet, heat the pan with the pat of butter in the oven until foaming -- about 3 minutes. If you are using a cake pan, then grease it well.

Pour the batter into the hot skillet of the prepared pan and bake in the oven for about 20 minutes until firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Serve while still warm, either straight from the skillet or turned out of the pan onto a cutting board and cut into large squares.

Best eaten the same day. Not suitable for freezing.

sophiewomansmagazine.com

FUN

Make It

sophiewomansmagazine.com / Mar 2010 / pg 13

And The Family WILL Help

by The FlyLady Marla Cilley

As Sidetracked people, we are put off by anything that sounds like mundane housework! We are a fun loving people. Why do we have to be stuck doing jobs that we think will take us forever, when others are out having great time. I have heard you many times as well as my own voice.

We have a challenge every day to muster up enough gumption to get us moving. This is why I have tried to make it fun.

Timers have added an extra bit of fun and challenge to a project, but they also keep us on track. We all need to be reminded from time to time what we are working on. We can stay focused if all we have to do is 15 minutes. Children love timers too.

House work is such an ugly word. This is why I have tried to help you realize that you are not working when you are blessing your family! We have been raised to believe that house cleaning is an all day affair. No one needs to spend that kind of time maintaining your home. When you establish your routines and start dancing through your day with every move blessing your family, it is not like work at all!

I have always hated to dust. My mother made us remove everything from the tables, then dust and put everything back; it took what seemed hours.

Now all I do is pull out my magic feather dusting wand and buzz around my home while I am on the phone and before I know it, our whole home, every surface has been dusted. No mess or fuss! It has been done and I felt like a fairy princess gliding and dancing around my home. When was the last time you had that much fun dusting.

If you take 2 minutes and feather dust every day, you will never have to see dusty finger streaks on your furniture. You know the ones where someone in the family writes, “DUST ME!” In fact you may never see dirt and dust again.

A real feather duster is a fun tool and mine even has some purple feathers in it. I feel so special when I use it. Just let me warn you, they can be addictive. When your family sees how much fun you are having, they will want to do it for you! This is kind of like Tom Sawyer whitewashing the fence. Children love them too; a tool becomes a toy that does a job in the hands of your babies. Of course, you have to set the example and teach them how to use it.

Have you ever wondered how to get your children excited about keeping their rooms clean? I have a friend who figured it out many years ago and now she is making it available to everyone. Her creativity has children cleaning their rooms all over the world. Pam Young created the persona For more help getting rid of your CHAOS, check out her website and join her free mentoring group at www.FlyLady.net or her book, Sink Reflections of the House Fairy. Go check out this other great tool for our children; published by Bantam and her New York Times Best Selling book, Body Clutwww.HouseFairy.org. Your children will run to clean their rooms. ter published by Fireside. Copyright 2010 Marla Cilley Used by permission Housework doesn’t have to be dreaded, it can become a fun family game in this publication. with everyone pitching in. You just need to make it enjoyable.

pg 14/ Mar 2010 / Sophie Woman’s Magazine

TRUTH Question:

& BEAUTY

by Teresa Pope, Esthetician

I get these itchy red bumps on my shins that drive me crazy! What are they and how can I get rid of them?

Answer:

Those tiny red, itchy bumps are probably a condition called “Keratosis Pilaris”. It comes from extremely dry skin. It is very common in winter when we have cold temperatures and low humidity, and usually appears on the shins, thighs, upper arms and sometimes the face. The bumps can be flesh colored to slightly red to intensely red and are caused by a protein called Keratin, that forms over the skin as an attempted to protect the skin.

This condition is usually accompanied by a rough sandpaper feeling to the skin. It is exacerbated by hot baths and showers, so try to avoid HOT water and stick to warm. Moisturizers can offer some relief, but it needs to be applied often through out the day. A “light” chemical peel and moisture mask, such as you would receive in a facial, is also very effective. But the effect will only be temporary, you must keep up the moisturizing at home or the Keratosis Pilaris will return. And if you can hang on until Spring, chances are it will clear up on it’s own.

Please submit questions to Teresa Pope @ A Caring Touch, 1626 Tate Blvd. S.E. Hickory, NC 28601.

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sophiewomansmagazine.com / Mar 2010 / pg 15

St. Patrick’s Day Quick Facts

So, why green? What’s with the shamrocks? And who’s St. Patrick?

St. Patrick—Known as the Apostle of Ireland. He lived from 389 to 461.

March 17—Date of St. Patrick’s feast day in Ireland. In America, this day evolved into a secular celebration of Irish heritage.

When did it catch on here?—In 1737, the Charitable Irish Society of Boston conducted the first American St. Patrick’s Day parade.

The shamrock—Historically considered good luck by the Irish. It’s the country’s national symbol and is purported to have been used by St. Patrick to illustrate the Trinity.

Green—Worn by Americans on St. Patrick’s Day to represent the lush Irish landscape. Green is also Ireland’s national color. (It was American school children who started the tradition of giving a pinch to those not wearing green.)

Leprechauns—Old Irish for “small bodies.” In Irish folklore, they’re mischievous shoemaking elves who know where gold is hidden.

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Floral 411 for the Big Day

pg 16 / Mar 2010 / Sophie Woman’s Magazine

Leading up to their big day, couples have lots to worry about before they finally get to walk down the aisle as man and wife. The trials and tribulations of planning a wedding is no small task, as even the most minor details must be accounted for.

Such is the case with the floral arrangements. Though not a minor detail in any way, preparing a wedding day floral arrangement does have its minor details, particularly when it comes to the more individual aspects of a floral plan. For instance, the following components must be considered when devising a floral plan.

* The bridal bouquet. It’s tradition for bridal bouquets to contain white or cream-colored flowers such as stephanotis, roses, orchids, or lilies. Many bridal bouquets also include fillers like baby’s breath as well as some green or ivy, as well as ribbons or additonal accessories. * Bouquets for attendants. Attendants’ bouquets should be identical, and it’s best to coordinate these bouquets with the attendants’ gowns.

Only the maid of honor traditionally receives a slighlty different bouquet, as it’s customary to give her one apart from the rest, though not significantly so. * Boutonnieres for groomsmen and ushers. The guy’s side of the wedding also needs to take part in the floral plan. Worn in a buttonhole or lapel, a boutonniere should be worn on the left lapel and match a flower from the bridesmaids’ bouquet. The groom should also wear a boutonniere, though his should match a flower from the bride’s bouquet. When wearing boutonnieres, men should not wear additional accessories such as pocket squares. * Flowers for special guests. Certain special guests, such as grandmothers and mothers, should receive corsages. While the corsages do not need to be identical, they should match the bridesmaids’ bouquets. It’s best to consult with a florist for a corsage color that matches all dresses, as typically the corsages must be ordered before the bride and groom know what their mothers, grandmothers and other special guests will be wearing. A corsage that goes with anything, therefore, is ideal.

