Today's Charlotte Woman June 2012

JUNE 2012 VOL 16 | NO 2 | COMPLIMENTARY

Garden

Goddess Mae Lin Plummer Inspires Others To Grow

The Art Of The Cleanse

Get Gorgeous From Inner Beauty To Outer Glory

2012’s Version Of Beauty Hair, Brows, Smiles & More

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June 2012

Contents 44

DEPARTMENTS 12

10 Editor’s Letter I Was An Ugly Duckling

11

Readers Respond 30 On The Move

Correspondence And Comments

Charlotte Women Making Strides

12 Queen City Jewels Happenings You Don’t Want To Miss

34 Beauty Cosmetics Get Colorful

14 Girl Time Tips, Trends, And Fancies

40 Wine Up A Wonderous Wine: The Oregon Pinot Noir

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012 6

44 Fashion Go Brave With Bold Accessories

34

50 So Social Around Town, In Pictures

52 Health Flash What You Need To Know To Stay Well

56 Contributors Page The Names And Faces Behind The Photography

26

Volume 16, Number 2 June 2012

Publisher

Sharon Simpson

Associate Publisher

Fern Howerin

Editor

Karsen Price

36

Sales Executive

Joy Nall

PROFILES

Creative Director

18 Beautiful, From The Inside Out Elle Palmer Explains The Art Of The Cleanse

22 Pretty Your World Mae Lin Plummer Grows A Love Of Horticulture

FEATURES

Kerrie Boys, idesign2, inc

26 Special Advertising Section: Spotlight On Beauty

Contributing Writers

27 28 29 29

Trevor Burton Dana Durham Melinda Johnston Lee Rhodes Michelle Young Hubacher

Carolina Oral & Facial Surgery The Refine Institute A Natural Look Savvy Salon and Day Spa

31 Honorable Entrepreneurs NAWBO-Charlotte’s 2012 Award Winners

36 Easy, Breezy Summer Beauty 2012 Trends In Hair, Nails, Skincare & More

51 Ask The Expert Dr. Ross Nash, DDS

58 Essay: Beauty Is A Head Game And She With The Best Hair Wins

Contributing Photographers

Cyndy Gatewood Michael C. Hernandez Glenn Roberson P.O. Box 1676 Cornelius, NC 28031 704.677.9159 Today’s Charlotte Woman is published by Venture Magazines Inc., and is distributed on a complimentary basis throughout the greater Charlotte area.

Subscription rate is $20 per year for 12 issues.

June 2012 8

22

OnTheCover In the garden, with Mae Lin Plummer.

Photo By Michael C. Hernandez.

Copyright© 2012 Venture Magazines Inc. All rights reserved.

Copying or reproduction, in part or in whole, is strictly prohibited.

Today’s Charlotte Woman and Venture Magazines Inc. do not necessarily endorse the views and perceptions of contributors or advertisers.

What makes you

"Dr. Nash had a vision for my teeth that simply revealed my heart's desire.

My smile is fuller, whiter and absolutely perfect.

All I want to do now is smile!"

Janie Shipley

Smile by Dr. Ross Nash

Of the nearly 8000 0 American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry members m worldwide, there are only 45 who have achieved a the exclusive level of Accredited Fellow.

Fellow. In all of North and South Carolina, only one de dentist ntist has earned this elite status by illustrating g the required level of excellence in the area of cosmetic dentistry: Accredited Fellow Ross ss W. W. Nash, DDS DDS..

PHOTO BY MICHAEL C. HERNANDEZ

FromTheEditor

Tales Of An Ugly Duckling y daughter recently won a set of gigantic pink glasses at the Ocean Lakes arcade in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (The lenses measure six inches wide, at least.) The other night she stuck them on my face and led me, eyes closed, into the bathroom,where she admonished me to open my eyes. When I looked in the mirror, she said impishly, “See,Mama. You can look just like you did in the 1980s!”

Yep. Even my 9-year-old daughter — who has absolutely no concept of the ’80s — is aware of how awkward I was as a teenager. She’s seen those pictures of me with my huge Mr. Magoo glasses … you know, the ones that eclipsed my entire freckled face? She gets it.

Truth: I was an ugly duckling.

Now,my mother won’t agree.But she’s my mom;of course she thought I was precious. Never mind those awful glasses,that not-so-great Dorothy Hamill haircut (which was only slightly better than the mullet I later rocked in middle school), and those awful dark-green Dickies shorts. Can you say “home girl”?

As a kid, I played soccer on an all-boys team, and I remember one year we played for the state tournament.

We lost; and all the boys cried. I didn’t cry … until the coach on the other team came up and patted me on the back, and said,“Good game, son.”

Then, I cried. Boy, did I ever.

In fact,most of my pre-adult years were awful.I didn’t figure out my“style”until I was 21 years old.Before

M

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012 10

then, things just weren’t right. If I didn’t have gigantic glasses, then I had bad hair. If I didn’t have bad hair, I was a little plump. My focus then was on what I could do,not what I looked like — an admirable quality,sure, but not all that easy to live out in the world of teenager angst and shallowness. I was an athlete, not a beauty queen,and I felt certain that if I wore mascara,I might not make that play at third base. So, I made the plays at third base.And boys never made a play for me.

I read an essay once, written by a man, that stated all men should try to date women who were ugly at 13 years old,the idea being that those homely girls grew up to be the kindest, most well-rounded women.I understood his sentiment completely,having lived every glorious moment.If you are ugly at 13,you learn to develop other good qualities … and all those “sons” strengthen your character in ways that winning a beauty pageant won’t.

Thankfully, somewhere along the way, I learned to make the most of what God gave me.I clung to my contacts, refused to leave the house without eyeliner and mascara,found a good hair stylist (thank you,Candace Bloch!), and stopped eating entire packs of slicedAmerican cheese as a snack.

But the bottom line is, I will always be the girl who was confused for a boy. Likewise, I will always be acutely aware that not much stands between the world’s version of beauty and ugly. It’s a precarious slope … and that’s why I refuse to wear high heels! [TCW]

ReadersRespond VOL 16 | NO

T

hanks so much for a very nice article featuring my daughter, my granddaughter, and me! It was a great Mother’s Day gift. Many thanks to you, your writer, and your photographer for putting me in such a nice light.

LIZ HILLIARD Owner, Hilliard Studio Method & Performance Pilates

Exercising

Her Options

MAY 201

2 1 | COMPLIM ENTARY

Mother, May I?

This ‘Grandm a’ Pumps Up Pilates

Orange

You Glad .. .

The Color

Make Yo Own Salsur a Yes, You Can!

Of The Season

I stole a copy of the April issue from my doctor’s office the other day. I think it looks great! I missed this magazine when it was on hiatus; and now that it’s back, I can’t help noticing it feels different. I really like the new-and-improved TCW. It has a light-hearted feel. For instance, I love the fun bios you are including about each writer. I also liked the way the rock climbing story made me want to rock climb … and the same with the roller derby story (how crazy would that be?!). And I know I can’t afford it,but I never even considered that I could do the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Well done!

LYNN FOWLER

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JOHNSIE MEDLIN Congrats on your most recent issue. Can’t wait to read it cover to cover!

KERRY BARR O’CONNOR Executive Director, Dress For Success Charlotte Have something to say? Letters are welcome via email to Sharon@LNcurrents.com or karsenprice@hotmail.com; or mail to P.O. Box 1676, Cornelius, NC 28031. All correspondence should include names and full contact information. TCW reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and brevity. [TCW]

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Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012

Love this mag!

JUDITH E. WILSON BURKES

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HAPPENINGS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

Bead It Celebrate Fashion At The Mint ay tribute to an ancient form of ornamentation that has been used to bedazzle fashion designs for ages by attending “And The Bead Goes On,” presented by the Mint Museum Randolph through February 2013.

The exhibit is the latest opening in the Mint’s nationally renowned Historic Costume & Fashionable Dress collection, which was recently renamed the Fashion Collection. “And The Bead Goes On” features

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MINT MUSEUM

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evening gowns, cocktail dresses, and ensembles from the museum’s collection, complemented with new works on loan from contemporary designers.

“And The Bead Goes On”features 20th- and 21st-century women’s fashions that display inventive beadwork embroidery. Talented designers and skillful artisans have collaborated to achieve dazzling fashions that are comfortable and durable.Glass beads,metallic sequins, metal filigree beads,faux pearls,and faceted crystal rhinestones hand-sewn onto the cloth impart beauty, opulence,

Get Inspired With Tips From D-I-Y Experts n the mood to get creative this summer? Get inspired for the season by attending Inspirations & Creations June 6, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., at 619 S. Cedar Street.

The event, which benefits The Allegro Foundation:A Champion for Children with Disabilities,offers access to do-it-yourself experts, to help inspire you to undertake a variety of exciting summer endeavors, from fashion to home decorating projects. The evening includes keynote speaker Vicki Payne, the host of the TV show “For Your HOME.” Savor wine and food pairings with a local chef, and cull in-depth advice on a variety of D-I-Y projects.Lastly, don’t miss an up-close look at the ways Allegro is making the Charlotte community a better place for children in need.

I

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012 12

WantToGo? A donation of $20 is required; all proceeds support Allegro’s free classes for children with disabilities.

Visit Allegrofoundation.net.

and artful originality.Designers featured in the exhibition include Halston,Bob Mackie,Giorgio Armani, and Oscar de la Renta.

In the past, beads were originally restricted to the wardrobes of aristocrats. Made of precious materials, beads often indicated wealth and status in cultures throughout the globe, and beadwork also was used on garments to convey rank or spiritual significance.

WantToGo? The Mint Museum Randolph is located at 2730 Randolph Road. Visit mintmuseum.org.

