Today's Charlotte Woman 2014

VOL 18 | NO 1 | COMPLIMENTARY

The

IS ON Including: Spicy Foods, Hot Clothes & Finding Mr. Right

Modern Love Meet Your Match With Carolinas Matchmaker

Love Shack From Empty Nest To Love Birds

MAY 2014

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Bothered by Receding Gums?

NEW Patented “Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation”™ Technique Provides Immediate Results As seen on

If you’ve been suffering from unsightly gum recession, you’re more likely to have tooth sensitivity and pain, root cavities, or even early tooth loss. Now there’s an easy, comfortable way to treat it here in Charlotte!

The Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation™ (PGR) Technique is a patented, minimallyinvasive alternative to traditional gum grafting, but without all the negative side effects.

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You don’t have to hide your smile...

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Take action to stop your gum recession now.

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Call Advanced Dentistry of Charlotte at 704-837-8261 for a FREE Consultation, and to see if you’re a candidate for PGR™!

Cosmetic & Family Dentistry • Dental Implants Invisalign & Six Month Smiles Cosmetic Orthodontics Sleep Apnea Treatment • Oral Sedation Dentistry

704-837-8261 www.CharlotteSmileDesign.com 1618 E Morehead St. | Charlotte, NC 28207

Crystal Durham, who drove over 4 hours to have PGR done is thrilled with the results.

Dr. Chris Bowman is among the first 16 general dentists in the world licensed and trained to provide Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation™. He is the first dentist in the Southeastern US to perform the procedure. Dr. Bowman is a leading Charlotte cosmetic dentist, a Six Month Smiles Clinical Instructor, and an international dental author and speaker. He has been featured on ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX.

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Inside This Issue

48 38 8

Publisher’s Letter Mother’s Day From The Heart

10 Girl Power Eat, Shop, Drink & Be Powerful

22

16 The Queen’s List Goings On Around Town

18 The Love Doctor Laurie Berzack Plays Cupid At Carolinas Matchmaker

22 Voice Over Gretchen McGinty Parlays Acting Into Speech Pathology

28 Style Turn Up The Heat With Accessories That Sizzle

38 Dwellings A Nest Worthy Of Love Birds

47 Business Spotlight Explore Exotic Locales With People That Travel

48 Spice It Up Liven Up Your Table With Recipes That Kick

54 Health Flash An Apple A Day & Other Wisdom www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014 6

58 I Really Think Finding Love, Later In Life

16

OnTheCover It’s all about the shoes!

On The Model: Stilleto sandals, Jimmy Choo, $795, Nordstrom; peacock blouse and short set, $180, Tsvety Fashions; amber and sterling silver ring, $99.99, JTV.com.

Purse, stylist’s own.

PHOTO BY GLENN ROBERSON. Featuring Whitney Allsbrook.

Your smile is your best accessory Smile in One VisitTM is a new way to get the smile you want faster than ever before.

Come into the office in the morning and leave with a new smile that afternoon!

Dr. Don Timpton

Carmel Commons Dental South Charlotte

Call to Schedule a Complimentary Consultation and to Request Your FREE Guide on the “Smile in One VisitTM” Offer Good for the First 50 Callers

704-621-4631 Dr. Timpton’s Method Smile in One VisitTM means: • Computer aided smile design gives you exactly the smile you want and lets you see your smile ahead of time.

• Visits are minimized no matter which option you choose.

• Faster and more predictable than traditional methods.

• “Temporaries” are solid, life-like, and guarantee that you like your new smile before it’s made permanent.

• For those who are fearful, sedation is available.

www.carmelcommonsdental.com

PHOTO BY GLENN ROBERSON

From The Publisher » By Sharon Simpson www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014 8

Happy Mom’s Day From The Sandwich Gen

am a member of the Learning new things can be extremely “sandwich” generation: proud difficult for a woman her age, especially mom of a handsome 32-year-old son when it comes to technology. But mom and beautiful daughter-in-law has finally learned to embrace it. Growing who live a few miles from me, up in the era of party lines and rotary dials, and the proud daughter of a vivacious you can imagine how long it took me to and sometimes cocky 87-year-old mom … convince her to buy a cell phone. Now she who lives with me. carries one with her all the time, and I realize I’m fortunate to still have my swears it’s broken if a day goes by that it mom with me, but I must admit it comes doesn’t ring. (Sometimes I call her just to with its challenges. A whopping 4’ 8” tall, show it still works!) she’s battled heart failure, The other day, I caught asthma, osteoporosis, a her having a conversation broken wrist, and the usual with a voicemail message. It bumps and bruises that took me hours to explain to follow the occasional fall. her that it was a recorded Today, she is healthy as a message and the person she horse and just about as was talking to really wasn’t stubborn. ignoring her. My brother But this is not about taught her how to work a overcoming obstacles at 87; computer mouse and even it’s about staying sane at 55, created her own personal living in a household with Facebook page so she can Sharon, her two brothers, Ron and Gary, keep up with out-of-town two women who seem to agree on, well, pretty much and their mom Eula “Doodle” Benfield. relatives and old neighbornothing. From cooking to cleaning, to hood friends. Although I’ve tried to explain books, music, TV, fashion and home décor, it, she still thinks those status updates are our tastes are as different as night and day. sent exclusively to her. I see no need to We all know that the mother-daughter confuse her with the truth. dynamic comes with its share of Yes, living with your mom can be a relationship dysfunction, right? I mean, challenge, but I honestly wouldn’t have it there are at least two generations between any other way. She’s taught me a lot about us. She’s from the “keep everything, you appreciating my past and embracing those might need it one day” generation, and I’m special moments that make you who you from the “if it’s just taking up space, donate are. I’m pretty proud of the woman I am or dump it” generation. That works fine if today and (shhhhh, don’t tell her) I give you live in separate households, but not so her a lot of credit for that. She’s taught me much when you’re sharing one. patience, tolerance and the ability to look I can’t tell you how many times I’ve past our differences to see that we’re really caught her going through my boxes not that different, after all. And I don’t marked “Goodwill,” pulling everything out mind that one bit.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom! piece by piece with a condescending “You’re not giving this away, are you?” I’ve resorted to waiting until her naptime to clean out all the clutter.

Volume 18, Number 1 May 2014 Sharon Simpson Publisher sharon@todayscharlottewomanmag.com

Karsen Price Editor Editor@todayscharlottewomanmag.com

Trisha Robinson Sales Executive Trisha@todayscharlottewomanmag.com

Beth Packard Sales Executive Beth@todayscharlottewomanmag.com

Taylor Buckley Sales Executive Taylor@todayscharlottewomanmag.com

Kerrie Boys Creative Director idesign2, inc

Social Media Director Michele Chastain mac21268@yahoo.com Style Editor Stacee Michelle Contributing Writers Jackie Andolino Fogartie Dana Durham Beth Howard Melinda Johnston Lauren Levine Pat MacEnulty Lee Rhodes Contributing Photographers Ken Noblezada Andrea Perullo de Ledesma Glenn Roberson www.todayscharlottewomanmag.com www.facebook.com/TodaysCharlotteWoman Mission statement:Today’s Charlotte Woman celebrates the lives, loves and endeavors of the women of Charlotte. Our mission is to inspire and motivate our community through well-written editorial content, artful photography and elegant design. The magazine will enlighten, engage and entertain its readers, ever seeking to spotlight the unbreakable strength that is the heart of Today’s Charlotte woman.

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.

Copyright© 2014 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 8 American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistr Dentistry ry members worldwide, there there are only 45 who ha have ave achieved the exclusive level le evel of Accredited Fellow.

Fello ow. In all of North and South South Carolina, only one e dentist has earned this elite e status by illustrating illustraating the required level of excellence in the aarea rea of cosmetic dentistry: Accredited Fellow Ross ss W W.. Nash, DDS DDS. S.

Girl Power » In The Moment » By Karsen Price

GIRLPOWER Stage Eat, Shop, Drink & Be Powerful • Compiled By Karsen Price

Stunner

Amanda Pollard Wins Southern Entertainment Award hopes to capture the essence of human experience in her songs.

“People get sad, get their hearts broken, and fall in love.

But people also wonder what life is all about. They get happy, dance and have fun,” Pollard says. “I want to capture all of that in my music, and I’m inspired by everyone and everything around me.”

Q: Tell me about winning the Southern Entertainment Performance of the Year award.

A: Winning the award was truly one of the very best moments in my career, so far. It came as such a complete shock that I didn’t even have anything prepared for my acceptance speech, and I started rambling on stage as I tend to do sometimes.

[Laughs] I hadn’t expected to win because there were artists who are signed to major music labels in my category.

As an independent artist, I feel beyond blessed to have received this award in a category with such accomplished artists as nominees.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF AMANDA POLLARD

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014 10

harlotte singer and performer Amanda Pollard is no stranger to the stage, and her efforts paid off recently on a regional level when Pollard received the Performance of the Year award at the 11th Annual Southern Entertainment Awards, held at the Resorts Casino in Tunica, Miss.

Pollard is a rising singer and songwriter with a penchant for glamour.

And she’s no flash in the pan, either.

Pollard has been singing since she learned to speak, and as a child was formally introduced to music at Northwest School of the Arts. She majored in vocal music, and these days, Pollard combines her classical training with jazz and musical theater techniques, creating a fresh style that features a range of vocal abilities.

Pollard’s performance résumé includes National Anthem performances for the Carolina Panthers, the former Charlotte Hornets and the Charlotte Knights, along with countless performances throughout the Southeast.

She is a two-time Carolina Music Award winner for Best Female R&B Artist, and a songwriter to boot. No matter the venue, Pollard is known for her lively and energetic performances.

