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FEBRUARY 2009 COMPLIMENTARY
So This Is Love!
The Heart Of A Woman Keeping Yours In Top Form
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4521 Sharon Road, Charlotte NC 28211 • 704.532.9041 or 888.400.4447 • (Located across from SouthPark Mall) Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00-7:00, Saturday 10:00-5:00 by appointment www.DiamondsDirectSouthpark.com
Diamonds Direct Birmingham | Mountain Brook, AL | 205-201-7400 • Diamonds Direct Crabtree | Raleigh, NC | 919-571-2881
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Attention: Smile-Conscious Charlotteans
Are You Suffering From An “Undercover Smile”? Great News: NEW HOPE Is Just A Phone Call Away!
Do you cover your teeth when you talk, laugh, or pose for a picture? Are you frustrated about crooked, spaced, worn, discolored teeth? Do you have old, ugly dental work, and you want lifelike results? Are you looking for a dental home that restores your trust...and your smile?
If you answered “YES” to any of the above questions, give my office a call. We can help! You no longer need to worry about having an unsightly smile. Instead, you can now have the Brilliant, Head-Turning, ShowStopping Smile you’ve always dreamed of…and it’s easier, faster, and more comfortable than ever. You may even be accused of looking 10 years younger!
Finally, The Secret to Gorgeous, Lifelike Dentistry is Revealed! “Now I have the smile I've always wanted. My teeth look and feel great. My only regret is waiting so many years to get it done! Thank you Dr. Bowman, from the bottom of my heart.”— Bonnie Taylor; Charlotte, NC “Dr. Bowman, this was one of the few times in my life that I felt comfortable with a dentist. Your entire staff is See Our incredibly friendly and thorWebsite For ough, which puts me at ease. More “Rave Thank you!” Reviews!” — Angela House; Charlotte, NC
Is this how you smile?
Dear Friend, You indeed can have a radiant, healthy smile! My caring, professional team and I are committed to helping you look and feel your best. If you’re ready to discuss an “Undercover Smile Makeover,” then simply CALL the number below. I personally GUARANTEE that I’ll listen to you first, then provide my best recommendations for your new smile! All my best, Dr. Chris Bowman – General Dentist & Smile Rejuvenation Expert
Advanced Dentistry of Charlotte Come & See What Your Smile’s Been Missing!
Choose Your Own “February Savings”!
$97 Teeth Whitening! (Normally $400...Save $303) OR
Dr. Christopher A. Bowman
$100 Savings Certificate! (Good toward any expenses)
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New patients only. Limited to first 17 who call. Offer expires on Feb. 25, 2009
1618 East Morehead St. – Charlotte, NC
704-337-8070
Call Now: 704-337-8070 Ask for “Charlotte Woman February Savings”
“Can You Say You LOVE Going To The Dentist? I Can!” “Dr. Bowman and his team are professional, caring, gentle, up on the latest technology and most of all, dedicated to their patients. I am never anxious or nervous about my appointments because I know I am in good hands. I’ve always been thrilled with the work that has been done for me. I highly recommend Dr. Bowman to anyone who is looking for an outstanding dentist!” -Mary Beth McAvoy; Charlotte, NC
7 Reasons You Should EXPECT Comfortable Dentistry: 1.The Latest Technology: See your own teeth like I see them! With our digital photography and digital x-rays, you’ll know exactly “what’s going on”. 2.Laser Cavity Detector: This FDA-approved technology instantly and painlessly finds new cavities with 99+% accuracy. X-rays rarely see these cavities, and even “traditional” exams (using the dental “pick”) miss them 76% of the time. Early diagnosis is the key to fast, easy, and affordable repair… before things get worse or painful. 3.Numb Like You’ve Never Been! Is regular numbing not enough for you? If so, then the new FDA approved anesthetic we use may very well be the extra boost of numbing you need. We’ll never proceed with any work unless we know you are completely numb…and comfortable. 4.Sedation Dentistry: Does intense fear of dentistry keep you from smiling and having healthy teeth? Using a safe, simple pill, you can deeply relax while you get your needed dentistry completed comfortably, and in fewer visits than you may think! 5.Exquisite Lifelike Esthetic Dentistry: New techniques whiten, strengthen, and reshape your teeth like never before. You can now replace failing, ugly mercury/silver fillings with the finest porcelain restorations. Design your dream smile with Ultimate Power Whitening (first in Charlotte!), Invisalign or Veneers. Ask to see our Before and After photos. The possibilities are endless! 6.SPA-Like Pampering: With back-massaging dental chairs, personal satellite video glasses, heated neck pillows with a hint of lavender, warm moist face towels…and more…to soothe your body and soul, you’ll forget you’re in a dental office! 7.Comfortable Financially Too: A wide range of payment options and plans available (up to 60 months with approved credit) make even the finest dentistry affordable. Ask us how you can even SAVE BIG on your investment in excellent dentistry!
“I work with dentists from all over the USA and Canada. For “drop dead” gorgeous cosmetic results, Dr. Chris Bowman has the technical skills, passion, and commitment to excellence that make him the #1 dentist I would choose in the Greater Charlotte area!” - Elizabeth Davidson; Editor, The Independent Dentist newsletter “Dr. Bowman & his staff are the BEST! Their sensitivity to your needs and comfort level are unduplicated in any other dental office I’ve ever encountered. Thanks for the great service!” - Krista Grzandziel Charlotte, NC
Come And See What Your Smile's Been Missing! Experience Comfortable Dentistry...Call 704-337-8070
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February 2009
Contents 65
12
66
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D E PA R T M E N T S 10 From The Publisher Me First? (Yes!)
12 Girl Time Tips, Trends, And Fancies
24 Queen City Jewels Happenings You Don’t Want To Miss
26 On The Move Women Making Strides; Business Success Stories
27 Work Notes Bickering On The Clock
28 Money Talks Feathering Your Retirement Nest
76 Meet Our Advertisers Healing Hands Acupuncture and Herbal Clinic Gives You An Alternative
77 Meet Our Advertisers Brush Up On Your Footwork With Queen City Ballroom
78 Health Matters Let’s Talk About Sex (Therapy)
80 Health Flash What You Need To Know To Stay Well
88 The Meeting Place Professional And Social Meetings
90 Tomorrow’s Charlotte Woman Charlotte’s Future Fabulous Females
58 Fashion Black Is The New Black!
65 Beauty Pucker Up, Sweetie Pie
66 At Home Restoration Gorgeous
75 Meet Our Advertisers A Stylish Stay At Charlotte Marriott SouthPark 6
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OnTheCover BRIDE MELANIE BONNEFOUX-DECOUDRES. PHOTO BY NADEAN BRUEHLMAN, FOR GENE HO PHOTOGRAPHY, MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.
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Today’s
Charlotte Woman
39
Business/Lifestyle
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Volume XII, Number 9 February 2009 PUBLISHER
Belva Greenage EDITOR
Michelle Young Hubacher ART DIRECTOR
Anita O’Hara ASSISTANT EDITOR
Karsen Price SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Carrie Boyd ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR
Fern Howerin SALES EXECUTIVES
Barbara Herd Gail Williams CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Leigh Barrett BUSINESS MANAGER
Nikki Wilson WEB DESIGNER
Cliff McNamara CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
56 PROFILES 30 The Heart Of An Organization Nancy Brown Leads The American Heart Association In Its Mission
34 From Nurse To Patient Presbyterian’s Ashley Long Returns To Cardiac Nursing With A New View
39 The Beat Goes On High Blood Pressure Poses A Dangerous Risk To Women
42 Saying “I Do” In France A Charlotte Bride And Groom Share Their Dream Wedding
48 Uncorking The Mystery A Taste Of The Bubbly
50 Beading Hearts Two Charlotte Women Share The Business Of Beads
56 A Tuneup On Car Care Tips For Keeping Your Car Humming T O D A Y ’ S
C H A R L O T T E
COME SEE US ONLINE FOR BONUS CONTENT www.todayscharlottewoman.com Don’t Miss: A Marriage Of Food And Bubbly Recipes And Kind Words — All To Go With Sparkling Wines
F E AT U R E S
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OnLineExtras
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Measuring Up Calculating Your Body Mass Index For Good Heart Health! What’s In Your Trunk? What To Keep — And Not Keep — In Your Car And Look For: Flower Power Are There Secrets Behind Those Blooms?
Jennifer Bradford-Epstein Dawn Brookgreen Fiona Harmon Melinda Johnston Jennifer Mitchell Karsen Price Lee Rhodes Corey Stewart Joanna Zikos CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Augusto Photography James Brown Nadean Bruehlman Scott Stiles 5200 Park Road, Suite 111 Charlotte, NC 28209 704/521-6872 www.todayscharlottewoman.com Today’s Charlotte Woman is published by Today’s Woman Inc., and is distributed on a complimentary basis throughout the greater Charlotte area. Submissions of articles and photographs are welcome. Subscription rate is $20 per year for 11 issues plus the TCW Resource Guide. Copyright ©2009 Today’s Woman, Inc. All rights reserved. Copying or reproduction, in part or in whole, is strictly prohibited.
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THOUSANDS OF DISCOUNTS. HUNDREDS OF STORES.
ONE LOCATION.
Discover over 200 name-brand stores in one great location. Concord Mills. It’s more than shopping. It’s a life-enhancing experience.
AMC 24 Theatre, Ann Taylor Loft, Anne Klein Outlet, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, Black & Decker Factory Store, Bose Factory Store, Brooks Brothers Factory Store, Burlington Coat Factory, Circuit City, Dave & Buster’s, Gap Outlet, Guess Factory Store, Gymboree Outlet, Lane Bryant Outlet, NASCAR SpeedPark, Nike Factory Store, Nine West Outlet, OFF 5TH Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet, The Children’s Place Outlet, T.J.Maxx and more! I-85 at Exit 49, Concord, NC 28027. 704-979-3000. www.concordmills.com
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PHOTO BY RFG PHOTOGRAPHY
FromThePublisher
Me First? (Yes!)
F
ebruary is the month when we turn to matters of the heart, and my thoughts in that regard are no different from yours. My husband, Robert, and I were, in fact, wed in the month of February, in Sedona, Ariz. No, we weren’t necessarily bitten by the Valentine’s bug, trying to tie the ceremony to that day of romance. The timing just worked out well for us. And, good grief, we are living proof that you can plan a destination wedding in two weeks. But I digress …. Let’s focus on something else that really matters — your heart itself. The organ that ticks inside your chest an average 37 million times a year. That goes pitter-patter when you see someone you love (or when you find an incredible pair of shoes!). And that, when diseased, is the leading cause of death in women. Our profiles this month are about women who illustrate beautifully the significance of heart health. Nancy Brown, the new CEO of the American Heart Association, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is the first woman to lead this national organization — and she is making it her mission to educate women in communities across the country, including Charlotte, about how important cardiac health is for women. Ashley Long, a cardiac nurse at Presbyterian Hospital, spends her workdays caring for men and women in Presby’s Cardiovascular Institute. But she does so with a whole new perspective: After giving birth to her daughter, Long, herself, suffered a stroke, and she has an important mes-
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sage to share with other women about taking care of themselves! There is a common thread that weaves throughout all the very informative articles in this month’s issue, including our feature on women and high blood pressure. The key message is this: Take care of yourself first, and understand that this “me first” approach is not optional when it comes to your health and well-being. I realize that this may be a foreign concept to some of us. We, as women, are wired to care for others above ourselves in almost every aspect of our lives. And the result looks like this: Everyone in your house has had an annual physical but you. And, no doubt, you made the appointments and drove most members of your clan to see their doctors, dentists, or other healthcare providers! (I bet you even chauffeur the dog to his vet’s office.) It’s that same wiring that makes you believe that an annual mammogram and Pap test are simply unnecessary for you. You are wrong. I dare you to be selfish this month and schedule all those appointments for yourself that you have been putting off. Make your health and happiness a priority, just for this month. Who knows? You may fall in love with the idea. Much love,
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Wow!
What a Great Smile! Smile created by Dr. Ross W. Nash Photo by Deborah Triplett
Ross W. Nash, DDS General Dentist Providing Cosmetic Dentistry
69725 Caldwell Commons Circle • Cornelius, NC 28031 nashinstitute.com Appointments: 704-895-7660
Of the nearly 8000 American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry members worldwide, there are only 264 accredited member dentists. Of that elite group, only 43 have earned the exclusive level of Fellow. In Charlotte, only 1 dentist has achieved Accredited status, and in all of North and South Carolina, only 1 has earned the level of Fellow: Accredited Fellow Ross W. Nash, DDS.
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GirlTime COMPILED BY MICHELLE YOUNG HUBACHER
Singularly Spectacular Make The Most Of Your Solo Status
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alentine’s Day doesn’t have to be the No. 1 enemy of the typical single woman or man. SingleEdition (www.singleedition.com), a Web site created by Sherri Langburt, offers insightful single-living content and gives you permission to enjoy Feb. 14 as much as your coupled friends do! According to Langburt, just because you happen to be single, this one day should not negatively impact your selfworth. Valentine’s Day is about love. In the greater society, that usually means romantic love. Why not start a revolution and bring it back to love of yourself, your family, and your friends? Singles often feel singled out on Feb. 14, but they don’t have to feel bad about their relationship status. If you happen to be single this Valentine’s Day, why not make the most of it? Below are just a few of the many ways to celebrate the day of amour — and not one involves a box of tissues and a half-gallon of ice cream! Organize a private tasting. Wine, scotch, chocolate, or cheese — grab a group of friends and indulge
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in something decadent. Plan a singles night out. A night on the town with other single friends can be the perfect antidote to Valentine’s Day blues. Escape for the night. Whether you’re staying in town or jetting to a tropical clime, check out of your normal routine by checking in at a hotel for one night. Give back. Use Feb. 14 to show your love for others, and volunteer your services at a local food bank, school, homeless shelter, or animal rescue center. Reward yourself. Splurge on something that you’ve wanted — perhaps giving yourself a day at the spa, buying a great pair of shoes, and treating yourself to a fudge brownie or two! Send out valentines. Take it back to third grade and send Valentine’s Day cards to everyone you know. You will brighten their day more than you can imagine! Be a tourist. Most people don’t take advantage of the cities they live in as much as they should. Take this one night to do the touristy thing you’ve been meaning to — go to Discovery Place, take a stroll through The Mint Museum, jump aboard the Charlotte Trolley. Source: www.singleedition.com.
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I D0…
Just Wanna Have Fun!
W
irefly (www.wirefly.com), the online comparison shop for cell phones, wireless service plans, and wireless accessories, recently announced the winners of its “Most Embarrassing Moment with Your Phone” contest. And, let’s just say, I don’t feel quite so horrid for having fished mine out of the toilet in a McDonald’s bathroom. The company received a myriad of entries, and ultimately, five winners were chosen based on humor and originality. Grand prize winner Karen Emerson, of Biloxi, Miss., picked up a Motorola Krave for her unfortunate story of absentmindedly forgetting her cell phone in her garter belt on her wedding day and having it ring to the tune of Girls Just Want to Have Fun at the most inopportune time — as her father walked her down the aisle.
More Unfortunate Rings Jon Froehlich, of Alexandria, Va., thought he was speaking to a co-worker on the phone, and referred to his boss, Mr. Clifford, as “The Big Red Dog,” referencing the popular children’s book. Unfortunately, it was Mr. Clif-
ford on the line. David Toledo, of Miramar, Fla., accidentally dropped his BlackBerry into an airplane toilet on a flight to visit a client. He was able to retrieve it and it was still fully operational. However, when he arrived at the meeting, he was informed by his client that he had a blue stain on his face. The disinfectant in an airplane toilet was much stronger than he thought. Stacey Fisher, of Methuen, Mass., was attending a Renaissance fair with her husband when she tripped over a tree stump, causing her cell phone to soar through the air and land directly in the bosom of an unsuspecting woman who was dressed in a bustier and corset, an authentic Renaissance costume typical of maidens during that time. “The most surprising part of the contest was the overwhelming number of ‘dropping the phone in the toilet’ stories we received,” says Jeff Gregory, Wirefly’s director of marketing, “Apparently, people do a lot more multitasking than we realized.” Yes, apparently, we do. You can check out the five winning stories in their entirety at www.wireflycontest.com. > F E B R U A R Y
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Sweet Temptations Something Tasty For The Soul
You know his love is true when you open up this gorgeous box of decadent treats for nights filled with steamy baths, chocolate massages, and honey-yummy kisses.This limited-edition gift set from LUSH, the creator of handmade cosmetics, contains the Sex Bomb bath bomb, chocolate and honey-centered Soft Coeur massage bar, fruity Sultana soap, the Vanilla Fountain bath bomb and white chocolate Honey Trap Lip Balm. For $42.95, you can even gift yourself this Valentine’s Day! For this and more goodies, visit www.lushusa.com/shop.