PHOTO COURTESY WWW.COUNTRYMUSICROCKS.NET

Hot Stuff Don’t Miss Brothers Of The Sun wo of country music’s top stars — Kenny Chesney andTim McGraw — will be in town for the Brothers of the Sun Tour, held June 24 at Bank of America Stadium, at 4:30 p.m.

Chesney and McGraw reunited in 2012 for the 19-date stadium tour. It is the first time they have toured together in 10 years.

“Tim and I have been great friends since we first toured together, and I can’t wait to get back on the road with him,”Chesney says.“He’s one of my closest friends in music and in life,and I know this tour is going to be something special.”

“Our friendship was forged on the road, so it’s going to be a blast heading out with Kenny again,” McGraw says.“We’ll be having as much fun on stage as the fans will be having in the audience.”

The tour will also feature special guests Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, and Jake Owen.

PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS

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WantToGo? Bank of America Stadium is located at 800 Mint St. Visit ticketmaster.com for information.

Strike A Pose One Beauty, One Beast Belk Theater Hosts Timeless Tale

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classic story of young Belle and the Beast,who is actually a young prince trapped in a spell.

If the Beast can learn to love and be loved,the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self.

But if the Beast doesn’t learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for eternity.

“The theme of ‘Beauty’ is about seeing past the exterior into the heart of someone, and this is reflected in the design for the show,which is about transparency and layers, seeing past one thing and into another,” Roth says.

WantToGo? Belk Theater is located at 130 N. Tryon St. Call 704/372-1000 or visit blumenthalarts.org for information.

on’t miss a unique opportunity to receive a makeover and enjoy the model treatment at The Clarins Models Wanted Event, hosted by Belk in SouthPark Mall, June 14 through 16.

Book a complimentary makeover, and get treated like a celebrity, including a chance to pose for a photo shoot by professional photographer Heba Salama, winner of the“Biggest Loser:Families,” season six, and Chapel Hill Magazine nominee for Photographer of the Year. The set will include a Clarins Model of the Month backdrop, umbrella light, and director’s chair. Internationally renowned makeup artist Ryan Willis will be on hand to assist a team of makeup artists. One lucky participant may become Model of the Month on Clarins’Facebook and Twitter pages,and all participants will leave with a complimentary flash drive containing the pictures from their photo shoots.

Appointments are limited, but times can be reserved with a $50 pre-sell.

D

WantToGo? Contact Belk at SouthPark Mall at 704/364-4251 for information. [TCW]

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012

isney’s ageless story of Belle and her beast is coming to Belk Theater June 26 through July 1.

“Beauty and the Beast”features the animated film’s Academy Award-winning score, and is directed by Rob Roth and choreographed by Matt West.

“It has been wonderful to bring the entire original design team back together to work on this new production of‘Beauty and the Beast,’”Roth says.“As a director,it is rare to have the opportunity to revisit your work 15 years later. Hopefully I’ve grown and developed as an artist, along with my collaborators, and we can bring 15 years of experience to this new production.”

“Beauty and the Beast” is set in a provincial town,and is the

Enjoy The Model Treatment At Belk

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GirlTime T I P S ,

T R E N D S

A N D

F A N C I E S

COMPILED BY KARSEN PRICE

‘Tis The Season For Dreaming About Ice Cream

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012 14

.

CREAM CO PORCH ICE OF FRONT SY TE UR PHOTO CO

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oes it get any better than conjoining the terms “front porch” with“ice cream”? With three new flavors to try, courtesy of Mooresville-based Front Porch Ice Cream Company and three very talented Johnson & Wales students, it just might.

The Front Porch Ice Cream Company brand — owned by the Mooresville Ice Cream Company — held a contest looking for the best Southern-style ice cream recipes. Just in time for summer, the company doled out honors to Brittany Thomas, Cory O’Connor, and Stephanie Brown for their unique ice cream concoctions.

Thomas (see inset; center) earned top honors and a $1,500 check to help with school expenses for her flavor, Cinnamon Bun Delight.

O’Connor was named the first runner-up with the flavor Hummingbird Delight, and Stephanie Brown was named second runnerup for the recipe I personally want to try most, Simply Southern Soda Cake. Both runners-up received $500 each to use toward their education at Johnson & Wales.

Fifty-one entries were submitted, and from those, nine finalists were invited to the judging at the JWU Event Center. Each finalist had to prepare their recipe and present it to the judges, who judged the flavors based on appearance, texture, connection of flavor to the South, and of course, taste.

“The Mooresville Ice Cream Company has been a part of this community for nearly nine decades,” says Babi Alarcon, CEO of Mooresville Ice Cream Co.“We are committed to keeping the local roots of this brand.

We felt it was the perfect fit to have these talented students, right here in the heart of the Carolinas,put their creativity to the test in proposing these wonderful flavors for our Front Porch line. We are also pleased to contribute to their education as they go on to accomplish their career dreams.”

The new line of Front Porch Southern Style Ice Cream — known for offering uniquely crafted homespun flavors — launched in grocery stores throughout the Carolinas a few months ago, including Harris Teeter, Lowes, Food Lion, and Bi-Lo. The brand can also be purchased from the company’s new ice cream parlor in historic Mooresville, right beside the original creamery.

Wrinkles, Be Gone Fillers At A Glance

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admit it;I hit 40 and began to wonder about certain medical advances to help me not look my age … or older. And while I’m personally not all that interested in Botox, I find what is known as “fillers” to be both interesting and terrifying. (Sorry, Mom … just telling the truth!)

A wise aesthetician once told me,“We all have our weak spots,” and mine is definitely my lip area.While I haven’t yet dared to take the plunge and get“filled,” I did take a moment to chat about fillers with board-certified Dr. Sean Freeman, of The Center for Facial Plastic & Laser Surgery. Here’s what I found: Quick Facts On Fillers Q: Will I need to mortgage my house to get filled?

A: No; minimal filler work costs approximately $500 to $600.

Q: Can I come in and get work done the same day?

A: Typically it’s all done in the same visit, which lasts about 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Q: Will I look like Rocky Balboa afterward?

A: No, but swelling can happen and typically lasts 3 to 5 days; sometimes, minor bruising occurs.

Q: I’m a wimp; does it hurt?

A: The injections are done with a nerve block, so there is minimal or no pain.

considering

bio-identical

hormone

therapy?

Q: I’m scared I’ll go in looking like me … and leave looking like Joan Rivers.

A: In our office, we address what bothers the patient, not what bothers the doctor. If a patient wants minimal improvement, we go over their options and recommend what is best.

Q: What types of fillers do you use?

A: RestyleneTM works as a hydrophilic agent, meaning it draws water in from the surrounding tissue to plump the area where it is injected. Restylene works particularly well for plumping up lips. RadiesseTM works more as a true filler, and has the advantage of lasting longer.

Radiesse has become the main filler used by me for wrinkles or depressions (such as scars) that do not involve the vermillion of the lip, because it tends to last longer.

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GirlTime

Got The Bikini Blues?

A Cool Way To Get Beach Ready

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ooking for a nonsurgical way to become a long-and-lean bathing suit machine? It may sound like something straight out of a science fiction movie, but a new technique on the market called CoolSculpting can remove fat cells by freezing them.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr.Robert Graper, of Graper Cosmetic Surgery, explains, “CoolSculpting is a technique where fat is nonsurgically removed by freezing the fat. This induces a 22 percent rate of fat cell death in the treated areas, which effectively eliminates this same volume of fat over three months.”

With traditional liposuction,which is done under anesthesia,fat is vacuumed out of the body through incisions. Traditional liposuction includes post-operative soreness and a recovery period where patients see 75 percent of the swelling gone at one month,but have a waiting period of up to three full months before the final result is evident.

CoolSculpt, however, has no recovery period. There are no incisions, and for most patients, no pain.There are no garments to wear and no dietary or exercise restrictions. Best of all, the cost is about one-third the cost of liposuction — keeping in mind that the percentage of fat removal is 22 percent, compared to 50-to-75 percent fat removal with traditional liposuction.

Dr. Graper says certain areas of the body are best suited for CoolSculpting.

“CoolSculpting is best done on the abdomen, hips, and bra strap rolls,” he says. “It has also worked well on male chests.There is research being done now to develop a device to apply this same technique to inner and outer thighs.”

The technique has been available for approximately five years, but it is relatively new to Charlotte. Contact a physician to see if you are a good candidate for CoolSculpting.

The Hostess With The Mostest Make Summer Visiting An Art Form

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012 16

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ust in time for summer vacation is a book that will ensure you don’t earn the reputation for being the worst host — or guest — on the planet.

“The Art Of TheVisit: Being The Perfect Host,Becoming The Perfect Guest,”by Kathy Bertone,serves as a hard-back Miss Manners for vacationers and hosts alike.The 272-page tome is broken down into two parts and 13 chapters, and is packed with information on everything from hosting aging adults to childproofing your house to dealing with guests you don’t really like. (I know the answer to that one: Don’t invite them.)

“The Art Of The Visit” offers tips on planning a smooth visit,

whether you are throwing open your home’s doors or crossing the threshold into someone else’s house. Some tips are to be expected — such as make certain to place clean towels in the guest bathroom, straighten up after yourself when visiting, and don’t fight with your spouse in front of guests (easier said than done!).

Other tips are more helpful, especially for those who don’t have a degree in hospitality management.

My favorite part of the book is what Bertone calls Visit Wizard tips … and my favorite one is: “You are not obligated to do your guests’ laundry.” (Hallelujah; I do not want to touch Uncle Rupert’s undies.)There’s also the 10 Commandments of Gracious Hosting,which includes my favorite: “Thou shalt not show hours of your personal travel documentaries.”

The book is full of helpful and sometimes humorous truths … but for me,with headings like “A Great Host Is A Master Planner” and “A Great Guest Is Able To Handle The Hostiles,” I found the biggest truth of all to be that I am not a great host or guest!