Pollard isn’t shy about the fact that her life revolves around her music.

Blessed with a natural gift for writing, she began songwriting as a teen and

Q: Was the award given for a performance you gave earlier in the year, or is it a competition that is held on a specific day?

A: The awards are determined entirely by fan votes. Fans submit nominations and then the top names are chosen as nominees and voted on by fans throughout the year.

The Performance of the Year award is to honor the stage presence of a particular artist, not necessarily one specific performance.

Q: What do you think helped you bring this award home?

A: I put my heart into every performance, and I truly think that is why my supporters enjoy my performances and why they voted for me to win this award. From highly energetic choreography to costuming and set presentation, I do my best to make sure every show is special, and that the audience is entertained.

Q: Do you have one famous musician who serves as your muse or inspiration?

A: I am inspired by artists who have legacies as great performers, just as I someday hope to have. I look up to many artists — everyone from Michael Jackson and Tina Turner to Jennifer Lopez and Usher. I look to these artists for inspiration when I need it.

Q: What is your dream for the future?

A: My ultimate goal is to be able to make a living as a performer, and as long as there are opportunities for me in this business, I will take them. I’m seeking professional management and will continue touring throughout the year. No matter where my career takes me, Charlotte is and always will be home!

TOLEARNMORE Visit Reverbnation.com/amandasmusiconline.

For Franchising Opportunities contact Mark Street at Mark.Street@hypoxi.com

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014

Q: In addition to performing, you love to write songs, correct?

A: Yes, I am also a songwriter, and I love that aspect of my music career. I write whatever is on my heart. I enjoy writing about the human experience. I’m young and haven’t experienced everything in life yet, but I have a vivid imagination and find the creative outlet that I have in songwriting to be very rewarding. My favorite topics to write about tend to be those that make me feel good or happy, and I make that a huge part of my stage show.

People come to live performances to feel good and to be entertained, and that is what I try to bring to them as an artist.

11

Girl Power » Shop Talk »

By Jackie Andolino Fogartie » Photos By Andrea Perullo de Ledesma www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014 12

Find

Blis

Mother-Daughter Team Mix Family & Business t’s no secret that mother-daughter relationships can be challenging. Susan Young and Whitney Ferguson have successfully parlayed their connection into an uptown gift shop that has withstood hard times — and strengthened their bond, to boot.

It started with Young. With a knack for home entertaining and interior design, she regularly held home décor shows while her two daughters were growing up in Atlanta and then Charlotte. Young frequently visited the Atlanta home and gift market, and took daughter Whitney along with her.

Ferguson inherited her mother’s entrepreneurial spirit and eye for stylish entertaining. After college, Ferguson knew she wanted to work for herself, and after much planning and encouragement

from the family, the shop Blis was born.

Located within prime real estate in the upper level of Founders Hall in the Bank of America building, Blis caters to the uptown shopper. In fact, 80 percent of Blis shoppers work uptown. The store offers a wide variety of handpicked gifts, including specialty candles, jewelry, baby items and home goods.

As with most things blissful, the location for the business was a strategic move. Young and Ferguson knew there was a lack of retail shops in the area, limiting the places to buy a quick gift or greeting card on a lunch break. Hoping to fill this niche, Blis opened its doors uptown in November 2004.

“The people that work and live uptown are the reason our doors stay open,” Young says.

As with much of Charlotte, the recession hit the shop hard. The end of

2008 through 2011 was a difficult time, especially because the shop was so heavily dependent on a dwindling uptown crowd.

Young says, “Wachovia was on one side of us and Bank of America was on another side of us. Things were so uncertain. Being right in the center of uptown, it was impossible not to feel the tension of everyone around us. People were tightening their purse strings and weren’t comfortable spending their cushion money on gifts — and who could blame them?”

To get through these tough times, the mother-daughter team stayed focused and remained conservative in their inventory purchasing. If there wasn’t a place on the sales floor for an item, they simply didn’t buy it.

The challenges continued in 2010 for both the business and the Young-

TOLEARNMORE Visit Blisuptown.com, or call 704/376-3888.

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014

Ferguson family. In addition to keeping Blis afloat, Ferguson and her husband were busy raising infant twin girls.

Young was diagnosed with breast cancer, and she spent the majority of the fall/holiday 2010 season in treatment.

Ferguson remembers one Sunday working at Blis filling specialty basket orders with her husband, while her twin girls played in pack n’ plays in the shop.

Ferguson says they couldn’t have made it without the support of their family and close-knit group of friends.

Things began to change for the better in 2011, when the women noticed an uptick in people’s buying patterns.

“Instead of buying one pair of earrings for a gift, people starting buying the gift and a couple of items for themselves, as well,” Young says.

Young and Ferguson continued to be strategic, scrutinizing every item brought into the store. An item has to “earn its rent” to have a place in Blis. In 2013, the women took a leap of faith and moved into a more visible, larger space in busy Founders Hall.

Along the way, Young and Ferguson found their working rhythm. Young handles the “back of the house” such as accounting and invoicing, while Ferguson handles the creative displays and marketing. This division of labor happened naturally and has continued to work for nearly 10 years.

Ferguson says, “Our roles cater to our strengths, and there’s no way we could operate this business without each other.”

The Ferguson twins are now 4 years old, and Young has a clean bill of health.

The shop is thriving in its new space, and enjoying the hustle and bustle of uptown.

In fact, Blis is so busy during the day that Young and Ferguson often carve out extra time on the weekends to get together and avoid “talking shop.”

As for working with her mother, Ferguson says, “We can agree to disagree.

If something is important and we are not agreeing, we’ll table it and come back to it the next day. If it’s a small thing, we’ll meet in the middle. There is compromise. At the end of the day, she’s my mother and I’m her daughter.”

13

Girl Power » Good Eats

Warm Pimento Cheese With Tortilla Chips 8 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon stone-ground mustard 1 teaspoon mustard powder 1/4 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons minced parsley 1/2 cup finely diced, roasted red bell pepper Tortilla chips, for serving Combine the cheese, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, stone-ground mustard, mustard powder, salt, pepper, parsley and roasted bell peppers in a large bowl.

Place in a baking dish in a preheated 350-degree oven until heated through, about 15 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips.

FINDITWHERE? Tupelo Honey Café is located at 1820 South Blvd.

Visit Tupelohoneycafe.com/location/charlotte.

Comprehensive

DENTAL CARE DEDICATED TO YOUR HEALTH

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014 14

8420 University Executive Park Suite 805

www.daslingdentistry.com 704 594-9250 Dr. Kimberly Anderson, Dr. Tiky Swain

Complete Health Dentistry Restoring and enhancing the natural beauty of your smile using conservative, state-of-the-art procedures. Our promise is to provide you with exceptional care as we enhance the natural beauty of your smile.

Call today to see how we can completely transformyour smile with LUMINEERS® and INVISALIGN™

In A Glass

Girl Power Âť Happy Hour

Spring Not Tonight Honey 2 ounces Cardinal Gin (based in Kings Mountain) 2 ounces Cloister Honey (based in Charlotte) Fresh squeezed lemon juice from 1/2 lemon 1 ounce simple syrup 2 sprigs of rosemary Start with a shaker full of ice. Pour gin and honey into shaker and toss. Squeeze lemon and rosemary into shaker and shake once. Strain into rocks glass with fresh ice. Garnish with the second rosemary sprig. [TCW]

FINDITWHERE? Fahrenheit is located on the 21st floor of Skye Condominiums, at 222 S. Caldwell St., in uptown.

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014 15

The Queen’s List

THEQUEEN’SLIST Goings On Around Our Town

Treasures For A Cause Estate Sale Offers Unique Finds

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014 16

hat happens when a handful of notable Charlotte women put their heads together for a cause? A unique charity event is born: an estate sale to benefit Novant Health’s Cancer, Heart & Hospice Center.

Several of Charlotte’s leading ladies — including Southern Shows’ Joan Zimmerman, Sharon Harrington, Jane McColl and Kellie Scott — brainstormed the fundraiser, which provides the opportunity to purchase fine goods from a collection of local families.

The two-day event (featuring a ticketed preview party on May 16 and public sale on May 17) will be held at the historic Belk House, found on the property of Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center.

“Why are we doing this?” Zimmerman asks. “Of course, our goal is to make money for cancer, heart and hospice service at Novant Health, but we wanted to do it in a fun, inclusive, maybe even eco-friendly kind of way. Why not an estate sale? But not just any estate sale … a remarkable estate sale.”

Harrington, assistant vice president for Institutional Advancement for Johnson C. Smith University, says, “When we first set out to raise funds for the Cancer, Heart & Hospice Center at Novant, we wanted to do something new and different. With so much buzz about recycling and repurposing, hosting an estate sale seemed like the perfect idea and a great way to bring new life to old things! So many wonderful items sit in attics, collecting dust until someone throws them out. Now they can be donated and repurposed.”

Zimmerman adds, “We already have an impressive array of antiques, one-of-a-kind glass, pottery, wonderful art, vintage jewelry, porcelain figurines, even a primitive piece or two. We’re having fun, and we know everyone who attends will feel the warmth.”

The preview party is May 16, at 7 p.m., for $75 a ticket. The public sale is May 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All items are cash/credit.

WANTTOGO? Events will be held at the Belk House, 200 Hawthorne Lane, on the campus of Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center. Call 704/384-4048.

Bling It On Jeans & Jewels Gala n May 31, the Fifth Annual “Jeans & Jewels” Gala is bringing blue jeans and bling to uptown to support 24 Hours of Booty and the fight against cancer.