Let’s talk about whether Essure is right for you.

Call our office today 828-264-5464.

Cecilia F. Grasinger, MD FACOG Matthew S. Peterson, MD FACOG Robert E. L. Shirley, MD FACOG Jill M. Wagner, MD FACOG Watauga Women’s Center 870 State Farm Rd., Suite 100 Boone, NC 28607 www.wwc.md

Moving

Toward The Day Understanding how your emotions affect your energy…

By Nicole Greer, PPCC Principal Coach Vibrant Coaching

Finally! The day is complete. Safe and secure behind the wheel of my sporty yet energy efficient Mazda, I am zoom…zoom…zooming home. Literally, I “Thank God!” I have a 20-minute drive before I pull into the garage and I begin the third phase of my day. I use this precious windshield time to reflect on the day and more specifically I look at how I have expended precious energy. Like you, I am ‘working’ from the time I lift my head from the silk covered feather pillow accompanied by my tufted feather filled mattress pad complimented by my six-inch thick down comforter until the blissful moment when I lay my head in the nest of feathers once again that night.

Some days all I do is long for my homecoming to my feather laden sanctuary. I wish away each meeting, errand and obligation. Let it be done, be over, and be gone. The day is full of angst. I operate in a disconnected obligated state. I am withdrawn and simply doing the minimum.

Then there are some days that I attack with vengeance. I must win. I am going to succeed. Around the obstacles I lurch and leap. In a dogged determination, I survey the tasks that lie ahead of me. I think, “I will even if it kills me finish.”

Again, there are some days that pass in a ‘blink’. It seems the day flows. The journey is fluid. I am fine. It’s almost as if I have a magnetic field around me that drawing me forward without my contriving.

Sound familiar?

Or am I the only one who feels schizophrenic?

I am not crazy. Neither are you. The fact is we are operating in and out of three distinct energies based on perspectives we cook up in our heads. Realize the magnitude of our responsibilities. They run the gamet from comprehending the latest and greatest technology update at work to devising how to creatively pack in nutrition to the family’s dinner while still serving up something that won’t leave the opinionated clan at home longing to simply order another pizza. No wonder we are out of touch with our energies and the accompanying emotions.

Energy is defined as: • our ability to do things • vigor • effort • power supply • and capacity to work Our energies are inextricably interwoven with our emotions. Therefore our emotions frame how we look at our responsibilities. Stopping to pause and reframe the task at hand move us from hating and haste to a heartfelt and helpful reality. Reframing is simple practice used in coaching to interrupt a client’s thought process. Simply stop. When you feel like running for the covers or conquering the next with a no holds barred effort, be still. Can you define how you see things? Can you move from want to plenty? Can you move from ‘have to do it’ to ‘want to do it’?

You can.

You stand in choice. The negative energies are retreat and over-against.

These energies are surrounded by emotions that will steal your joy and deplete twice the precious power necessary than needed in the first place.

I implore you. As you move from one role to the next in the niches of your day, stop. Observe. Name your state of mind. Change your perspective.

Move from gloomy to bright. The energy called for is “toward”. This energy

sophiewomansmagazine.com / Mar 2010 / pg 17 is vital. It is ultimately powerful. In toward energy, you are simply moving one step at a time into the goal. You see the way. Clarity and functionality are your confidantes. The key to toward energy is to simply let go of the outcome and be with the work. Let the task draw you in like a heavenly bed. Embrace the possibilities.

Nicole Greer, PPCC is a professional life and business coach. At its deepest level, working with a coach frees you to indentify your birthright gifts, discern your deepest passions, and fulfill your highest purpose. A coach can pry you off dead center. As Principal Coach for Vibrant Coaching and Workshop Leader for The Lydia Group, LLC, a collaboration of individuals focused on work, life and spiritual growth, Nicole is on a mission to impact, energize, and influence people to lead a Vibrant Life by engaging the possibilities. As a life and business coach and workshop leader, Nicole views her role as a conduit to release all that you want to achieve. Join me on the PATH to move forward with authenticity, skill and confidence. www. thevibrantcoach.com/www.thelydiagroup.com/www.vibrantcompass.com

Understanding how I utilized my energy gives me great insight and prepares me to finish strong.

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pg 30 / Mar 2010 / Sophie Woman’s Magazine

“Should I Convert to a Roth-IRA?”

Sweeping U.S. Tax Law Changes for Roth-IRA beginning Jan1, 2010 favor doing a Roth-IRA Conversion in 2010 to get additional tax-free income that can stretch your retirement money further.

David Hudson is a Certified Estate Planner, and a Registered Financial Consultant. He is the President of Master’s Estate and Financial Services. He has served the Catawba Valley area for over twenty-four years.

Q. Isn’t there a limit on who, or the amount you can convert, to Tax-Free Income?

A. There are NO RESTRICTIONS on the amount you can convert in 2010.

Q. I have heard there is an extra-conversion tax you have to pay up front?

A. Contrary to what you’ve heard, it is NOT EXTRA. This money will be taxed someday. You can convert and pay the taxes due today or don’t convert and pay the taxes in the future.

Q. But I don’t have that extra money lying around right now...

A. Because of the special advantages for converting to 2010, you can skip payments for up to *2 1/2 years. And only pay 1/2 the amount in two payments.

Q. What happens if income tax rates go up?

A. If you think your personal tax rates are going to go up (and there may be good reason for that) it is best to convert now while taxes are at their lowest in years.

Q. But I still have to pay taxes on Social Security benefits. I really hate that.

A. Changing to a Roth-IRA can actually reduce or eliminate paying taxes on Social Security Benefits altogether!

Q. What about the required minimum distributions.

Do I still have to take those?

A. When you convert to a Roth-IRA you no longer have to take forced withdrawals. And can leave them to accumulate for interest that can be income tax-free.

Q. Fact is, I really don’t need additional income from those withdrawals.

A. Then you’re in luck. You can use the Roth-IRA to grow a large cash reserve (using the extra tax free interest or earnings) to pass on to your spouse, children and grandchildren 100% income TAX free for generations which will provide for their retirement. Or you can use the money yourself to pay for any unexpected catastrophic event such as nursing home costs, etc.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn why you should do a Roth-IRA Conversion sooner than later!