That said, my favorite tip in the book came in the section about childproofing your house. Bertone writes, “Check your closets for lingerie or other interesting items.” Um, yes. Let us definitely check for “interesting” items … especially those that hum or use batteries.

Visit theartofthevisit.com for information.

The Science

Of Nice Born & Bred To Be A Nice Person

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Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012

have always believed that some people are simply born nicer than others (if you don’t believe me, try changing lanes on I-77 at 5:30 p.m. on a Friday). Thanks to a recent study by researchers at the University at Buffalo and the University of California, Irvine, science is suddenly agreeing with me.

According to a new study, genes are part of the reason why some people are kind and generous, and others won’t let you in front of them in traffic to save their lives.

The study assessed the behavior of people with different versions of receptor genes for two hormones — oxytocin and vasopressin — that are believed to make people nicer. Principal author Dr. Michael Poulin, an assistant professor of psychology at the University at Buffalo,found that these two genes,when combined with people’s perceptions of the world, affected their ability to be generous.

“Specifically,study participants who found the world threatening were less likely to help others — unless they had versions of the receptor genes that are generally associated with niceness,” he explains.

“So if one of your neighbors seems to be a really generous, caring,civic-minded kind of person,while another seems more selfish, tight-fisted, and not as interested in pitching in, their DNA may help explain why one of them is nicer than the other,” he says.

According to Dr. Poulin, the findings aren’t surprising; most connections between DNA and social behavior are complex.

“We aren’t saying we’ve found the niceness gene,”he adds.

“But we have found a gene that makes a contribution.”

The next step, of course ,would be for some genius to concoct a vitamin or potion or protein powder that can make up the difference for all those mean people out there. Until then, I’ll continue to let you in front of me on the interstate, even if you never return the favor. [TCW]

Putting you at ease makes all the difference in your care. We want you to be comfortable talking about your expectations, needs and medical history. Just as important, you need to be comfortable with our expertise. Get to know us at midtown-obgyn.com or 704.316.5270. Because when it comes to your health, the care is more important than the clothes.

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Beautiful,

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012

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From The Inside Out

Elle Palmer Reveals The Art Of The Cleanse

By Melinda Johnston | Photos By Glenn Roberson

Cosmetic companies may promise beautiful results, but those improvements are only skin deep. Elle Palmer says her cleansing program and support group, “3 Weeks to Wellness,” promotes true beauty from the inside out.

In addition to clearer skin and a higher energy level, benefits may also include lower cholesterol levels, fewer aches and pains (including those caused by arthritis), better sleep, fewer headaches, weight loss, and much more.

From Skeptic To Believer Palmer discovered the beauty found through healthy eating at a 10-day wellness program in California, courtesy of her mother, Marian Erickson.

“My mother, who has been my inspiration, has been eating clean for decades. She follows Dr.John McDougall, who practices outWest. She recruited me to attend this program with her in

hopes I would change my ways,” she laughs.

Palmer’s ways at the time weren’t necessarily decadent … just filled with processed foods and other staples of the standard American diet.

“I went out there for the sun and the pool and the yoga,” she says, “but the course was intensive, and it changed my life. They took a blood sample from me, and I spent the next 10 days in lectures listening to doctors,nutritionists,and

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012

“What you put in your body determines how your skin is going to look. It’s kind of like doing an oil change on your car. You are flushing out your body and cleaning your filters. You have a fresher outlook on life and an amazing clarity that connects you to everything on a deeper level,” Palmer explains.

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“While this program is based on nutritional facts,the proof is what happens when you try it. You will see a new you shining through, radiating beauty from the inside out.” — Elle Palmer Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012 20

other health experts. Surprisingly,I loved every minute of it.”

Palmer was the youngest participant in the group, and she recalls watching as others around her started to heal.

“Many of the people there had major health issues they were trying to overcome. It was such a blessing to witness that,” Palmer says.

And while Palmer didn’t come to the program complaining of any problems, she found her health improved during her time there. At the end of the 10 days, her cholesterol had dropped 40 points, sev-

eral extra pounds had disappeared, and more importantly,she found herself with a new purpose in life.

“It was the first time someone told me the truth about what I was eating. It was like a passion came alive that I didn’t even know existed. I wanted to come back home and tell everybody,” Palmer says.

Spreading The Word Back in Charlotte,Palmer started telling friends,neighbors — anyone who would listen — about the value of whole foods and a plant-based diet, including grains,

vegetables, fruits,nuts,beans,and starches. She began teaching others the difference a healthy diet could make in their lives, and 3 Weeks to Wellness was born.

The process begins with a diet cleanse that removes dairy, meat, gluten, refined sugar, caffeine,and alcohol out of the rotation for three weeks. Twenty-one days is the time it takes to make or break a habit, but Palmer says it’s easier than it sounds because, with her program, you aren’t going it alone.

“It works because it’s a support group,” Palmer says. “By the time you’re done with

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012

the three weeks, you’ve made 20 more best friends.” group field trip to the grocery store to learn how to shop healthy.

And you can see almost immediate results.

In addition, participants in the program can also take ad“I get people to take these foods out of their diets, and their vantage of discounted rates for various other programs Palmer skin clears up,” she says.“Weight falls off and offers, including cooking classes, private cholesterol levels drop. You just feel good meditation classes, transformational breath from the inside out.” work classes, private yoga sessions, and qi “I get people to take these One client claims the program helped him gong — a discipline where, as Palmer exfoods out of their diets, and achieve mental clarity, which has allowed him plains, martial arts meets yoga meets dancing. to “hone in to an incredible super power!”

There is also a support group you can join their skin clears up. Weight Although Palmer isn’t exactly aware what after graduating from the program. power that is, she isn’t surprised by her “Some people feel so good, they choose to falls off, and cholesterol levels client’s enthusiasm for the program. continue eating this way. I’m not here to tell Anissa Starnes, regional development diyou what to put back into your diet — that’s drop. You just feel good.” rector at Constant Contact, says Palmer’s your choice. But whatever you decide, I can — Elle Palmer program has been life altering. “Be careful,” promise that you will be much more conStarnes jokes. “When you meet Elle the scious about what you put into your mouth,” Cleanse lady, she’ll make you give up cheese Palmer says. without you knowing it. It was the very last thing in the world “While this program is based on nutritional facts, the proof I wanted to do!” is what happens when you try it. You will be more connected But when Starnes eliminated cheese and other foods from her to everything in your life, and you will see a new you shining diet,she says she could not deny the health benefits. She watched through, radiating beauty from the inside out.” [TCW] her cholesterol drop from 197 to 120, and currently feels better than she has in years. “I went through the program with the Although writer Melinda Johnston found intention of doing it for 21 days, but stayed on it,” she says.

Elle Palmer to be fascinating, she admits Palmer’s program includes daily supportive and educationshe has no intention of giving up caffeine al emails, an online support group, weekly potluck dinners with and gluten … yet. special health-related speakers, food demos and recipes, and a

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Your World

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012

22

Pretty

Mae Lin Plummer Encourages Others To Grow With The Laughing Garden

By Karsen Price | Photos By Michael C. Hernandez The word “garden” conjures an image of good things growing from the ground, the fragrance of flowers mixing with the fresh smell of earth. Throw in the word “laughing,” and a vision of happiness emerges, a place where friends and family can gather in the great outdoors with good food and drink.

This vision of garden as an outdoor “living room” — a place where family and friends flock to have fun — is the heart of Mae Lin Plummer’s personal garden, and the sprouting point of her business, The Laughing Garden, which she started in 2010.

wan to Germany. An avid traveler, Plummer has continued to accumulate a lifetime of experiences with plants from all over the world;in fact,while traveling, she is often more aware of the plants than the people.

Plummer recalls one experience in particular that made a lasting impression.

“I spent a couple of weeks in northern Italy with a friend of mine one summer,” she says,“and her grandmother had this huge plantation that was over 500 years old,complete with beautiful gardens and a big table outside. She invited neighbors and friends and family, and everybody sat outside. It was very simple, but it was such a

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012

In The Garden Ironically, Plummer doesn’t have a degree in horticulture. Her “real” job is rooted in the corporate world. She logged 13 years with Bank of America before earning a degree in international studies at UNC Charlotte. Since 2008, she’s worked with a consulting firm as a project manager. And while she appreciates her career, it’s her passion for horticulture that feeds her soul.

Plummer’s vision of the consummate garden was born of a childhood spent traveling Asia and Europe as a “military brat.” With a father in the Air Force, Plummer grew up in a variety of exotic locales,from the Philippines to Japan toTai-

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“I have such a respect for plants, and their persistence, and how much they want to grow.

They have a purpose.” — Mae Lin Plummer

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012 24

beautiful place,and I thought,‘You know what? That’s it. That’s what life is about.’

“I know it’s all very‘UnderTheTuscan Sun,’”she laughs,“but that’s really where I got my inspiration for all of this. That’s my vision.”

Years later, as a homeowner in Charlotte, Plummer set about recreating the scene in her own backyard.

Horticulture As Hobby Despite her talent for growing things, Plummer never considered horticulture a viable career choice. While in school at UNC Charlotte,she didn’t allow herself to take any horticulture classes,although she did fall in love with the college’s Botanical Gardens.

“I am very focused,” she says. “When I thought about horticulture, I thought, ‘No,that’s not a possibility for a career.But gosh, I love that stuff!’ ” In her free time, Plummer cultivated her garden. She devoured gardening books, magazines, and catalogs, became a groupie of sorts of local gardens and nurseries,and enrolled in a smattering of horticulture and design classes from UNC Charlotte’s Botanical Gardens and Central Piedmont Community College.

She built a greenhouse.

She began trying to grow heirloom and native plants, as well as organic plants, because she found they were difficult to find. “I was going to different nurseries, and to some of the big-box

stores and small places, and I just couldn’t find these plants. I decided,‘I’m going to figure out how to grow this from seed myself.’ ” In the process, she discovered an underground garden community,including regional seed companies and nurseries such as Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, and Sow True, out of Asheville, N.C. Almost in spite of herself, she became an expert at “growing her own.”