Presented by Bank of America and Diamonds Direct, “Jeans & Jewels” is from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Urban Garden, and will feature dinner, a silent and live auction, a DJ and raffle. Tickets are $60 through May 16, and $75 until May 31.

WANTTOGO? The Urban Garden is located at 1 Bank of America Center Building at 150 N. College St. Visit Jeansandjewelscharlotte.com.

Get Thee To The Garden Celebrate Spring With Ciel

WANTTOGO? Ciel Gallery is located at 128 E. Park Ave. Register at Cielcharlotte.com.

Golf For A Cure romote melanoma prevention and research by attending the ninth annual Save Your Skin Melanoma Awareness Golf Classic at Carmel Country Club, June 2. The event was created in 2006 by a group of physicians, plus friends and family of patients who have battled melanoma.

The most serious cancer of the skin, melanoma is diagnosed in over 50,000 people each year. More than 250 new patients are treated for melanoma each year through Levine Cancer Institute’s Melanoma and Immunotherapy Program. [TCW]

WANTTOGO? The golf classic features a noon shotgun start. Visit Givecarolinas.org/saveyourskin.

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014

or the month of May, Ciel Gallery presents “Back to the Garden,” a whimsical celebration of birds, bees, flowers, trees, Adams and Eves that honors the gallery’s sixyear anniversary.

The exhibit features the national artistic selections of juror Carla Hanzal, who served for a decade as the curator of modern and contemporary art at the Mint Museum. The gallery is offering several workshops following the garden theme for May, including a three-week floral watercolor class with Caroline Coolidge Brown and a small garden armature class with Pam Goode.

Save Your Skin

17

Doctor

e v o L Mover & Shaker Âť By Lauren Levine Âť Photos By Andrea Perullo de Ledesma

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014

18

The

Laurie Berzack & Carolinas Matchmaker Create Heartfelt Connections

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014

hanks to the popularity of online dating, finding someone to share your life with has become eerily similar to snagging a new blouse or the perfect pair of sandals for summer. You can hop online and browse through various shapes, styles and sizes, quickly eliminating or selecting based on your personal preferences.

While exciting, this process can also be overwhelming.

As a result, Laurie Berzack, owner of Carolinas Matchmaker, says that help in finding love is more in demand than ever before.

19

Mover & Shaker » By Lauren Levine » Photos By Andrea Perullo de Ledesma

Modern Love

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014 20

Though the idea of matchmaking may conjure up images of Yenta from “Fiddler on the Roof,” Berzack uses highly modern methods to help her clients find significant others. She has a database of more than 1,000 singles at her fingertips, acquired through years of networking, media appearances and social media use. She sorts through these individuals’ profiles, analyzing their potential for compatibility with her clients based on faith, interests, family background and other fundamental aspects.

People interested in being part of Berzack’s database can enter it for free simply by filling out her highly detailed application. Berzack charges for her individualized matchmaking services.

Berzack, who has a master’s in social work, began making matches informally years ago. She had immediate success with her first couple, and when the pair became an official item, she explains she felt a rush of adrenaline.

“The happiness that I was able to create for two human beings was something that was incomparable to anything else I’d ever experienced,”

Berzack says. “It was almost like my own feelings of falling in love!”

Working with Berzack is different from what you might encounter if you were to jump on eHarmony.com or Match.com. First, there is the personalized attention she puts toward helping you find someone who is compatible. Secondly, Berzack conducts background checks on every person in her database.

Berzack explains that this is a huge selling point for a person who is interested in finding love, but may find the idea of going out with strangers that she met on the Internet unnerving.

“Online dating is a little scary for people, particularly women, because they don’t really know who they are meeting. I’m doing an initial screening and I’m doing a background check. I’m seeing how sociable this person is. I’m cutting through about 15 layers before they actually meet,” Berzack explains.

The core of Carolinas Matchmaker’s client base includes people who are no longer involved in the “bar scene.”

Many are divorced or have children.

They are busy, working professionals

An Expert’s Look Dating Faux Pas To Avoid aurie Berzack says there are common mistakes that earn daters negative reviews.

These include: • Talking about ex’s during the date • Drinking too much • Spending too much time discussing your children • Showing up dressed inappropriately for your age or body type • Displaying poor manners — for men, this includes failing to walk with the woman to her car in a dark parking lot post-date Berzack says positivity is most important when you’re looking for love.

She explains, “Men and women don’t want to date a downer. They’re looking for people who look at life with a positive outlook. The bottom line is, if you are a positive person, you’re going to find somebody.”

who want to meet other like-minded people, but don’t want to be out until 2 a.m. every night doing so. They also don’t have time to sort through matches, exchanging emails and hoping for the best.

Carolinas Matchmaker doesn’t only serve people who are looking to get married. Berzack is aware that some people are simply hoping to create new friendships or practice their social graces. In fact, for some clients, getting out of the house and dating is monumental enough! For these individuals, Berzack offers other kinds of services, including help with personal image and tips on how to conduct yourself during a date.

Once she has a candidate in mind for a client, Berzack’s date coordinator arranges restaurant reservations. Neither dater sees a picture of the other before they meet. In fact, they typically only know the other person’s first initial ahead of time, thus squashing the possibility of pre-date Googling.

The next day, both people chat with Berzack and share their honest feelings about how the date went.

Though her success rate is extra-

ordinarily high — most of her clients find love within the first two years of working with Berzack, either through a direct match or through coaching — Berzack explains that self-discovery is an equally important part of the matchmaking process. She wants her clients to enjoy their dates and hopefully form a deep connection with someone, but she also hopes they learn something about themselves as they go.

While her clients range in age from 21 to 84, come from diverse backgrounds, and want different things out of a partner, they all have one thing in common, Berzack notes. They are excited about the possibility of change, and willing to shift what they have been doing in order to put themselves in a position to find new love. [TCW]

TOLEARNMORE Visit Carolinasmatchmaker.com.

Lauren Levine has written for USA Today, and The Huffington Post, among others.

She loves iced coffee, rainy Sundays, and the final episode of Breaking Bad.

Getting Back Into The Dating Game ave you been out of the dating game, and feel intimidated about getting back in?

Laurie Berzack offers a few suggestions for ways to get back into dating after a divorce or breakup.

“Make yourself as externally marketable as you can,” she says, “whether that means getting a new haircut or shedding a few pounds.

Then, get your mind into a positive place. I find that exercise really helps with this. If you have any negative feelings toward past relationships, do what you need to do to let them go, so you can be positive and optimistic when you’re out looking for new love.”

Caring Dentistry... With a Gentle Touch!

“As a patient, many times we do not look forward to a medical appointment. But at Cotswold Family Dentistry, the doctors and staff make it fun to return. I have always had a great experience there. I will continue to recommend them to others. The front office, the assistants, hygienists and the doctors all are great people to deal with. They are very honest and friendly.

-Moises

Cotswold Family Dentistry COSMETIC, RESTORATIVE & IMPLANT DENTISTRY

D RS . P ELEAUX , B AILEY & PATEL

New Patients Welcome Cotswold Plaza • 135 S. Sharon Amity Rd. | Suite 204 • Charlotte, NC 28211

704-365-2765

www.CotswoldFamilyDentistry.com

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014

Photo by Brian Osbourne with The Professional Photography Group

Delivering the Highest Standards of Dental Care

21

Mover & Shaker » By Lee Rhodes » Photography By Ken Noblezada

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014

22

PHOTO BY AUSTIN CAINE PHOTO BY DREA CUNNINGHAM

Voice Over

Gretchen McGinty as (from top) Cordelia in “King Lear,” Young Wife in “La Ronde,” Lady MacBeth in “MacBeth,” and Cordelia in “King Lear.”

t the 2011 Academy Awards, the film “The King’s Speech” took home top honors. The movie chronicled the true story of King George VI of England and Lionel Logue, the eccentric speech therapist who helped him rise above a pronounced speech impediment.

In real life, Logue was also a stage actor who recited Shakespeare at public gatherings … and it is this comingling of speech therapy and acting that also define Gretchen McGinty, a local speech language pathologist.

“Lionel Logue is someone I look to as a role model,” McGinty says. “He was more self-taught than I am, but he started out as a Shakespearean actor, like I did. I really loved that film and that character.”

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014

PHOTO BY AUSTIN CAINE

PHOTO BY AUSTIN CAINE

Gretchen McGinty Goes From Stage Lights To Speech Pathologist

23

Mover & Shaker » By Lee Rhodes » Photography By Ken Noblezada

Vocal Cord Care Hygiene For Your Voice hen most people think of hygiene, the idea of voice may not spring to mind. However, Gretchen McGinty offers basic vocal hygiene tips to keep your vocal cords healthy.

Stay well hydrated. Drink 64 to 80 ounces of water per day.

Decrease or eliminate caffeine and/or alcohol. If you smoke, quit.

Rest your voice. The people who most often have voice disorders — lawyers, teachers, salespeople — are the ones who use their voices the most. “If you’ve been talking all day long, don’t go home and get on the phone for two hours,” McGinty says.

Sick? Use caution. Be careful about singing when you are sick.

It’s easier to sustain a vocal injury when you have sick vocal folds.

Avoid vocal abuse. That includes shouting, yelling, screaming, even singing in karaoke bars. In general, be careful of how you are using your voice.

No whispering. A lot of people think they should whisper when their voice is strained, but it takes a lot of tension to whisper and puts strain on the vocal cords.

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014 24

Warm up. “Singing is what we call the Olympics for the vocal folds,” she says. “It’s very easy to get into trouble with singing, so I stress the importance of warming up before you sing.”