Just Lounging Around… But Oh, So Luxuriously
T
his is not your Aunt Lorinda’s housecoat. If you want to look fabulously put together and still feel wonderfully comfortable, take a gander at Si Belle’s Caftan Classique in Kamer Flower. Who isn’t going to feel exotic slipping into a caftan? This one, in hot pink and made of 100-percent Turkish cotton, is available in both long ($360) and short ($330) versions. The Si Belle collection, from Turkish designer Sibel Mesta, offers an ethereal line of lingerie, including kimono-wrap tops with matching briefs. For information, check out www.sibellenyc.com. >
Everyone Should Have A Young Smile. Scott A.Young, DDS · Practicing Dentistry For 26 Yrs. · BSE - Biomedical Engineering Purdue University - 1978 · CMC - General Practice Residency · Creative Restorative Excellence & Advanced Dental Education. · Member: Charlotte and NC Dental Society, Academy of General Dentistry and American Dental Association
Have A
White Smile For 2009. $100 OFF Regular or Deep Bleaching
After
Before
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The most effective bleaching technique ever. Will bleach up to 16 shades lighter. • Newest Technology in bleaching teeth • Permanent with periodic maintenance • More effective than ZOOM • Easy with AMAZING RESULTS • Safely used on millions of patients • Little to NO sensitivity (offer ends 2/28/09)
Call for Free Consultation 704.541.5900 • www.youngsmile.com 14
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Make the most of your looks for less than $1,000! THERMAGE® Radio frequency heats deep inside the dermis where collagen producing cells reside, tightening and lifting the skin. Used around the eyes to combat droopy lids.
PERLANE® RESTYLANE® A uniquely produced hyaluronic acid gel, used as a volumizer to plump up skin beside the nose and mouth — or to fill in delicate layers under your eyes.
JUVEDERM® Injected into the mid to deep dermis for correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and nasolabial folds.
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SCULPTRA® Can be used as a volumizer to plump up skin beside the nose and mouth — or to fill in delicate layers under your eyes.
RADIESSE® Unique calcium-based microspheres, suspended in a natural gel that is injected into the skin. Used to fill and correct smile lines, nasolabial folds, and wrinkles around the nose and mouth.
Paul C. Drago, MD and Geoffrey D. Stiller, MD, FACS
Call for a consultation today 704.544.1300
www.GenesisNewBody.com BALLANTYNE VILLAGE • 14835 JOHN J. DELANEY DRIVE • SUITE 210 • CHARLOTTE • NC 28277
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Be A Busy Bee Even In Tight Times NOW OPEN! CAROLINA COMPOUNDING & NUTRITIONAL PHARMACY
Ballantyne’s Only Sterile Compounding Pharmacy With A Registered Dietician. Combining State-of-the-Art Pharmaceutical Compounding With Nutritional Excellence. • Compounding: Sterile and Non-Sterile, Veterinary, Dental and Bio-identical Hormone Replacement • Registered Dietician Consultations • Pharmaceutical Grade Vitamins and Herbal Supplements • Anti-aging Skin Creams • Cosmetic Compounding and more! Cedar Walk at Ardrey Kell and Marvin Roads 16709 Orchard Stone Run, Ste. 310, Charlotte, NC 704-540-4330
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E
conomic stress putting a damper on your social life? It doesn’t have to — there are plenty of ways to have the time of your life without dropping a dime. PeopleJam (www.peoplejam.com), a fun self-improvement site, has compiled a list of the best ways to pump up your social life without deflating your wallet. Because who says fun isn’t recession-proof? PeopleJam says if you’re going to stay home, you should not “nest”; you should “hive,” instead. Nesting is what we do when we’re inwardly focused — as if preparing for a baby. It’s the instinct we have to hole up and hibernate in our houses, apartments, RVs, or teepees. But in trying times, humans crave comfort through connection, not isolation. And retreating can create a social depression on top of the economic one. So, plan to be at home, but make your home your very own hive, abuzz with group activity. Here are a few ways to start hiving: Transform your outings to in-ings. Just because you aren’t able to cover the cover charge at a club doesn’t mean you can’t dance the night away. Play iPod DJ instead, where everyone gets a three-song DJ stint. And bypassing the bar doesn’t mean you can’t partake of a few spirits. Invite your friends to
BYOB2, where each of your guests brings her own bottle and a new buddy — that is, a person you don’t know. Eat, drink, and enlighten. Staying in doesn’t mean having to lose out on intellectual stimulation or higher learning. Host a salon, a cooking club, or a craft night, and you won’t even miss the lecture series, gallery openings, or five-course meals. Pick a theme. Coming up with a focal point instead of just a straight-up celebration — like an old-school game night, with Chutes and Ladders, Parcheesi, and Connect Four; or a potluck hors d’oeuvres party, where everyone brings a small nibble to pass around — helps people feel invested in the gathering and makes it more memorable. Party with a purpose. Since many people are now holding back on charitable giving, put your social get-togethers on a little loftier plane. Ask friends to bring over unwanted books for the local library, or canned goods for a food donation. Staying at home may be one sign that Americans are uneasy about their finances, but it doesn’t mean the end of our social lives, meaningful connections, or having fun. Source: http://www.peoplejam.com.
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How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Journal The Ways
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here is nothing more romantic than a thoughtfully written love letter, but with the creation of the greeting card, the art of writing love letters has almost disappeared. Still, saving anniversary and Valentine’s Day or other special occasion cards from your spouse is a wonderful way to hold on to some of those cherished sentiments. Another is the Beloved Journal, a volume created for couples to exchange with one another in times of celebration and to record sentiments of love and romance. Three journal options are NOW
available: For My Beloved Husband; For My Beloved Wife; and For My Beloved. Unlike a traditional journal that is intended for the writer to pen private thoughts, the Beloved Journal is designed for you to fill with words of love and affection for your spouse — as an evolving and accessible reminder of the love and affection you feel. Throughout each journal are quotes and Scriptures to inspire you as you trace the journey of your love with letters, notes, encouragements, and wishes. For information, check out www.belovedjournals.com.
ACCEPTING
NEW
A-Wristing Love Bracelets Worthy Of You Tiffany & Co.,holding fast to its venerable place in gifts of romance (ahem, the presentation of a Tiffany Blue Box has been known to cause heart palpitations in many a woman), has introduced Jean Schlumberger bracelets to this year’s lineup of Valentine’s Day offerings.These vibrant bangles are red paillonné enamel with 18 kt gold and diamond accents. Schlumberger, a world-acclaimed jewelry artist who worked extensively with Tiffany for 30 years, revived the 19th-century art of paillonné, a process of creating rich, translucent colors with layers of enamel applied over 18 kt gold leaf. The bracelets further captivate with 18 kt gold spikes and cone shapes, crisscross designs, or dazzling diamonds. Available at Tiffany & Co. (www.tiffany.com). >
PAT I E N T S
Bird is the word...
Services:
Annual Exams Pap Smears Gynecological Surgery Breast Disease Incontinence Infertility Routine & High Risk Obstetrics Ultrasounds
FOR PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY & ORTHODONTICS Suzanne E. Bird DDS,MS,PA Board Certified Pediatric Dentist & Orthodontist UNC Dental Graduate
Midtown Obstetrics and Gynecology is small by design to provide personalized care in a friendly and comfortable environment. Call us at 704-344-1000, then press 2 to start a long term, healthy relationship.
Presbyterian Medical Tower • 1718 E. 4th St. Suite 707 • Charlotte, NC 28204 www.midtown-obgyn.com Accepting new patients. Affiliated with many insurance plans.
Bird
Stacey Wood, Jr., MD
Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics LOCATED IN NEW CEDAR WALK DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH CHARLOTTE
16607 RIVERSTONE WAY, SUITE 300, CHARLOTTE, NC 28277 Beverly Belle, MD
Tel: 704.544.5000 www.birddentistry.com
Heather N. Robertson White, MD James Hardy, MD
Gregory Parker, MD
F E B R U A R Y
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Concerned About Your Hormonal Health? Stanley Apothecary Compounding Pharmacy • Female and Male Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement • Saliva Hormone Testing • Premium Anti-aging Skin Care Creams and Nutritional Supplements • Customized Medications To Meet Your Unique Needs
More information online: www.stanleyrx.com
3330 Monroe Road, Ste. A, Charlotte, NC (704) 370-6612 • Store Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5
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Works Of Heart
W O M A N
ou and your sweetie were standing on the rocky coast of Maine on a clear day. You handed someone a camera and he snapped a gorgeous picture â&#x20AC;&#x201D; worthy of framing and hanging on your living-room wall. Think a little bigger and you can turn that moment into something worthy of a gallery wall, with Canvas on Demand. This online company, based in Raleigh, will take your prized photograph and transform it into a canvas work of art. You can select from two treatment options: One brings the photo to full life in a vivid reproduction; the other adds what appear to be brush strokes from an artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hand. There are also two primary ďŹ nishing options: The canvas can simply be stretched and framed to your speciďŹ cations; or it can be gallery wrapped, which involves stretching the canvas and securing the edges of the material around a wooden frame. Prices range from $60 to $600, depending on size, finish, and frame selection. The process is speedy (most canvases take just one week to turn around), and Canvas on Demand prides itself on excellent customer service. The company will take a look at a photo you submit, and then provide recommendations as to what to do with the image in making a
canvas, sometimes even suggesting you choose a different size or ďŹ nish, based on the composition and quality of the photo. (They will not, however, comment on the â&#x20AC;&#x153;qualityâ&#x20AC;? of your beloved.) For more information, visit www.canvasondemand.com.
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Flirting With Finesse Baby Boomers Go For The Title
S
ince the world’s first flirting contest, held in San Francisco, was featured on Oprah in 1994, these come-on competitions have been popping up in major cities all over the country and have even sprouted in Australia and New Zealand. Now, baby boomers are invited to compete for the title of Ms. and Mr. Baby Boomer Flirt at the National Baby Boomers Festival in Reno, Nev., March 27-29. A highlight of the Festival is its flirting contest, where attendees compete, en masse, in a crowded hotel ballroom. The flirt-off will be preceded by a presentation on How
to Flirt Without Appearing to Be in Heat, by Susan Bradley, author of Flirting Secrets (How to Flirt in 30 Days or Less). The Festival, which is presented by Cornerstone Retirement Group of Reno, is also scheduled to feature dance parties,
instruction, and a variety of contests, along with a baby boomer fashion show, an astrological matchmaking party, and speed dating sessions. Visit www.BabyBoomersFestival.com, or call 415/479-3800 for information. >
www.southparkacupuncture.org
Charlotte’s best equipped Pilates studio! With 5 Reformers, 5 Cadillacs, 7 Stability Chairs, 6 Spine Correctors, 6 Arc Barrels and 5 Ladder Barrels your semi-private sessions will never get stale!
We are pleased to have SouthPark Acupuncture and Wenhui Li in Morrocroft Medical Plaza. Wenhui Li is welcoming new patients. Schedule your appointment today. Appointment Hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday Wenhui Li, L. Ac 4525 Cameron Valley Pkwy. Suite 1600 Charlotte, NC 28211 704-512-6293
• Duet 2-on-1 sessions • Semi-private sessions of 3 to 5 clients for Pilates or Personal Training.
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www.pilateswithatwist.net 2935 Providence Rd., Suite 206 • Charlotte NC 28211
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Measuring Up The Results Are Not Surprising
G
uess what? Good judgment hits the top spot in a list of six characteristics women across the country identify as what is most important to them in a partner. Um, did we really need a survey for that? According to MeasureUP Place (www.measureupplace.com), an online resource for identifying, discussing, debating, and evaluating top-of-mind trends and topics, the results are in on what women want in a solid relationship.
Out of a total of 40 characteristics, women said they wanted their partners to have the following: 1. Good Judgment 2. Intelligence 3. Faithfulness 4. An Affectionate Disposition 5. Financial Responsibility 6. Good Fathering Skills
Do You Have Heartburn More Than Three Times Per Week? You may have Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) GERD can be the cause of injury to the esophagus and esophageal cancer
See a Gastroenterologist for Evaluation and Treatment
I Feel Pretty A Puff Of Nostalgia
Physician Leaders In The Charlotte Region For More Than 30 Years Charlotte Gastroenterology is approved for office endoscopy by Aetna, Cigna, BCBS, MedCost, Multi Plan, United Healthcare & Wellpath. • Endoscopy in a private setting • In most cases, only an office copay applies
Charlotte • SouthPark • Ballantyne • Matthews Huntersville • Mooresville Patient Appointment Line (704) 377-0246 • www.charlottegastro.com AAAHC-Accredited Office Endoscopy
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For those of us who sat at the foot of the dressing table and watched in fascination as Mom carefully applied her makeup for an evening out with Dad, there will always be something romantic about that last dash of powder she pouffed across her shoulders from the pretty pink puff on her table. The folks at Elizabeth Arden remember too, and they’ve introduced a line of fragrance, called Pretty, that captures that nostalgia in both its scent and its packaging. Pretty has what Elizabeth Arden refers to as a “floral heart,” surrounded by the aromatic essence of sweet fruit and serene woods. Available at department stores. TCW
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE
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Rose-Colored Glass
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International master crystal artist Adam Jablonski sets hearts aflutter with this gorgeous perfume bottle — one unique and romantic gift, among many heart-felt offerings.Sedona Boutique • 10822 Providence Road, Suite 800,corner of Ballantyne Commons Parkway • 704.846.6565
Lettered In Love Initial those you love with sterling silver and goldplated silver letter charms from Waxing Poetic Charms. Just one gift idea that will help you make the grade this Valentine’s Day. The Mole Hole • Colony Place • 704.543.9969
Time For Style Clock artist Duane Scheare uses acid-washed metals, handmade paper, and unusual objects to create one-of-a-kind pieces. His works are among hundreds of eclectic works of art and craft found at Purple Pea Gifts. Purple Pea Gifts • 6416 B-9 Rea Road, Piper Glen Shopping Center • www.purplepeagifts.com • 704.542.5675
Stepping Lightly Slip your toes into lovely mules created by you, from one of the many patterns available at Poe’s Point needlepoint shop. From hand-painted canvases ready for you to embroider, to various fibers and specialty threads, you’ll be in stitches and in style. Poe’s Point • 4705 Savings Place, Suite 106, Phillips Place • 704.553.8777
C H A R L O T T E
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When You’re Trying To Conceive…
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Do your hands and legs age you beyond your years? You can easily get rid of unsightly spider veins in your legs and bulging veins in your hands with the help of our registered nurse, Beverly Lauer. Sclerotherapy treatment for your legs or hands involves injecting a virtually pain-free solution to eradicate unwanted veins in only two or more sessions. For larger, bulging leg veins, our exclusive Cool Touch™ CTEV Endovenous Laser is a remarkably effective procedure that requires no hospitalization and no down time. It’s performed right in the office by Dr. Munavalli who has trained at world-renowned institutions Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Emory University, and the University of California-San Francisco. Call for your consultation today and learn how these highly successful treatments can get you back to your life in the same day! 704.375.6766
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Q u e e n H A P P E N I N G S
C i t y YO U
D O N ’ T
J e w e l s WA N T
TO
M I S S
Bowled Over
Dessert First
Help Yourself And Others At Second Harvest Event
Eat Sweets For A Good Cause
E
njoy a simple meal and receive a piece of one-of-a-kind pottery — all in the name of feeding the hungry — at Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina’s Empty Bowls fundraiser Feb. 27. “I love all of our events, but Empty Bowls has a special place in my heart,” says Kay Carter, executive director of Second Harvest. “The event features a simple lunch. Each person who attends also takes home a handcrafted pottery bowl — one of many donated by some of the region’s finest potters — to remind attendees that somewhere, someone has an empty bowl. Such an important message.” The annual fundraiser is held at Charlotte’s Marriott City Center, and affords individuals the opportunity to bid on
L items, enjoy live music and pottery demonstrations, and select a handmade bowl to take home.
WantToGo? For more information, visit www.secondharvestcharlotte.org, or call 704/376-1785.
Keeping It Reel Jewish Film Festival Highlights Culture, Faith
C
oming soon to a theater near you is the fifth annual Charlotte Jewish Film Festival, set for Feb. 28 through March 8, with a preFestival screening Feb. 24. The Festival aims to educate and entertain with the best in Jewish cinema from around the world, and this year offers 10 screenings of internationally acclaimed films, in various area locations. Featured films illuminate the Jewish experience in its myriad forms; however, the underlying themes are universal to people of all faiths and walks of life, and encompass mental disability and faith, the healing power of the arts, interfaith relations, and spiritual self-discovery. 24
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ife is short — eat dessert first! So say the volunteers at The V Foundation for Cancer Research, which is holding its second annual Dessert First event at the Quail Hollow Club Feb. 20.The delicious affair, derived from the concept that we should remember to enjoy the simple indulgences in life, is aimed at raising money to fund research to fight women’s cancers. Dessert First offers an evening of dessert, dinner, and entertainment, plus a silent auction. This year’s guest speakers include author and motivational speaker Emory Austin, and Judy Rose, athletic director at UNC Charlotte. Proceeds benefit a local women’s cancer research grant. “Everyone knows of a mom, sister, or friend affected by this horrible disease,” says Nick Valvano, CEO of The V Foundation for Cancer Research.“By developing women’s cancer initiatives, we not only raise money to defeat women’s cancer, but also create a sense of solidarity for women across North Carolina to make the fight against cancer that much stronger.”
The Festival has several new community partners, including the Latin American Coalition and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Library. First-time viewing venues include Providence Day School, the McGlohon Theatre at Spirit Square, and the Charles Mack Citizen Center in Mooresville. Ticket prices range from free to $18. Tickets to the Feb. 28 opening night party are $12 each, or $20 for a combination film/party ticket.
WantToGo? For information or to purchase tickets, visit www.charlottejewishfilm.com, or www.CarolinaTix.org, or call 704/372-1000.
WantToGo? For information or to make a donation, visit www.jimmyv.org, or call 800/454-6698.