Part of what makes her a great gardener is her willingness to tackle any project. “I will try to grow anything,” Plummer admits. “If I eat a fruit at the produce market,I will plant the seeds.I have such a respect for plants, and their persistence, and how much they want to grow. They have a purpose.”

ers don’t.I want it to be about each person, each family.” Every job is based on the needs of the client. She can create computerized visions of gardens, go shopping with clients, even prepare beds and help place the plants in the ground.She is equally adept at vegetables and plants.

The Laughing Garden is based on a cyclical concept — Create, Celebrate, Grow. “I want to help others create a garden, celebrate life/abundance,and grow — in their garden, in the gardening community, or personally,” she explains.

And along the way,she has transformed, as well.

“Gardening has changed my life,” she says.“It has contributed to my own personal growth, not just from getting my hands in the dirt, but from learning what a garden can teach you about patience, about expectations, and how the best-laid plans don’t always work out! You just have to change, you have to adjust, and you have to be patient … because it doesn’t happen overnight.” [TCW]

Grow Native Mae Lin’s Favorites Over the years, Mae Lin Plummer has discovered certain native plants that she finds fascinating, and plans to incorporate into her own garden. Some of the native plants that she thinks every Charlotte-area gardener should consider include: • Jack in the Pulpit • Carnivorous Plants (such as Venus Fly Traps and Pitcher Plants) • Trilliums • Red Buckeye (tree)

ToLearnMore Visit thelaughinggarden.com for information.

• American Beautyberry (shrub)

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012

Growing A Business One day, Plummer experienced an epiphany while talking to a family member who suggested people should do things that they love so much, they lose track of time. “The first thing that came to my mind was my garden. I love it. I can spend nine hours a day in there — and I have!” she says.

“At the same time,friends were coming to my parties and saying, ‘What’s that plant, there?’ or ‘What’s this?’ or ‘I have a fence and I’m trying to cover it and I don’t know what to do.’ That’s when I realized I was becoming a resource for people.”

At one such party, Plummer solidified the vision of her company, based on a concept of inspiring others to get “growing.”

The Laughing Garden doesn’t do landscape architecture on a large scale.Instead, Plummer helps others define and grow the garden of their dreams. “My niche is residential gardens, something that is really intimate and personal, but also incorporates sustainable plants and practices,” she says.“Everybody has their own style, and they have different needs. Some people have the ability to maintain their gardens day-to-day or week-to-week, and oth-

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SPECIAL ADVE RT I SI N G FE AT URE

Beauty ... inside & out

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012 26

Spotlight On Beauty Carolina Oral & Facial Surgery The Refine Institute A Natural Look Studio Savvy Salon And Day Spa

SPECIAL ADV E RTISI N G FE AT U RE

PHOTO BY CYNDY GATEWOOD

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Carolina Oral & Facial Surgery

Carolina Oral & Facial Surgery 19910 North Cove Road Cornelius, NC 704/892-1198 | carolinaoms.com

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012

A popular idiom states you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone … and according to Dr. Patrick Coleman and Dr. Michael Coleman of Carolina Oral & Facial Surgery, that truth applies to healthy, beautiful teeth.

Both doctors are diplomates of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and pride themselves in transforming patients’ self-confidence by restoring missing teeth through the latest technology.

Dr. Patrick Coleman says it’s hard to ascertain the value of a confident, beautiful smile when you have one. “It’s when you no longer want to smile that you begin to realize its real value,” he notes. “Most people don’t realize how important their smile is until tooth loss happens to them.”

The loss of teeth causes problems, from bone loss, to not being able to eat the foods you love, to dealing with the discomfort that comes with a bridge or denture. Gaps in a person’s smile can cause embarrassment and a fear of smiling.

“A tooth can be properly cared for and still be lost due to a fracture or a failed root canal treatment,” Dr. Coleman says.

At Carolina Oral & Facial Surgery, tooth loss is treated through dental implant placement, which helps preserve the shape and strength of the jaw, allowing patients to eat, smile, and speak with confidence. Best of all, dental implants look and feel like natural teeth.

Dr. Coleman notes that implants have changed dramatically in the last 10 years.

“Like just about everything, technology has enhanced dental implants,” Dr. Coleman says. “The material that the dental implants are manufactured from has improved. And the actual ‘planning and placement process’ has benefited greatly. Our technology allows us to see the patient’s jaw in three dimensions.

The day of surgery, the planning and preparation come full circle, and we are able to place the implant precisely in the location we planned in the 3D software.”

He adds, “Many patients who were not candidates for dental implants in the past are now candidates today, due to unique procedures and materials available.”

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SPE CI AL AD VERTI SI N G FE AT URE

The Refine Institute

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012 28

The Refine Institute offers skilled cosmetic surgery rooted in precision and elegance, which makes Dr. Broc Pratt the perfect person to lead the practice. A member of the North Carolina Medical Society, Dr. Pratt believes in integrating art and medicine to help others find body symmetry.

In fact, with the acceptance of plastic surgery into mainstream society, many women are turning to the Refine Institute to improve their body image throughout “the continuum of life.”

“There is a trend toward having procedures performed at different stages in the life cycle, rather than waiting until much later in life and having numerous things done at once,” Dr. Pratt explains.

“For example, rather than a woman waiting until her 60s to have something done to her face, she may have an eyelid lift in her 40s with regular Botox and filler, and then in her 50s have a blended cheek and neck-lift to improve skin laxity.”

The benefit of doing procedures in stages is that the patient enjoys a more natural look than if she waited and had all of the work done at once.

Wanting to look your best is a desire of both men and women — with men making up 10 percent of all plastic surgery candidates.

However, Dr. Pratt says women feel more pressure to look a certain way as they age, and pregnancy makes the aging process more difficult on a woman’s body.

“I do think women feel greater societal pressure to continue to look good as they age,” Dr. Pratt says.

For most patients, having cosmetic surgery stems from a desire to look — and feel — the way they did when they were younger.

“The aging process, especially the changes caused by pregnancy, can have a profound impact on a woman’s self-image,” he says. “This can impact the way she feels about herself professionally, and how she interacts with her husband or partner.”

Dr. Pratt adds, “I think the biggest advantage we provide is the restoration of selfconfidence.”

The Refine Institute 7725 Ballantyne Commons Parkway, Suite 101 704/908-3414 | refineinstitute.com

PHOTO BY MICHAEL C. HERNANDEZ

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

SPECIAL ADV E RTI SI N G FE AT U RE

PHOTO BY MICHAEL C. HERNANDEZ

PROFESSIONAL SPOTLIGHT

A Natural Look The way you feel about your hair says everything about the way you feel about your femininity.

Ginger Bell is well aware of this fact. At her private Dilworth hair extensions studio, she offers a valuable service to clients, helping them create a head full of gorgeous hair through the use of hair extensions, creating seamless looks through a variety of nonsurgical procedures.

Bell, who trained in Italy, Florida, and Georgia, opened her private hair replacement studio out of a desire to help build women’s self-confidence.

“I was seeing so many ladies lose their selfconfidence because they were losing their hair due to medical diagnosis, medication change, stress, or simply aging,” she says. “That is the No. 1 reason I became certified in nonsurgical hair replacement.”

Bell specializes in hair replacement that is non-damaging to natural hair, including strand-

by-strand and micro links. Her goal is to create a look that is non-detectable. She prides herself on providing clients with both confidentiality and the latest techniques in hair replacement.

An Ohio native who has lived in Charlotte for 10 years, Bell enjoys traveling, hiking, and taking educational courses.

She says that most methods require at least one and a half inches of natural hair to work with; however, there are also techniques available to help when this isn’t possible. Bell says that trends are moving toward longer, thicker hair that is freeflowing and moves naturally when a woman walks.

She stays on the cutting edge of hair replacement techniques in order to help women feel their ultimate best.

“I wanted to provide a service that would not only restore what is seen on the outside but also restore inner beauty,” she says.

A Natural Look | 1720 E. 7th St. | Charlotte, NC | 704/777-2480

PHOTO BY GLENN ROBERSON

PROFESSIONAL SPOTLIGHT

Savvy Salon And Day Spa other spas in the area in large part because of its employees.

“The culture is different at Savvy Salon because the employees are different,” she says. “Each employee is screened carefully from the first point of contact to ensure the ‘right’ people come on board — people who wish to be a part of something bigger than themselves alone.”

Helmandollar says the company’s pay structure encourages everyone to work harmoniously, which in turn rewards the clients. The spa’s ultimate goal is always to do what is right for its guests.

“As Dr. Steven R. Covey says, ‘When creating competition within an organization, what happens are there are winners and losers.’ We don’t wish to have any losers on our team, so there is no competition within,” she says. “If we compete, it is to compete against our past performance to make it better!”

She adds, “We are here to earn the trust of every single guest that walks through our door.”

Savvy Salon & Day Spa | 20430 W. Catawba Ave., Suite 2 | Cornelius, NC 704/765-2505 | SavvySalonandDaySpa.com

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012

You might be surprised to discover how Pat Helmandollar, president of Savvy Salon and Day Spa in Cornelius, feels about the word “pampered.”

“I would like to shatter the word ‘pamper,’ as it alludes to something trite, frivolous, and unnecessary,” Helmandollar says. “The services we offer are none of the above! Both women and men desperately need to look great to feel better about themselves. It is a huge esteem booster … and we can all use a bit of that from time to time.”

Since October 1995, this full-service day spa has been servicing the Cornelius area by offering tailormade treatments in an optimum environment.

Services run the gamut, from haircuts to facials to massages to nails.

In May, Savvy Salon was selected from 900 potential candidates as runner-up Small Business of the Year from the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce.