Take belly breaths. People often take shallow breaths and don’t get good breath support. When using the voice, people should breathe in a way that is diaphragmatic, also known as belly breathing.

Acting The Part With regard to characters, McGinty has played many. A Charlotte native, she grew up acting in plays and theater, recognizing early on that she wanted to become an actress and channeling that dream through Children’s Theater of Charlotte. She earned her bachelor of fine arts from the North Carolina School of the Arts, and prior to graduation, she performed in a showcase. Soon, she signed on with an agent. She moved to New York City, where she began acting in theater. She also dabbled in television and film, making her television debut on the soap opera “All My Children.”

“After eight years, I knew I loved acting, but I got tired of the rat race and lifestyle and decided to come back home,” McGinty explains. She kept up with her acting here in the Queen City through commercials, independent films and radio gigs, but a conversation with a relative about speech pathology planted a seed, and McGinty soon was back in

school.

“I discovered voice therapy while I was in graduate school and fell in love with it,” she says. “I learned about proper voice production and good forward resonance, and it really resonated with me.”

McGinty worked at Charlotte Speech and Hearing prior to hiring on at Charlotte Eye Ear Nose and Throat (CEENTA), where she focuses on performer voice disorders, speaking voice disorders, swallowing problems, and voice and swallowing injuries.

Speak To Me Voice disorders are typically not a familiar concept to people. McGinty likens what she does to physical therapy for the voice.

“Most voice disorders can be treated with therapy,” she explains. “We can make the muscles stronger, just as you would other muscles.”

Patients typically see a physician first,

usually an ENT. Once they are referred to McGinty, she takes a video of their vocal folds and interviews them to hear what their complaints are. Surgery is sometimes necessary to help regain patients’ original voice, as some lesions on the vocal folds won’t go away with therapy alone. McGinty can assist patients after surgery to ensure they heal properly.

Others contend with swelling or weakness of the vocal folds. Whatever the case, McGinty trains people to use good vocal hygiene. “Yelling, shouting, untrained singing, and simple overuse can cause swelling,” she says. “A lot of times, people fall into bad habits that they are unaware of in terms of how they’re using their voices.”

With swallowing problems, the majority of people fall under the category of head and neck cancer patients. Radiation also affects the swallow muscles, and McGinty works with those patients to keep those muscles moving so they don’t lose the ability to swallow. Others may suffer from weak swallowing due to aging or a stroke, and in these cases, McGinty

determines what they can safely swallow. Diet modification is sometimes necessary until patients can improve their swallow with therapy.

McGinty’s greatest professional challenges come as part of helping cancer patients. Another challenge is encouraging patients to stick with treatment and not get discouraged.

“We can’t fix it overnight, but we can make it better,” she says. “Of course, they want it fixed right away, which is understandable. But it’s a process.”

On the flip side, the job has immense rewards. “When someone has gotten through therapy, reached all their goals and their voice is back to normal — or they return to a normal diet — they are so happy. People are so grateful,” McGinty says.

in st yle

Meanwhile, despite her day job, McGinty hasn’t given up acting. She continues to act with various groups around Charlotte, recently appearing as Lady Macbeth, and has an upcoming role in August with the Charlotte Shakespeare Festival as Isabella in “Measure for Measure.”

“Shakespeare can be very athletic, shall we say, for the vocal folds,” McGinty says, noting that her speech pathology skills often come in handy while rehearsing and on the stage.

“When I’m in a production, and I notice someone straining, I’ll tell them to be careful, or I’ll coach them so that their voice doesn’t go out on them … but I try not to be too bossy,” she concludes with a laugh.

Lionel Logue would be proud. [TCW]

TOLEARNMORE Visit Ceenta.com/providers/mcginty, and Charlotteshakespeare.com.

Writer Lee Rhodes has never lost her voice, much to her two kids’ chagrin.

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Advertising feature that keeps the women of Charlotte in-the-know about what the Queen City has to offer

The Smart Way To Buy…The Easy Way To Sell

w h a t ’s h o t t o d a y !

The Reunion Bowl

Open 7 Days!

We have over 4,500 sq. ft. of display space stocked full of great furniture, accent pieces and home accessories.

We get new arrivals daily from the area’s finest homes so our selection is always fresh and the prices always comfortable.

This hand-carved, solid wood, four compartment bowl in artifact style will add texture and style to any tabletop. Add your favorite herbs or citrus for a splash of color and fragrance.

34W x 8D x 3.5H Boulevard Bazaar 704-527-4223 3021 Griffith Street Charlotte, NC 28203 www.boulevardbazaar.com

Consign ON A Dime 19207 W. Catawba Avenue Cornelius, NC 28031 704-892-8492 www.consignonadime.com

Open Weekends Only Fri & Sat: 9am-5pm Sun: 1pm-5pm

Our Creativity Knows No Boundaries Are you one of a kind ... shouldn’t your jewelry be also?

• Celebrating our 25th year in Matthews • Family owned and operated • Work done “on premises” • Rated Best of Charlotte in Custom Design • In-house repairs • We specialize and believe in....renovate, or recycle and redesign • Free cleaning and inspection of your jewlery

Join The Spring Jewelry Trends! www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014 26

Shop spring’s newest accessories and fashions at Leah & Company. Come in to see all our spring styles and have a great shopping experience!

Don’t forget to like us on Facebook and check out new arrivals.

Leah & Co. Jewelry, Clothing and Accessories Boutique 704-845-5466 Promenade on Providence Beside Ann Taylor Loft 5341 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy Charlotte, NC 28277

Designs by Shirlee 163B South Trade Street, Matthews, NC 28105 p: 704-841-7602 • f: 704-841-1136 designsbyshirlee@hotmail.com • www.designsbyshirlee.com Hours: Wed.-Fri. 11-5 • Sat. 10-3

Weddings!

Our creative and innovative style speaks for itself. Let us design your bridal bouquet — we promise you’ll never want to put it down. Flower Boutique will make the kind of lasting impression that will warm everyone’s heart and brighten everyone’s day. Regardless of how big or small your flower needs, the Flower Boutique provides excellent service every time.

The Flower Boutique www.matthewsflowerboutique.com 11025 Monroe Road, Suite H Matthews, North Carolina 28105 704-708-8549

Shop Spring Styles!

Love Your Closet, Love Your Life!

Desperately need to put some style and organization back into your wardrobe? Then look no further because spring cleaning gets a makeover with our Signature Closet Detox service. FashionFrontRunner™ transforms your closet into a space that works for your lifestyle, so you can look and feel your best at a moment’s notice. To learn more or schedule your free consultation, contact FashionFrontRunner™ today!

FashionFrontRunner™ Merritt Rea Fashion Stylist and Creative Consultant Direct: 917.825.2527 www.fashionfrontrunner.com **Awarded Top 30 Under 30 in 2013**

Luna’s at the Lake has been serving the Lake Norman community since 1998 with style and unsurpassed service. Shopping by appointment available. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see our latest arrivals.

Luna’s at the Lake 19732 One Norman Blvd Cornelius, NC 28031 704-892-1004 Mon- Fri: 10am-6pm Sat: 10am-5pm

Spruce Up For Spring!

It’s well worth the trip to the beautiful shores of Lake Wylie to visit TWO unique Consignment Stores! Echo Consignment Boutique carries upscale women’s clothing, handbags, jewelry, shoes and accessories. You’ll find premium brands such as Coach, J. Jill, Dooney & Bourke, Banana Republic, St. John, Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren and Chico’s just to name a few! Just steps away is Echo Attic, featuring unique home décor, home furnishings, original artwork, and select discounted Boutique items. Come have lunch overlooking the lake, then just minutes away, discover why it’s worth the trip to shop and save at two fabulous locations!

Echo Consignment Boutique 803.746.5656 • 164 Hwy 274 • Lake Wylie, SC 29710 Mon-Fri 10-6 Saturday 10-4 shop@echo-consignment.com

Fresh Fashions!

Come visit Salice in Downtown Statesville. We carry unique clothing, accessories and gifts. Bring in this ad and receive 20% off your clothing purchase.

Salice Boutique is located at 105 S. Center St., Statesville, NC 28677 Salice Boutique Kristen, Owner (704) 380-4983 www.saliceboutique.com ONLINE SHOPPING now here! www.facebook.com/saliceboutique

Find Quality For Less

Consignment LKN 350 W Plaza Dr., Mooresville (between Belk & Kohl’s) 704-663-0905 consignmentLKN@windstream.net Visit us on facebook.com/consignmentLKN.com or www.consignlkn.com

Consignment LKN

Shop the latest trends in fashion, home decor, luxury goods and gifts, all under one roof. REA Boutique and The Mole Hole of Charlotte provide customers with a truly unique ‘one-stop’ shopping experience, offering a variety of well-curated specialty items. Open late on Thursday nights (until 8PM), serving up wine and tapas while you shop. Complimentary gift wrapping available. Check us out on Facebook!

REA Boutique Pop-Up Shop located at The Mole Hole 7741 Colony Road, STE A3 Charlotte, NC 28226 704.543.9969 Monday-Saturday 10AM-6PM Sunday 1-5PM

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014

Fine quality pre-owned furniture, home décor, new market samples and model home closeouts. Find exactly what you’re looking for! Great selection of living room, bedroom, dining groups, artwork, lamps, rugs & more.

Jump Start Spring’s Hottest Trends

27

Style Âť Styled By Stacee Michelle Âť Photos By Glenn Roberson www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014 28

The Clutch All-over rhinestone purse, $300, Belk; iridescent flounce dress, $150, Nordstrom; tux-black and champagne diamond ring, $1,399.99, Tanzanite ring, $112.50, and Morganite and gold earrings, $359.99, all at JTV.com.