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Oscar-Worthy Night And The Winner Is The Charlotte Symphony
P
hilanthropic fundraiser or red-carpet fabulous? No matter how you look at it, Oscar Night® America returns to Charlotte Sun., Feb. 22, to simultaneously raise funds for the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and celebrate the Oscars. This year’s event, which begins at 7 p.m. and runs until midnight, features live entertainment with local celebrities, food and drink, door prizes, contests, and a live auction. Attendees can stay tuned to Hollywood’s festivities through a live television
feed of the Academy Awards® telecast, direct from Los Angeles to Charlotte via local ABC-TV affiliate, WSOC Channel 9. Tickets are $75 per person, and include valet parking.
WantToGo? For information, visit www.charlottesymphony.org, or call 704/972-2000.
A Look Within Photography Exhibit Accents Inner Beauty
Q
ueens University of Charlotte welcomes you to experience the inner beauty found within the photographs of Gangfeng Wang, whose exhibit, “In Deepest China,” is being offered by Friends Of Art At Queens, Feb. 1 through March 8. Wang worked as a laborer in China until 1981, when he began developing his art with a secondhand camera and expired film. Adecade later, he was named one of Canada’s top pho-
tographers; Wang has since won Ballantine’s First International Photography Award. The exhibit will be held in the Max L. Jackson Gallery (located in the Watkins Building). Queens will celebrate with an opening reception Thu., Feb. 19, from 6 to 8 p.m.
WantToGo?
Happy Birthday! Celebrate With Lark & Key
H
elp celebrate Lark & Key Gallery’s first anniversary by attending a solo exhibit by artist and co-owner Duy Huynh, whose poetic acrylic paintings draw inspiration from a variety of storytellers. The exhibit opens with a reception Feb. 19, and runs through March 29. Beginning with its one-year celebration, Lark & Key will be showcasing the work of various potters with each exhibit.The first featured potter will be Diana Fayt,a San Francisco-based artist/designer who creates ceramic pieces that incorporate original drawings of birds, whales, and other silhouetted icons, along with freehand illustrations.
WantToGo? For information, visit www.larkandkey.com, or call 704/379-1826.
For information, visit www.queens.edu/community.
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O n W O M E N
M A K I N G
Job Changes/Promotions Kishshana Palmer Teele has joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Charlotte as chief development officer.
Tara Servatius, host of The Tara Servatius Show — a mix of local and national commentary, interviews, and forensic journalism — was named afternoon drive on-air host for WBT AM and FM.
Vivian Burnette has joined McCulloch England Associates Architects as assistant controller.
A. Michelle Fish, CEO and founder of Integra Staffing & Search and Bankston Partners, was named director of programming and sponsorship for the Charlotte Area Society of Human Resources.
Sherie Bradshaw has joined Ballantyne Diagnostic & Sleep Center as marketing director; Colleen Dey was appointed sleep lab manager.
ABZ Design Group, a full service creative agency, has promoted Elizabeth Engle and Stacey Veit to account managers.
T h e M o v e
S T R I D E S
•
B U S I N E S S
S U C C E S S
Diona Kidd, vice president of Knowmad Technologies, was elected to the board of directors of the Civic and Cultural Arts Center of Pineville.
Jessica Graham was named assistant to the president for community relations and marketing services at Central Piedmont Community College.
Lake Norman Regional Medical Center has appointed Brenda Burk, R.N., director of the Lake Norman Endoscopy and Ambulatory Surgical Centers. LNRMC has hired Jane Edmiston,R.N., as liaison nurse, and Michelle Ong, M.D., as hospitalist.
Leanne Kinsella has joined Barnhardt, Day & Hines as director of business development.
The Charlotte chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators has elected its 2008-2009 board of directors: Dianne Chase, president; Ruth Moeller, president-elect; David Coburn, vice president of programs; Andrew Newsome, vice president of member services; Susan Shackelford and Sharon Morris, co-vice presidents of communications; Diane Rutledge, vice president of finance; Natalia Russo, secretary; Angela Shannon, vice president of awards; and Dr. Leanne Pupchek, Webmaster.
S T O R I E S
New Business/Changes One Lucky Pup, a dog daycare and boarding facility, has opened at 11607 Reames Road.
ReGenesis Medical Spa and Radiance Medspa have merged to form Evolve Medical Associates, offering locations in SouthPark and Ballantyne. Evolve Medical Associates is under the direction of board-certified physicians Donald J. Sudy, M.D., and Sarah S. Yousuff, M.D.
Awards And Installations The Symphony Guild of Charlotte Inc. was awarded the Gold Book Online Award of Excellence from the Volunteer Council of the League of American Orchestras for its 2007-2008 Musical Petting Zoo. The program allows the general public the opportunity to hold and play The Symphony Guild’s orchestral instruments through frequent displays at ImaginOn, The Joe and Joan Martin Center, and local street festivals.
Lake Norman Regional Medical Center’s Volunteer Auxiliary has received the Five-Star Award from the North Carolina Hospital Volunteers.
The Arc of Mecklenburg County has received the Distinguished Affiliate Award for dedication, commitment, and professionalism by The Arc of North Carolina at the 2008 Annual Awards luncheon. Lauren Mullis, executive director for The Arc of Mecklenburg County, was honored with The Carey Fendley Award for Executive Excellence. SEND YOUR NEWS TO:
On The Move editor@todayscharlottewoman.com
Today’s Charlotte Woman 5200 PARK ROAD, SUITE 111, CHARLOTTE, NC 28209
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WorkNotes
Remember how good home tastes?
Fight Club
The gourmet chef’s dream!
Resolving Conflict On The Job BY KARSEN PRICE
I
t’s bad enough that you and your teen can’t have a conversation without getting into a shouting match. And every Saturday, there’s the weekly argument with your hubby about who has to clean the bathroom. Now, the new guy at the office seems to be undercutting you in front of the boss — and last week, he ate your peanut butter without asking. Suddenly, work is no longer the haven you hoped it to be, and it’s increasingly difficult to focus on the job at hand. What’s a working woman to do?
Go Internal According to Kim Honeycutt, licensed psychotherapist and owner of Charlotte-based Peer In Counseling Center, the worst thing you can do — for yourself, and for the company — is ignore a tense situation. Honeycutt suggests you go introspective, and discover how and why you are being triggered by the problem. “A lot of times, in work, we play out our family dynamics,” Honeycutt says. “Coworkers become our ‘siblings,’ and bosses are seen as ‘parents.’ We wind up responding to problems the same way we respond within our family, and these reactions aren’t the best for us or our working environment.”
Confrontation Time After some soul searching, it’s appropriate to go directly to the person who is upsetting you and discuss the problem, no matter how difficult that may be. Honeycutt suggests relying heavily on “I” statements instead of “you” statements, which tend to put people on the defensive. When possible, hyper-focus on one point, and refuse to be distracted, no matter how the other person reacts. And, Honeycutt notes, if you bring up a problem, you must always also offer a solution.
Incredible selections
Hit The Manual If the other person doesn’t handle the confrontation gracefully, then the time has come to bring in another party. Many large corporations have in place a hierarchy that is explained in the employee manual, and this should be followed to a T. When in doubt, visit your human resources department for help. Sometimes, conflicts cannot be successfully negotiated, regardless of which person is right or wrong. Honeycutt says to remember that you should be proud of yourself for standing up for your needs — no matter what the end result! TCW
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BROUGHT TO YOU BY ...
Planning For The Future M A K I N G TO M O R R O W C O U N T B Y M A P P I N G YO U R C O U R S E TO D AY A growing number of Americans are concerned that the current economic crisis is threatening to leave them further behind on their retirement plans, according to a new survey by Bank of America. The 2008 Bank of America Retirement Savings Sur-
ule or had not started their retirement planning
vey , conducted in November 2008 and based on
efforts. Comparatively, according to findings from
1,000 participants, finds that six in ten Americans
this latest survey, conducted in November 2008,
IRA to enjoy tax-advantaged savings
are spending less than they were three months ago
62 percent of the general public and closer to half
• Consider opening an investment account
as a result of the current economic climate.
made on your retirement planning • Maximize contributions to your 401(k) and
(44 percent) of affluent Americans are either
• Protect yourself and your family with life
Bank of America has recently stated that
behind schedule or have not started their retire-
insurance, disability insurance and long-
today’s economic conditions are having a sig-
ment planning efforts — indicating that Amer-
nificant impact on Americans’ near-term finan-
icans are getting increasingly off-track when it
cial behavior, causing many to believe they are
comes to planning for their financial futures.
Nearing Retirement
in a less secure position to work toward their long-term retirement goals. Based on its survey,
Take Inventory Of Retirement Assets
• Position yourself for income generation.
it appears that many Americans are not fully able
Whether retirement is just around the corner
to save what is needed to retire as they had
or a distant milestone, it is never too early or too late
planned, and some are tapping into their nest
to start taking advantage of the retirement solutions
eggs to meet more immediate financial needs.
that are available to you. Funding an employer-
Although the majority of respondents with at least one retirement account say that they have
sponsored savings plan, such as a 401(k) or 403(b) According to Bank of America, there are a
maturely, recent economic conditions have
number of fundamental steps to consider at var-
caused nearly one in five individuals to withdraw
ious stages of your retirement planning journey.
these early withdrawals are near-term financial
•
plan, is a first step for retirement planning.
not withdrawn assets from their accounts pre-
assets prematurely. The leading reasons for
term care insurance • Target your planning to be debt free by retirement
Below are some tips to consider during the
• •
retirement stages.
•
and mortgage payments (22 percent), with an
Starting Out
•
additional 22 percent citing recent job loss.
• Prepare a realistic budget and manage your
Golden Years Diminish As Careers Extend
• Create a cash cushion to cover short-term
obligations, such as credit card debt (26 percent)
Consider diversifying your portfolio with income-producing investments, and products that provide the opportunity for guaranteed income streams* Review important documents such as your will, durable power of attorney or health care proxy, as well as your beneficiary designations Request pension estimates from your plan provider Review your life insurance coverage(s) Obtain Social Security Retirement benefit estimates Assess your needs for health care coverage in retirement
debt carefully In light of recent economic turbulence, 43 percent of Americans believe they now face more years in the work force than they expected to one year ago. This will clearly affect Baby Boomers the most, or those approaching retirement who may not have time to recover the financial
of your life
• Know your retirement number (the dollar
• Simplify your finances through efficiencies
amount you need to retire)
and consolidation
• Meet with your financial advisor and prepare
• Help your money last by reviewing asset
a retirement plan
allocations and investment product choices
• Take advantage of your company-sponsored
• Manage your cash flow for tax efficiency
retirement plans
losses incurred during recent months.
The New Retiree • Prepare a budget for the retirement phase
expenses and emergencies
• Complement retirement savings with IRAs
• Review auto insurance: Pleasure rates
53 percent of the general public and 36 percent
On Your Way
of affluent Americans were either behind sched-
• Review your retirement number and progress
may be less than business rates • Assess your healthcare coverage • Review social security benefits for accuracy
According to responses to a Bank of America Retirement survey conducted in March 2008,
For additional information about retirement solutions visit www.bankofamerica.com/ira or call The Retirement Help Desk at 1.800.774.4724. The Web site provides easy-to-understand explanations of how IRAs work and the differences among IRAs. Here, individuals can also see how much they will potentially need in retirement. *Guarantees are based on the claims paying ability of the issuer. Brokerage IRAs (non-FDIC insured) are available through Banc of America Investment Services, Inc. Bank IRAs (FDIC insured) are available through Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC.
Banking products are provided by Bank of America, N.A., member FDIC. Investment products are provided by Banc of America Investment Services, Inc.® and: Are Not FDIC Insured
May Lose Value
Bank of America, N.A.Equal Housing Lender© 2009 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.
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Are Not Bank Guaranteed
Banc of America Investment Services, Inc. is a registered broker-dealer, member FINRA and SIPC, and a nonbank subsidiary of Bank of America, N.A.
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Profile
Leading With
Passion BY COREY STEWART • PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
Nancy Brown champions the cause of the American Heart Association, focusing on education and outreach.
T H E A M E R I C A N H E A RT A S S O C I AT I O N ’ S F I R S T F E M A L E D I R E C TO R I S O N A M I S S I O N
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N
ancy Brown is passionate about
est and largest voluntary health organization,
your heart.As the newly installed
and spearheads the mission of making Amer-
CEO of the American Heart Asso-
icans heart healthy, regardless of age, gender,
ciation, she leads the nation’s old-
and socioeconomics.
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Brown, who lives in Plano, Texas, began her Women program, through which the Associacareer with the American Heart Association 23 tion sponsors various public forums, educayears ago, as a special events coordinator in tional initiatives, and awareness events. During Michigan. From there, she progressed to man- the first week of February, for instance, national agement, and eventually became known for her monuments will be illuminated in red, and leadership of some of the organization’s most women are encouraged to wear red to show support for women’s cardiovascular health. The high-profile initiatives. Robert Carson, past chairman of the board Go Red Web site offers tips for reducing your of the American Heart Association, has wit- risk of coronary problems, and it includes pernessed Brown’s work ethic and abilities first- sonal accounts from women who have expehand for more than a decade. “I’ve worked with rienced heart attacks and strokes. These stories numerous business leaders over the course of vividly illustrate a critical point: Heart attacks my career,” he says. “Nancy Brown possesses and strokes can, and frequently do, affect all of the leadership skills, dedication, and drive young women. According to Brown, women need to realof the best Fortune 500 CEOs.” For Brown, all of her work revolves around ize that, at any age, they have the power to control much of one central purtheir risk of coropose: raising the Charlotte is known for having a nary illness. “Heart public’s awareness disease is often of the risks of heart wealth of women who are engaged preventable,” she disease and stroke. says. “Women can “Our goal is, and in the community, and the make simple lifehas always been, style changes, like to reach all AmeriAmerican Heart Association benefits eating well and cans with informaenormously from their efforts. exercising 30 mintion about leading utes a day, that heart-healthy will significantly lives,” she says. NANCY BROWN reduce their risk of heart disease, as well as other illnesses, such A Female Perspective Women are an important target audience for as diabetes.” this information, as research has shown that cardiovascular disease will kill more than 460,000 Powerful Beat women this year — almost one per minute. CarThe American Heart Association is the diovascular disease is, in fact, the leading nation’s second-largest non-industry funder of cause of death in women. heart disease research, sharing its findings Educating women about the ways they can widely so that all hospitals and physicians benreduce their risk of heart disease and stroke is efit from its work. One initiative, Get with the a mission for Brown. “So much of what we do,” Guidelines, is based on cutting-edge exploration she says, “is about getting attention, and getting and medical advancements that establish women to hear things they don’t necessarily parameters for in-hospital coronary care, allowwant to hear, such as, ‘Losing weight and exer- ing patients to benefit from optimal treatment cising can prolong your life!’ These are ways to practices. Follow-up studies have shown that reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke, and the program is a valuable tool in not only ensurcommunicating these steps is critical.” ing that patients receive the finest care while One way of communicating is via the they are hospitalized, but also in educating American Heart Association’s Go Red for them on how to prevent recurrences of heart >
“
—
”
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Profile team that created and developed this program, and she has been able to chart its success as more and more companies seek to earn the title of a “Fit Friendly” place to work. It is anticipated that over a million walkers will take part in more than 450 events across the United States this year, raising money for research and spreading the word about fostering fitness in the workplace.
A Shared Passion
Nancy Brown is dedicated to raising awareness of the risks of cardiovascular disease, which will kill more than 460,000 women this year.
“
The American Heart Association is in the hands of a very capable
”
leader, and I look forward to seeing where she will take us.
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attack and stroke after those patients have returned home. Getting children on an early path to heart health is another high priority for the American Heart Association, and Brown is proud of the partnership with the William J. Clinton Foundation that has produced the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. The aim of the Alliance is to reverse the alarming increase in childhood obesity; a trend that, if left unchecked, will create an entirely new generation of unhealthy hearts. “We want to reverse this trend by 2015, by teaching kids to make good choices for their own well-being, and by helping the schools become better, healthier environments for students,” Brown explains. Corporate America is at the core of the START! program, which encourages management to offer healthy food options, create onsite walking trails, and form teams to participate in nationwide Walking to Save Lives events. As with the initiatives aimed at women and children, Brown was part of the W O M A N
So how does Brown, who oversees the operations of the American Heart Association’s national center in Dallas, as well as its eight regional affiliate offices across the United States and in Puerto Rico, avoid burnout, given the constant travel and demands of her job? She credits the people around her with keeping her enthusiastic about her work. “The staff, the volunteers, and the people who participate in our programs are all so passionate about what we’re doing. It’s infectious!” she exclaims. “That drive keeps me going. Everything is easier when you are surrounded with great people, and when you have a passion for what you do.”
Heart Attacks In Women K N O W
T H E
S I G N S
The symptoms of a heart attack can vary greatly in individuals and are typically markedly different in women than in men. Call 911 or get to an emergency room immediately if you experience any of the following: • A feeling of discomfort (squeezing or pain) in the chest • Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach • Shortness of breath Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or vomiting, lightheadedness, and back pain. Source: American Heart Association/Go Red for Women at www.goredforwomen.org.
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Easy As ABC! H E A RT- H E A LT H Y
CHANGES TO
bio-identical
hormone replacement MAKE TODAY
therapy
Avoid tobacco: Quit smoking, as soon as possible. Become more active: Make time for 30 minutes of exercise, five (or more!) days a week. Choose good nutrition: Enjoy a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Source: American Heart Association/Go Red for Women at www.goredforwomen.org.
Carson concurs, pointing to the excellence of the Association’s staff. “These are people whose skills and talent are phenomenal,” he says. “They stay in this nonprofit organization because they believe so strongly in the mission.” Brown notes that managing her lengthy todo list is a top priority. “I work very hard to stay organized, and I have wonderful people who help me with that,” she says. “I’m also an expert at multitasking.”