Helmandollar says Savvy Salon is different than

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WOMEN MAKING STRIDES • BUSINESS SUCCESS STORIES

Job Changes/Promotions Dawn Williams was hired by the Cabarrus County Convention & Tourism Bureau as destination services manager.

The Charlotte Speed Demons team has named Jennifer Ganser head coach; Ganser is a former player and trainer with the Charlotte Roller Girls and takes over for interim head coach Rachelle Loyear-Williams.

REVITA Anti-Aging Center has moved to 8133 Ardrey Kell Road, Suite 201; the new phone number is 704/847-0011.

Charlotte American Roadside has opened a new store at 5821 Fairview Road; it will also house the corporate offices.

Lake Norman Women Sailors has launched its first sailing program for women only. Lessons are for women of all skill levels and will be taught by Karen Dobbs, Certified Small Boat Sailing Instructor.Visit http://lakenormanwomensailors.com.

Awards & Installations Nina Shor was hired by Rogers Townsend & Thomas, PC, as special counsel/city executive.

Aleksandra Borisenko was hired

by Lawrence Group as a planner/ urban designer.

New Business/Changes

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012 30

Sharon LachowBlumberg has launched the consultancy, I Am Not Done Yet LLC; visit Iamnotdoneyet.com.

Moira LoCascio, CEO of McLaughlin Young Group, has been appointed to the Entrepreneurial Leadership Circle Advisory Board.

Sharon Matthews was named to the board of directors for the Charlotte Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure; she is responsible for helping identify strategies to assist Komen Charlotte in providing breast health information and mammograms to low-income, uninsured women in nine counties.

Goodwill’s Volunteer of the Year Award. Corporate Champion awards were given to Microsoft Corporation and Chartwells–UNC Charlotte.

Edwin Vazquez,Allen Taylor, and Lisa Obeid were honored with Good Work! awards.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations committee has honored several CharlotteMecklenburg police officers for their efforts to improve community relationships, including: Officer Beverly Ashley-Crump, Lt. Jacquelyn Bryley, Officer Kay Rivera, and the team of Officer Lori O’Dell and Hassan Peterson.

Pat Helmandollar, president of Savvy Salon and Day Spa, was selected from 900 candidates to receive the runner-up award for Small Business of the Year from the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce.

TellUsYourNews

On The Move Send announcements about hirings, promotions, honors, and new business

Dr. Jonathan Kulbersh has opened Carolina Facial Plastics at 6849 Fairview Road, Suite 200.

Quaker Steak & Lube® has opened a new restaurant at 10405 Centrum Parkway, in Pineville.

development — all specifically about/for Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont has named Dr.Tony Zeiss, president of Central Piedmont Community College, recipient of the 2012 Jack Callaghan Cornerstone Award. Elizabeth Cobb was named

Charlotte-area women — along with high-resolution images to Editor Karsen Price at karsenprice@hotmail.com.

By Dana Durham

Honorable Entrepreneurs NAWBO-Charlotte’s 2012 Award Winners

E

ach year, the Charlotte chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners spotlights local women for their entrepreneurial talents and outstanding community service efforts.

In 2012, Delaine Mead, of Valuebiz Business Furnishings; Karen Bennett,of Little Red Bird;and KatieTyler,of Tyler 2 Construction, were honored at NAWBO-Charlotte’s 27th annual awards gala, held May 1, at the Charlotte City Club.

The annual awards gala is the premier event for NAWBO-Charlotte. This year’s event hosted a record number of attendees and an exciting program, including a book signing with keynote speaker and bestselling author, Carol Higgins Clark.

NAWBO-Charlotte is a professional organization designed to fuel the success of the 42,000 women-owned businesses in the greater Charlotte area. Nationally, NAWBO has helped women across the country move forward in their businesses since 1975, by sharing resources, providing education, and providing a single voice to define economic and public policy.

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012

From left to right, Delaine Mead, Business Owner of the Year; Karen Bennett, Rising Star Award Winner; and Katie Tyler, Community Service Award Winner.

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Left, Memuna Williams, 2011 NAWBO president.

Keynote speaker Carol Higgins Clark.

Delaine Mead poses with last year's Business Owner of the Year, Sara Garcés Roselli.

Emily Knudson and Marcia Jackson.

Business Owner Of The Year Delaine Mead, CEO and owner of Valuebiz Business Furnishings, was named 2012’s Woman Business Owner of the Year.

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012 32

Since 2005, Mead has operated Valuebiz, a direct importer and supplier of office furniture and equipment. In late 2006, she added the company Relocation Strategies to the mix.

Together, the combined business platforms provide Mead a solid hold on the market, allowing her to offer commercial office product purchases at Valuebiz, and full project management in construction, moving, and storage management services through Relocation Strategies.

An active member of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, Mead supports a variety of local charities, including the Carolina Chapter of the Make a Wish Foundation,The Isabella Santos Foundation for Neuroblastoma Research, and

The MACS Educational Foundation.Mead is married to her high-school sweetheart, Mark, and is the proud mother of three active teenagers.

“It is a true honor to be awarded the prestigious Woman Business Owner of the Year award,”Mead says.“NAWBO is a unique organization that assembles extraordinarily dedicated, professional women who lead as strong business leader examples among their peers, the clients they serve,and the business community in which they live and work.”

Rising Star Karen Bennett, co-founder and managing partner of Little Red Bird, was named the Rising Star Award Winner.

Bennett started her career in New York with tours at DDB Advertising/ New York and Young & Rubicam/New York. In Charlotte, she was a vice president at PriceMcNabb/EMA. In 2008,she co-founded Lit-

tle Red Bird to help companies discover and express their brand voices through strategic and creative communications.

Little Red Bird produces award-winning work for clients in a variety of categories, from education and nonprofit to financial services, technology, real estate development, retail,and even a custom-brewed distillery.

Bennett volunteers for several area nonprofit and community groups, and is the marketing chair of NAWBO-Charlotte’s board of directors. Before she co-founded Little Red Bird, she designed and operated an online boutique for handcrafted, organic yoga-related merchandise.

Bennett lives with her husband,Alan,and their two daughters.

“I’m honored and delighted to be given NAWBO-Charlotte’s Rising Star Award,” Bennett says. “My involvement with NAWBO-Charlotte over the past few years has been so rewarding. Being recognized by this organization is indeed special.This is a rare group that provides women business owners with education and resources in a supportive setting.”

Katrynah Talbert and LaWana Mayfield.

Karen Bennett and Alan Perlmutter.

Civic Minded Katie Tyler, CEO of Tyler 2 Construction, received the Community Service Award.

ToLearnMore Visit nawbocharlotte.org for information.

The Woman Business Owner of the Year award goes to a NAWBO member who demonstrates strong leadership in growing and managing a business for more than five years.

The Rising Star Award goes to the business owner who shows entrepreneurial creativity and determination in managing a business less than five years old.

The Community Service Award spotlights the contributions of a Charlottean who supports other women in business.

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012

Community Service Award winner Katie Tyler has long been known for her exemplary community involvement — through both her business and personal efforts. As CEO of Tyler 2 Construction, her tireless efforts for change have been instrumental in Charlotte.

One of Tyler’s pet projects includes the YWCA Central Carolinas. When she learned its Youth Development Program modular housing in the Live Oaks community needed to be relocated due to pending demolition — and the YWCA wouldn’t be able to absorb the $35,000 project — Tyler 2 Construction came to the rescue, handling all moving and logistics. Tyler 2 also completed the renovation of theYWCA Women inTransition residences in 2005,and is currently constructing the YWCA Families Together project.

Tyler also trains guide dogs, and she likewise was called by city leaders to help rejuvenate the Humane Society of Charlotte.Tyler is a Hospice volunteer,and she serves on the board of directors for the Girl Scouts Hornets Nest Council and Advantage Carolina. She plays a pivotal part of the Twin Club firefighter exchange program, and was recently appointed to the Mecklenburg Citizens for Public Education Task Force.

“I firmly believe,as one famous person once said,that our lives will begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter,” Tyler says.“I choose to be active in community efforts to make a difference, one person or one cause at a time. The rewards have been bountiful … in results, friendships, and business. I cannot imagine my life being whole without volunteer efforts.The fact that NAWBO recognized those efforts is an added bonus.” [TCW]

The Awards

Elizabeth Miller and Katie Tyler.

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For

faces cosmetics get

colorful this summer Caught the color bug yet? If so, consider this collection of makeup, with products in hues you never imagined for nails, lips, and more. < Smorgasborg!

Clockwise from top, M•A•C Lipsticks, $14.50; Estée Lauder Sumptuous Two Tone Eye-Opening Mascara, $28; Deborah Lippman Run The World (girls) set of five minis, $45; Prada Candy Eau de Parfum Spray, $108; Dazzleglass Lip Colour, $19.50.

Nordstrom & Nordstrom.com

<

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012 34

Scents-ible Flora By Gucci, The Flora Garden Collection: Gracious Tuberose Eau de Toilette, Gorgeous Gardenia Eau de Toilette, and Glamorous Magnolia Eau de Toilette, $100 each.

Nordstrom & Nordstrom.com

only

By Dana Durham

< At Your Fingertips Thakoon for NARS Limited Edition nail polishes, $18; Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm, $16.

Nordstrom & Nordstrom.com

<

< Golden Girls Levres Scintillantes Glossimer (in Calypso), $29.50; Soleil Tan de Chanel Luminous Bronzing Powder (in Sable Rose), $60; Le Vernis Nail Colour (in Delight), $26; Ombres Contraste Duo Eyeshadow Duo (in Sable-Emouvant), $42.

Nordstrom & Nordstrom.com

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Charlotte Woman | June 2012

The Eyes (And Lips) Have It Croisette Summer 2012 Color Collection: Diorshow Liner Waterproof, $29; Dior 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow: Croisette Edition (in Swimming Pool), $60; Dior Vernis Nail Lacquer (in Saint Tropez), $23; Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss (in Orange Pareo), $28.