Turn Up

t a e H The

The Necklace Multi-layer pearl and stone necklace, $68, Nordstrom; fitted dress, $268, Sloan Boutique; ring and earrings, stylist’s own.

Take Sexy up a Notch

Accessorize lam never goes out of style. But even the sexiest outfit needs a little pizazz to reach full-on smolder.

Consider these steaming pieces — the clutch, the necklace, the earrings, the hot pants — when pulling together the ensemble for your next rendezvous. And for a peek at the hottest shoes of the season — courtesy of Jimmy Choo — turn to our cover. Drooling begins ... now!

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014

Photography By Glenn Roberson Styled & Directed By Stacee Michelle Makeup By Jami Svay Hair By Ashleigh P. Hairstyles Assistant: Erica Dunn

29

Style Âť Styled By Stacee Michelle Âť Photos By Glenn Roberson www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014 30

The Earrings Drop-stone earrings, $58, and ring, $120, both at Sloan Boutique; lime hi-lo dress, BCBG, $298, Belk.

The Pants

[TCW]

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014

Animal-print palazzo pants, $525, Sloan Boutique; blouse, $160, KK Bloom; bronze cuff, $145, Sloan Boutique; gold necklace, $69.99, and Mystic Topaz gold drop earrings, $159, both at JTV.com.

31

It’s The

s g n i h T e Littl ometimes, the smallest adjustment can transform your outfit from boring to bombshell. For spring and summer 2014, keep these trends in mind:

• Hot, hot, hot! Orange is popping up everywhere, from makeup to bags and shoes. In home dĂŠcor, consider a coral hue. • Bare as you dare. Crop tops are back. Don’t feel like you can share your midriff with the world? Double them up with a tank underneath. • On the fringe. These details are especially popping up on “itâ€? bags and dangly earrings.

THE VILLAGE AT SOUTHPARK 4310 Sharon Rd Unit T13 Charlotte NC 28211 704-377-7955 facebook: ICLondonCharlotte www.iclondon.com

• Sheerly you jest. Incorporate sheer aspects into your clothing, without revealing too much skin. • The gilded touch. Gold — and rose gold — are back in a big way. Metallics in general are a yes.

Be Bold!

Break out shades of red and gold to turn up the heat this summer!

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014 32

Lakeside Neurology Lakeside Neurology offers a more natural, holistic approach to your medical problems including:

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make your

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www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014

It’s a great time to find your dream home

Offered by Sara Roche Cottingham Chalk Hayes 3113 Bluebird Lane - Dovewood Acres MLS#2215694 / $1,850,000

33

Real Experience Real Results

SARA ROCHE BROKER / REALTOR 704.516.3888 Mobile sroche@cchrealtors.com

Friendly, conscientious and Scott Pridemore founded Gaye Law is a Charlotte native committed are words that accurately Pridemore Properties after with over 40 years of experience “I workSara veryRoche. smart Since joining being affiliated for 14 years describe as a realtor/broker in North and Bluebird Drive 1120 Queens Road West 1617 Biltmore Drive Cottingham Chalk mile in 2002, she53113 has and go the extra with large Charlotte real/ 6 Bedrooms / 7.1 Baths South Eastover Carolina, and is affiliated Bedrooms / 5.4 aBaths Myers Park / 4 Bedrooms / 2.2 Baths consistently achieved Top Producer MLS #2215694 / $1,850,000 MLS#2222868 / $750,000 for my clients. estate firm. In spiteMLS#2207803 of the / $1,999,000with Cottingham Chalk. An avid status, and was recipient of the Attention to detail, gardener and painter, Law is a Rookie of the Year award in 2003. soft real estate market, personal interaction, certified color expert and has She was Sales Associate of the Year Pridemore and his team have and listening skills experienced their most been featured on CBS’s “48 in 2009, out of 160 associates. As are strengths my successful years yet. With an Hours With Bernie Goldberg.” a mother of two children and a clientsnative value.” aggressive marketing plan to She is a Graduate of Realtors Charlotte for the last 27 RECENTLY CLOSED CONTRACT RECENTLY CLOSED years, Roche knows the family UNDER side get listings sold, 2134 Pridemore Institute, and a member of the Sherwood Avenue / Myers Park 2171 Colony Road / Myers Park 1112 Greentree Drive of Charlotte and is actively involved MLS# to 2208132 / $1,995,000National Association MLS#2209822 /of $845,000 MLS #2217377 has/ $995,000 found unique ways Realtors in the community. She has 20 guide his clients through a and Charlotte Regional Realtor www.cchrealtors.com years of experience in sales and challenging real estate Association. “I am qualified to marketing, which prove valuable market. “A satisfied client is professionally serve you by when negotiating contracts on not enough.

It’s about acquainting you with my beloved behalf of her clients. “My goal is to constantly striving to produce city as well as help you with offer you a warm and friendly buying and selling real estate,” approach that will guide you through results beyond and out of the ordinary,” Pridemore says.

Law says. a smooth transition,” she says.

Sara Roche sroche@cchrealtors.com 704/516-3888

Scott Pridemore scott@pridemoreproperties.com 704/562-0792

Gaye Law glaw@cchrealtors.com 704/534-9373

Kathy Kreshon Carver, of RE/MAX Metro Realty, has over 24 years of experience in the business. Her specialties include development land, farm and land, luxury homes, foreclosure properties and relocation, among others. Over the years, Carver has found that marketing is very important, and she has developed a team of experts to help her with staging, photography, and marketing.

“With a team of experts to help me, we can get the job done in the least amount of time and for the most profit to the seller!” she says.

Kathy Kreshon Carver Charlotteresults@yahoo.com 704/714-6695

SARA ROCHE BROKER / REALTOR 704.516.3888 Mobile sroche@cchrealtors.com

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014 34

“I work very smart and go the extra mile for my clients.

Attention to detail, personal interaction, and listening skills are strengths my clients value.”

3113 Bluebird Drive

5 Bedrooms / 5.4 Baths MLS #2215694 / $1,850,000

UNDER CONTRACT 1112 Greentree Drive

MLS #2217377 / $995,000

HAYES

1120 Queens Road West

1617 Biltmore Drive

Myers Park / 6 Bedrooms / 7.1 Baths MLS#2207803 / $1,999,000

Eastover / 4 Bedrooms / 2.2 Baths MLS#2222868 / $750,000

RECENTLY CLOSED

RECENTLY CLOSED 2171 Colony Road / Myers Park

2134 Sherwood Avenue / Myers Park MLS# 2208132 / $1,995,000

www.cchrealtors.com

MLS#2209822 / $845,000

What is your home worth?

Find out for FREE!!! www.MyCharlotteHomeValue.org Website provided as a service by: Scott Pridemore, Realtor® Pridemore Properties

Susan M. Webber

Commited to providing an excellent lending experience

usan’s extensive experience, commitment to excellence, caring, and compassionate style are her greatest strengths as a lender. Susan is a native of Charlotte and has over 44 years in the Charlotte market. She is a true sales professional providing the upmost world class concierge service. Her drive to provide Homebuyers with a fast, efficient and hassle-free lending experience has earned her years of recognition as a top lending professional. Susan specializes in creative solutions for self-employed and 1099 employees. Her unique “common sense” approach has helped her in working with all borrowers.

Susan is the personal choice as a Mortgage Lender for several builders and numerous award-winning real estate agents.

Susan M. Webber

Vice President • Mortgage Division Direct: 704.408.1222 Email: swebber@cbcnationalbank.com Apply Online: www.cbchomeloans.com/susanwebber

Melissa Benton Executive Assistant: 704.626.6970 Email: mbenton@cbcnationalbank.com

10 day closing available! Ask me how!

Big Enough to MATTER...Small Enough to CARE 5950 Fairview Road • Suite 150 • Charlotte, NC 28210

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014

Susan enjoys being involved in the community, fundraising for ACS, breast cancer research and a local AAU Basketball team. She is the owner of two local gift shops in Pineville and Ft Mill and loves to draw and paint and decorate.

35

Special Feature » By Dana Durham

Stage That

Home Create The Perfect First Impression

e’ve heard about the importance of “staging” a home before putting it on the market. But is it really mandatory to make the home picture perfect in order to sell it? Can’t people look beyond the furnishings and (possible) clutter, and realize it’s a great house with plenty of potential?

According to industry experts, potential buyers are not capable of “looking beyond” … nor do you want them to waste energy doing so. The ultimate goal of every home seller is to stage a home that people immediately fall in love with, which is why staging is of utmost importance. Staging homes can help buyers receive higher offers, and more importantly, help the home sell more quickly.

First Things First

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014 36

Gaye Law, with Cottingham Chalk Hayes says, “Staging is important because you only get one chance to make a great first impression. Getting the buyer in the door is important, so the seller needs to trim shrubbery, put out mulch or pine needles, and keep the grass cut. Once inside, all clutter needs to be removed.

Less is more!”

She notes that de-cluttering, from the living areas to closets and drawers, is mandatory. She suggests renting a storage unit if need be.

“The new buyer wants to know there is room for everything,” she says. “If your closets, attic and garage are overstuffed, they will think there is not enough storage.”

Even little things make a huge difference. The placement of furniture should make rooms look larger while still cozy. Windows need to be clean and sparkling. Anything that is broken should be repaired.

Trashcans should be emptied before showings, and all

personal items should be kept out of sight. Getting rid of all signs of the family dog or cat is important, as well.