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HOW

MUCH

by David Hudson

Do They Know?

Do you have someone you would trust with your life? Do you have a person you would trust completely with your finances and other business? If you are one of the fortunate people that can answer yes to these two important questions you are indeed blessed. In the January issue of Sophie I wrote about the need for each of us (young or old) to have estate documents prepared.

One important detail of estate documents such as wills, powers of attorney, and trust is having someone you completely trust to carry out your wishes if you aren’t able to. Unfortunately many people never have documents completed because they aren’t blessed to have such a person in their lives. Others are forced to seek professionals to serve as their agent, successor trustee, executor, or executrix because they aren’t blessed to have a competent person they completely trust.

If you are one of the blessed ones that have a competent trusted individual to take care of you and your business when you no longer can, do yourself and that person a huge favor.

Please discuss with them what you want to happen if and when their services are needed.

Many people view such a conversation as negative and unnecessary. Many parents don’t want to burden their children with details of a sad event that may happen sometime in the future. Many children refuse to discuss events with an elderly parent that they hope will never happen.

One may wonder what they should do when faced with such a communication problem.

If you are the person that may need help I would offer this advice. Insist on having the conversation. It is one of the most loving things you can do for your family. Make sure to use discretion. Explain the reason for the conversation is for your peace of mind and not because you plan to soon be in the express lane at the funeral home. You may attribute your desire to have the conversation on this article. If you still meet resistance plan B would be to put your important thoughts and instructions in the form of a letter, then put the letter with your other estate documents. Finally please make sure your loved ones know where all your important papers are. The best drawn estate plan may be useless if no one knows where you have put them.

If you are the one that has been asked to carry out the wishes of a friend or love one, explain to the person that you want to make sure you follow their instructions as closely as if they were there standing beside you. You know that if the need arises you won’t have the opportunity to ask questions at that time, so you need to talk about it now. Explain that you hope they live a healthy life for at least a hundred years, but you take the responsibility very seriously. If all else fails let them read this article and blame me!

David Hudson is a Certified Estate Planner, and a Registered Financial Consultant. He is the President of Master’s Estate and Financial Services. He has served the Catawba Valley area for over twenty-four years.

sophiewomansmagazine.com / Mar 2010 / pg 19 Most cultures have their share of comfort foods that seem to make a bad day better. Or perhaps they evoke feelings of family or special holidays. The trouble with most comfort foods is that they tend to be carbohydrate-laden, high-calorie items that can pack on the pounds. Something you may not be apt to do after making healthy resolutions.

There are ways to turn favorite comfort foods into healthier options that still satisfy. Consider these modifications to the foods you love.

Stew: Hearty stews can make winter weather bearable. Swap out fatty meats, such as chuck, for leaner cuts or even chicken breast. Increase the ratio of vegetables to meat and potatoes for a filling option that still has the ingredients you love. Use low-fat gravy or broth to create the stew liquid and thicken with a little cornstarch.

Comfort Foods That Won’t Spoil Your

Waistline

Chili: A warm bowl of chili is a favorite for many. Use the leaner cuts of ground beef (such as sirloin or ground round) and skim off any excess fat during cooking. Or simply go with ground turkey or chicken as an alternative. Increase the amount of peppers and beans you add to the chili mix.

Achieve flavor with seasonings, instead of fat. Serve with low-fat shredded cheese on top and a dollop of fat-free sour cream.

Mashed potatoes: Who can resist a heaping serving of mashed potatoes?

The trouble is the butter and milk in the mix could make those potatoes much heavier in calories than you desire. Make mashed potatoes with a 5050 ratio of potatoes and cauliflower. The texture will be the same, but you’ll be using fewer carbs. Replace butter and milk with low-fat stock for flavor.

You can also mix in some low-fat sour cream to thicken your potatoes and add a little bite to the flavor.

Mac and cheese:Macaroni and cheese may be one of the all-time favorite comfort foods. But with that much cheese, it’s not so comforting for those watching their weight. For a healthier version, swap out regular macaroni for whole wheat. Use a low-fat cheddar or even an easily melting low-fat cheese spread in place of whole milk cheeses. Skim milk will help make the combination creamy, as will low-fat evaporated milk. Beef up the nutritional value of the dish by adding diced tomatoes or peppers. Turn it from a side dish into a main dish by adding lean ground turkey.

Potato chips: Do you enjoy a bowl of potato chips while watching television? Many do, with consequences. Baked varieties are healthier, or try making your own “chips” at home. Thinly slice potatoes with the skin on. Place on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper or lightly sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Dust with salt, pepper or your favorite seasonings.

Bake at 400 F until the desired crispiness is reached.

Lasagna: This popular Italian dish is heavy on cheese, possibly meat and pasta. It can be a recipe for dieting disaster. Substitute a whole grain or multigrain pasta noodle for regular lasagna noodles. Alternate layers of your lasagna with thinly sliced eggplant or zucchini to cut down on the amount of pasta. Select nonfat cheeses and use sparingly. Skip the sausage or ground beef and replace with chopped spinach.

Pizza: Pizza is a popular comfort food. The best way to cut the calories from pizza is to make it yourself instead of ordering out. Use a whole-wheat dough and low-fat cheese. Make the pizza more filling by piling on fresh vegetables. If you prefer plain pizza, fill up on a side dish of salad so you’re less tempted to indulge in two or three slices.

Bread: Bread products can be better for you when you choose whole grain or multigrain varieties. Instead of butter, consider dipping bread in a small amount of seasoned olive oil. ***

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Tips For Families Dealing With Alzheimer’s Disease (StatePoint) If you are caring for an older family member or friend, you’re not alone. More than 44 million American adults are unpaid caregivers, often to loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease.

Every 70 seconds an American is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and cases are expected to double every 20 years. This devastating and progressive disease not only affects patients, but takes an emotional and physical toll on their friends and family members who care for them.

There are many things to do to improve your loved one’s care, and new therapies and tips for caregivers now are in the spotlight.

Share the Burden Create a circle of people to assume some responsibility for care. Tap into family, friends, neighbors, faith-based or community volunteer organizations. Something as simple as having a friend help with the grocery shopping or check-in on your loved one can make caretaking much easier.

Gather your loved one’s medical records and keep copies in your house and their home. These records should include a full medical history and list all their drugs, including over-the-counter medications and dietary supplements. Also list the contact information for their primary care physician, other medical specialists and their pharmacy. Share these records and lists with everyone helping to “share the burden.”