Nordstrom & Nordstrom.com

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Easy, Breezy Summer Beauty 2012 Trends In Hair, Nails, Skincare & More Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012 36

By Lee Rhodes ummer is upon us, and the year’s most sizzling season provides an opportunity to refresh your beauty regimen. We’ve compiled the latest and greatest tips on how to look fabulous, whether you’re lounging poolside or ocean-side, picnicking, or watching fireworks in the park. Read on to see what’s hot in hair, nails, skincare, and smiles. >

Hair-Brained Hair care is an ever-changing field. Bangs are in? Bangs are out. Blonde is the shade to be? Red is the way to go. It’s a finicky world to be sure … but it’s safe to say one thing is certain: Beautiful hair is always in style.

Most stylists prefer healthy hair, regardless of style. That’s easier said than done, however, when it comes to routine color treatments, the overuse of flat irons, and the damage done by sun and chlorine.

“Always use a salon-quality shampoo and conditioner,” says Candace Bloch, of Salon Collage. She suggests frequent cuts to remove dry ends, and when possible, a Brazilian blowout to smooth tresses.

At Savvy Salon and Day Spa in Cornelius, spa owner Pat Helmandollar says,“Our newest adaptation of a haircut is to primarily do most of the cut dry, after it has been shampooed.”

She adds playfully,“Amazingly, most people wear their hair dry, so why cut it wet? It is easy to see how the hair falls when dry and you can get a more customized cut when done according to the natural fall of the hair.”

And while beautiful hair is the goal of most women, there is always the problem of what happens when hormones, illness, and other factors cause your once full head of hair to go thin.

According to Ronnie Talent, owner of Legacy Hair Center, the hair loss industry has shifted its focus to women.While men can

shave their heads when faced with hair loss, women traditionally have had no options, despite the fact that over 25 percent of women deal with hair loss or hair thinning at some point. Luckily, the sky is the limit in terms of solutions nowadays.

“Most people fall into two major categories,” Talent explains.“They are either looking for fullness and want density, or have gone to a hair stylist and gotten a cut that is way too short.”

To help with those concerns, Legacy Hair Center can do extensions in any color, shade, and style. “The bottom line is, if you can explain to the stylist how you want to look, you can walk out of here looking like that,” Talent says.

Legacy Hair Center stylists are trained in multiple extension methods, and with proper maintenance, the attachments can last four to six months. Plus,Talent explains, the technology is getting better all the time.“With the culture the way it is, people want movie star hair, Kardashian hair, or ‘The Real Housewives’ hair,” he says.“And they can have it!”

They say a picture is worth a thousand words …

Capture the happiness in your life, and say it all with memories that last a lifetime.

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012

Michael C. Hernandez | happy-go-lucky photographer Capturehappy.com | Michael@capturehappy.com | 704.737.1737

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Nail It Down When it comes to the realm of nail care, choice is the name of the game. Tina Karres, owner of Lake Norman Nail Shop, raves about the new gel polishes (not to be confused with the artificial product known as gel). In fact, she calls these gel polishes the greatest thing to happen for natural nails in a long time.

Gel polish wears on fingernails for 21 days, or until you remove it.“Colors can be layered to create endless possibilities,” Karres explains.

While many manufacturers have developed gel color lines, as far as Karres is concerned, Hand and Nail Harmony’s Gelish stands out, with over 200 colors or color combinations — from normal to neon, and including every shade of glitter. “I prefer the base and top coat of the Gelish because it is stronger and more resistant to polish remover,” Karres says.

Magnetic colors are also making a splash, both in regular polish and Gelish.“The polish or gel color is applied and the nail tech will hold a magnet, available in four shapes, over the wet polish to create a pattern in the polish,” says Karres.“Diagonal lines, squiggly lines, star bursts, and chevron patterns are available now.”

The ‘Skin’-ny Sally Raker, of Charlotte Aesthology, offers her lowdown on the latest in skincare, noting that the microcurrent facial is quickly gaining popularity.

“Microcurrent works on a low-level, alternating current, to energize and rejuvenate the skin, delivering oxygen, increasing circulation, and stimulating new collagen and elastin,” Raker says.

“The results are immediate, and continue cumulatively to improve.”

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012 38

Raker explains that microcurrent drives peptides deeper into the skin. Peptides are amino acids, or proteins, which are the building blocks of life. Because of the reduced molecular size, they easily penetrate the skin, carrying out specific tasks within the skin cells.“The facial is complete with the application of IPL laser treatment, which further tones and strengthens the skins, tightening pores and evening the complexion,” she says.

“This facial is great post-surgery, promoting lymphatic drainage and healing of the skin, or any time you want to look your best,” Raker concludes.

Grin & Bare It Teeth play a big role in your overall appearance, and Invisalign provides a modern way to straighten teeth without wires or brackets. Invisalign treatment consists of a series of custom made, clear aligners that straighten your teeth a little at a time … until you have the smile you want.

Dr. Erika Burley, at Burley Dentistry, explains the benefits.

“Invisalign causes little to no friction along the gums and lips compared to traditional braces,” she says. “There are no food restrictions with Invisalign, which not only helps give you the beautiful smile you desire, but also has other health benefits.”

These benefits include healthier gums, because properly aligned teeth are easier to brush and floss than crowded or crooked teeth, which promotes better oral health, and less bacteria. With good oral hygiene, the chances of having plaque retention, tooth decay, and gum disease can be reduced.

Additionally, Dr. Burley explains that Invisalign provides a decreased risk of broken teeth.

“Properly aligned teeth also reduce the risk of expensive procedures required to repair the effects of abnormal force, such as tooth chipping, breaking, or wear, and can be less stressful on the supporting jaw bone and joints,” she says.

Just Brow-sing Waxing or plucking? Threading? The options for getting the perfectly coiffed set of eyebrows are endless.

With that said, Carla Jones, at Beautiful Brows, offers up one beauty tidbit for 2012: “Big, bold, beautiful brows are back,” she says.“It is essential to work with — not against — the natural shape of your brows.”

Jones notes that a gorgeous set of eyebrows can open up the eye and create a younger appearance … with the effects rivaling that of plastic surgery.

“Thick, natural brows give a strong and powerful statement,” Jones concludes. [TCW]

Lee Rhodes, who's been known to weep on a bad hair day, plans to refresh her beauty regimen this summer.

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39

WineUp

A Wonderous

Wine T

o me, being asked to name my favorite

wine is right up there with being asked

which grandchild is my favorite. There just

isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t an answer that makes sense! Having

said that, however, I must admit I am rather

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Charlotte Woman | June 2012 40

partial to Pinot Noir. The gentle, nuanced complexity this grape brings to a wine is a thing of wonder.

By Trevor Burton

The World-Class Oregon Pinot Noir In your lifetime, you have probably stumbled across a piece of music that stops you in your tracks: You hear it, and you have to put down whatever it is you are doing and concentrate solely on the music. That’s what a good Pinot Noir does for me.

Pinot Noir reaches its pinnacle in the Burgundy region of France. However, the grape-growing area of Burgundy is relatively small … and it’s not going to increase. So, the laws of supply and demand have driven the cost of these wines a little out of the reality zone for most of us. But, be not faint of heart.You don’t have to suffer a lifetime sentence of deprivation. Help is at hand a little closer to home, with far less strain on the wallet. The answer lies in Oregon. More specifically, in the Willamette Valley region of Oregon.

Sacre Bleu!

The results of all this were profound.

Oregon Pinot Noirs were truly hoisted onto the world stage of great wines. More important, one of the major players in Burgundy, Robert Drouhin, saw the great potential of Oregon wines and estab-

Down In The Valley The source of Oregon’s great wines is the Willamette Valley, located in the northwestern part of the state. Pronunciation is important, especially if you are planning to visit a vineyard for a tasting.

The pronunciation is Will-AM-ette or, as the locals tend to say, “It’s Will-AM-ette, damn it.” The midpoint of the Willamette Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area) lies at 45 degrees north latitude, the same as Burgundy’s famous Côte d’Or — “Golden Slope.” All of which helps explain why Oregon’s wines are so good.

Find Willamette Valley on a wine label, and you’re going to get a good wine at a reasonable price. For even a medium level wine from Burgundy, you’ll be spending $50 or more. For some of the best wines from the region, the prices get downright silly. In comparison, you can get some very good wines from the Willamette Valley for under $30. Not a Tuesday-night-pizza wine by any means … but not a bad price for a really good bottle of wine. (As an aside: This is definitely not a wine to pair with pizza.Try it with a roasted chicken or some grilled salmon. The wine turns a simple meal into a banquet.)

A Geological Twist There’s a little twist to Willamette Valley wines that needs a geological explanation. Inside the Willamette Valley, there are several distinct hills. About 15,000 years ago, the valley was flooded to a depth of some 200 feet, and a whole bunch of topsoil was dumped on the valley floor. Hills with elevations above 200

feet were left untouched, and the volcanic soil undisturbed.

Fast-forward to today, and what you’ve got is some subregions in the valley that have unique and better soil conditions than the valley as a whole. A few years ago, six of these little “islands” were granted their own AVA because the wines from each of them are so distinct.The AVAs are Chehalem Mountains, Dundee Hills, EolaAmity Hills, McMinnville, Ribbon Ridge, and Yamhill-Carlton District.Wines from these areas are the top-of-the-line Willamette Valley wines, and they’ll carry the area name on the label. They are more expensive than simple Willamette Valley wines, but far more attainable than their “big-boy” cousins from Burgundy.