Law encourages sellers to de-personalize the home, and make the décor as neutral as possible. “You may love a peagreen kitchen, but most people prefer a neutral color so their things will look good. Various shades of gray are really in right now,” she says. “Paint can work wonders in freshening up a house.”

She adds, “Once a seller has decided to move, they need to understand that they don’t live there anymore. It is really difficult to live in a model home, but that is what the buyers want to see!”

Maximize Your Showing

Luxury Abounds!

5827 Bentway Dr. Charlotte, NC 28226 • $1,895,000 Truly a one-of-a-kind custom built, hard coat stucco home on Carmel Country Club’s golf course 10th green. Amenities include 11 foot ceilings on the main level, expansive formal rooms, two studies, three gas log fireplaces, Master suite with huge trey ceiling and an attached sitting area or exercise room, a bonus room, a billiard room & a media room upstairs, plus a covered terrace, circular driveway & porticoshare to a third car garage.

Kathy Kreshon Carver

TOLEARNMORE Contact Gaye Law with Cottingham Chalk Hayes at 704/364-1700, or email glaw@cchrealtors.com.

Contact Kathy Kreshon Carver with RE/MAX Metro Realty at 704/451-5478, or email Charlotteresults@yahoo.com.

RE/MAX Metro Realty 704-714-6695-direct 704-451-5478-cell 704-625-2342-fax charlotteresults@yahoo.com

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014

Kathy Kreshon Carver, with RE/MAX Metro Realty, says selling your home is one of the largest endeavors you will make in a lifetime. She encourages sellers to enter the market with their best foot forward to help them sell the home quickly and for the most money.

“If you do the right things to prepare it for the market, it is more likely that you will attract the most qualified buyers, who will pay the most money for it and in the least amount of time,” she says. “What seller wants to keep their house clean and picked up for six months preparing for showings every day? That is why realtors are suggesting staging your home these days.”

Carver has been in business for approximately 24 years, and she loves to help sellers prepare their homes for the market. “You can visit a model home in any new construction subdivision to see the ultimate example of staging,” she says. “I use this as an example when talking to my home sellers so they understand what today’s buyers are looking for.”

What are they looking for? Carver says buyers expect sparkling clean homes, uncluttered rooms, and a bright, light environment. She suggests having windows professionally cleaned inside and out before listing the home, so the house shows in the best light possible. Blinds should be opened, lights should be turned on, and burned out light bulbs should be replaced.

“Other simple tasks could be cleaning out closets and simply donating unused items to charity,” Carver says. “I tell my sellers to think about the four D’s — ditch it, delay it, donate it, or delegate it! If they aren’t good with deciding what they want to keep or get rid of, they can ask a relative or friend to help them. I also suggest packing away clothes that will not be used in the next three months.”

Lastly, curb appeal is imperative. Carver notes that spring and fall are the best times of year to maximize the lawn and garden areas. The entrance to the home should be equally beautiful.

“Realtors don’t want to see cobwebs at the front door when we are letting potential buyers into their new ‘dream home!’ ” she adds with a laugh. [TCW]

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Dwellings » By Karsen Price

» Photos By Jamie Carney

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014

38

Perfect

Perch From Empty Nest To Love Birds www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014

he connotation of an empty nest may be of an echoing, lonely home — but in reality, couples should capitalize upon this stage in life. Why settle for an empty nest when you can be love birds again? After the work of raising children is complete, couples have the chance to rediscover themselves and each other, and no setting can nurture this rediscovery better than the home itself.

Interior designer Kerri Robusto agrees that your home can serve as the perfect backdrop for cultivating happy hearts — empty nest or not. The design and décor of any home can foster intimacy, ingenuity and togetherness. Here, Robusto offers a peek at a project by Chesmar Homes, complete with design tips that can work in any home.

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Dwellings » By Karsen Price » Photos By Jamie Carney

Empty-nesters have the chance to rediscover themselves and each other — and the home can nurture this rediscovery.

The Nest

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014 40

For this project, Robusto partnered with friend and colleague Jacy Kelly, of Jacy Painter Kelly Interiors. The home is located south of Charlotte in Riverwalk, a neighborhood that was developed around the Catawba River and is part of the greater Carolina Thread Trail.

An emphasis on water activities such as kayaking and canoeing creates an outdoorsy vibe, and there are plenty of paved trails along the river to explore.

“The community is ‘walkable,’ featuring sidewalks, open spaces, and a blend of housing choices that will

attract singles, families and emptynesters alike,” Robusto says.

The two designers soon found that their different styles — Robusto is eclectic and Kelly is modern — melded to create an interesting effect, and they have decided to pair on a new venture known as 431 Designs.

For the Riverwalk project, Robusto and Kelly took a basic home plan and spiced it up with intriguing furnishings and art.

“We love the stenciled metallic zebra hide layered on the bulky jute rug in the living room,” Robusto says. “The mix of

rustic touches with modern accents really creates interest in the rooms. And, of course, the oversized artwork — the zebra in the living room, the peacock in the master bedroom, the fish in the powder room — create memory points.”

As with any home, color is key. The walls are neutral, with color strategically used to develop interest. “We used cool blues, creams and gray tones throughout the house,” Robusto says.

“Pops of coral came in through toss pillows, lamps and throws. This color palette feels warm, but clean and fresh.

We also used a lot of high-impact art — large oversized pieces with metallic accents.”

In general, empty-nesters tend to be less interested in space, and more interested in quality. They don’t need a handful of bedrooms, expansive bonus rooms, or massive square footage, and they are oftentimes budget-conscious, meaning they don’t want to heat and cool extra space.

But décor doesn’t lose verve simply because spaces shrink. If anything, now is the time to create the home of your dreams.

Robusto says there are a few design “shoulds” for empty nests.

“Flexible spaces for hobbies, a master bedroom on the first floor, additional bedrooms for grandchildren, and extravagant outdoor living/porches are always top of the list,” she says. “Also, we see a need for open-floor plans. And then there’s the unsexy stuff — large showers, wider doorways, small yards and no/low maintenance homes, etc.”

The Details With any home, the master bedroom is of importance, serving as the place to wrap up each day together. Robusto and Kelly had fun fashioning a bedroom that offers interest, luxury and comfort.

“The master bedroom is a great retreat,” Kelly says. “The bed features a silky fur throw paired with crisp linen sheets and down-stuffed pillows. The wall color is halcyon green by Sherwin Williams, which is balanced by the heavy velvet gray drapes.”

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Dwellings » By Karsen Price » Photos By Jamie Carney www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014 42

Robusto and Kelly made the most of the reading room off the master, creating interest by combining elements of wood, metal, glass and fabrics.

“We paired an industrial-styled desk with a plantation chair and heavy woodroot side table,” Robusto says. “The glass top on the desk makes the room feel bigger, and the combination of metal, wood and glass mixed with burlap drapes and the painted teak and rattan plantation chair with its scrolled arms give this room an eclectic vibe.”

Near the master bedroom nestles a space that could serve as a home office, art studio, craft room, or simply a small TV area. The game room offers a fun and relaxing atmosphere that encourages relaxation and intimacy, and can double as a place for the

family to gather on special occasions. “Sometimes, the second floor of a home can seem useless to empty-nesters, but this oversized space is sure to be enjoyed,� Kelly says. “We mixed color and texture, and had a little more fun with it than the downstairs living space — but stayed away from the ‘playroom’ feel that would be considered useless to empty-nesters.�

With the Riverwalk project, the great outdoors is like a room of its own, beckoning homeowners to take strolls together or enjoy an adventure on the Catawba River. “The outdoor living spaces offer a retreat,� Robusto says. “We tried to focus furnishings to give couples more options to relax together, but enough space and seating on the second floor to entertain friends, as well. Overall, the home is created with the idea of relaxation and togetherness in mind.� [TCW]

TOLEARNMORE Kerri Robusto and Jacy Kelly have combined forces to create 431 Designs.

Visit 431designs.com, or email 431designsllc@gmail.com. Visit Chesmarriverwalk.com.

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Business Spotlight » By Lee Rhodes » Photography By Andrea Perullo de Ledesma

EXPLORE THE WORLD With Help From People That Travel women’s favorite locales.

“There is such high energy there, with sidewalk cafes,‘old Nice’ street markets of fresh flowers, fruits and baked bread, along with a mix of shopping pleasures and loads of culture,” Glee explains. “It is heavenly.”

And a far cry from New York City, where both women worked prior to leaving their careers to transfer their skills to Charlotte and the travel business.

Glee previously worked in global marketing services and retail store development for Estee Lauder in New York, as well as advertisement sales for CBS Radio here in Charlotte. In addition to her work with People That Travel, she is pursuing her MBA at the McColl School of Business.

People That Travel P.O. Box 44592 Charlotte, NC 28215 1-855-59-GROUP People That Travel.com Info@PeopleThatTravel.com Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Lewis also worked for Estee Lauder in human resources, and in banking and commercial real estate.

These days, both women relish the opportunity to showcase their entrepreneurial spirit and passion for travel. The company caters to women in particular.

Glee says, “Along with alumni and family tours, we offer three tours per year that anyone is welcome to join. You have the opportunity to explore in safety and meet new friends!”

One of the most recent tours involved a trip to Cape Town, South Africa with 30 Johnson C. Smith University alumni. “With all that Cape Town has to offer, I wanted to ensure the tour surpassed any expectation imaginable,” Glee says.

Trip highlights included hiking at the Cape of Good Hope, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet, feeding elephants and watching lions frolic, and visiting wineries, caves and historic Nelson Mandela sights.

In October, People That Travel is offering a fantastic trip to Rome and Florence, Italy, including wine and food tastings in Tuscany.

Space is still available.