Nancy Brown credits her staff with keeping her motivated and focused.
While the staff is critical to her success, Brown says that without the group’s numerous volunteers there would be no American Heart Association. “Volunteers are the backbone of our organization,” she explains. “Success wouldn’t happen without them. Their work and dedication are so valuable to us.” The Queen City is home to the MidAtlantic Affiliate of the American Heart Association, which offers numerous ways to become engaged in its life-saving mission. Brown readily recognizes and commends Charlotte’s culture of volunteerism. “Charlotte is known for having a wealth of women who are engaged in the community,” she says.
“The American Heart Association benefits enormously from their efforts and welcomes anyone who would like to become involved in the future.”
Off And Running After one month in her role as CEO, Brown is grateful for the chance to lead such an esteemed institution, and she credits the organization’s structure for allowing her a breadth of experience not often available in the corporate world. “The American Heart Association is a not-for-profit organization, but as with all successful nonprofits, it is run like a business,” she says. “Because of this, I have been able to work in many fields within our organization — education, marketing, management, and fundraising. The American Heart Association has allowed me to have a meaningful business career.” Carson says that the new CEO has some big shoes to fill, compliments of her predecessor, Cass Wheeler. “But,” he adds, “there is no one better than Nancy Brown to be the champion of this organization, as we face the challenges of the future — tough economic times, coronary illness affecting people at much younger ages than before, and the reality that we’ve exported some of our unhealthy habits, along with our good ones, to the rest of the world. The American Heart Association is in the hands of a very capable leader, and I look forward to seeing where she will take us.” TCW
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Profile After experiencing a severe stroke, cardiac nurse manager Ashley Long has an entirely new outlook on treating heart patients in her care.
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Working With
Heart Taking A Turn As Patient Gave This Nurse A New Perspective BY JENNIFER MITCHELL • PHOTOS BY JAMES BROWN
F
rom the time she was 9 years old, Ashley Long knew she wanted to become a nurse. Helping others was simply her passion. In her grown-up role as a nurse manager in the Cardiovascular Institute at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, she quickly became an expert when it came to taking care of those with serious cardiac conditions.
Looking after her own health, however, was a different story. She had never been sick a day in her
life and admits that she felt invincible. But just days after giving birth to her first child, Long found herself,at age 28,in the fight of her life — for her life. A massive stroke forced her to change her self-described stubborn ways when it came to taking care of herself.
Four years earlier, in 2002, Long had been diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, a condition that can lead to heart palpitations caused by an extra electrical connection or abnormal pathway in the heart. Although her doctor explained that there were medical options to help manage and even alleviate the condition, Long decided to live with the occasional unpleasant sensation of feeling her heart race, sometimes as fast as 250 beats per minute. “It was the type of thing that normally only happened a few times a year,” Long explains. “I am not a sick person. I am healthy. I eat well. So I didn’t see a reason to do anything about my heart condition, because I didn’t think anything would go wrong.” In 2006, Long became pregnant, but the joy and excitement of impending motherhood were quickly overshadowed by the heart issues that began to flare up. Suddenly, the palpitations were occurring on a regular basis. She suffered from shortness of breath, and she often
had trouble sleeping. She recalls lying awake in bed and feeling her heart race when she was seven months pregnant. Long was in and out of the hospital several times during her pregnancy, and her doctor ultimately put her on medication to help control her heart rate. At that point, it was unsafe for her to undergo other medical options, such as radio frequency ablation, a procedure in which radio frequency energy creates scar tissue to interrupt the abnormal electrical connection in the heart. On Sept. 15, 2006, Long gave birth to a healthy, 7-pound, 11-ounce baby girl. The new mother was ecstatic as she arrived home with little Jaley Morgan. But two days later, when Long walked into the kitchen to get a bowl of cereal, her husband noticed that she was drooling from the left side of her mouth and she had lost control of the left side of her face. In a panic, he called 911. Even after the ambulance arrived, Long had no idea anything was really wrong. Convinced that she could handle the situation, she tried > F E B R U A R Y
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Profile rapid heartbeats,” Dr. Bailey says. “The presence of an accessory pathway can occasionally contribute to episodes of atrial fibrillation, which is known to increase the chance of tiny clots forming in the atria of the heart. The clots can then move and cause a stroke.”
A New Outlook On Care
C A R D I O L O G I S T R U S S B A I L E Y, W H O T R E A T E D A S H L E Y L O N G W H E N S H E W A S A D M I T T E D T O T H E E R , C O N F E R S W I T H H E R O N T H E S T A T U S O F A P A T I E N T.
“
There is a reason I am here, and it is to take care of as many people as I can. I don’t take a day for granted.
— ASHLEY LONG
to hold a clipboard in order to sign paperwork to refuse medical treatment. At that point, though, she could no longer feel her left hand. She suddenly began to realize her condition was more serious than she had thought. “I finally agreed to go with the paramedics,” she says. “I remember standing up to get on the stretcher, and that is the last thing I remember about that day.”
A Critical Situation When Long arrived at Presbyterian Hospital, a team of physicians and staff were waiting for her. She was critically ill, and colleagues she worked with every day had to act quickly to try to save her life. “When she rolled in on the Medic truck she could not talk,” says Mary Beth Poplin, director of nursing at the Cardiovascular Institute. “She looked at me, and she had an expression of horror on her face. It was just so severe that I was unsure how she would recover from this.” According to Long’s cardiologist, Dr. Russ 36
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”
Bailey, who is also the medical director of the Electrophysiology Lab at Presbyterian, a blood clot had lodged in an artery in the right side of her brain. After unsuccessfully trying to go in and remove the clot, the medical team administered a potent clot-dissolving drug directly to the artery. “Fortunately, this occurred quickly,” Dr. Bailey says. “Had this clot not been dissolved as promptly and as successfully as it was, Ashley could have had a significant permanent limitation in the use of the left side of her body. Yes, she was in trouble!” Despite numerous neurological and cardiac evaluations, it is unclear exactly what led to Long’s stroke. Dr. Bailey explains that, normally, Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome is not associated with an increased risk of stroke. But it is possible that the disorder may have been one of several contributing factors. “Ashley had, in the past, experienced brief episodes of atrial fibrillation, a very common rhythm abnormality that results in irregular
In the first days after her stroke, Long worried about what type of mother she would be, and if she would ever hold her baby again. Initially, she had no feeling in her left foot or left hand. Co-workers were fearful that she would return to work using a walker or confined to a wheelchair. Many of those fears were put to rest by the time Long was discharged from the hospital, a mere five days after being admitted. She had, in that time, regained all feeling in the left side of her body and showed no visible signs of having had a stroke. Rehabilitation, common for most stroke patients, was unnecessary. Just 11 weeks later, she was back at work as a nurse in the same unit in which she received treatment — essentially taking only the maternity leave she had already scheduled. Today, she has no residual effects from the stroke. Several months after her recovery, Long underwent radio frequency ablation to close off the extra electrical pathway in her heart. She says she wishes she had agreed to the procedure when the problem was first diagnosed. And she now acknowledges that she is not invincible. Being a patient taught her the importance of regular check-ups, and she encourages others to do the same. “I would tell people to be proactive and don’t be stubborn, because you are not guaranteed tomorrow,” she says. Long’s colleagues are amazed at the way she has bounced back from her ordeal. “Every day we look at her, we know we are looking at a miracle,” Poplin says. “She walked back in this hospital for work like she had never missed a beat.” This year, as Long celebrates her 10th anniversary as a registered nurse, she understands firsthand how it feels to be that critically ill patient she is so used to caring for in the hospital. “I know what it feels like to rely on someone else to take you to the bathroom or to give you something to drink,” she says. “And I
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know the importance when someone rings that call button for help.” The experience has changed Long’s entire outlook on life. “I believe I have been given a second chance,” she says, choking up as she reflects on her days as a patient — and a nurse — in the Cardiovascular Institute. “There is a reason I am here, and it is to take care of as many people as I can. I don’t take a day for granted.” TCW
Wolff-ParkinsonWhite Syndrome THE FACTS Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome is a condition caused by the presence of an extra electrical connection in the heart. The syndrome is estimated to occur in about 1 to 3 of every 1,000 people, and can lead to tachycardia (rapid heart rhythm). The extra connections, called accessory pathways, are typically present from birth, but, according to the American Heart Association, 80 percent of patients who have symptoms will first exhibit them between the ages of 11 and 50. The Symptoms Symptoms can include sudden heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness. Generally, patients with WPW are not considered to have a life-threatening condition, although in rare cases, episodes of tachycardia can lead to cardiac arrest. Treatment Options People who do not experience symptoms usually do not need treatment. Those who do experience symptoms are often treated with long-term medications to reduce the frequency and/or duration of episodes of tachycardia. The most common procedure to eliminate an extra electrical connection is radio frequency ablation, in which radio frequency energy creates scar tissue to block the abnormal pathway. F E B R U A R Y
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The Pressure’s On BY MICHELLE YOUNG HUBACHER
When it comes to matters of the heart, women are typically more in tune to what’s important. But when it comes to matters of the
function of the heart, we are not quite up to speed. And the consequences are often deadly, because heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in America. Your lifetime risk of developing heart disease is, in fact, six times greater than that of developing breast cancer. And at the top of the list of risk factors is high blood pressure.
“W
hat’s killing women in this country is heart disease and high blood pressure,” says Dr. James Rippe, associate professor of Cardiology at Tufts University, and author of The Healthy Heart for Dummies. Dr. Rippe was recently in Charlotte to spread the word about high blood pressure, as part of a public health awareness campaign. And the word is urgent. “What you don’t know can kill you,” Dr. Rippe says. “There are no symptoms for high blood pressure … until the one that may kill you.” The first step in assessing your risk is finding out what your blood pressure is.
A Numbers Game Blood pressure is created by the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as it circulates through your body. Each time the heart beats, it pumps blood into the arteries. The force of the blood flow in the arteries is then at its highest, and is called systolic pressure. Between beats, when the
heart is at rest, blood pressure is at its lowest, and is referred to as diastolic. Your blood pressure is recorded as two numbers, usually written one above the other. The systolic number is on top; the diastolic number is on the bottom. Although many factors play into what is “normal” for each of us — such as our general health history, medications we might be taking, and the stage of life we are in (for instance, pregnancy) — blood pressure is generally considered normal when both numbers register lower than 120 over 80. Dr. Joy Browne, clinical psychologist, syndicated radio host, and one of Oprah’s regular contributors, joined Dr. Rippe at his presentation to Charlotte women in September. According to Dr. Browne, most women have no idea what their blood pressure actually is. “We’ve all had our blood pressure taken at the doctor’s office,” she says. “But we often don’t even ask what it is!” The assumption is that if the numbers are somehow out of bounds, the doctor will inform us. > F E B R U A R Y
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The Heart Of A Woman S TAT S W O R T H N O T I N G • Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women. • More women die from heart disease than from all forms of cancer combined. • Only one-third of women understand their own risk for heart disease. • Only 55 percent of women identify heart disease as the leading cause of death facing women today. Source: The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s The Heart Truth campaign; the American Heart Association; and The Kaiser Family Foundation’s 2004 Women’s Health Survey.
But, Dr. Browne insists, the key to taking control of our health is taking control of our numbers. “We are so busy caring for everyone else in our lives that it’s easy for us, as women, to just keep plugging along, unaware of our own health status,” she says. And, again, because high blood pressure does not come with symptoms, the one way to monitor it is to know what the numbers are. Dr. Rippe says the next step to managing high blood pressure is where the real work begins. “We’re not just treating numbers,” he insists. “We’re treating the risk of what those numbers can do to you.”
Oh, The Pressure! So, what exactly does high blood pressure “do” to you? Basically, arteries are not equipped to handle the force of high blood pressure. Over time (and sometimes only a short period of time), that force causes arterial damage, which results in scarring. High blood pressure can cause blindness, kidney failure, and other health problems. It can also lead to heart attack or stroke. For 95 percent of people with high blood pressure, the cause is idiopathic, or unknown. Researchers do know that as we age, our arteries tend to become less flexible, which could contribute to increased risk in older individuals. There are also certain aggravating factors, and Dr. Rippe advises managing those 40
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vigilantly. “We could decrease heart disease by 80 percent if we made five lifestyle changes,” he says. These five steps — which, he adds, only 3 percent of the population has taken — are as follows: 1. Quit smoking. 2. Maintain a healthy body mass index. A BMI of less than 25 is the general guideline. 3. Get 30 minutes of exercise on most days. 4. Put yourself in the top 40 percent of better eaters by incorporating more vegetables, fruits, and grains than anything else in your diet; staying away from processed foods; reducing or eliminating your salt intake; and watching your sugar consumption. 5. Consume half an alcoholic beverage a day, subject, of course, to a doctor’s approval. The risk of high blood pressure is increased by 10 percent per decade of aging, but the great news is that high blood pressure is treatable. Significant changes in your lifestyle — including the five steps noted above — can positively impact your blood pressure. In addition, Dr. Rippe reports that more than 50 good choices in medications are cur-
rently available to help control blood pressure. Although medication may be something that requires a lifetime commitment, people now have a chance to find the medicines that have the fewest side effects and are the most effective for treating this life-threatening condition. According to research from the Go for BP Goal campaign, medicines that lower blood pressure reduce your chance of having a stroke by up to 40 percent, and decrease your risk of a heart attack by up to 25 percent. “High blood pressure is easily measured and can be successfully treated,” Dr. Rippe says. “But it is so often overlooked.” With a commitment to your own health, that can all change. The pressure’s on — go get yours checked. TCW For tips on determining your body mass index, check out our Web site at www.todayscharlottewoman.com.
ToLearnMore For additional information on women and high blood pressure, visit www.GoforBPGoal.com; www.HeartTruth.gov; www.americanheart.org; and www.kff.org.
Sleep In I T M AY B E G O O D F O R Y O U R T I C K E R Getting a little more shut-eye just might be healthy for your heart. Researchers at the University of Chicago have found that middle-aged adults who get an extra hour of sleep each night experience less risk of having artery-clogging calcifications that can lead to heart disease. The findings were published in the Dec. 24–31, 2008, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers studied a group of 495 adults between the ages of 35 and 47 (oh my gosh, is this considered middle age?!), and found a link between their sleeping habits and calcium deposits in their coronary arteries, which were measured using CT scans. None of the study participants had calcium deposits that were detectable at the start of the study, but five years later, about 12.3 percent had such deposits. An additional hour of sleep each night decreased the calcification risk by a third, the researchers reported.
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Ah, Pour Se Marier
En France! BY JOANNA ZIKOS • PHOTOS BY NADEAN BRUEHLMAN, GENE HO PHOTOGRAPHY
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A CHARLOTTE BRIDE REALIZES HER DREAM OF A PARISIAN WEDDING
M
elanie Bonnefoux-DeCoudres began visiting France 14 years ago, when she was just 16. It’s where her parents — Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, a native Frenchman and current artistic director of North Carolina Dance Theatre, and
Patricia McBride, a former principal with the New York City Ballet and current associate artistic director of NCDT — were married, in the tiny village of La Clayette.Time spent in Paris with a beloved aunt instilled cherished memories and even stronger ties to Melanie’s father’s homeland. So, she mused, why not choose France for her own wedding? Melanie’s fiancé, Ryan “Hunter” DeCoudres, had no objections.As a student, he had spent time in France and found himself charmed by the City of Light. The couple planned a wedding in Paris and a honeymoon in Italy. What better way to begin their lives together?
The French Connection “I said, ‘Let’s go! It’ll be an adventure,’ ” recalls Hunter, a Birmingham,Ala., native who is a mortgage broker in Charlotte.“We both have friends and families that are scattered across the country. They were going to have to fly in for the wedding anyway. I felt, as did Melanie, that if we gave them enough notice and time to prepare, they would be able to fly to Paris. I figured most would make it a vacation.” On March 15, 2008, Melanie and Hunter were joined by almost 80 guests in what many would agree is the most romantic city in the world. The ceremony took place in Eglise Saint-
Julien-le-Pauvre, a small, historic church located in the Fifth Arrondissement on the River Seine’s famed Rive Gauche. Guests then celebrated with the newlyweds at a reception on a bateau
mouche (an open excursion boat) as it traveled slowly along the Seine. “We wanted our guests to have a one-of-a-kind experience,” Melanie says. “Of course, we wanted to have a beautiful day for us, but we also wanted to share this amazing moment with our family and friends.This meant having a really great party in an unforgettable setting.” >
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details that would make it special for our guests. We definitely had a list of priorities, and what we initially priced was quite reasonable. We ended up spending more money because of the rising exchange rate last year.” Melanie and Hunter say they both “tried to shave off costs that weren’t that important.” Since flowers in Paris are very expensive, Melanie limited their floral accessories to her bouquet, the bridesmaids’ bouquets, and the men’s boutonnières. Pre-wedding dinners were held in French restaurants, rather than in exorbitantly priced hotels or banquet halls. Also, the celebration was planned for March — considered off-season in Paris. Surprisingly, the reception on the bateau mouche cost less than a post-wedding fête in a Parisian hotel.
Planning Makes Perfect
For Melanie Bonnefoux-DeCoudres and Hunter DeCoudres, marrying in France was a dream come true. After the ceremony, a limousine took them to sites around Paris, giving them an opportunity to experience the city’s beauty and share their celebration with the locals.