Investigate New Therapies Stay current on the latest medical developments and don’t be shy about asking doctors about them. Because Alzheimer’s is an irreversible brain disorder, doctors often are open to trying new therapies in hopes of slowing its progression.

For example, one of the newest trends is the use of prescription medical foods as a therapy to compensate for deficiencies in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. These new prescription products are FDA regulated, and have good evidence of safety and effectiveness.

Recent research shows that in Alzheimer’s patients, there is a dramatic drop in the brain’s ability to metabolize glucose. One new therapy building on this research to help manage Alzheimer’s is a prescription medical food called Axona that provides the brain with an alternative source of energy. Its use is clinically proven to improve cognitive function, such as memory. As a prescription medical food, Axona is different than dietary supplements as it must be used under a doctor’s supervision. It’s supplied as a powder to be mixed with food or liquids and is taken once daily following a meal.

Chris Freeman, caregiver to his 89 year-old mother who suffers from Alzheimer’s, recalls how traditional drugs helped, but he wished to do more, so he researched new therapies. “My mother has been taking Axona in combination with her other medications for the past two-and-a-half months, and I have noticed a significant improvement in her memory and energy,” he notes.

Physical exercise is also beneficial to patients and caregivers. Regular aerobic exercise like walking, biking, or swimming reduces the effects of stress on the body and can help the brain perform better by pumping oxygen-rich blood to it.

Mental exercises are key, as they stimulate neural pathways. Taking adult courses, learning a new language and doing crossword puzzles all can help.

There is a growing trend toward integrating traditional therapies, lifestyle-based approaches and adjunctive therapies like medical foods.

For more tips about caring for an Alzheimer’s patient visit www.aboutaxona.com.

A Woman With Vision

By Phyllis Esler

Those of us who live in the Catawba Valley know first hand that North Carolina has the fourth highest unemployment rate in the nation. In the early 1990’s several thousands of workers, many skilled craftsmen, in our area of North Carolina, lost their jobs when the furniture manufacturers and textile mills closed down…their product moving outside our borders. Very slowly, however, through people of vision, the outlook for hope is returning.

One of those people of vision is a high-energy woman by the name of Karie Siciliano, the President and designer for KarieAlls Corporation. She designed a handbag with a unique difference. Inside every KarieAlls is a hard plastic unit called a hopper. When you want to change bags, you simply lift up the magnetized KarieAlls flaps inside, lift out the hopper by the handles, and place them into another KarieAlls bag.

The hopper fits inside many of the KarieAlls in spite of the different styles and shapes of the various designs. Karie calls this convenient and simple experience, “change with grace.”

But in looking closer we find that “change with grace” is not just about a convenient purse concept. It is about helping people make a positive change in their lives. Karie, with her own money, purchased left over textiles from the furniture and drapery manufacturers in the area. She has hired some of these skilled craftsmen and taught them how to make her bags as well as many other products. She teaches how to make her products Karie Siciliano with one of her bags from from beginning to end, starting the KarieAlls Collection from her original sketches to the finished product.

She has purchased used commercial grade sewing machines and put them into places such as “Safe Harbor Rescue Mission,” a home for women who are striving to make positive changes in their lives. Her dream is to teach these women the skills that include not only sewing projects and learning new crafts, but also sideline skills such as digital photography, computer skills and how to sell their own products on line. Her hopes are that by the time a woman is ready to leave Safe Harbor, she will go with enough skills and confidence to stand on her own.

In addition to the KarieAlls Kariette Collection of hand bags, Karie has expanded the business to include, products for home use, aprons, windows, table covers and Christmas tree skirts that can be used year around; diaper bags with a unique difference; golf bags, tennis bags and even a beach bag with a separate compartment for wet bathing suits and towels. Her favorite is the Plantation Pets Collection with unique upscale pet beds, pet seat covers for dogs and cats that enjoy traveling with their friends, leather dog collars and many other items.

Two new projects underway are custom order products: The Tartan Collection which has hand stitched Scots and Irish plaids or tartans featured on several KarieAlls products The other Collection is called the Journey, which features the pink ribbon to remind us to fight for the cure. KarieAlls will be donating a portion of the sales of the Journey Collection to help

sophiewomansmagazine.com / Mar 2010 / pg 21 the fight to find a cure for breast cancer and to help local breast cancer organizations in the Catawba Valley region.

KarieAlls is getting ready to release a catalogue but these products can also be purchased at an ever growing list of consignment shops, boutiques, gift shops and similar places of business throughout the Catawba Valley and Blowing Rock areas.

“It’s all about giving people a new chance and a “change with grace” says Karie, and she is looking for people who can help her build this concept.

“The concept, “Change with Grace” is simple,” she says. “KarieAlls bags are designed for women “on the go.” One KarieEtte Hopper, one second, and your look has been transformed. Our mission is equally that simple.

The KarieAlls Team believes the world can be changed - second by second, action by action and it begins with you. It begins with us.

“We have been blessed with the gift of designing. We are making that change by keeping the production of our KarieAlls Collection local, in our town of Hickory, N.C. We want to give back starting in our community, especially to those who have been affected by job loss. We believe that everyone has been graced with a talent or a passion and with that gift; they, too, can serve someone in need. “ If you would like more information about the KarieAlls company, check out the website at www.KarieAlls.com. If you are interested in becoming involved with “change with grace” by ordering through trunk shows, hosting home parties, learning Tartanpoint, or if you think you’d like to be a KarieAlls Club Rep you may contact Amber@KarieAlls.com, or email tartanKarieAlls@gmail.com for more information. There is no experience necessary and this may be your chance to have fun while earning a little extra money..

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

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pg 22/ Mar 2010 / Sophie Woman’s Magazine

Cheap Nails

by Sharon Jaynes Today’s Truth

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he (she) is a new creation, the old is gone, and the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Friend To Friend

One of the greatest philosophers of all time is Charlie Brown, the little round-headed kid in Charles Schulz’s Peanuts cartoon. But even Charlie Brown has his problems. One day he was visiting his psychiatrist, Lucy.

Lucy sat pensively behind her makeshift booth that resembled a lemonade stand. Her shingle read - “Psychiatric Help 5 cents”.

Frame one: Lucy says to Charlie Brown, “Your life is like a house...”

Frame tw “You want your house to have a solid foundation, don’t you?”

Frame three: “Of course you do...”

Frame four: “So don’t build your house on the sand, Charlie Brown...”

Frame five: A strong wind blows, knocking Lucy off her chair and the booth into a heap on the ground.

Frame six: “or use cheap nails.”