Glee concludes, “Our motto is: We take good care of ourselves, and we promise to take good care of you.” [TCW]

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014

ho among us doesn’t long to spend a few enchanted days in a dream destination? Exotic locales beckon travelers from around the world, including those from the Queen City, and People That Travel is ready to help.

Founded in 2012 by the mother-daughter team of Kaye Glee and Sue Lewis, People That Travel is a tour operations and travel management company based in Charlotte.

Tours include international airfare, Four Star hotels, guided tours, full itineraries, meals where specified and liability insurance coverage. The majority of tours are planned a year or more in advance, with long-term payment options.

Both Glee and her mother work as tour leaders on all trips.

“We arrange fun, safe travel experiences with like-minded people,” Glee says.

The duo’s passion for travel stems from trekking around the globe together for over a decade. Past jaunts include South America, the Caribbean, Spain, France, West Africa and many cities and states within the U.S. Nice, which Kaye calls “the joie de vivre of the French Riviera,” is one of the

47

Feature » Compiled By Karsen Price

e c i p S

It Up

Naked Fried Chicken Wings With Raspberry & Jalapeño Sauce Courtesy Of Chef Monica Smith ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 5 pounds of chicken drummettes Salt & black pepper to taste 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper 4 tablespoons ground paprika 4 tablespoons granulated garlic 8 ounces raspberry jam 4 ounces crushed fresh raspberries 1 small red bell pepper, diced 1 small green bell pepper, diced 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 2-3 small jalapeño peppers, diced with seeds for heat (as hot as you can stand it) ¼ cup honey Juice of one fresh lime 1 tablespoon of canola oil Season chicken wings liberally with salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, paprika and granulated garlic. Toss chicken in

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014 48

Liven Up The Table With Recipes That

KICK

seasonings and mix well. Set aside.

Heat deep fryer to about 375 degrees.

Warm up a small saucepot on medium heat. Add bell peppers and cook until slightly soft.

To the saucepot, add fresh raspberries and raspberry jam, and whisk to loosen the consistency. Add apple cider vinegar, honey, salt and pepper to taste. Heat sauce for another 5 minutes, until warm and slightly thick.

Remove pot from heat, and allow wing sauce to cool to room temperature. Add in lime juice and jalapeños, and mix well.

Deep fry chicken wings until done, then set on paper towels to drain excess oil. Toss chicken wings in sauce and enjoy. Serves 8.

About The Chef Monica Smith is the executive chef for First United Methodist Church in Gastonia; she has melded her Southern roots with a modern, soulful style of cooking. In October 2013, she competed in a cooking series on the Food Network called “Guy’s Grocery Games.”

Slow Burn Beef & Baked Beans

Heat oven to 400 degrees. In a large saucepot, heat oil on medium heat and brown ground chuck.

While browning the ground beef, season with salt, pepper, garlic, dried

Chipotle Hot Dog Sauce Courtesy Of Chef Jill Marcus •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 1 yellow onion, chopped 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 cloves of garlic cloves, shaved 2 ½ pounds of grass-fed ground beef 7 ounce chipotle peppers in adobe sauce 1 cup water ¾ tablespoon black pepper 1 tablespoon chili powder 1 tablespoon kosher salt ¾ tablespoon paprika ¾ tablespoon cumin ¾ tablespoon hot pepper flakes Sprinkle of cinnamon Sauté one finely chopped yellow onion in a large skillet with 2 tablespoons olive oil until onions are golden. Add 2 cloves of shaved garlic cloves and 2 1/2 pounds of grass-fed ground beef. Begin to simmer.

Add chipotle peppers in adobe sauce and 1 cup of water. Season with black pepper, chili powder, kosher salt, paprika, cumin, hot pepper flakes and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Simmer on low to medium heat for 60 minutes.

Serve atop a grilled hot dog in a steamed bun with chopped onions and mustard.

About The Chef Jill Marcus is president of Something Classic, one of Charlotte’s most established catering firms. Her claim to fame includes catering the 2012 Democratic National Convention’s Opening Media Party for 15,000 guests.

Chef’s note: This is a family recipe of mine — Hot Doggie with Chipotle Sauce. It is currently on the menu at Olde Providence Racquet Club. A cold beverage is a must for this spicy treat!

Spicy Serrano-Grapefruit Grilled Shrimp Courtesy Of Chef Alyssa Gorelick •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 1 ½ pounds shrimp, peeled 4 to 6 skewers, metal or bamboo (soaked in water) 2 red grapefruits, juiced 1 lemon, juiced ¼ cup honey 2 tablespoons fresh grated ginger 3 dry smoked Serrano peppers, crushed 1 teaspoon salt Skewer shrimp and set aside.

In a small saucepot, combine citrus juices with all remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat and allow to cool.

Pour half of the liquid over the raw shrimp and marinate for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator.

Heat the grill on high and sear the shrimp. Cook for about 3 minutes on each side, careful not to overcook.

Bring the remaining sauce to a boil and cook until it thickens, about 6 minutes. Drizzle the sauce over the shrimp. Serves 4.

About The Chef Alyssa Gorelick is co-owner of Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen in Atherton Market, which offers healthy, sustainable cooking classes. She is the first woman to compete in — and win — the Iron Fork Competition by Creative Loafing.

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014

Courtesy Of Chef Monica Smith •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 1 pound ground chuck 2 tablespoons canola oil 1 tablespoon salt ½ tablespoon black pepper 1 tablespoon granulated garlic 1 tablespoon dried thyme leaves ¼ cup hot sauce 3 tablespoons cayenne pepper, divided 2 bottles of your favorite beer, divided (Michelob Ultra works nicely) 1 pound and 12 ounces canned baked beans ½ large green pepper, diced ½ large yellow pepper, diced ½ large red pepper, diced ½ cup molasses ½ cup brown sugar ½ bottle of beer 2 cups of your favorite barbeque sauce

thyme leaves, and 2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper. Drain the ground beef of excess oil.

Add ground beef back to the already hot saucepot. Add 1 bottle of beer and allow the beef and beer to cook until the beer has reduced to half the amount of liquid. Next, add the hot sauce and continue to allow it to cook until that liquid reduces to half.

Add the cooked ground beef to the can of baked beans in a large casserole dish with all other ingredients. Stir together, mixing well.

Bake the beans and beef in the oven for 20 minutes. Serves 8.

49

Feature » Compiled By Karsen Price

Spicy Cheddar Cheese Puffs With Harissa Infused Olive Oil Courtesy Of Andrea Edwards & Kara Deir •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ¼ cup, plus 2 tablespoons of Olive This! Harissa EVOO 1 cup water 1 cup all-purpose flour 4 eggs, plus 1 egg white 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, plus ½ cup for topping before baking 1½ teaspoons curry powder 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds or poppy seeds for garnish

Pasta Bocco Caldo Courtesy Of Chef Francesca Armienti •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ½ pound angel hair pasta, cooked al dente and set aside 4 tablespoons olive oil 2 teaspoons garlic, minced ½ cup pepperoncinis, chopped ¼ cup green onions, chopped ¼ cup sundried tomatoes, chopped 6 ounces chicken breast, cooked and shredded Salt & pepper to taste 1 teaspoon thyme ½ cup white wine or chicken stock 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese for garnish

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014 50

Add oil to pan and gently sauté garlic. Add pepperoncinis, green onions, sundried tomatoes and cooked chicken. Cook over medium heat approximately 2-3 minutes. Add seasonings. Add wine or stock and heat thoroughly. Toss with pasta and top dish with Parmesan cheese. Serves 2.

Chef’s note: If you like hot and spicy, this is it! Translated in Italian, this means “hot mouth!” To make this dish super spicy, add habanero peppers.

About The Chef Francesca Armienti graduated from culinary school in Los Angeles, and worked in both Denmark and Italy before becoming executive chef of Pasta al Dente Ristorante in Naples, Calif. She is the author of CookFitt: A Book of Chick Wisdom.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Combine 1 cup of water and the Harissa EVOO into a medium saucepan.

Bring to a boil over medium high heat.

Reduce the heat to medium. Stir the flour into the boiling oil and water mixture. Stir the flour mixture well to fully combine. Cook for about 5 to 6 minutes, stirring constantly. Once cooked, you should be able to shape the dough into a ball.

Transfer the dough to a food processor fitted with a steel blade.

Pulse the mixture a few times to cool it off. Set the food processor to run continuously, and add eggs one at a time. Finally, add the egg white, and process until the batter looks thick and creamy.

Once the batter resembles thick mustard, add the shredded cheddar cheese, curry powder and kosher salt.

Continue to process until well combined.

Transfer the batter to a piping bag, or better yet, use a medium-sized, zipper-locking bag and make a ½-inch diagonal cut off the bottom corner of the bag. On parchment-lined baking sheets, pipe out about 1 tablespoon of batter to form 48 puffs. Top the puffs with additional shredded cheddar cheese and the toasted sesame or poppy seeds.

Bake for 20 minutes. Note: Do not open the oven door at all. After 20 minutes, reduce the temperature to 375 degrees, again without opening the oven, and bake for 10 more minutes. After the final 10 minutes, remove puffs from the oven and let cool.

About The Chefs Andrea Edwards and Kara Deir are not professional chefs, but they do co-own the specialty store Olive This, which offers 45 varieties of the finest imported extra virgin oils, specialty oils, and all-natural balsamic vinaigrettes.