Hands Across The Water Melanie, a Charlotte teacher and a published author, admits that the event would not have been possible without the help of her father’s twin sister, Dominique Arden, who lives in Paris. “It was extraordinary to have my aunt as the go-between,” Melanie says. “She was able to check out all the venues — everything from hotels and restaurants to 44
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flowers and the reception site. And, she sent me all the paperwork that was necessary to get married in France. She found everything for us — the most incredible places — and she did it on a budget! “Since we don’t have unlimited funds,” Melanie continues, “we wanted to make our wedding as cost effective as possible, while at the same time not skimping on important
“When you get into wedding planning, it can become overwhelming. It kind of takes your life over — you have to keep a clear head,” Melanie advises. “Before you get started, put together a list of priorities with your fiancé. You and he may have differing ideas of what is important.” Although Melanie and Hunter were active participants in the planning, they relied heavily on Tante Dominique, who, they say, made their wedding her special project for about nine months. Melanie believes it was her aunt’s perseverance, along with a little divine intervention, that surmounted some of the obstacles the couple faced. For example, in addition to making sure the necessary paperwork was obtained and properly processed for a Catholic ceremony, she was able to find a priest willing to administer the sacrament of matrimony in English. “Hunter and I decided we wanted a priest who could perform the ceremony in English for my husband’s family and our guests coming from America,” Melanie explains. “You would think that this would not be that hard, but it was unbelievably difficult. We could not find a priest who could do the ceremony in both French and English until my aunt, by chance, went to a service in a church she occasionally visits. She spoke to the priest, who switched over and spoke in English to her. It turns out that he had only one day free — our wedding day. He was leaving the next morning on a mis> sion trip to South Africa.”>
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A destination wedding â&#x20AC;&#x201D; particularly one in a city as lovely as Paris â&#x20AC;&#x201D; provides ample opportunity for unforgettable photo opportunities. The couple invited photographer Nadean Bruehlman, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., to accompany them to France in order to shoot their wedding and reception.
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Merci, Mon Père! Melanie cautions that if you decide to get married in Paris, don’t expect an Americanstyle wedding cake. “My aunt went to 30 bakeries and none of them even knew how to make one,” she says. “In the end, my father surprised us by arranging for beautiful tarts to be presented on tiers and lit with sparklers at the reception. The tarts were filled with pudding, and glazed with fresh cream and different berries.” Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux also rented a limousine to take the newlyweds and their immediate families to some of the iconic Parisian sites for photos following the ceremony — an especially appreciated gesture, as limousines are hard to find in Paris and are mostly reserved for celebrities. At each stop, natives and tourists alike surrounded the car so they could be a part of the celebration and proffer their good wishes.
One little girl wanted to touch Melanie’s dress, because she had “never seen a princess before.” The wedding gown, a unique Eugenia creation made with only one seam and featuring a cathedral-length train, was cer-
“
street band started playing the Wedding March and people clapped,” Melanie remembers. “The whole ride was magical, thanks to my father.” Hunter says that sharing the experience with his parents, Don and Sue DeCoudres of Birmingham, was extra meaningful because it was their first trip to Europe. “They had managed to send all three of their children to Europe at one point in time or another — but, they, themselves, had never been,” he reveals. “My mother, especially, being Catholic, had also been dying to get to Rome. I felt they could make it happen during this trip.” For Melanie and Hunter, the fairy tale continues beyond France and Italy. On Nov. 20, 2008, they welcomed little Isabeau Elizabeth DeCoudres into their world. “She is our honeymoon baby,” Melanie beams. “Her name is French, and it means ‘Light of the Lord.’ ” TCW
Of course, we wanted to have a beautiful day for us, but we also wanted to share this amazing moment with our family and friends. This meant having a really great party in an unforgettable setting.
”
— MELANIE BONNEFOUX-DECOUDRES
tainly fit for a princess, as was the bride’s cathedral-length, hand-sewn lace veil by Homa. Both the gown and the veil were purchased at New York Bride Loft in Charlotte. “When we got out at the Sacré-Coeur, a
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Destination: Romance Planning An Overseas Wedding A destination wedding can be romantic and unforgettable for both the bride and groom … and their guests. However, before you decide to get married in a foreign country,here are some tips and important information you should have at hand: • Research your destination thoroughly. Know as much as you can about the location, especially regarding the weather, exchange rate, cost of services, and local and national customs. Don’t expect an American-style wedding in a foreign country. • If you can’t speak the language of your destination or don’t have relatives there who can help you, consider hiring a wedding planner. Many advertise on the Internet. Travel agents and hotels can also help connect you with a local wedding planning professional. • Learn about the laws pertaining to marriage in your country of choice. You might want to get married in a civil ceremony in the United States to ensure that you are legally married here. Most countries recognize marriages performed in the United States as legal, but the reverse is not always the case. • A church wedding abroad usually requires specific, translated documentation from local parishes in the United States. Some denominations require that marriage preparation classes be completed prior to the ceremony.Adjust your timetable accordingly.
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• The U.S. State Department provides helpful information on the agency’s Web site for Americans getting married abroad: http://travel.state.gov/law/family_issues/marriage/marriage_589.html. • Book travel arrangements as early as possible. Check with the airlines and hotels for largeparty discounts. Also, plan how you will get your wedding attire to the destination.An elaborate wedding gown is not easy to take with you on a plane. Call your air carrier in advance to make sure your clothing is packed and transported appropriately. • Newlywed Melanie Bonnefoux-DeCoudres says it best: “Keep it simple.” Fewer details translate into less room for error, especially if you can’t be at the destination until a few days before the wedding.
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BY MICHELLE YOUNG HUBACHER
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othing signifies a celebratory mood with quite as much pizzazz as the uncorking of a bottle of bubbly. While many of us presume to call the enchanting beverage that’s often lifted in a toast to the bride and groom as they kiss “Champagne,” most, in fact, is not.
Wine is made to sparkle in a variety of ways. The most labor-intensive and expensive technique, called méthode Champenoise (Champagne method), produces the highest-quality sparkling wines, and that is the way true Champagne (the name reserved for sparkling wine made only from grapes of the Champagne region of France) is created. Bubblies produced in other parts of the world, even if they are created by the méthode Champenoise, should be referred to as sparkling wines. This does not necessarily mean that they are of lower quality. There are many high-quality sparkling wines processed outside of Champagne, France.
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Method In The Magic Champagne and finer sparkling wines are typically made from a blend of three grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier (a less intense relative of Pinot Noir). Sometimes Pinot Blanc is also used. The juice from the individual grapes is fermented once, and then mixed to create a cuvée, or base wine. The wine is fermented a second time, using one of two methods. The first, called the Charmat method, takes place in large, closed tanks. The second type of stage-two fermentation is the traditional (Champagne) method, a meticulous process that involves fermentation of the wine after it has been bottled. This is the only
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How Sweet Thou Art
F R O M E X T R A D RY TO D O U X The sweetness, or dosage, of a sparkling wine or Champagne is described on the label like this: Extra Brut (Brut Sauvage) – Extremely dry Brut – Dry Extra Sec – Medium dry Sec – Slightly sweet Demi-Sec – Fairly sweet Doux – Sweet
method used to make true Champagne. Regardless of which method is used, the second fermentation period is when the bubbles in sparkling wine and Champagne are formed. After the base wine has been blended, more yeast and sugar is added. The wine is then sealed off — in a refrigerated tank for the Charmat method, and in bottles for the traditional method. During the second fermentation, yeast consumes the natural sugar in the wine, producing alcohol and carbon dioxide. Since the carbon dioxide cannot escape, it absorbs into the wine until the bottle is uncorked, when tiny, streaming bubbles are let loose. The least-expensive sparkling wines, on the other hand, get their carbonation just like your colas do — from compressed carbon dioxide that is blasted into the wine. The bubbles found within inexpensive sparkling wines are large and short lived. When the second fermentation is complete, the yeast settles to the bottom of the tank or bottle, where it forms sediment called lees. With the Charmat method, the lees are simply filtered out of the tank. The traditional method involves rotating the bottles over several weeks, or even months, to allow all the lees to settle into the container necks. The bottles are then frozen, and the sediment is removed as a solid, icy plug. After the lees are removed, a bit more wine, mixed with varying amounts of sugar, is added to the sparkling wine. A super-strong cork is inserted, and the bottles are ready for further aging or selling.
Raise A Glass Appreciating the effervescence in sparkling
wine and Champagne is a large part of the tasting experience. To best show off the bubbles, and to preserve the fizz (which wine connoisseurs call the “mousse”) for as long as possible, tall, thin glasses, or “flutes,” are best when it comes time to pour. Water ruins the visual effect of sparkling wines, so make sure your glasses are completely dry. And don’t chill them — they will fog up and cloud the view of those beautiful bubbles. Of course, before you can appreciate the bubbles, you have to uncork the bottle — no small feat! The recommended way to handle this high-pressure situation is to get a towel and wrap it around the neck of the bottle while you carefully remove the foil that covers the wire cage and cork. Never remove the wire cage — instead, loosen and then utilize it to strengthen your grip. With the towel, grasp the cage and cork firmly in one hand and twist the bottle
back and forth, holding it at a 45-degree angle with your other hand. Be sure not to twist the cork; it’s the bottle that should move. As the pressure inside the bottle pushes out the cork, you may notice a whispering sound, known as "le soupir amoureux" (the loving whisper). Be aware that sometimes the cork can shoot out like a bullet, so never aim the bottle at anyone, or at anything breakable. In some fancy restaurants or at ceremonial events, a sabre may be used to open Champagne by cutting off the top part of the bottle itself. While this sabrage technique is impressive, it’s better to leave the theatrics to the professionals. The bubbly tastes every bit as good when you simply pop the cork! TCW For food pairings for sparkling wine and Champagne, as well as a few snappy ideas for making a special toast, visit us online at www.todayscharlottewoman.com.
Tasting Stars The TCW staff recently — in the name of research, mind you — participated in a sparkling wine and Champagne tasting at Winestore, in Charlotte’s SouthPark neighborhood, 720 Governor Morrison St. With the expert guidance of Winestore president Matthew Hartley and vice president Matt Snyder, we tasted our way through five excellent sparkling wines and one stellar Champagne … and learned a bit about bubbly along the way. Of the sparkling wines we sampled, none, save the Champagne, was more than $20, proving Snyder’s theory that, “Sparkling wine doesn’t have to be expensive to be good.”We started tasting from the driest prosecco and finished with the Champagne. Here are the sparkling wines Winestore opened for us: Santomé Prosecco $14.99 (Brut, Italy, Charmat method)
Gruet $14.99 (Brut, New Mexico,Traditional method)
Made from predominantly Prosecco grapes. Lemony and very bubbly, with overtones of citrus, melon, almonds, and honey. Because the Charmat method of fermentation tends to preserve the fresh, sweet flavor of the grapes, it is actually preferred for Prosecco.
Crisp and full-bodied with a toasty finish. With its wonderful, fine bouquet dominated by green apple and grapefruit flavors, this is a Winestore customer favorite.
Gloria Ferrer Blanc De Noirs $18.99 (Brut, California, Charmat method)
Strong yeastiness, which Snyder describes as “doughy” when it hits the tongue, that finishes with a mineral and acidic balance.There is taste of white peaches and a slight malty flavor similar to a heavy beer.
A distinctive blend of 92 percent Pinot Noir and 8 percent Chardonnay. This creamy, light-bodied sparkling wine displays a tinge of pink color, resulting from a special pressing technique. Schramsburg Mirabelle $21.99 (Brut, California,Traditional method) An elegant, toasty aroma. This wine is a unique blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes hand-gathered from Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino counties.
Marquis de Perlade Blanc de Blancs $14.99 (Brut,Alsace, France,Traditional method)
Pierre Peters Champagne Blanc de Blancs $60 (Brut, Champagne, France, Champagne method) A smoky taste, with heavy brioche, yet balanced with bright green apple and pear flavors. Not readily available, but a favorite of Winestore president Matthew Hartley.This is a rare and limited-production Champagne … and a rare treat for the TCW staff indeed! F E B R U A R Y
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bead
dazzling L O C A L J E W E L RY S TO R E S I N S P I R E W I T H H A N D C R A F T E D I T E M S BY KARSEN PRICE • PHOTOS BY AUGUSTO PHOTOGRAPHY
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t’s February and, let’s be honest,Valentine’s Day tends to bring into every woman’s subliminal (or not-so-subliminal) thoughts the prospect of receiving a very special gift … of jewelry! If you are lucky enough to be presented with a fabulous
piece on February 14, congratulations! If, however, your chances
of bagging a bauble this year are slim, never fear. Make-your-own jewelry is here — and it’s not just a favored pastime during the season of love. Known as beading, the hobby is affordable, meaningful, and therapeutic. Furthermore, it’s the perfect way to declare your affection for the most important person in your life — you! Beading has been around as long as jewelry itself.And (wo)mankind has been fascinated with jewelry since the dawn of time.The word jewelry, derived from the Latin word jocale — meaning “plaything” —
has been used to describe everything we use to adorn our bodies, from shells and buttons to natural stones and precious gems. Some of the oldest recovered jewelry in history, mollusk shells strung into beads, was discovered recently in South Africa, where researchers dated the items back 100,000 years. Just as it likely did for our cave-dwelling predecessors, perhaps jewelry helps us all feel a little more beautiful or feminine or powerful … by accenting our inner sparkle. >
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Shopping Center, is just a stone’s throw from SouthPark. The Zen-like store features cheerful purple walls and a classic assortment of pearls, gold, silver, and natural stone beads hanging from hooks or nestling in tiny glass dishes and black velvet boxes. Both businesses, though different in style and offerings, are part and parcel of today’s beading frenzy.
bead all that you can bead Lydia Stern understands all things bead-like and bauble-ish. The New York native was a bead aficionado long before opening BeadLush in Charlotte’s artsy Plaza-Midwood neighborhood. A beading enthusiast for more than 15 years, her experiences span both the retail and wholesale bead industries, and she is adept at designing and selling custom jewelry. Ironically, Stern wound up in the business by chance. A long-time job at USAir (now US Airways) led her to North Carolina. Five years later, the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks occurred, and she found herself on voluntary furlough from the airline. She enrolled in computer school, but
ss work le busine lry. the baub in we d je e e rt d a a adLush, st f creating handm e B f o r e draw o rn, own Lydia Ste arned the quickly le d n a r le sa
ing with
a whole-
beading hearts Two area businesswomen are particularly aware of the positive impact jewelry has on a woman’s soul. Both are independent shop owners who provide a multitude of beads, stones, crystals, and jewelry findings — not to mention know-how — to Charlotteans who have been bitten by the beading bug. BeadLush, a make-your-own jewelry boutique owned by Lydia Stern and located off Central Avenue in a quaint, 1932 brick home with ivy climbing up the walls, offers 1,700 square feet of space and thousands of beads for both seasoned and novice beaders. Jewelology, owned by Jennifer Shanks and neatly tucked within the cosmopolitan area of Park Road’s bustling ParkTowne Village 52
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The unique wares at BeadLush are displayed in dishes, like sweets.
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when the opportunity to work part time for a bead wholesaler arose in 2002, she jumped at the chance, considering the job more enjoyment than employment. “They would get calls for retail all the time,” Stern remembers. “Back then, there were no retail bead shops in Charlotte.” She was privy to a long list of beading suppliers around the country (not to mention a fabulous personal stash of beads), and she recognized the need for such a store in The Queen City. She decided to fill it. “I took out loans and depended on credit cards,” Stern says. “I was very small at first. I opened a tiny store in a strip mall, and business boomed.” For two years, Stern relied on word-of-mouth advertising. She offered jewelry-making lessons, a variety of beads, and a multitude of the various findings needed to fashion personal, one-of-a-kind jewelry. There was always a focus on friendly customer service. Local beaders were hungry for the store’s expansive inventory, and Stern soon relocated into a larger shop.
the bead goes on
to work for BeadLush so badly that she admits, “I went home and wrote a paper about it, explaining all the reasons I would be an excellent employee.” Today, Ross’ jewelry creations are a draw to the store. According to Stern, beading isn’t limited to one age group. BeadLush customers range from tweens to people in their late 60s. And although most are excited about the design element of beading, several regular BeadLush patrons often come in with ideas for projects they’d like to have created for them. One customer routinely brings in eclectic items — a vintage brooch, for instance — and asks Ross to design pieces around them. Noting that any beader “worth her salt” is always investigating new beads and stone offerings, Stern says she personally spends a portion of every vacation checking out the inventory in the city she is visiting. She advertises in local publications, as well as in national beading magazines. She also incorporates area “gallery crawls” into her business — several gorgeous paintings by local artists hang on her cranberry-colored walls. And she never fails to hold her annual “Please Don’t Make Us Count All The Teeny Tiny Beads” half-off sale, which celebrates its sixth anniversary in 2009. Stern has seen, firsthand, that beading can be addictive. “As a hobby, it’s calming and therapeutic, and it’s a great way to be artistic,” she says. “Everybody can do it.” She notes that men have been known to stumble into the store, fueled by the desire to create a personalized gift for the special woman in their lives. “And we always tell them, ‘You have no idea how much this is going to mean to her!’ ” >
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“Beading goes in cycles,” Stern explains. “It comes in and out. If you think about it, beaders have been around forever.” She jokes that if bartering with gems instead of cash ever comes back in vogue, she will be in good stead! These days, as owner and manager of BeadLush, Stern doesn’t get to create jewelry as often as she would like. She expresses gratitude for her employees, saying, “I have lucked into the most incredible help you could ever imagine.” One of those employees, Vanessa Ross, is a talented jewelry maker who wanted
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STYLE IN THE HEART OF CHARLOTTE
7741 Colony Road Charlotte, NC I 704.540.9188 I www.paulbeaunenysalon.com
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thing and you love doing it, you make a point to discover more about it.” Shanks, who acknowledges that she is captivated by textures, colors, and design, finds a fascination in working with combinations. She has a love of natural stones and, along with many of her customers, she believes in the special qualities of certain gemstones. “My favorite has always been apatite,” she says. “It’s this greenish-bluish stone that I’m so drawn to. I’ve been wearing it for years.” One day, she stumbled across the known properties of apatite, and was astonished to find it represents communication, especially with animals. Shanks is an avid animal lover who has always experienced a close bond with dogs. “A lot of people swear by particular gemstones’ abilities to heal,” she continues. “If you are open to the energy, and if you pay attention to what is going on with your body, then I do think stones can affect how you feel and can promote healing or happiness.”