I see many women today who have started building their spiritual houses on the solid rock of Jesus Christ, but then proceed to build on that foundation with the cheap nails of outward appearance, performance, possessions, power, and the praises of others. Alas, when the strong winds of adversity begin to blow, just like Lucy’s makeshift psychiatric booth, we fall apart.

In second Corinthians 3:10-15, Paul talks about two types of building materials. One type is wood, hay, and stubble. These are what man produces. He plants and he reaps. They are very temporary and can be burned up or lost in a moment. The other type of building material is gold, silver, and precious stones. These are what God has created, but we just have to discover - sometimes requiring digging through mountains of dirt.

The culture’s outward beauty ideas are very temporary ... wood, hay, and stubble. But the principles found in God’s Word are eternal with everlasting results. We can try the beauty tips in the magazines, but true beauty occurs when we sit in God’s spa and let Him perform a miracle.

Women love the idea of a day at the spa. After all, Queen Esther in the Bible stayed in a spa for an entire year before she claimed her title of Mrs. Xerxes. Her beauty regimen included six months with oils of myrrh and six months with perfumes and cosmetics (Esther 2:12). Not only that, she was assigned seven maids to take care of her every need. Now that sounds like a

spa package worth looking into!

Let’s face it, women want to be beautiful. However, many fail to realize that true beauty begins on the inside and works its way out. But how do you become beautiful on the inside? You will not discover the secret in magazines, talk shows, or reality TV. Inner beauty is the result of God’s transforming power in the heart of a willing soul. He doesn’t simply cover up our flaws; He miraculously starts from scratch and makes us new.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, (she) is a new creation,” Paul wrote, “the old is gone, and the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

The best beauty treatment is spending time with the makeover artist Himself ... Jesus. God’s spa is always open and the price has already been paid. So what are we waiting for! I’ll see you there.

Let’s Pray

Dear God, I thank You that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Lord, I pray that You will make me spiritually beautiful. I thank You that I am a new creation in Christ. Help me to walk in that truth today and wear that heavenly glow that only comes by spending time with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Do you have any “cheap nails” in your life? If so, what are they?

Have you ever gone through a struggle and seen those “cheap nails” give way under the pressure?

What do you think it means to be a “new creation?”

Write today’s truth on an index card and memorize it.

I always like to hear what my girlfriends in God are thinking. Let’s talk about cheap nails and come up with a list. Visit my Facebook page at www. facebook.com/sharonjaynes and let’s share our ideas.

More From The Girlfriends

Every woman loves the thought of a day at the spa. If you’d like to learn more about becoming spiritually beautiful, see Becoming Spiritually Beautiful - Seeing Yourself Through God’s Eyes. (This book by Sharon Jaynes was previously titled Experience the Ultimate Makeover).

sophiewomansmagazine.com / Mar 2010 / pg 23

March Monday Madness Raises Money For The March Of Dimes Catawba Valley Medical Center will kick off their 2010 March of Dimes campaign on Monday, March 1st at 11:00 in the jade room at CVMC. For the past several years the hospital has raised money for the March of Dimes by individual units donating items toward themed baskets and selling raffle tickets on Mondays while all of the baskets are together in one place for employees and visitors to view. The tradition has coined the phrase “March Monday Madness”.

This type of fundraising keeps everyone excited while being very successful in raising funds for the March for Babies CVMC walk team each year. In years past baskets have contained laptops, cash prizes, gift cards, Nintendo’s, Wiis, and the list goes on. This year there will be more than 20 different baskets to buy chances on. Some baskets have values of over $1000.00 each.

You have to see it to believe it.

Some of the baskets this year will feature the following items or themes: A 42 inch HD TV, designer handbags, gift cards, Estee Lauder cosmetics, a money tree, tools, gardening, fine jewelry, Wii, Nintendo DSI, Kitchen-Aide mixer, baby cradle, net book computer, spas, home linens, restaurant gift cards and more.

All of the baskets will be displayed on Mondays in March from 11:00 AM til 1:00PM in the jade room beside the hospital cafeteria. The last Monday they will be displayed is Monday, March 22nd. The baskets will be on display on their individual units the rest of the time. On Friday, March 26th they will be brought to the jade room at 6:00 AM and tickets will be sold until the raffle at 2:00 pm sharp.

One thing that has made this event so successful year after year is the price of the raffle tickets. All tickets are $1.00. All tickets are the same for each basket. Also when purchasing at least 5 tickets a free ticket is given ( 6 tickets for $5.00).

The public is cordially invited to join our CVMC family in the fun while we support our March for Babies team in using our feet to give babies a hand.

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pg 30 / Mar 2010 / Sophie Woman’s Magazine

EXPECTING? WE DELIVER. For five generations, Frye Regional Medical Center has welcomed Hickory’s tiniest new residents. With prenatal education, family centered birthing services, neonatal intensive care, and home visits by OB nurses and lactation counselors, moms-to-be have trusted Frye to deliver the birthing experience they expected.

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Schedule your personal tour of the Women’s Pavilion at Frye by calling 828-315-3391.

For information or a physician referral, call 828-315-3391 or visit us online at www.fr yemedctr.com.

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It’s sunny and warm, the Daffodils are blooming, the Robins are singing, and the days are getting longer. Oh, how we ache for the feeling of spring! We’ve survived a very long, cold, wet winter and we are truly ready for the change of season.

There’s something about March and the first day of spring that gets us thinking about spring cleaning. We’ve been cooped up for months and now it’s time to get moving. Cleaning now before the hectic summer time will allow you to feel relieved and free to do the fun activities. We all want our patio to be ready for relaxing and entertaining as soon as the warm air hits.

Let’s get your March cleaning simplified and organized. The first thing to do is schedule the cleaning days. Most of us can’t block out a whole weekend to do this, so schedule a few hours for a few days in the month. If you don’t plan ahead and schedule for spring cleaning, it may not get done.

Next, gather all the supplies for cleaning. You will need rubber gloves, sponges, rags, dusters, brooms, rakes, carpet spot cleaner, all purpose cleaner, trash bags, and whatever else you like. Try using some of the new “green” cleaners this year. If you have major jobs like upholstery/curtains/carpets or second floor windows then call the experts in now. This is their busiest time of the year so it’s best to schedule them soon.

Start by making a list of all the areas that you want to clean.

Kitchen, bedrooms, living room, closets, attic, patio, and garage. It may seem overwhelming but when you break it down into stages or steps, it will feel less daunting.