You could go nuts trying to define which wine, Burgundy or Willamette Valley, is the “better” wine. It’s kind of a fool’s errand, anyway, because the basic style of each wine is different. Burgundy is made in the Old World style, where earthiness and gamey flavors predominate over fruit. The inverse is the case with Willamette Valley wines. They are made in the New World style, where fruit predominates. The simple fact to keep in mind is that Willamette Valley wines are simply terrific. They’re easily found and reasonably priced.

As for my previous mention of an affinity for Pinot Noirs:The grape is a finicky little character. It’s tough to grow and needs just the right conditions to thrive, but when it does, it produces wines that truly reflect the soil and climate the grapes were grown in. All of which makes trying wines from different parts of the world so enjoyable … including Will-AM-ette Valley, damn it. [TCW]

Wine aficionado Trevor Burton says his three grandchildren are a lot like wine: It's impossible to pick a favorite, and they definitely get more interesting as they age.

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012

The Big Paris Shoot-Out These wines give the jewels of Burgundy a run for their money — and that’s more than just qualitative hype. Consider this. In 1979, the renowned French dining guide, Gault & Millau, organized a blind tasting of wines from around the world. A Chambolle-Musigny wine from Burgundy came in first in the Pinot Noir category. But to much Gallic chagrin, an Oregon Pinot Noir came in at No. 3.The wine was made by David Lett, one of the original Oregon Pinot Noir pioneers. Surely this must be a mistake, thought the cognoscenti from Gault & Millau. So they organized a rematch the following year, confident the results would change. And, change they did. This time, the Oregon wine came in second.

lished Domaine Drouhin Oregon a few years later.

It’s no coincidence that Domaine Drouhin Oregon vineyards are located close to the spot where Lett grew his prize-winning grapes. Many other Burgundians have followed Drouhin.There can be no greater testimonial than that.

41

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it’s the

little things

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012 44

Oversized white watch, $400.

Nixon • Nordstrom & Nordstrom.com

By Karsen Price

Go Brave This Summer With

Bold Accessories

s

o you are feeling less than lion-hearted about the latest trend of color-clashing? Need a little encouragement before you boldly mix color where no woman has mixed before?

Why not tiptoe into the trend, with accessories that pop and sizzle? >

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Charlotte Woman | June 2012

Vivianna Ostrich Satchel, $46.80.

New Directions â&#x20AC;˘ Belk & Belk.com

45

Assorted silicone phone cases, wallets, and phone wristlets, from $35 to $178.

Kate Spade • Nordstrom & Nordstrom.com

White 18-inch, pear-drop statement necklace, $48; white stacked bangle set, $58.

Cara • Nordstrom & Nordstrom.com

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012 46

That’s the suggestion of Arlene Goldstein, vice president of trend merchandising and fashion direction at Belk Stores Services. Goldstein says accessories are the perfect way to punch up your wardrobe and try the new color-saturation trend of the season on for size.

“White is a summer given. And with this season’s color message, it gives you a platform from which to spring.”

— Arlene Goldstein

Oversized acetate sunglasses, $340.

Chanel • Nordstrom & Nordstrom.com

Tally wedge sandal, $149.95.

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“You must make it yours.”

Goldstein, who predicts fashion trends for a living, suggests that those who are “dipping a toe into the season’s use of color” should try adding a turquoise sandal, yellow handbag, or statement-making necklace to an otherwise “safe” ensemble.

“We are all looking for permission,” Goldstein says.“I find so many women are timid about trying bold looks.”

If you find that you’re still uncomfortable with the rainbow world of fashion these days, then take heart: White is just as fashionable as ever.

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012

“I’ve always loved accessories,” she admits.

“Accessories are the single most important vehicle at your disposal to update and refresh your look.”

Accessories also offer a chance to infuse your wardrobe with a bold shot of color in a dramatic — but less daunting — way. “Fashion adventurists are doing it now, but for those who are just learning to play with color, accessories are a way to personalize the look,” Goldstein says. “You can use a bold pop of color any way you choose.”

She admonishes that there is only one way to do accessories.“You must own it,” she says.

47

Color-blocked top, $20; shorts, $25.

Allen B. Look • JcPenney & jcp.com

Goldstein says,“I am bullish about white. Tis the season to gather all the white you can find.” She suggests wearing it in one of two ways: Wrap yourself from head to toe, or pair a few white pieces with a boldly colored outfit.

“White is a summer given,” she says. “It’s so crisp and pure. And with this season’s color message, it gives you a platform from which to spring.” [TCW]

According To

Arlene The 4-1-1 On Accessories

Flat sandals, $48.

New Directions • Belk

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012 48

• Arm candy is a must … and watches are back. “They are everywhere, in a range of colors and styles. There are so many fashion options in the watch.”

She notes that the newest trend is to layer watches with bracelets, from bangles to stretchy bracelets in semiprecious stones.

• This season, sandals are flat, chic, and in an endless supply of hues; many feature strappy details or flashy fringes.

• The statement necklace is the one accessory that every woman can — and Goldstein says, should — depend upon, no matter the season. “It frames the face so nicely,” she says.

Bradshaw chronograph watch, $250.

Michael Kors • Nordstrom & Nordstrom.com

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SoSocial O U T

A N D

A B O U T

I N

T H E

Q U E E N

C I T Y

The second-annual PowerWalk was held May 12 at Freedom Park, and benefited Dress for Success Charlotte.

Team Smile (from left): Debbie Camps, Torie Jacobitz, Julie Broome, Andrea Godwin, and Lorie Cox, DFS event chair.

The walk began with a fun warmup with Shamia Brock.

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Charlotte Woman | June 2012 50

From left, Diane S. Davis and DFS executive director Kerry O'Connor.

The Yes Ma'am Team, headed by Lee McCracken (far right).

The Fifth Third Bank Team.

Looks like some good reading!

Team TCW (from left): Fern Howerin, Sharon Simpson, and Karsen Price.

DFS honorary chair and Eyewitness News anchor Erica Bryant, with her children.

The Bank of America Team.

From left, Shamia Brock and Angela Vereen, with N' Shape With 'N.

AskTheExpert

veneers Dr. Ross W. Nash, DDS Dr. Ross W. Nash, DDS, is one of only 46 Accredited Fellows in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, meaning he has acquired extraordinary skills in the area of esthetic and cosmetic dentistry. Founder of the Nash Institute for Dental Learning, Dr. Nash is the epitome of “expert.” Here, he answers questions about porcelain veneers.

ith veneers treatment w Smile before

Q: What are porcelain veneers?

A: Porcelain veneers are thin shells of ceramic material used to change the color, shape, or alignment of natural teeth. Also called “laminates,” they become a new surface for the natural tooth. They are made through various techniques from hand layering by a ceramic artist to computerized design and manufacture. The materials available are durable and stain resistant, as well as beautiful.

Q: How are veneers put on the teeth?

A: Porcelain veneers are attached to the teeth with strong bonding agents and composite resin cements. The bond is very strong. Ceramic materials are inherently brittle, but supported by an underlying strong structure, they become quite strong. The bonding process in dentistry allows for this lamination effect, so the ceramic veneers are actually strengthened after bonding to the tooth and the tooth is strengthened by the same process.

Q: How long does it take to get veneers?

A: The process usually takes two appointments only a few weeks apart.

Sometimes, temporary veneers are used between appointments.

Porcelain vene ers to be pl aced

Smile after porcelain veneers

Q: How long do porcelain veneers last?

A: Longevity is different for each situation, but they are long lasting.

Because porcelain has excellent wear resistance, color stability and durability, they have the potential to last for many, many years.

ToLearnMore Ross W. Nash, DDS • Cosmetic Dentistry of the Carolinas • CosmeticDentistryoftheCarolinas.com • 704/895-7660

Portrait with new smile

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012

Q: Do porcelain veneers require special care?

A: They should be treated like natural teeth. Daily brushing and flossing, as well as regular dental cleanings and dental examinations are recommended. Ultrasonic scalers and course polishing pastes at the dental office should not be used to decrease the chance of scratching the porcelain. Chewing hard materials like ice and hard candy should be avoided.

51

HealthFlash W H A T

Y O U

N E E D

T O K N O W T O S T A Y COMPILED BY DANA DURHAM

F I T

A N D

W E L L

Oh, My Aching Head Pass The … Botox? otox has been actively considered as preventative medicine for migraine sufferers, but a new review examining 31 clinical trials found that botulinum toxin A may only offer relief to those with chronic migraines or daily headaches ... and even then, the effect is “small to modest.”

The review’s results, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that Botox injections offered no help for people with episodic migraines — defined as fewer than 15 a month — or chronic tension-type headaches.

The review’s lead author, Dr. Jeffrey Jackson, a professor of medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, noted that Botox might still be worth a shot (no pun intended).

“If I was having more than 15 migraines a month, I’d give Botox a try,” Dr. Jackson says.“It has few side effects. And, if it helps, you can go 90 days without as many headaches and without daily side effects.”

Possible side effects from Botox include drooping eyelids, muscle weakness, neck pain or stiffness, skin tightness, and tingling, burning, or numbness.

“If done properly, there really aren’t substantial (side) effects from the use of Botox,” says Dr. Ezriel Kornel, a neurosurgeon at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, N.Y. “But, over time the effect may wear off. Some people can develop an immunity to Botox.”

According to the article, more than 40 percent of adults experience tension-type headaches at some point in their lives, and between 8 and 18 percent of adults have had migraines.

Treatment options typically fall into two classes: abortive or preventative.

Botox’s effect on migraines was discovered coincidentally when people who were having Botox injections to lessen lines and wrinkles in their foreheads noticed that their headaches were improved.

According to Dr. Kornel, the review showed a definite benefit from Botox for those with chronic migraine and chronic daily headache.“Chronic migraines are the hardest headaches to treat,” he says, "and this gives us one more treatment [alternative]. It’s a reasonable alternative to the use of long-term daily medications that can have side effects.”