Beaders at Jewelology have access to an array of crystals and interesting accent beads.
Jewelolo gy opened h owner Jennifer S ha er store w hen she w nks, with an educa as 24 yea tion in p sycholog rs old. y
and visua l arts,
leave it to beaders Jewelology owner Jennifer Shanks is a Virginia native who graduated from Duke University, where she majored in psychology and visual arts. “The psychology helps me more in the store than the visual arts,” she chuckles. Once she settled in North Carolina, Shanks decided to stay. And after months of market research, during which she discovered a need for a bead store in the SouthPark area, she opened Jewelology in the spring of 2005 — at the surprisingly young age of 24. Shanks never enrolled in a jewelry-making class like the ones she now offers to the public. “I wish I had had classes here,” she says with a laugh. “I just taught myself; I learned by trial and error. When you are interested in some54
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Jewelology specializes in 100-percent authentic, natural gemstones, as well as pearls, sterling silver and 14 kt gold-filled chain, and findings. Shanks’ goal is to offer “classic, affordable, one-of-a-kind gemstone jewelry delivered with exceptional customer service.”
busy bead Shanks shies away from categorizing what is hot now, priding herself on helping customers create jewelry they can wear for years to come. “We don’t necessarily cater to the trends,” she says. “We want our customers to make or buy pieces that speak to them, and that they feel comfortable wearing. For some, it may be crystals and pearls; for others, stones and leather. Still, for other women, it may be a simple chain and a special pendant.” She does note, however, that gemstones such as turquoise, amazonite, citrine, and garnet “never seem to go out of style around here!” Jewelology offers instruction in all jewelrymaking skills, from wire-wrapping to pearlknotting, and customers can host private classes such as Junior Jewelers and Ladies’ Night Out events. Other services include jewelry repair, metalsmithing, custom orders, and sales of pre-made jewelry. Shanks notes that most of her visitors seem happiest designing on site. With lots of fun colors and textures, the shop’s whimsical flair gives each customer what she calls “the feeling of being a kid in a candy store.” “You have this all at your disposal,” she explains, waving a hand at the walls, covered with beads and gems, and marked with placards explaining the properties of natural stones. “You can pull out things and see if you like them, and put them back if you don’t. All of your options are here.” Fortunately, the vagaries of the nation’s economy have not affected Jewelology as negatively as they have some other small companies. “Our business has been steady,” Shanks says, “thanks to our loyal customer base ... and also due to the fact that nothing can keep a woman from her love of jewelry!” TCW
WantToGo? BeadLush is located at 1217 The Plaza (visit www.beadlush.com, or call 704/376-3331). Jewelology is located at 1630 E.Woodlawn Road (visit www.myjewelology.com, or call 704/525-8272).
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IN THE
DRIVER’S S E AT BY MELINDA JOHNSTON
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t’s a well-documented fact that most men have love affairs with their cars. But, women, as it turns out, love their cars just as much — and may do a better job
of showing it, by maintaining them correctly! “Maybe women are just more careful or mindful about being stranded, but they seem to be more aware of symptoms, or things out of the ordinary. And, women will seek help more readily than men will,” says Rozel Tolliver, general manager of three local Summerfield Auto Service shops.
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Now that gas prices have come down, and the thought of a romantic drive out of the city and into the countryside doesn’t mean you have to go without paying your phone bill for the month, why not make sure your car is in tiptop shape before you hit the open road this winter? We asked Tolliver and several other area car experts to share advice for women (and, OK, men, too) on how to keep a car running smoothly, and what to do if problems develop. All agreed that regular maintenance is the key to miles of trouble-free driving. Covering the basics is essential. Oil changes, tire rotations, and brake checks are musts for keeping your car safely on the road. When you have your oil changed, make sure to request a high-quality replacement filter. No matter what it says on the box, there is a difference in an original equipment manufacturer filter and cheaper alternatives. Whitney Evans, coowner and office manager of Evans Import Service, says although cheaper filters may save a few dollars today, the damage they can cause
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will cost plenty down the road. Oil is the blood of the engine. It cools the engine and lubricates the internal parts, and it collects crud and sends it through the filter. Most cars need an oil change every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, but the interval depends on the manufacturer’s recommendation. That type of information may be found in your owner’s manual — a book many car owners simply ignore. “People will buy a $5 watch and read the instructions from cover to cover, but they’ll buy a $30,000 car and never bother to open the owner’s manual,” says Evans Import Service mechanic Doug Morrow.
ROUND AND ROUND Tire rotation is another must to ensure long wear, as well as safe handling of your vehicle. Evans says tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 7,500 miles. And make sure they are properly inflated. This means using a tire pressure gauge, or simply asking a service station or tire store attendant to check the pressure. If you add
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air until it “looks right” you’ll generally over or under inflate your tires. Over-inflated tires accelerate wear and can adversely affect handling. Under-inflated tires reduce gas mileage, because there is more resistance on the road. A flat tire is the most common cause of a breakdown, so tire maintenance is important. If you experience a flat tire, find a safe place to pull off the road, away from passing cars but still in a visible location. If there is no way to avoid it, it’s better to ruin a wheel by slowly driving to a safe place rather than risking your life by attempting to change a tire on the side of a busy or unsafe road. If you’re looking to replace tires and are trying to compare prices, follow your car manufacturer’s recommendations.
STOP RIGHT THERE
the information and know what he needs to fix.
STAY TUNED Every 30,000 miles or so (refer to your owner’s manual!), your car will probably need a tuneup, which involves a longer list of diagnostic checks and minor adjustments, including changing spark plugs and various filters, inspecting belts and hoses that may need to be replaced, and more. At 90,000 to 100,000 miles, experts recom-
unless you approve additional work. North Carolina state law 1999-437 requires the shop give you a written estimate if the cost of repairs will be over $350. Shops are also required to notify you if they find that the cost will be 10 percent or more above the estimate. That same law gives you the right to inspect your old car parts. Evans says a good shop will be more than willing to take the time to explain why those parts needed to be replaced. If you can’t afford all the suggested repairs at once, Evans says to ask your mechanic to prioritize what needs to be done. “Don’t be intimidated,” he says. “Most of the time, you don’t need to spend all your money at once. Ask what you need to do today, and what repairs you can hold off making.” There’s no magic to taking good care of your car. Routine maintenance is going to pay off in the long run. Don’t ignore the “check engine” light, get into the habit of changing the oil whenever the odometer hits a number divisible by 5,000, and maintain a rapport with a well-established mechanic or auto body shop. These measures will not only benefit your car’s value and reliability; they will give you peace of mind. TCW
“ ” People will buy a $5 watch and read the instructions from cover to cover, but they’ll buy a $30,000 car and never bother to open the owner’s manual. — DOUG MORROW
Brakes should be checked each time the tires are rotated. Both Evans and Tolliver say a good shop won’t mind checking the brakes at tire rotation time since the tires are already off. And catching a brake problem early can mean the difference between a minor adjustment and a $500 repair. Keeping up with regular maintenance will greatly lengthen the life of your car. But even the best-cared-for automobile can have a problem now and then. Tolliver says you should pay attention to anything unusual — a noise, vibration, smell — and have it checked as soon as possible. “Sometimes folks come in and say their car has been making a noise for a few weeks,” she says. “That could be too late to fix the problem easily. Try to get your car checked out as soon as possible to prevent further damage.” Certainly, if the “check engine” light comes on, your car’s computer is telling you that something is wrong. But that doesn’t mean you need to pull over immediately and have it towed in. “If the check engine light comes on, don’t panic,” Tolliver advises. “If you know the oil and antifreeze levels are good, and the car is driving OK, then you need to get it looked at as soon as possible, but you probably won’t be stranded.” She says the “check engine” light could mean a loose gas cap, a faulty catalytic converter, a bad oxygen sensor, or any number of other problems. The light comes on when a setting within the car’s system is not registering what it should. The code is sent to the car’s computer so that the mechanic can download
mend you replace the timing belt — a major component that keeps the engine parts working in sync. Though that replacement may run between $400 and $700, the damage a broken belt can do is significantly more expensive. “You can’t see the belt because it’s covered up,” says Tolliver. “If it breaks, it can cause severe damage to the engine and will leave you stranded.” When you take your car in for service, get an estimate of what the work will cost, and make sure the shop sticks to that estimate
For tips on what you should have in your car’s trunk and glove box, visit our Web site at www.todayscharlottewoman.com.
DRIVE TIME T I P S
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• Fill your gas tank before it hits the red zone on the gauge.This level is where water and sludge reside, in the bottom of the tank, and it’s best for your car not to go there. • Maintain all your receipts. Proof of maintenance will add to the price of your car when you sell and can also raise the insurance reimbursement if your car is ever totaled.And don’t ever buy a used car unless you can verify that it’s had regular maintenance. Carfax (www.carfax.com) is a great way to check a vehicle’s history report. • If you just had your car serviced and start seeing oil spots on your driveway, take it back to the shop. There are many online sites that can help keep you on top of the best care for your car. Check out www.aaacarolinas.com, and choose the auto repair and diagnostics tabs to get information on a number of problems in lay terms, including smoke and smells, weird noises, leaks, and much more.You can also go to www.roadandtravel.com, and click on the archives tab to find articles on nearly any car maintenance topic you can imagine.
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Stand Out BY FIONA HARMON
Silk georgette meets sheer tulle for a perfect result. Akris, Neiman Marcus 58
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Always Bet On Black The Fashion Staple Endures
D
uring that fashion lull between rediscovering your love affair with cashmere and recharging your wardrobe with a shot of spring come the doldrums of February.The glitz of holiday parties has disappeared like bubbles in a glass of champagne.And the floral explosion spring designers have promised is yet to bloom.That’s no reason, however, to wither on the vine. Now is the perfect time to reconsider The Little Black Dress. The options for dressing in black are limitless. Fabric, cut, and embellishment will determine whether a dress is suitable for a business meeting or an after-hours rendezvous.What you bring to The Little Black Dress is what makes the outfit.Your attitude (confident, powerful, feminine, knock-out gorgeous) is what stamps it as yours. So go on — make your fashion mark in any number of ways. Just remember to make it in black. >
Leading the way with an empire waist. David Meister, NeimanMarcus.com Off the shoulder in fab folds. Roberto Cavalli, NeimanMarcus.com Oh-so-formal in taffeta soutache. Adrianna Papell, Belk, Macy’s Sleeveless and sleek chiffon. Adrianna Papell, Nordstrom, Nordstrom.com Bold and beautiful in stretch jersey. Lauren by Ralph Lauren, Nordstrom.com Satin cut to perfection. Donna Ricco, Nordstrom.com
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A bateau-neck shift goes glam with shoulder-to-hem sequins. Liz Claiborne, department stores
Black cotton takes a bow in this strapless stunner. Derek Lam, Neiman Marcus
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Accessorizing The Little Black Dress GoLightly With The Glitz And Glam The Little Black Dress is the perfect complement to your best fashion accessory: you! It enhances — and sometimes camouflages — your figure, elongating and defining your shape.In its simplicity,TLBD shows off your shining hair, highlights your dewy complexion, and looks appropriate for almost any occasion. But a little bit of the fun of dressing down in a basic black dress is dressing it up — with great jewelry, shoes, a purse, and even hair accessories. The classic look for TLBD will always be pearls, pearls, pearls. Audrey Hepburn, in her iconic turn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, is burned into our collective fashion consciousness as the quintessential classy lady in black, with her elegant pearls, oversized sunglasses, kitten heels, arm-length black gloves, and an up-do adorned with a tiny tiara. But, we’re not all cut out to wear tiaras (at least not in public)! As you ponder how to accessorize TLBD when you’re not breaking fast at Tiffany’s, keep in mind that simple and stunning is usually best. Lovely pearl or diamond studs, coupled with a single strand of pearls or a delicate pendant on a gold chain, may be all you need. Strappy, heeled shoes in black or metallic are a pretty accompaniment, as is a small, glittery purse. For day, opt for classic black pumps and a stylish geometric bag in black patent or smooth leather to complete your chic, go-anywhere look. When it comes to playing up the impact of TLBD, hair and makeup can be anything from classic to fun. Dramatic, smoky eyes rimmed with full, dark lashes, or a beautiful shade of red on the lips adds the right touch. Just don’t overdo it and go with both. With heavier eye makeup, choose a natural lip color and light blush; striking red lips call for simple eye makeup and a soft skin tone. Hair can go modern, and even a little edgy; or play it demure with a simple headband or pretty flowered clip. Whatever accessories you choose to add “color” to your black dress, remember that it’s your chance to reflect your own sense of style — with or without the tiara.
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Blinded By Love OK, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s certainly not black! But we have our hearts set on this cocktail ensemble in wool/rayon and adorned with hand-applied Swarovski crystals. Sorry, TLBD, but flaming fabulous is all we can say. St. John, Nordstrom, Nordstrom.com
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A wool dress with a Peter Pan collar is ready for work or play. Armani Collezione, NeimanMarcus.com
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Beauty
Lip Service Playing Up Your Smile
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If the eyes are, as poets have said, the window to the soul, the lips just might be the barometer of your disposition. Smiling, smacking, or smooching, your lips can tell your story without a word. Women have spent hundreds on plumping, smoothing, coloring, and glossing their puckers;protecting them from summer sun and winter wind; trying to make the most of this delicate facial feature. If you are the kind of girl who used to rummage through your Aunt Peggy’s makeup drawer in awe of the piles of tiny pale-green Avon lipAvon Glazewear Lipstick stick sample tubes, your love affair with lipstick is well rooted. For me, lipstick has always been a bit exotic and a little intimidating. Honestly,when I get dressed up,I switch from regular to cherry Chapstick and feel quite glamorous. But with all of the lovely shades and rich formulas,now just might be a good time to explore the grown-up world of lip color. TCW
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AtHome
The entryway, flanked by lovely staircases, provides a fitting introduction to this historic home.
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Caroline and Chris McDowell appreciate the value of preserving the history of their home.
At Home With
Preservation Renovating Within Historic Guidelines BY LEE RHODES • PHOTOS BY SCOTT STILES
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ith an elegant blend of historic charm and unmistakable grandeur, the foyer sets the tone for the rest of this Dilworth Road
home. Majestic staircases rise in unison from both sides of the
expansive entrance hall. Curved banisters and gleaming white
balustrades reflect the clear sunlight that casts a warm glow across the white oak floorboards and filters in through the windows above and around the front door — the very same door that graced the home when it was built, in the 1920s. “Having grown up in Richmond, I am accustomed to foyers,” Caroline McDowell says. She and her husband, Chris, currently live in the distinctive residence, known officially as the Randolph Scott House. She laments the fact that many homes in Dilworth lack foyers because their Craftsman style dictates that the front door opens directly into a living space. “I like the formality and the structure with the foyer entry, and the living room and dining room on either side,” she continues. “Our other Dilworth home
was precious, but I lived there awhile and then said, ‘I have to have a foyer.’ ” When the McDowells purchased the Randolph Scott House in 2005, they were blessed with more than just a grand foyer. The residence, which was designed by renowned Charlotte architect Louis Asbury, offers formal spaces, Colonial Revival ornamentation, and classical detailing such as large Ionic columns and substantial crown moldings. And, of course, Asbury’s signature dual staircases. > F E B R U A R Y
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Architectural details inside the Randolph Scott House — columns, wide woodwork, ceiling medallions — are all original to this 1920s home.
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Fluted Ionic columns in the foyer frame a formal dining area beautifully.
The home also satisfies the couple’s love of residential architecture, a lifelong appreciation stemming from the fact that McDowell grew up in Richmond’s Windsor Farms, a collection of estates developed in the style of an English village; and her husband grew up on Rhode Island, in an old grange building that had been converted into a single-family residence.
Surrounded By History “I feel so at home in an older home in a way that I wouldn’t in a newer one,” McDowell says with satisfaction. “Our goal was to take this house and make it fit for a family in the year 2006 [the year they began the renovation], but be ever-so-mindful about keeping the old intact.” Accomplishing that goal took considerable time and effort, as the property was built in 1926, for the parents of Randolph Scott, the internationally known movie star and hero of classic Western films. Even after achieving his fame, Scott never forgot his roots, and he purportedly returned to Charlotte for many extensive visits to his family home. After the Scotts died, the home changed owners only
twice before the McDowells acquired it. Both McDowell and her husband are Chicago transplants who love the neighborhood’s walking access to shops and restaurants along tree-lined streets, as well as its proximity to uptown, and they admit they had their eye on the home for years. Achance meeting with former owners Jim and Ellen Haynes, who had done extensive restoration work on the property, led the McDowells to feel comfortable enough to disclose that they were interested in buying the home, should the Hayneses ever decide to sell. Sell, they did, and the McDowell family moved in and began seeking the necessary approvals to renovate, initiating the process with the Charlotte Historic District Commission and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission. Because the Randolph Scott House is on the state register, the couple needed approval from the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office, as well. With help from their architectural firm, Don Duffy Architecture, the McDowells fairly sailed through the process. > F E B R U A R Y
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AtHome The McDowells had kitchen cabinetry, with icebox-style hardware, created in a style fitting to the home.