Take each room and break it down further by listing everything in each room that needs cleaning. Here’s an example for the kitchen: • Clean • Top of fridge • Inside fridge & freezer • Pantry • Shelves • Under sink • Cabinets • Oven It’s always best to clean an area from top to bottom so in this case, you will want to start with top of the fridge or the top of your cabinets. Another good idea is to start with something simple like the pantry. It’s kind of fun to get in there and see what things you have that you’ve forgotten about. Also, it gives you a very quick sense of accomplishment when you see the pantry clean and organized.

When it comes to summerizing your closets, it’s best to clean items before putting them into storage bins or boxes. I’ll never forget the spring that I forgot to clean my winter shoes before putting them away. Let me just say it’s good there is no “scratch ‘n sniff” in this magazine! Pull out the heavy sweaters, hats, mittens, scarves and clean before storing. You can put a dryer sheet in the box to keep items smelling fresh. Take your coats to the dry cleaners so you will be prepared when winter surprises again.

Get the family to help in spring cleaning too. Make it a fun family day by playing music or having competitions to see who can clean their area the fastest (and most efficient).

Buy the book Real Simple Cleaning to really get you in the mood.

The pictures are wonderfully relaxing and motivating. So, make your lists, post them, schedule cleaning, and know that you are going to feel so good this spring!

For more information on Nancy Adams and Organizing Solutions Unlimited call (828) 256-8832 or visit www.organizingwithnancy.com

Spring Into Cleaning Bliss

sophiewomansmagazine.com / Mar 2010 / pg 25

by Nancy Adams, Professional Organizer

pg 26 / Mar 2010 / Sophie Woman’s Magazine

The Top 10 Most Popular Dogs in the U.S. (StatePoint) It’s a good time to have four furry legs. Pet ownership has surged over the past twenty years, and dogs in particular are enjoying major popularity. But whether you already own a pooch or are searching for one that’s right for you, it’s interesting to note which are the most popular dogs in America.

For the 19th consecutive year, the Labrador Retriever is the most popular purebred dog in America, but could this be the last year for the Lab’s reign? According to American Kennel Club (AKC) 2009 registration statistics, the German Shepherd overtook the Yorkie and is now ranked second most popular in the nation for the first time in more than three decades.

An American favorite since the time of Rin Tin Tin, the German Shepherd became the number one breed of the 1920s, but slipped in popularity until after World War II. “Labs have been America’s top dog for nearly two decades due to their loyal and gentle nature,” said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson. “But the German Shepherd has gained ground recently, quite possibly due to the increased attention they receive for their security efforts at home and abroad, and search and rescue efforts in Haiti.”

The most popular dogs in the country according to the AKC are: 1. Labrador Retriever 2. German Shepherd 3. Yorkshire Terrier 4. Golden Retriever 5. Beagle 6. Boxer 7. Bulldog 8. Dachshund 9. Poodle 10. Shih Tzu The type of dog you choose can say a lot about your personality.

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Labrador Retrievers are an ideal sporting and family dog. Millions of Americans own and love Labs because of their even temperament, trainability and family-friendly nature.

German Shepherds are hailed as the world’s leading police, guard, and military dog, however this dependable breed is more than its nine-to-five job. Energetic, approachable and fearless, German Shepherds are loyal family pets and good guard dogs, the ideal choice for many families.

Yorkies offer big personalities in small packages. They serve as great companions for all ages, due to their loving personality and convenient, portable size.

With their friendly temperament, intelligence and eagerness to please, Golden Retrievers are popular as family companions. This active and energetic Sporting breed can adapt to many different living situations but requires daily exercise in order to thrive.

Beagles make wonderful family pets due to their merry personalities, compact size, and easy-care coat. Curious and comedic, they often follow their noses, which can sometimes lead to a little mischief.

Selecting the right dog for you can be a rewarding journey. It is important to consider size, energy level, grooming needs, trainability, and temperament, and choose a dog that best fits your lifestyle.

For more information on all 164 dog breeds the AKC registers, visit www. akc.org.

t n o r F Porch The

sophiewomansmagazine.com / Mar 2010 / pg 27

by Judy Smith

Some of my friends are just plain crazy. They have been overjoyed at all this snow we have had. Not me…I am ready for spring and I want it to come quickly. But this snow has been a real eye-opener for me in a lot of different ways. One thing I know is that it does not matter how old my children are, when the road conditions are bad, I want to know they are all home, safe and sound. It does not matter that my oldest is 39 years old and has a vehicle that gets around way better than mine does. I am calling their numbers until I have heard each ones voice and I get to tell them to stay in.

I doubt they all listen, in fact, I am pretty sure they don’t, but at least they told me they would and that puts my mind at ease. Don’t even ask me how I deal with grand kids out driving in snowy conditions. It is torture even thinking about it!

Another thing that just really struck me hard when all this weather hit, was how much we just take everything for granted. We all know that and I say that very thing all the time, but something simple just knocked me over that made it so real to me. What is the first thing we all do when we hear it is going to be bad weather? We run to the grocery store to get bread and milk. Whether it is actually bread and milk that we need; we refer to them as essentials. It might just be toilet paper that we need but whatever it is, we don’t want to be stranded without them. When they were calling for the first snow of this year, my husband, very matter of factly, told me we needed bread and milk and I needed to pick them up sometime during the day.

Naturally, being the submissive wife that I am, I obeyed immediately…..

NOT! The day drug on and the snow started falling and falling and falling.

I, on the other hand, keep waiting and waiting and waiting. When I finally did leave my office, the snow had already accumulated more than I am comfortable driving in. I was actually hesitant to pull in the grocery store by that time, but being the good submissive wife, I slid my way in the grocery store lot.

The number of people scurrying around was just amazing. People were pushing and running. I was afraid someone was going to hi-jack another person’s grocery cart. Very calmly, I walked over to the bread isle only to find it had been cleaned out. There were two little ladies standing there in complete disbelief and as I walked up, they just turned to me with a look of horror on their faces. Laughter came from my lips or at least that is what I want you to believe that it was….I really am not sure! It might have been a little scream just thinking how my husband was going to take this news.

The good news is there were two packs of something that I would consider bread at the center of the isle, right where the two other ladies were standing. But, they were there first! I commented on the predicament we were in and we all just looked at those two packs of mingled, mashed fritters. Finally one woman just gave up. She said she wouldn’t eat that and I hope that was the real reason. I would hate to think she might have been afraid of me. Strutting out so pleased with myself, I had won the battle and home I went with such a sense of accomplishment. After much explaining to my husband how fortunate he was, not only to have the bread, but to have me, the conqueror, his only response was….Where’s the Milk!?!