B

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012 52

Train Smart Lose The Guesswork In Your Workout

C

KO FITCLUB URTESY OF KO PHOTOS CO

an’t remember exactly how many calories you burned on the treadmill last Wednesday? Maybe you need the SmarttrainingTM System as your personal trainer.

The patented automated system, found at Koko FitClub of Charlotte, offers a personalized program that tracks each person’s progress in overall health and body composition. The first training system of its kind, the SmarttrainingTM System does all the thinking for you … from analyzing your fitness needs to customizing a strength and training program specifically for you. The system, based on state-of-the-art technology, coaches you through an efficient 30-minute workout.

“The SmartrainingTM System allows members to monitor and track the progress and improvement in their overall health and body composition, which is then stored on a personalized website,” Rob Calder explains.“The result is that our members stay engaged, motivated, and actually look forward to working out.”

Koko FitClub of Charlotte is owned by two Charlotte natives, Calder and Keith Greenspon. Koko FitClub has 68 locations in 26 states and Canada; visit charlotte.kokofitclub.com.

“Our goal is to bring a new, unique fitness option to the area that will enhance the health and wellness of Charlotte residents,” Calder says.

Treat The Burn Soothe The Effects Of The Sun By now, most people are aware of the dangers of sunburn. Just one blistering burn in adolescence more than doubles your chances of developing melanoma as an adult. (Did you know sunburn effectively cooks the protein in your skin? Ich!) In fact, 42 percent of all people polled in a survey conducted with iVillage and the Skin Cancer Foundation admitted they get sunburned at least once a year.

If you just accidentally fried yourself in the hot Carolina sun, try this:

• Emerge your skin in a cool bath or shower, or apply a cool compress.

• Drink plenty of extra fluids for two or three days after the burn.

• Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen as needed for pain.

• Apply aloe gel or a moisturizing lotion.

• Stay out of the sun if possible! If you must go back out, cover your skin with sunblock and clothing.

Get Moving!

A study of more than 1,000 women and men

by Oregon State University found that women averaged only about 18 minutes of moderate-tovigorous exercise daily, while men averaged 30 minutes.

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012

• Get out of the sun as soon as possible.

Calling All Women

53

HealthFlash

Don’t Pop That Pill!

Beware Of Body-Building & Weight-Loss Supplements

Keep Your Chin Up This Implant Surgery Is On The Rise

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012 54

2011 could go down in history as the year of the chin.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the number of American women and men having cosmetic chin surgery increased drastically in 2011. In 2011, the growth in chin augmentation procedures was greater than Botox injections, breast augmentation, and liposuction — combined!

There were nearly 21,000 chin augmentations last year, a 71 percent increase from 2010. Women had nearly 10,100 procedures, a 66 percent inOther cosmetic crease, and men had almost 10,600 proprocedures that increased in 2011 were: cedures, a 76 percent increase.

The sudden popularity of the chin im••••••••••••••••••••••••••• plant may be due to an increased use of lip augmentations 49% video-chat technology, as well as an aging ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• baby boomer population and a desire to cheek implants improve work success.

47% ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• “The chin and jaw line are among the laser skin resurfacing first areas to show signs of aging,” says Dr. 9% ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Malcolm Roth, president of the American soft-tissue fillers Society of Plastic Surgeons. “We also 7% ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• know that as more people see themselves facelift on video-chat technology, they may notice 5% that their jaw line is not as sharp as they ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• want it to be.”

According to a study funded by the U.S. DrugInduced Liver Injury Network, supplements used for body-building and weight-loss are the types of supplements most likely to cause liver injury.

In fact, liver injury is the main reason such drugs get pulled from shelves.

Up to 40 percent of people in the United States consume a variety of dietary and herbal supplements, which do not require a prescription and can be bought over the counter or online, regardless of whether their potential side effects are known.

In the study, researchers looked at 109 cases of patients who appeared to have suffered liver injury because of dietary supplements. The results were presented at the Digestive Disease Week meeting in San Diego.

“There is so little regulation of the many products on the market,” says Dr. Victor Navarro, professor of medicine, pharmacology, and experimental therapies at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, and the study’s leader. “We couldn’t possibly begin to figure out which products to target first without doing this research.”

While the study, which focused on white, overweight men, did not prove that supplements cause liver damage, Dr. Navarro suggested the findings could provide a target for regulatory efforts.

Worry Much?

Anxiety May Be A Sign Of Intelligence

D

o you worry a lot? Don’t worry … it might be a sign of intelligence.

A new study published in Frontiers in Evolutionary Neuroscience has found that worrying — often seen as a negative trait in society — may have co-evolved with intelligence as an important survival trait in humans.

Researchers looked at 26 people with generalized anxiety disorder, and compared them to a group of 18 volunteers without the disorder. The investigators found that both worry and high intelligence were associated with brain activity measured by the depletion of the nutrient choline in the brain’s white matter.

“While excessive worry is generally seen as a negative trait and high intelligence as a positive one, worry may cause our species to avoid dangerous situations, regardless of how remote a possibility they may be,” says Dr. Jeremy Coplan, a professor of psychiatry at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in New York City.

“Worry may make people ‘take no chances,’ and such people may have higher survival rates,” Dr. Coplan says. “Thus, like intelligence, worry may confer a benefit upon the species.” [TCW]

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CEO, Tyler 2 Construction

AUGUST 7, 2012 11:30 am - 1:15 pm Byron's South End 101 W. Worthington Ave, #110 Charlotte, NC 28203 It’s Time to Start Something!

JOIN US IN SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 11, 2012, 11:30 am Astrid Chirinos Owner, Diverso Global Strategies Exec. Director, Charlotte Latin American Chamber of Commerce National Association of Women Business Owners, Charlotte Chapter, is a professional organization specifically designed to fuel the success of the 42,000 women-owned businesses in the greater Charlotte area.

For more information: NAWBOcharlotte.org 704. 367. 3454

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012

Katie Tyler, CEO of Tyler 2 Construction, and recipient of NAWBO-Charlotte’s 2012 Community Service Award, will speak about her experiences in starting and growing her business, and starting something in our community. Join us for networking, lunch and this special guest.

55

contributors Michael C. Hernandez “When I was a little boy, my parents subscribed to National Geographic, Time, and Newsweek.These three magazines became my reading homework and, eventually, my ticket into the world. Every night I would read aloud to my parents and flip through the pages. But what captured my imagination were the photographs … the photographs of people and the stories imprinted on their faces. It changed everything. Bottom line, I love to make people happy through pictures. Much like cooking a meal for someone, you can’t wait to hear that they love it.”

Capture Happy Photography capturehappy.com | michael@capturehappy.com | 704/737-1737

Cyndy Gatewood

Glenn Roberson “Gorgeous. Not me, no. But, rather, what I do.

I do gorgeous. Weddings. Fashion. Portraiture.

Dance. You can call it photojournalism, with a fashion feel. Serving the world from my Lake Norman studio. And that’s Glenn with two ‘n’s and Roberson with no ‘t.’ ” Glenn Roberson Photography glennroberson.com | glenn@glennroberson.com | 704/307-9543

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Beauty Is A Head Game And She With The Powerful Hair Wins

I

t may be trite, but there’s a reason the expression “bad hair day” gets so much play. It’s because your hair is where your power is stored. That’s right, sister. On top of your noggin, nestled in your curly or flat-ironed or overly processed locks, is your mojo.

That’s precisely why finding a great hair stylist is key to your success in life. I have

By Michelle Young Hubacher

on your hair type, intervention may take the form of a tool hot enough to cook a grilled cheese sandwich in a pinch; a conditioning treatment containing placenta (Google that. Seriously. Do it. Super yucky but fascinating); or clipping in a hair accessory with feathers.

Step Two is perhaps more important: You must speak kindly to your hair. That’s right. Your hair will listen, soaking in the

she needs to be vibrant and powerful.”

Me: “Uh … well … ” OK, so that interaction threw me a bit at the time. But these days, I know all about the power of the hair, and likewise, I believe in The Talk.That’s right.Talk to your hair, and you are one step closer to unlocking your power and ultimate beauty. And, unless you are like me and have kids who burst into your bathroom whenever they feel like it

I’m serious. Don’t be shy about it. Tell your flop-top she’s never looked better.

Today’s Charlotte Woman | June 2012 58

been seeing the same hair pro for years — and notice my use of the word “seeing.” It’s just as much of a relationship as the one I’m actually in with a man — only without the fart jokes and the feminine fretting over his level of devotion to me. I know my stylist is devoted to me. Because I pay her. And I tip really well.

Tapping into your power through a well-coiffed ’do takes practice, though.

Step One is assessing the situation first thing each morning, and then aligning the outcome with what you need to accomplish during the day.

For instance: “I have an important presentation to give today, and my hair looks like I’ve been dragged through a bush backward.” Time for intervention. Depending

high esteem it’s due in your effort to nail your presentation/get a raise/find your glasses/steer your daughter away from premarital sex. This is not you talking to yourself in the mirror. This is you talking to your hair in the mirror. There’s a difference.

A very long time ago, when I was young and not yet obsessed about what might be a bald spot on my crown, I had a “substitute” stylist who regarded me thoughtfully in the mirror, and then spoke about my hair in the third person.

Stylist: “She seems a little dry. How are you managing her curl right now?”

Me: “Uh … well … ” Stylist: “Don’t get me wrong. She’s pretty and strong.We just need to find out what

— and then say,“Ew!” when they discover you’re naked — then you should have enough privacy to carry out this pep talk directed at your hair.

I’m serious. Don’t be shy about it. Tell your flop-top she’s never looked better.

Then, finish toasting your sandwich in the flat iron, dig your glasses out from under the sofa cushion, kiss your still-virginal daughter goodbye, and go knock em’ dead at that presentation. [TCW]

Michelle Young Hubacher is a writer in Charlotte who is currently not on speaking terms with her hair.

PHOTO BY CHANDA POPE

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