Making the kitchen utilitarian, as in any renovation, was still key in this home improvement endeavor.
“Most people who buy an older home know they can’t just go in and do anything they want,” McDowell says. “I am a purist and respect the original intentions of the architect. At the same time, there were a couple of things that we thought we really needed to lobby for, for the quality of life for our family. And the approving organizations were reasonable.”
Time For Change The home originally had no master bedroom. Instead, there were four identical bedrooms with tiny Jack-and-Jill baths. Closet space was minimal, and there were no real living areas other than a formal living room downstairs. For the McDowells, who call their renovation of the house “a labor of love,” historic preservation was key. They redid the kitchen and several bathrooms but left the formal rooms “as is,” often right down to the original light fixtures. The couple also added approximately 1,800 square feet to the house. 70
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The new family room provides much-needed living space for the McDowells.
homeowner wants to put the original wall back up, he will be able to do so. In this case, wood paneling connects the old brick of the original structure with the new brick of the addition. The roof connector is standing-seam copper, and the original Ludowici roof tiles match the barrel-shaped tiles on the roof addition.
Form Meets Function
To preserve the authenticity of the structure and ensure that people can distinguish old from new, the McDowells were required to make the addition look different from the original part of the home. Also, McDowell explains, “You’re not allowed to take a designated historic home and just knock off the back and come straight out. You have to make the disruption to the existing home as
small as possible.” One of the main historic preservation concerns was what is known as “the connector.” The connection point between the old and new sections of the home had to be as small as possible, and the McDowells were required to save and label any original bricks that had to be removed. The stipulation guarantees that if a future
Back inside, the foyer opens to a formal living room off to the left. The living room contains the original plaster ceiling medallions and a series of arched wall niches that remained covered and hidden for years, until the previous homeowners noticed that the wall sounded hollow and began investigating to see what was behind it. Agrand piano occupies pride of place in the room’s front corner, near the door leading to an old outdoor porch that is now used as an office. In that office is the home’s original telephone, which displays a fourdigit dialing number and still works today. >
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AtHome The other side of the foyer leads to the highceilinged dining room and adjacent kitchen, where a window overlooks one of a series of outdoor living spaces. It’s the only window in the kitchen, though there are numerous doors. This room presented a real challenge in terms of transforming the existing area into one that’s usable for a modern family, but the architects creatively tackled the task. The kitchen now features clean lines, white marble surfaces, and white cabinets, offset by stainless-steel appliances. A white island with a farmhouse sink anchors the space. All of the cabinetry was redone in the same style as the cabinetry in the home’s original butler’s pantry. The couple held on to the original cabinets and incorporated icebox hardware and old, wavy glass into the new ones.
Everything New Is Old Again
White Carrera marble used in the newly added master bathroom was salvaged from the original kitchen.
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Beyond the kitchen is the connector that leads to the home addition, which includes a home office, a family room, a powder room, and a back staircase with a banister that matches the original. Don Duffy Architecture’s Kraig Magas explains that the back staircase is floating for two reasons. “First,” he says, “it’s an attempt to maintain the integrity of the twostory glass curtain wall, by allowing the staircase to float free of the wall and not utilize it for structural support. The second reason is to emphasize the openness of the space by anchoring the stairs only at the top and bottom risers.” On the second story of the addition, the newly created master bedroom honors the spirit of the house but remains distinguishable from the original, as does the master bath. The bathroom contains white Carrera marble that the McDowells salvaged from the original kitchen. The children’s bedrooms in the older part of the home underwent some minor changes but retain the original mirrors on the backs of the doors and still afford very pleasant views of uptown Charlotte. “This house is so beautiful and has everything that I, as an old-home appreciator, love,” McDowell says. “We also love being a part of in-town Charlotte, walking to dinner and walking our kids to the park. My husband sometimes walks to work. We relish the simplicity of it all. We may not have a huge yard with a pool, or even a bonus room, but we feel the city is at our fingertips.” TCW
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MeetOurAdvertisers
The Perfect Stay Charlotte Marriott SouthPark Continues A Tradition Of Excellence BY MELINDA JOHNSTON of even the most discriminating hotel guest. The location is extraordinary, surrounded by dozens of fine restaurants and world-class shopping (think WilliamsSonoma, Talbots, Neiman Marcus, and more), all within walking distance. Longtime Charlotte residents will remember the Charlotte Marriott SouthPark when it was The Park Hotel, a sophisticated, family-owned facility built and operated by Charlotte developer provides rk Smoky Bissell. When interPa th u o s. iott S l occasion otte Marr nationally known hotelier The Charl to celebrate specia ce ample spa Bill Marriott wanted to expand into the area, the upscale ooking for the ideal venue south Charlotte location and for a party, shower, recep- excellent reputation of The Park tion, luncheon, bar/bat Hotel were just what he was lookmitzvah, or other special ing for. After purchasing the property occasion? Give the Charlotte Marriott SouthPark a call. The hotel in 2006, Marriott invested $6 milshould also be at the top of your list lion in renovations, and added when you need to house clients or that special Marriott touch. All rooms now feature the latest in out-of-town guests in style. If you want a weekend get- technology and comfort, including away without getting too far away, high-definition televisions, comcheck out the Marriott’s special puter power packs, plush beds, shopping package to enjoy with the fine linens, and much, much more. Boasting the AAA Four Diagirls; or treat yourself and your significant other to the wonderfully mond Award for 20 years in a row, the Charlotte Marriott SouthPark luxurious romance package. Designed as a European bou- is completely updated, but it still tique-style hotel, the Charlotte Mar- retains the original charm, intiriott SouthPark offers an inviting macy, and opulence that have atmosphere and warm, hospitable been its hallmarks over the past staff ready to meet every need two decades. TCW
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ToLearnMore The Charlotte Marriott SouthPark is located at 2200 Rexford Road. Call 704/3648220, or visit www.charlottemarriottsouthpark.com for rate information, availability, and details on meeting or event space.
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MeetOurAdvertisers
In Good Hands Healing Hands Clinic Provides Alternative Treatment BY MELINDA JOHNSTON
H
ealing Hands Acupuncture and Herbal Clinic LLC is bringing state-ofthe-art Chinese Medicine to south Charlotte. Not only are owners Andrea Perullo and Adrienne Wei nationally board certified in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology; they both have personal experience with the methods they use to help others heal and restore balance to their bodies and lives. Andrea Pe As a teen, Perullo was rullo and A drienne W e ty of ailm ei tr diagnosed with chronic ents with Chinese M eat a variedicine. fatigue and fibromyalgia. After little relief came from Western Medicine, Perullo’s mother completed extensive interntook her to an acupuncturist. She ships in various hospitals around felt better immediately and soon the world. The two have since combined was able to resume the daily activities from which she had their extensive knowledge to provide treatment for a wide variety been sidelined. Wei originally trained as a of issues, including infertility, chemical engineer. However, she smoking cessation, chronic illrealized the field wasn’t for her nesses, migraines, and stress and and decided to follow her mother pain management. “In our first into the field of Chinese Medicine. month of practice, we were able to It was soon after Wei’s mom bat- help a couple who had been trying tled breast cancer, and Wei was to get pregnant for two years conable to see how powerful the med- ceive a child!” Perullo says. In addition to acupuncture icine was in treating the illness, that she, herself, became a practitioner. and an herbal pharmacy, Healing After graduating from their Hands Clinic offers massage therrespective colleges, Perullo and apy and yoga classes. Soon, Wei Wei met at the prestigious Pacific and Perullo plan to add even more College of Oriental Medicine, therapists, making the clinic a onewhere they spent four years learn- stop shop for those wanting an ing Chinese Medicine. They’ve alternative or complement to traboth studied in China and have ditional Western Medicine. TCW
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ToLearnMore Healing Hands Acupuncture and Herbal Clinic is located at 6207 Park South Drive. Hours are by appointment, with evening and weekend times available. Call 704/5718783, or visit www.thehealinghandsclinic.com.
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Having A Ball Queen City Ballroom Shines with Elegance BY MELINDA JOHNSTON
out her career, she has built three successful ballrooms and is recognized as a leader in Charlotte’s ballroom dance community. Her Queen City Ballroom has won the Top Studio award at Charlotte’s prestigious North Carolina Classic Dance Competition every year since 2001. The key to Queen City Ballroom’s success, from the beginning, has been ll Glandon’s singular vision n City Ba r of Quee e n w o , n to provide the highest r. ndo Dana Gla ccomplished dance na quality and most affordroom, is a able dance instruction. From hen ballroom dancer group classes to one-on-one priDana Glandon opened vate training, instructors at the Queen City Ballroom studio create a dance experience in 2002, she spared no that is designed for dancers of all expense in creating Charlotte’s levels to enjoy. According to Glandon, it is the first and most elegant grand ballroom. Every aspect of the studio combination of elegance, exercommunicates the glamour of cise, and a friendly atmosphere the ballroom dance lifestyle. that makes ballroom dancing a Crystal chandeliers adorn a 14- unique experience. “What’s wonfoot, coffered ceiling. Floating derful about ballroom dancing is hardwood floors, a circular bar, a that it brings so many people digital sound system, theater together,” she says. “It’s a great fitlighting, and Hollywood-style ness activity that you can start at dressing rooms all add to the any age, from pre-teen to senior.” Glandon firmly believes in ambiance. The full kitchen allows the Ballroom to serve as an event giving back to the community venue for parties and receptions, that supports her. “For over 20 years we’ve produced two as well. Glandon is a national ball- Broadway-style shows a year to room dance champion who benefit local charities,” she says. knows the right steps both on “So, I’m always ‘dancing with and off the dance floor. Through- the stars!’ ” TCW
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HealthMatters
Pillow Talk
A Look At Therapy To Address Sexual Issues BY DAWN BROOKGREEN
V
alentine’s Day is a time of love and romance — for everyone but you. Your sex life is suffering (or nonexistent!), and you’ve given up on Cupid’s trusty arrow again
this year. The “date nights” you tried setting up for you and your significant other
don’t seem to work.You’ve gone the candlelight/glass-of-wine/new-lingerie route with
little luck. Or, maybe you’re so annoyed with your partner that you just don’t care anymore.
Whatever the case, and whomever you think is to blame, there’s help out there, and the sooner you ask for it, the better. And don’t feel alone. Experts estimate that one-third of us will run into sexual issues at some point. If the thought of sex therapy makes you blush, take heart — the same goes for most of the population. It’s tough for anyone to open 78
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the bedroom door and confess that what’s going on (or, more accurately, not going on) between the sheets is unsatisfying, disappointing, emotionally void, or even physically painful. But the result of seeking professional help from a certified sex therapist can make all the difference in improving your relationship, and possibly even your health!
No Shame In Asking “There’s still a lot of shame about going into therapy,” says Dr. Maria Boccia, a marriage and family counselor and sex therapist with the Center for Sexual Health and Education in Charlotte’s Ballantyne area. “It takes a lot of emotional energy and courage.” Luckily, Charlotte has a growing number of certified sex therapists who can help you and/or your partner work through issues, whether physical or emotional, to get you back on track with a healthy, enjoyable sex life. Sexual problems can emerge at any age and from various origins. “People come to therapy for a variety of reasons,” says Dr. Boccia. “Some are physical problems, where we collaborate with a medical professional. Men and women also come because of low desire, anxiety, aversions — things that are much more psychologically grounded. All of those things are treatable in therapy.” Because it’s important to determine whether the origin of a sexual problem is physical or psychological, Dr. Boccia encourages clients to have
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a physical evaluation at the start of treatment. Treatment is always more effective, she says, if that distinction is made early on. If a physical problem is interfering with your sex life, chances are that, by the time you turn for help, it will have morphed into a psychological or relationship problem, as well. Sex therapy will still be an effective tool in addressing the issues a couple or individual may be having in the bedroom, but finding out if there is a physical ailment that needs to be treated is paramount. Dr. Lisa Terrell, a sex therapist with the Sensovi Institute, located in Charlotte’s Historic South End, says that sexual problems are sometimes indicative of physical problems, so investigation is a must to maintain good health. “Difficulties with sex are often a precursor to other physical issues,” she explains. “For example, guys having trouble with erections may have heart disease, prostate cancer, or other problems. Sex that is painful for women can indicate a dermatological condition, endometriosis, out-of-control fibroids, or something else.”
Proactive Sex Life Dr. Terrell points out that you don’t have to have a problem to benefit from sex therapy. A proactive approach can keep your sex life on track. “Sex therapy is working on your sex life,” she says. “It helps with problems, but it can also benefit people who want to enhance the intimate and emotional aspects of their sex lives, to make sex more enjoyable.” And don’t worry about what happens behind the therapist’s closed door. “It’s talk therapy,” Dr. Terrell assures. “No clothes come off in my office. But I do sometimes give homework. I may assign books to read, or we’ll develop a plan for the person or couple to go home and try.” Several levels of therapy addressing various sexuality issues are offered at Sensovi: Traditional sex therapy will help couples or individuals take a closer look at concerns such as low sexual desire, no sexual desire, intercourse and arousal difficulty, painful sex, addictions, fetish issues, sexual aversion or avoidance, inability or difficulty with orgasm, premature ejaculation, or loss of erection. Intimacy training deals with concerns such as communication, roles, conflict resolution, satisfaction with the relationship, sexuality and sensual-
ity development, crisis, and life-stage changes. Intensive crisis care is an approach to affair recovery and divorce. Through the Center for Sexual Health and Education, services are available to address and share information on the following issues: low libido, pre-menopause, bioidentical hormones, insomnia, nutrition, erectile dysfunction, early ejaculation, delayed ejaculation, andropause, sexuality and cancer, marital counseling, and teen sex education.
Seek Help Early Both therapists agree that once a problem occurs you should get help as soon as possible. “I got into the field of sex therapy because, as a marriage and family therapist, I saw that sexual problems were very often the reason my clients were coming to see me,” Dr. Boccia says. “And many times, they’ve waited 15 or 20 years to address those problems.” So how do you choose a sex therapist? Very carefully! Since the field isn’t highly regulated, most anyone can claim to be an “expert.” Dr. Terrell warns that just because someone is willing to talk about sex, it doesn’t mean that person has the training and expertise to counsel others. Both Dr. Terrell and Dr. Boccia are members of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists. AASECT is devoted to the promotion of sexual health by the advancement of the fields of sex therapy and education. Most members have a minimum of a graduate degree and many additional hours of sexual health and therapy training. Once you’ve checked out credentials, realize that you may have to visit several therapists before you find the one that’s best for you. “Like all therapies, the foundation for effectiveness is that there must be a good match between the therapist and the patient,” Dr. Boccia says. In some cases, insurance will reimburse for therapy, especially if there is a physical component involved, but it depends on your insurance company. According to Dr. Terrell, a good therapist in the Charlotte area will charge anywhere from $100 to $175 per session. She says many issues can be resolved in eight to 10 sessions, so it isn’t a lifelong commitment … although it’s quite likely that you will realize lifelong benefits. TCW
ToLearnMore Visit the AASECT Web site, www.aasect.org, for information about sex therapy and to find a list of AASECT-certified sex therapists in Charlotte.Visit the Sensovi Institute Web site at www.sensovi.com, or call 704/377-2022.Visit the Center for Sexual Health and Education Web site at www.bestsexualadvice.com, or call 704/706-2770.
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HealthFlash WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO STAY FIT AND WELL
COMPILED BY JENNIFER BRADFORD-EPSTEIN
A Heartbeat Away Inequities In Hospital Care
A
recent study by the American Heart Association found that although men and women have about the same adjusted in-hospital death rate for heart attack — a definite improvement from just a decade ago — women were still 12 percent more likely to die if hospitalized for a severe heart attack involving a complete blockage of a coronary artery. Lead author of the study, Dr. Hani Jneid, attributes this gap in mortality rates to the pos80
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sibility that women may be undertreated in hospitals. In the study, Jneid and colleagues compared the treatments of male and female patients who were hospitalized after heart attacks and found the following to be true of the women: • 14 percent less likely to receive early aspirin • 10 percent less likely to receive beta blockers • 25 percent less likely to receive reperfusion therapy (to restore blood flow) • 22 percent less likely to receive reperfusion
therapy within 30 minutes of hospital arrival • 13 percent less likely to receive angioplasty within 90 minutes of hospital arrival Although this study could not determine the underlying reasons for the inconsistencies in treatment, researchers surmised the differences were possibly due to physicians’ inappropriate decision making based on a misunderstanding of the biological differences between men and women, and failure to administer optimal therapies to women.
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Don’t Let Today’s Economy Get In The Way Of Your Health! Chinese Medicine has been proven to save people money. Call 704.571.8783 to find out how.
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t seems that the country’s current economic climate is affecting more than just our wallets. Women are cutting back on healthcare due to costs, and that means our health and that of our families (since women usually take charge of household health matters) may be suffering. Arecent online poll, the fourth such survey by the National Women’s Health Resource Center, explored issues involving women’s health and found that more than 40 percent of the 754 adult women surveyed said their health had declined in the past year, with most mentioning stress and weight gain as the cause.