I don’t know if there was any milk at the store or not, but I had forgotten it. Here I had, risked my life to get the essentials and I forgot the milk. In my heart though, I really know the store was out.

I have been very light hearted about this but it really did lay on my heart heavy. We feel like we can’t even go one day or night without something so simple and yet what about the hungry children in this world who go without anything to eat for long periods of time. What about the ones who scrounge around trash dumps and trash cans to find something to eat. Why are we so callous that we always complain because “our brand” was out or we have to wait a long time in a restaurant to get our meal? Why can’t we become a grateful nation? Will you join me in trying to see the needs of others that we might help in some little way? They are there if we only “see”. One more thing, let’s give thanks for the abundance we have.

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The Sophie Shopper

pg 28 / Mar 2010 / Sophie Woman’s Magazine

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pg 30 / Mar 2010 / Sophie Woman’s Magazine We like to think that Rionn’s story is one about perspective; how much can one event really impact you, when something significantly more wonderful or more traumatic could be waiting on the horizon? On September 12, 2007, our family learned this lesson first hand.

We didn’t know if we were having a boy or a girl; we didn’t care. We just wanted to have a healthy baby. When Rionn was delivered, the midwife commented that he looked like a premature baby. He was tiny, only 5 lbs, 10 oz., but my daughter was also born full term and only weighted 5lbs 13 oz. so I wasn’t concerned. The midwife noted that his umbilical cord was unusually narrow, although all of the vessels were present. There was nothing remarkable about my pregnancy, nothing caught in the ultrasounds and the delivery was completely normal.

It wasn’t until the day after Rionn’s birth that we were informed that something had gone “wrong” during development. The pediatrician came into the room and told us in very frank terms that Rionn wasn’t able to eat because he had a cleft palate. My husband and I sat in stunned silence as we listened to the doctor explain what this meant immediately for Rionn’s eating, sleeping, hearing problems and susceptibility to infection. The future would mean surgeries, problems with speech, difficulty gaining weight, and possible dental issues. In those brief moments, we were surprised, but we were thankful that all of the challenges we would face weren’t life threatening.

She continued on to tell us that both of his testicles had failed to descend and although externally he appeared completely normal, the doctors felt that there was a possibility of a wider encompassing genetic syndrome.

Because my background is in genetics, I understood immediately what doctors were saying. “Consequently, she said, “they felt it was unwise to complete the birth certificate until chromosome analysis could be done.”

In layman’s terms, Rionn wasn’t going to officially be called a “he” until lab tests confirmed that was his genetically determined gender.

So our stunned silence suddenly became devastating fright. What significance was a cleft palate when you didn’t know whether or not you were going to announce “It’s a Boy” or “It’s a Girl”, should we buy pink or blue?, how do we raise a child that appears physically to be a boy, but could lack the hormone making glands that actually make him a boy? Needless to say, we could only begin to fathom all of the million questions that would remain in our minds until that lab test came back with the answers. Less than 12 hours before, family and friends all over the world had been given the wonderful news that we had given birth to a healthy baby boy, now what could we say?

Our baby was going to be admitted to the NICU to be monitored, a feeding tube was going to be inserted into his nose since we didn’t know how long it would be until he was capable of having food orally, ultrasounds were to be done to make sure the rest of his organs were functioning properly. He had IVs in both arms, hands, feet, and even in his head. The neonatologist told us that the fear we were facing was second only to the fear that parents feel when they hear that their child could potentially have a life threatening illness. We were certain that he was right.

We were sent home, and I cried all the way there because he was going to remain in the hospital until he could take food from a bottle. Within the hour, we got the call that sets a parent’s absolute worst fear into motion. Rionn was bleeding internally and having bowel movements almost every 15

minutes that were straight blood. We rushed back to the hospital to be with Rionn. The doctor told us that they had no idea what was causing the bleeding. Ultrasounds were done to see where it was coming from, but they could find nothing to warrant so much blood loss. At that point, if they couldn’t get it under control, it was quickly going to become an issue of life or death.

Everything else, all our other fears and worries seemed to melt away.

On his third day of life, our wonderful nurse Denise fed him his first bottle. Although much of it came out his nose, he was able to swallow, which was a huge triumph. Once he was able to have 2 ounces in under 20 minutes orally for 3 feedings in a row, they would be able to remove the feeding tube. We had our mission! Within the day, the feeding tube was removed, and almost miraculously his bleeding stopped.

Things were definitely looking up for our beautiful baby. On his fifth day, with the help of our wonderful nurses, Rionn was eating well and we were hopeful that he would be able to come home soon. On his 6th day of life, we got the results we were waiting so desperately to hear: we could officially dress our little baby in blue!

We were all finally able to breathe again.

He was discharged from the hospital but we didn’t realize that the real work and stress was only just beginning. Every feeding took at least an hour and a half. I pumped so that he could have the immune and nutritional benefits of breast milk so that took additional time. It seemed that by the time one feeding was done, it was time to start all over again. Our entire family was turned upside down by the enormous amount of time required just to get 3 ounces of milk into this tiny baby, not to mention the many doctor’s appointments and frequent illnesses.

We had a bright and vibrant 2 year old daughter that required our attention, my husband travelled 3-4 out of every 7 days for his job, we had just opened The Little Gym 3 weeks prior to Rionn’s birth.

Everything else had to take a back seat to this child’s fragile health, and we realized very quickly that having an unhealthy child puts a very serious strain on siblings, on your marriage, on your finances, on everything.

We celebrated Rionn’s 8th week and Thanksgiving in the hospital. Rionn contracted RSV and was admitted to the hospital for a week to help him breathe. It was terrifying, but he surprised everyone by making it through without being incubated.

His first surgery to repair his palate, address the testicles that had still not descended completely, and insert tubes in his ears was done when he was just 6 months old-a whopping 10 pounds. Prior to this, Rionn had failed 2 hearing tests, so we were praying that the ear tubes would allow us to better determine whether he was truly deaf, or if the recurrent infections he was already experiencing and drainage problems in the Eustachian tubes common to cleft palate children was causing a negative reading on the tests.

We had anticipated that two surgeries would be needed to repair his palate, but when the doctor came out of his first surgery and said that she was able to repair it all we were ecstatic. Our happiness was quickly shattered

Rionn’s

STORY

sophiewomansmagazine.com / Mar 2010 / pg 31 when we learned that the surgery hadn’t healed as well as originally hoped, probably due to his extremely small size, so we could expect another surgery around his first birthday.