Spicy Chili Chocolate Cake Courtesy Of Chef Stephanie Nikolic & Chef Emeril Lagasse •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 2 cups sugar 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, extra-brute or special dark 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon hot pimento (hot Spanish smoked paprika) ½ teaspoon Espelette, or hot paprika or other hot chili powder 1 teaspoon kosher salt 2 large eggs 1 cup whole milk ½ cup canola oil 1 tablespoon molasses

1 cup hot water Ice cream, for serving Caramel sauce, for serving Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour a Bundt pan and set aside.

Sift all the dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl; whisk to blend. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, canola and molasses.

Bring the water to a boil and very slowly whisk the hot water into the egg mixture.

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and whisk the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Pour the batter into the prepared Bundt pan and bake about 50 minutes, or until a tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Transfer the cake to a cooling rack briefly, then turn out onto the rack and cool completely before serving.

Serve the cake with your choice of ice cream and caramel sauce, if desired.

About The Chef Serves 12.

A native of Chapel Hill, Chef’s note: At the restaurant, Stephanie Nikolic is pastry chef and sous chef at e2 we like to serve this cake drizzled emeril’s eatery in uptown. She honed her cooking expertise at with a chocolate the New England Culinary ganache and Institute, and spent much of garnished with her career in Las Vegas before candied chile returning to the Carolinas. peppers. [TCW]

www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014 51

Ask The Expert

Closing Spaces with Porcelain Veneers Dr. Ross W. Nash 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.

hile orthodontic treatment is ideal for closing spaces, some people exhibit situations that do not respond well to braces. Various conditions result in teeth that are smaller than normal and even after treatment with braces, spaces still exist.

Such was the case with this beautiful, young woman. Her dental health was excellent, but she felt that her smile was compromised due to the spaces in the front area of her upper teeth. With minimal tooth preparation, we were able to add porcelain veneers to increase the size of her front teeth. The result was a more attractive smile.

Tiffany’s full before ve face view neers

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Q: Do the teeth have to be ground down before veneers are placed?

A: Where an increase in the size of the teeth is desired, sometimes minimal to no tooth preparation is required.

Often, no anesthetic is needed.

neers ile before ve Tiffany’s sm

Porcelain veneers to be bo to Tiffany’s teeth nded

Q: How long do porcelain veneers last?

A: With today’s strong ceramic materials, porcelain veneers can be expected to last for many years.

Q: How are veneers attached to the teeth?

A: Porcelain veneers are bonded to the teeth with very strong adhesives. The lamination effect of the bonding process can actually strengthen the teeth and the veneers themselves.

after Tiffany’s new smile s eer ven lain rce po

Q: How long does it take to get a new smile with porcelain veneers?

A: Porcelain veneers are usually placed in two appointments only a few weeks apart. A new smile can be achieved very quickly with this process. www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014 52

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www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014 53

Health Flash » By Beth Howard

HEALTHFLASH An Apple A Day & Other Wisdom

Getting It On Is Good For You ure, sex is fun. But did you know how good — really good — it is for you? Here are a few of the things making love can do for your physical and mental health.

Fewer colds Psychology researchers at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania found that making love once or twice a week may help ward off the sniffles. In their study of more than 100 men and women, those who had sex twice a week had higher levels of immunoglobulin A, which fights off infection. Those who made love less frequently had lower levels of IgA.

Younger looks www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014 54

Couples who have sex three times a week or more look remarkably younger, according to British scientists, who studied the phenomenon for 10 years.

One reason: Orgasm triggers chemicals like DHEA and human growth hormone that help keep you youthful all over.

Improved cardio health Sex is good exercise — burning as many as 150 calories in a half hour if you are really inspired. However, that’s just one reason sex is heart healthy. Scientists

reporting in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found that having sex two or more times a week cut the risk of fatal heart attack by half, compared with those who had sex less than once a month.

Lower stress Scottish researchers followed men and women who detailed their sex lives over time and then asked them to perform a stressful task, such as speaking in public.

Afterward, the scientists recorded the volunteers’ blood pressure response to the stress. Result? Those who were sexually active had better responses to the stress. Sex oxygenates the blood and offers a break from negative stressors in our lives. Frequent intercourse has also been linked to lower diastolic blood pressure in couples that live together.

And an abundance of hugs from partners seems to be associated with lower blood pressure in women. Time to cuddle up!

Relief from pain Just before climax, the body releases oxytocin — the bonding hormone — which in turn triggers the release of opiate-like substances called endorphins, which help to vanquish pain. So, the next time you get a headache, you know what to do.

Better bladder control About 30 percent of women will experience incontinence at some point in life. The antidote is a strong pelvic floor, and good sex makes that happen, strengthening and toning these allimportant muscles.

A stronger relationship That same rush of oxytocin helps put the glue in your relationship — in or out of bed, experts say. According to a study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, couples who had lots of affectionate physical contact produced the highest levels of oxytocin, guaranteeing them a stronger bond.

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Thanks to hormones such as oxytocin, as well as prolactin and vasopressin, orgasm is usually followed by a sense of deep relaxation — in both men and women. That sets the stage for a good night’s rest.

Mental sharpness The oxygenation of blood that sex provides affects your mind as well as your body. Plus, the act of lovemaking itself promotes better blood flow to the brain, helping you attack mental tasks with greater ease.

A satisfying love life

For your guy According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, men who had frequent ejaculations — at least several a week — were less likely to get prostate cancer. While men don’t need a partner to get the benefit, more nookie doesn’t hurt! [TCW]

Business Women of the Year Award Winners The 2014 Business Women of the Year Awards Gala recognizes significant accomplishments of NAWBO’s women business owners. Please join us!

Rising Star Finalists: Mary Kathryn Ewart, Aflac B]Wc`Y CXca Dogtopia of Charlo e Shay Prosser, Get It Together Business Owner of the Year Finalists: Rosa Dest, Rosa Dest Interiors FcW\Y``Y F]jUg Darton Group LeeAnn Sha uck, KcaYbÈg 5ihcach]jY Gc`ih]cbg 2014 Community Leadership Awards B5K6C k]`` fYWc[b]nY h\fYY kcaYb k\c \UjY made significant contributions to our region: Business Leader: KELLEY EARNHARDT MILLER >F Achcfgdcfhg Non-Profit Leader: JILL DINEEN 7`Uggfcca 7YbhfU` Public Policy Leader: ELAINE MARSHALL NC Secretary of State

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www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014

Having sex begets better sex and may improve your sex drive at the same time. Intercourse increases blood flow to the genitals, boosts natural lubrication, and makes tissues more elastic as we age, making good sex even better.

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I Really Think » By Pat MacEnulty www.TodaysCharlotteWomanMag.com | May 2014 58

Love At A Distance send him a link to “Bad Romance”

by Lady Gaga.

He replies, “I’ll see your Lady Gaga and raise you two.”

I click on his first link and see Joe Cocker singing, “You are so beautiful.” I smile.

I had not felt beautiful in a long time — not until Joe came into my life for the second time. We were gradschool friends almost 25 years ago. My best friend had a crush on him back then. I thought he was nice, smart and funny, but he didn’t interest me in a romantic sense. I attended his wedding. A couple of years later, his wife sent me a gift for my baby. Then he and his wife moved to another town, and I moved away with my husband.

Fast-forward 25 years. Joe has moved back to the same college town where we once were friends, and I am invited to a writers’ conference in the same town. Another friend tells me

that Joe’s wife has left him.

Considering that I am newly single, my response is: “That’s not the worst news I’ve ever heard.” We have our first date that weekend.

The next video Joe sends me is a cockier Joe Cocker, singing “You Can Leave Your Hat On.” I grin at the lyrics.

Joe and I live 487 miles apart, according to Mapquest. We got reacquainted through emails and nightly phone calls. Now we send each other Youtube videos and have Skype dates. I see my face in the reflection of his glasses as we talk to our computers. We are reaching out and not touching. Not touching.

There are miles of air and trees and bricks and metal between us.

We often meet in various cities other than the ones where we live. He has a teenage son and can’t leave either his son or his job. I choose not to leave my job. So we’ve made this compromise. When I travel on business, he makes arrangements with his kid’s mother and his work and takes off to join me. On vacations, I go

visit him in his town.

When we’re together, I get used to the comfort of his presence. Our energies blend and swirl together. My dark moods dissipate. But he worries that the relationship won’t survive the constant separations.

“Don’t,” I tell him. “I’ve never found anyone else like you.”

I love his easy humor, the way his laughter catches in his throat and then rolls forward like a wave.

Falling in love in your fifties is different than falling in love at 17 or 35. It is better, I think. We have no agendas. We have no marriage to broker, we don’t have to decide whether or not to have children, and we don’t have to figure out the money questions. We are in it for one reason only — because we enjoy being together. And that is enough. [TCW] Pat MacEnulty is the author of seven books, including Wait Until Tomorrow: A Daughter’s Memoir. She teaches writing and literature at Johnson & Wales University.

You know what they say …

Everything old is new again.

Acupuncture.

There’s a reason it’s been around for over 2,000 years.

Find out why celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Gwyneth Paltrow have their Acupuncturist on speed dial.

Acupuncture works. It treats 40 different conditions, including: • weight loss • arthritis • migraine headaches • infertility • chronic pain • anxiety Acupuncturist Andrea Perullo de Ledesma was trained in the most prestigious Chinese Medicine School in New York City, as well as interned in various hospitals in China and South Africa. With over a decade’s worth of experience, she can help you with any of your health concerns.

Try something new this year. Try good health. Try acupuncture.

Healing Hands Acupuncture & Herbal Clinic Andrea Perullo de Ledesma, L.Ac., M.S. 401 East Boulevard, Suite 110 | Charlotte, NC 28203 704.578.7683 | thehealinghandsclinic.com | Andiperullo@aol.com

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