10 minute read
I’m Thankful for
We recently asked our readers to share what they’re most thankful for this year, whether it’s a reliable friend, new job, favorite food, or bingeable TV show — and boy did you deliver! In honor of Thanksgiving and the impending holiday season, we wanted to highlight the special people, places, and things that fill our readers’ hearts with joy. And on a personal note, we wanted to take this time to say a big thank you to all our readers and advertisers who make Suwanee Magazine possible. We couldn’t do it without you, and we are so grateful for each one of you.
— Carol Russell, Suwanee
“Everyone says I ‛lucked out’ when I married Rick. I am here to officially say that is 100% true. From nursing me back to health after a car wreck, to joining me and supporting me in all of my work and continuing education, Rick is the foundation I can build my future on. He is my biggest cheerleader, co-captain of our household, and co-parent to our two rescues. I am most thankful for my husband. Today and every day.”
— Jessica Rantamaki, Suwanee
I’m thankful for the Suwanee Farmers Market. I can come after a solo run on the Greenway or with my family. Lots of feel-good vibes and small-town feels. You never know what to expect. You might be able to hold a goat or run into an influential Atlantan!”
— Tara Varnadore, Dacula
“I’m thankful for my friends Alex and Joy. I moved to Georgia last February 2022 with only two suitcases, $100, not knowing how to drive, and a hope that I'll find a job soon enough. They were very supportive in helping me get back on my feet and I'll be forever grateful for all that they've done for me!”
— Kristel Silang, Sandy Springs
“I am thankful for all the loved ones in my life for 73 years. Also, the new loves are such a gift.” — Karen Mitchell
I’m so thankful for my family and my grand dog. They make my day every day!”
— Diane Redd, Suwanee
— Kelly Gilliam, Suwanee
“I am thankful to have a job that allows me to work from home, so I have the flexibility of bringing my daughter to and from school or seeing her participate in a sport or school activity. I am thankful to have a wonderful family that supports our endeavors; and I am thankful to God to be able to enjoy my marriage with my talented husband and watch my beautiful daughter grow into an amazing person!”
— Kristen Papamichael, Suwanee
— Veronica Vasilik, Suwanee
Our incredible customers, staff, and community!”
— Rita Pincumbe, Suwanee
“I am thankful for 12Stone Church! A fun place to connect with community and worship. We are ‛daymakers’ — because everyone needs a little sunshine in their day. I am also thankful for Charlie! He brings so much joy to everyone he meets. He’s well known in and around Town Center. He’s my best friend.”
— Elaine French, Suwanee
— Scoops Sugar Hill
Building Meaningful Family Traditions
THE HOLIDAYS are upon us! There are so many activities and events during the holiday season it is easy to get overwhelmed with planning parties, wrapping gifts, and hanging all of the festive lights. When we really stop to think, it might even feel like stress and festive-filled calendars have unintentionally become the focus of our holiday traditions. If you are looking for ways to reduce stress this season, try talking with your family about the traditions or events that are the most important to them. What is important and meaningful to them might even surprise you!
Here are three questions to help start conversations about holiday traditions and help build meaningful traditions this holiday season.
What activities celebrate our family's religious beliefs and culture?
⊲ Traditions that are rooted in culture and beliefs help to serve as reminders of family history and experiences. This can be particularly meaningful for kids and teens who are trying to figure out where they come from and what is important. Family members often come from different cultures, so look for ways to bring cultures together to create unique traditions to your family. This could be serving American and Chinese foods at Thanksgiving or decorating your home with Christmas trees and colorful lanterns.
What gatherings help us build closer family relationships?
⊲ Grandparents often have the best stories to tell; you can almost always count on someone getting slightly embarrassed and having a good laugh together. While these stories might be sprinkled with humor and fun they also help to connect the generations within a family and bring people closer together. Family traditions can be a great time to build memories, pass along family history, and feel closer to the people within your family. Creating space and time for these types of conversations might mean doing fewer activities and instead spending more time just sitting with each other over holiday dinners, talking while baking cookies, or enjoying a cozy fire together.
What shows the values and character of our family?
⊲ What a family focuses on highlights what is important to the people within the family. If most of the time and resources during the holidays are focused on building relationships and helping the community, this may communicate that people are valuable and important. If your family values are not lining up with your traditions or holiday activities, this is a great question to help brainstorm new activities that show the character and values of your family well.