Because Rionn was constantly sick with various infections relating to the cleft, and permanent damage to his lungs from the RSV, we had to limit his exposure and take our daughter out of preschool. He had been on 13 rounds of antibiotics before his first birthday. We had to hire a nanny to stay at home with our children while I worked at The Little Gym and Shane travelled to earn an income. No daycare would commit the time needed to feed him.

Starting at 5 months, he had appointments every other week to monitor his weight gains or losses, and nutrition, at which point we found out that he was allergic to just about everything, including my breast milk, soy milk, and dairy.

At 7 ½ months Rionn was still not growing well, or gaining weight. He started receiving weekly services to address his oral motor issues related to the cleft palate.

A month before his first birthday, Rionn had a second surgery to repair the palate again and replace the ear tubes that had only lasted 6 months.

Again, the tissue failed to heal.

Fast forward 18 months through another surgery-successful this time, 2 more hospitalizations related to breathing problems from the RSV contracted at 8 weeks, and about 60 thousand dollars in medical bills we have paid personally, in addition to the hundreds of thousands paid by our insurance company, and Rionn is a relatively healthy, happy and well adjusted little boy.

He still meets weekly with a speech therapist to address not only his speech, but his problems with food. All of the pain and discomfort from his many surgeries, aspirating food and having it come out of his nose has made Rionn fearful of food and anything near his mouth. He still only eats baby food, and although we have been successful in the last 2 months getting him to feed himself with a spoon, every meal prior to that was an hour to two hour battle of food refusal, vomiting, screaming, tears and more. Every day for 2 and half years he has teetered on the brink of having to have a feeding tube reinserted. Every bite of food represents another day of freedom for him and our family. He also meets weekly with an occupational therapist to address his oral and tactile sensory issues relating to food. We have visited so many doctors to help us find a solution to his problems with food, but are fearful he may take pudding and applesauce in his lunchbox to kindergarten. As bad as this all seems now, I don’t have to think back very far to regain perspective and remind myself that it could be worse. It could be much worse.

I still ask myself what I could have done differently to make this little boy’s life easier-to make life easier on us all.

With the help of the March of Dimes, I will have my answer, we will all have answers. Because of the research done by the March of Dimes, we know that folic acid is critical during the phase of development that went so wrong with Rionn, weeks 7-9 of gestation. We know how to better treat illnesses he is susceptible to, and take care of the asthma that now affects him due to the RSV. Because of the work of the March of Dimes, families like ours can make their stories heard, so that other families might learn from our experience. Having a baby that isn’t born healthy, either due to prematurity or birth defect, is a life altering experience for everyone. The emotional strain affects family and friends, the financial strain impacts everyone, from the family, to their employers, to the insurance companies, to the American community when families have to claim bankruptcy because of enormous medical bills. No one is exempt from the enormous impact of the birth of an unhealthy baby. So make a commitment to join Rionn and the March of Dimes as we make it our mission for every baby to be born healthy.

Thank you for helping give every baby a healthy start!

Shane and Carrie Watts Proud Parents of Eden and Rionn

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Shutterbuggerz .com

Winning Pro Photo for Jan 2010 Contest Submitted by BKing Photography

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Don't You Just Love Pictures?

We have all heard the saying “A picture is worth a thousand words”, right? Well, that is our philosophy behind the cretion of Shutterbuggerz. We know that photographers and anyone who loves to look at pictures will tell you that a good photograph is a piece of art. Pictures themselves can tell a story but the best part is, the story is interpreted by the admirer instead of the author. A favorite saying here is:

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”

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how this works Each month our readers are going to submit photos to us via our web site or email. During that month, visitors to our web site at shutterbuggerz.com will vote on their favorite photo(s).

Each month, the winning photographer (professional and amateur) will receive a prize.

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Prizes: Professional photographers will receive a free 1/4 page ad space in the next issue of Sophie Woman’s Magazine. The amateur winner will receive a $25 Grift Certificate to a local restaurant of their choosing.

Please read the submission guidelines and disclaimers on our web site at shutterbuggerz.com.

Photos Submitted By: 1. Melissa Setzer 2. Mandy Thomas 3. Unknown 4. Luv ‘N Joy Photography 5. Mary Smith 6. Mary Lane 7. David Prewitt Photography 8. Dawn Wilson 9. Carrie Renae Howell

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Photos Submitted By: 1. Mary Smith 2. David Prewitt Photography 3. MoBandy Photography 4. MoBandy Photography

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Submitted by DGL Photography

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Photos Submitted By: 1. Mary Paynter 2. Belinda Green 3. Dawn Wilson 4. Belinda Green

Photo Submitted by: Wiseman Photography

Photo Submitted by: BKing Photography

Photo Submitted by: Wiseman Photography

Photo Submitted by: Still Heart Photography

Photo Submitted by: Gragg Photography

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Photo Submitted by: Tracy Colwell Photography 4

Photos Submitted By: 1. Carrie Renaie Howell 2. Amy Chick 3. Mandy Thomas 4. Melissa Setzer 5. Sonya Hines

Enter Your Photos At shutterbuggerz.com 5

Photos Submitted By: 1. Mary Smith 2. Nicole Estes 3. Jill Frye 4. Tracy Colwell Photography 5. MoBandy Photography

View Even More Photos At shutterbuggerz.com 1

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Photo Submitted by: Sonya Hines

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Photo Submitted By: BKing Photography

Photo Submitted By: Wiseman Photography

Photo Submitted By: 2 Still Heart Photography

Photo Submitted by: Wiseman Photography

Photo Submitted by: Still Heart Photography

Photo Submitted by: Vanna Abernathy

Photo Submitted by: Wiseman Photography

Photo Submitted by: Tracy Colwell Photography

If you would like to advertise in our Shutterbuggerz Section, just visit our web site at shutterbuggerz.com or call us at 828-466-0122 for more details.

Photo Submitted by: Terra Bailey Photography

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Photo Submitted by: Dorinda Orders 4

Photos Submitted By: 1. Terra Bailey Photography 2. Nicole Estes 3. Carrie Renaie Howell 4. Shawn Geiser Photography 5. BKing Photography 5

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Photos Submitted By: 1. Belinda Green 2. MoBandy Photography 3. Terra Bailey Photography

Photo Submitted by: Terra Bailey Photography

pg 46 / Mar 2010 / Sophie Woman’s Magazine

Photo Submitted by: Tracy Colwell Photography

Shutterbuggerz .com

Photo Submitted by: Wiseman Photography

sophiewomansmagazine.com / Mar 2010 / pg 46

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