Traditions help to shape a family;
how they spend time together and how culture is passed down through the generations. When family traditions are intentional in celebrating a family’s unique beliefs, culture, values, and relationships the more meaning holiday traditions hold for the whole family.
JENNIFER WILMOTH, LMFT
Jennifer Wilmoth is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and founder of Thrive Forward Therapy in the Suwanee area with over a decade of experience. She received her Masters of Family Therapy from Mercer University School of Medicine. She works with families and individuals dealing with a variety of concerns. She specializes in working with couples who want to improve their relationship, teens experiencing difficulties at home or school, children experiencing behavioral or relational concerns, anxiety, and depression. Learn more at ThriveForwardTherapy.com.
RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT
We Love You So Mochi!
SINCE OPENING IN JULY, SUWANEE’S NEWEST DONUT SHOP MOCHINUT HAS SERVED UP A DELICIOUS ROTATING SELECTION OF MOCHI DONUTS ALONG WITH KOREAN CORN DOGS AND BOBA TEA.
By Jessica Dacey / Photos by Karl Lamb
HAT DO you get when you cross an American donut with Japanese mochi? The resulting combination yields a light, sweet ring of deliciousness that’s fluffy yet crispy, otherwise known as a mochi donut. Originating from Hawaii, mochi donuts’ popularity is rapidly increasing across the United States, from California all the way down to Georgia and everywhere in between.
That brings us to the newest, up-andcoming mochi donut shop, Mochinut! Move over Dunkin’ Donuts, you’ve got a new kid on the block who is blowing your regular cake donuts out of the fryer. Lucky for us, Suwanee has been graced with the presence of a brand-new Mochinut located on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, so now we can all indulge in the tasty, bubbly rings of rice flour dough balls right here at home.
Phone Eats First
Everyone open up Instagram and get the boomerang feature ready, because each and every Mochinut location is an Instagram foodie’s dream. Mochinut is decked out in neon signs, greenery walls, and high-tech selforder stations so you’re guaranteed to capture the perfect food-in-theair shot for your feed. Mochinut unveils six new donut flavors weekly, ranging from classics such as cookies ’n’ cream, original, and strawberry funnel cake to more diverse flavors like ube (a purple yam originating from
Mochinut Suwanee offers a rotating menu of delicious mochi donuts with flavors such as strawberry, milk pebble and chocolate, along with Korean corn dogs and boba teas.
Southeast Asia), matcha, and black sesame. Each week’s new flavors are posted on Instagram at @MochinutSuwanee, so be sure to follow them for updates and exciting limitedtime holiday flavors.
From Donuts to Corn Dogs
Not only is Mochinut serving up rotating flavors of delicious mochi donuts each week, it’s also delighting our palates with a Korean take on an old-school American classic: corn dogs. Mochinut offers Korean rice flour hot dogs… on a stick! Think of a light, sweet, fluffy mochi donut wrapped around a hot dog or mozzarella cheese, but the fun doesn’t stop there. Diners have the choice between original, potato, crispy ramen, or Hot Cheeto-coated goodness on a stick, plus an assortment of dipping sauces. Best of luck choosing between them because they’re all great combinations and it’s nearly impossible to decide!
Sarah Cha, owner of Mochinut Suwanee, suggests topping your corn dog with mayo, the traditional Korean way. “You may be surprised, but spicy mayo is the traditional way we eat them over there,” she says.
Sip, Chew and Enjoy
Once you’ve polished off your mochi donuts and corn dogs, round out your meal with a refreshing boba tea that tastes
even better than it looks — hello, Instagram worthy! Brown sugar is among the crowd favorites, but with other flavor options like coffee and Thai tea, you’re in for a treat no matter what you choose. So sip it, chew it, and enjoy it!
With four locations already in operation and gaining popularity in Georgia, it comes as no surprise that four more are in the works! Cha says Mochinut’s next location will soon open in Duluth. So, get your phones and taste buds ready for more sweet and savory combinations. After all, more Mochinut equals more happiness! ■
Mochinut is located at 315 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suite 106, in Suwanee. For more information, call 470-238-3116 or visit Mochinut.com.