Risky Savings Almost half the women
failed to seek medical care in the year before the survey, citing healthcare costs. The subjects reported skimping on doctor visits, recommended medical procedures, and medication, both for themselves and for family members. Cultural differences emerged, with 58 percent of Hispanic women reporting they skipped healthcare, compared to 43 percent of Caucasian women, and 42 percent of African-American women. On the brighter side, women seem to be coming to terms with aging, looking at it as an adventure or opportunity instead of a struggle. To age well, many are taking action, such as exercising, adhering to a healthy diet, and not smoking. >
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The Center for Sexual Health & Education in Ballantyne Corporate Park is dedicated to improving the sexual wellness of both men and women. Our team of board-certified physicians and therapists offers a variety of services for men and women including: • Couples counseling • Treatment of low desire
• Diagnosis and treatment of ED • Hormone treatments for men & women
We promote healthy life choices and can help reduce the daily stresses of life.
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Patching Up Your Libido Innovative Therapy Questioned
T
here aren’t a lot of treatment options for women with flagging libidos, but a new study funded by Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, manufacturer of the Intrinsa testosterone patch, suggests that a hormone-releasing skin patch may significantly improve the number of satisfying sexual episodes certain women experience. The recent study included just over 800 postmenopausal women who reported low sexual desire and weren’t taking estrogen therapy. The women were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: one using patches that each delivered 300 micrograms of testosterone daily; one using patches that each delivered 150 micrograms of testosterone
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daily; and one using placebo patches. After 24 weeks, women in the 300-microgram treatment group reported an average of 2.1 satisfying sexual episodes during a four-week period, compared to 1.2 sexually satisfying episodes for those on the lower dosage, and just 0.7 satisfying episodes for women on the placebo. The study’s authors concluded that testosterone has a positive effect on the frequency of satisfying sexual experiences in postmenopausal women. The increased sexual satisfaction does come with side effects, including unwanted hair, although most women didn’t find that
troubling enough to stop treatment. Of more concern is a possible increase in the risk of breast cancer. Four women taking testosterone were diagnosed with breast cancer during the study; there were no cases among women on a placebo. However, the study’s authors report this finding was probably a chance occurrence and that the women had their cancers prior to the start of the trial period. The testosterone patch is available in Europe, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration turned down the manufacturer’s request for approval in December 2004, based on a lack of long-term safety data.
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Breast Implants And Cancer
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ccording to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, breast augmentation is the most popular cosmetic surgery in the United States, with 347,500 procedures performed in 2007. Because statistics show that one in eight women will develop breast cancer, concerns about treating the disease with breast implants in place are now common. Currently, the most typical breast cancer treatment for patients with implants is skinsparing mastectomy and implant exchange. Whole-breast radiation therapy after lumpectomy is an option, but it carries a substantial risk during the healing process of scar tissue wrapping around the implant, causing it to become rock hard and extremely painful. This condition, known as capsular contracture, also distorts the appearance of the breast.
Women with early-stage breast cancer who have undergone breast augmentation may be treated successfully with an innovative, partial-breast radiation treatment called brachytherapy. Breast brachytherapy can be administered after lumpectomy to a small, targeted area of the breast. With the aid of imaging and a computer, radioactive “seeds” are guided into place through tiny plastic tubes, or catheters. The seeds emit high doses of radiation in short bursts. According to a recent study, patients who receive brachytherapy typically have better cosmetic outcomes than do patients who are treated with other methods. Scar tissue is minimal; the implant remains largely unaffected; and treatment time is shortened from six-and-a-half weeks with wholebreast radiation therapy, to just five days. >
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HealthFlashHealthFlash
If You’re Happy And You Know It… Thank Your Friends
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704-375-0592 508 EASTWAY DRIVE, SUITE A, CHARLOTTE, NC
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esearchers from Harvard Medical School and the University of California, San Diego have found that happiness is not the result of a cloistered journey filled with individually tailored self-help techniques. Rather, happiness is a collective phenomenon that spreads through social networks like an emotional contagion. In a study that looked at the happiness of nearly 5,000 individuals over a period of 20 years, researchers found that when an individual becomes happy, the network effect can be measured up to three degrees. One person’s happiness triggers a chain reaction that benefits not only her friends, but her friends’ friends, and her friends’ friends’ friends.
The researchers reported that when an individual becomes happy, a friend living within a mile experiences a 25-percent increased chance of becoming happy. Aspouse experiences an 8percent increased chance; siblings living within one mile have a 14percent increased chance; and for next-door neighbors, there is a 34-percent increased chance. But the real surprise came with indirect relationships. Again, while an individual who becomes happy increases her friend’s chances, a friend of that friend experiences a nearly 10percent chance of increased happiness, and a friend of that friend has a 5.6-percent increased chance — a veritable cascade of happiness!
“ ” Life without a friend is like death without a witness.
— SPANISH PROVERB
Do not use a hatchet to remove a fly from your friend’s forehead.
— CHINESE PROVERB
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The Olive Oil Option For Health And Great Taste
A
ccording to the American Dietetic Association, olive oil can be beneficial to your heart. It contains monounsaturated fat, which can help lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol. Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration advises that consuming just 2 tablespoons of olive oil per day may reduce the risk of heart disease. Olive oil can be used as a substitute in most recipes that call for vegetable oil, shortening, or butter. Olive oil comes in a variety of types, all of which have the same fat content. But, depending on the type of oil, the acid level varies, and that changes the flavor. Here’s what you can expect from the two most popular types of olive oil, and suggestions for how to use them: Light. This is ideal for baking and cooking, when you don’t want a strong flavor but still
want all the health benefits. Light olive oil has undergone a filtration process that gives it a lighter appearance and flavor, although the calorie count remains the same. It also has a higher smoke point, which makes it a good choice for high-temperature frying. Extra virgin. If you plan to have only one olive oil on hand to use as an all-purpose type, this would be the one. It’s low in acid and has a fruity taste and aroma. Even a minimal amount provides a lot of flavor. Extra virgin olive oil works well for sauces, marinades, meat, fish, pasta, vegetables, frying, and baking. It’s also the variety most commonly used when served cold, with salads or for dipping bread. Olive oil is sensitive to heat and light. Exposure to either can speed up the process of turning olive oil rancid, so it’s important to store it
in a dark, temperature-controlled area, such as the refrigerator, or a cool, dry place. Oil that is stored in the refrigerator may congeal, and although you will need to let it sit out for a few minutes to liquefy before you can use it, the quality will not be affected. Shelf life varies, but most manufacturers recommend keeping an opened container of oil for three to six months. TCW
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DIVORCE PLANNING
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T h e A
C A L E N D A R
Mondays
O F
M e e t i n g P R O F E S S I O N A L
A N D
P l a c e S O C I A L
Gamma Phi Beta, Charlotte area alumnae, locations vary, 6 p.m. Contact Jill Schumann at jillyrd@aol.com.
Every Monday Lake Norman Toastmasters, Suite 206 above Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce, 19900 W. Catawba, Cornelius, ext. 28, 6:30-8 p.m. Call Loria Cass, 704/560-8881; www.lakenormantoastmasters.com. Six-O Toastmasters, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 3200 Park Rd., 7 p.m.; 704/451-8502; www.monday6o.org. Women’s Cancer Group, Presbyterian Buddy Kemp Caring House, 242 Colonial Ave., 6:30-8 p.m.; 704/384-5223.
First & Third Monday Of Each Month Independence Toastmasters Club,Dowd YMCA, 7th floor, 400 E. Morehead St., 7:07 a.m., charlottetoast.freetoasthost.org.
Second Monday Of Each Month Executive Women International, 5:30 p.m. reception; 6 p.m. dinner, members only. Call Sara Evans, 704/731-4397. International Association Of Administrative Professionals, Charlotte Chapter, Hilton Executive Park off Tyvola & I-77, 6 p.m. Call Leigh Ann Nafus, 704/243-4786.
Holistic Health Network, Presbyterian Hospital, Hawthorne Lane (Bobcat Room), 6:45 p.m. Meets Sept.June. Open to all. Call Belle Radenbaugh, 704/542-7040; www.ncholisticnetwork.com. Lake Norman Women’s Connection, Atlanta Bread Company, Huntersville, breakfast and praying meeting, 10 a.m. Call Janet, 704/281-8496, or Lindy, 704/892-9060. National Association Of Women Business OwnersCharlotte, locations vary, lunch or dinner, and meeting. $30-$60. 704/367-3454; www.nawbocharlotte.org. Women In Electronics, Holiday Inn University Executive Park, 6 p.m. dinner; 7 p.m. meeting, $15; www.womeninelectronics.org.
Fourth Tuesday Of Each Month
Second Tuesday Of Each Month
Carolina Breast Friends, Myers Park United Methodist Church, Room 109, 7 p.m.; www.carolinabreastfriends.org.
Third Monday Of Each Month
Charlotte Woman’s Club, 1001 E. Morehead St., $10, 704/333-1980.
Latin American Women’s Association, Mint Museum of Art, 2730 Randolph Rd. 6:30 p.m., 704/552-1003. Ovarian Cancer Support Group, Presbyterian Buddy Kemp Caring House, 242 Colonial Ave., 10-11:30 a.m., 704/384-5223.
Clemson Women’s Alumni Council, Charlotte Metro Area Chapter, locations vary, drinks 6:30 p.m., dinner/activity 7 p.m. Call Anne Roberts, 704/236-0255; AnneVRoberts@alumni.clemson.edu; www.clemsonclub.net. Crohn’s And Colitis Foundation Of America, St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church, 3016 Providence Rd., 7:30 p.m. Call Andy, 704/907-9374 or 704/717-3300.
Tu e s d ay s
International Association Of Administrative Professionals, Metrolina Chapter, CPCC West Campus, 3210 CPCC W. Campus Dr. Call Davandra Reed, 704/605-5817.
BizNetwork.org, SouthPark, locations vary, 7:30 a.m. Call Kathryn Mosely, 704/676-5850, ext. 101.
Watercolor Artists Of Charlotte, Sardis Swim Club, 7400 Thermal Road, 10 a..m-1 p.m. $5. Call Sandy, 704/578-7077.
Every Tuesday
BNI Great Expectations, PJ’s Place, 600 Matthews-Mint Hill Rd., 7-8:30 a.m. Call Jay Gurian, 704/845-0580; jgurian@1800gotjunk.com.
Second & Fourth Tuesdays Of Each Month
Charlotte Concert Band, Dana Auditorium, Queens University, 7:30 p.m., 704/553-8062; www.charlotteconcertband.org.
Third Tuesday Of Each Month
Queen City Toastmasters Club, Cisco building, 1900 South Blvd., 6 p.m. dinner; 6:30 p.m. meeting, 704/366-3519.
Dirt Divas Mountain Biking Club, Fuel Pizza, 4267 Park Rd., 7:30 p.m.; www.dirtdivas.net.
First Tuesday Of Each Month Artists’ Forum, Mint Museum of Art, 7:30-9 p.m. Charlotte Association Of Insurance Women, Myers Park Country Club, 2415 Roswell Ave., 5:30 p.m. dinner/speaker, $25. Call Dot Williams, 704/333-6694. Daughters Of The British Empire, 7:30 p.m. Call Debbie Reicht, 704/540-8606.
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National Association Of Women Business Owners South, The PRStore Ballantyne, 13855 Conlan Circle, 89:30 a.m., $10 members, $15 visitors. Call 704/525-5539; e-mail info@bhs-cpa.com.
Women’s Initiative Network, Charlotte Chapter. Call Pat Baldridge, 704/541-0277; www.womensinet.com.
Mint Hill Women’s Club. Call Dixie Helms, 704/545-3806; vicepresident@minthillwc.com; www.minthillwc.com.
Last Monday Of Each Month
National Association Of Women Business Owners North, Acropolis Café, 20659 Catawba Ave., 8-9:30 a.m., $6 members, $10 visitors. Call 704/987-3828, or e-mail sales@advancedbatteries.net.
Second Tuesday Every Other Month
American Association Of Medical Assistants, Charlotte Chapter, Pritchett Hall, Kings College, 6 p.m. Visitors welcome. RSVP to pjh2ncaama@aol.com; www.aama-ntl.org
International House Book Club, International House, 7 p.m., 704/333-8099.
Mecklenburg Evening Republican Women’s Club, Captain Steve’s Seafood, 8517 Monroe Rd., dinner, 6 p.m.; program, 7 p.m.; free. E-mail Iris, cltfolks@bellsouth.net; www.meckgop.com.
National Association Of Women In Construction, Hilton Executive Park, 5624 Westpark Dr., 5:30 p.m. network; 6 p.m. dinner/meeting; $22. Call Dee Keziah, 704/537-6044.
Junior Woman’s Club Of Charlotte, 1001 E. Morehead St., 7 p.m., 704/567-6773.
Charlotte Mothers Of Multiples, Morningstar Lutheran Church, Matthews, 7:30 p.m., 704/341-9979; www.cmoms.net.
M E E T I N G S
VFW Ladies Auxiliary 2031, 7:30 p.m. Call Naomi Sigmon, 704/384-9662. Delhom Service League, Mint Museum of Art, 2730 Randolph Rd., 10 a.m.; b.holland@mindspring.com.
Institute Of Management Accountants, Holiday Inn Woodlawn, CPE/dinner meetings, 1-5 p.m.; dinner, 6 p.m., 704/717-9165; www.ima-charlotte.org. Lake Norman Women’s Connection, NorthStone Country Club, 10 -11:30 a.m., $13. Call Lisa, 704/953-6693. Legal Support Staff Of Charlotte, Law Offices of Michael A. DeMayo, LLP, 741 Kenilworth Ave. Call Sharon Brower, 704/399-6168, after 5:30 p.m.
American Business Women’s Association, Hornet’s Nest Chapter, Olive Garden, 4336 Independence Blvd. 6 p.m. dinner (order from menu). Call Johnnie Simpson, 704/545-4198. eWomenNetwork, Lake Norman, Peninsula Yacht Club, 18501 Harbor Light Blvd., networking 4 p.m.; dinner/program 4:30-6:30 p.m.; members, $35; guests, $45. Call Debbie Snider, 980/722-0997. Friends Of Beverly, Pewter Rose, South Blvd., 6 p.m. RSVP by e-mail to Beverly@friendsofbeverly.com. Pilot Club Of Charlotte, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6 p.m. dinner/meeting. Call Jean Funderburk, 704/846-3526.
We d n e s d ay s Every Wednesday Business Networking International, Network Connections Chapter, 7:30 a.m. Trio Restaurant/Hwy. 51. Call Denice Harris, 704/293-0303; denicelharris@yahoo.com. Business Network International, SouthPark Producers Chapter, Zebra Restaurant, 4521 Sharon Rd. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Call Chris Bennett, 704/502-7947. Bosom Buddies, Breast cancer support group. Presbyterian Buddy Kemp Caring House, 242 Colonial Ave., 10-11:30 a.m., 704/384-5223. Toastmasters, Sunrise Speakers Chapter, Conference Rooms C & D, Presbyterian Hospital Matthews, 7 a.m. Call Wayne Caulder, 704/846-7846.
First Wednesday Of Each Month Doorways, International House, 10 a.m., 704/333-8099. North Mecklenburg Woman’s Club, NorthStone Country Club, 10:30 a.m. Call Dawn Bradford, 704/875-1402. Young Republicans Club, South End Brewery, 7 p.m., contact scottallocco@hotmail.com; www.meckyr.com.
First & Third Wednesdays Of Each Month Mothers & More, Lake Norman chapter. Call 800/6992466, 704/668-4377; www.lknmothersandmore.com.
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Second Wednesday Of Each Month American Business Women’s Association, Charlotte Charter Chapter, Crown Plaza Hotel-Charlotte, 201 S. McDowell St., dinner, $23. Call Clarice, 609/351-0373; www.abwacharlottecharter.org. Charlotte Women’s Connection 1, Raintree Country Club, 10:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m., lunch/entertainment, $14. Call Janice, 704/847-2669; charwomenconn1@aol.com. Daughters Of The American Revolution, Piedmont Patriots chapter. Call Mary Joy, 704/334-6035. Democratic Women Of Mecklenburg County, locations vary, 6:30 p.m. Call Joan Belk, 704/578-4227; e-mail jbelksbea@aol.com. eWomenNetwork, Byron’s South End, networking, 11 a.m.; lunch/program 11:30 a.m-1:30 p.m.; members, $35; guests, $45. Call Mel Miller, 704/650-5439.
New Friends Of Carolina, Women’s Group, New Members Welcome Coffee, 10:30 a.m. Call 1-866/213-9183.
Women In Architecture, call Nora Black, 704/536-4988.
United Daughters Of The Confederacy, Chapter 1840, General James H. Lane ; call Gail Sifford, 704/366-4737.
Credit Professionals International, Ole Smokehouse Restaurant, 1513 Montford Drive, 6:30 p.m., $15. Call Diane Radcliff, 704/841-9573.
United Daughters Of The Confederacy, Chapter 220, Stonewall Jackson; call Suellen Del`ahunty, 704/708-9866.
First & Third Thursday Of Each Month
Fourth Thursday Of Each Month
International Coach Federation, Charlotte chapter. Dowd YWCA, 400 E. Morehead St., 7th floor; 6:15-8 p.m. Call Janet Caffray, 704/372-0154; www.icfcharlotte.org.
Charlotte Networking Professionals, Ramada Inn Conference Center, 212 Woodlawn Rd., Pineville, 11:30 a.m.1 p.m. $15. Call Drew Waterbury, 704/523-6914; www.charlottenetworkingprofessionals.com
New Friends Of Carolina Women’s Group, monthly luncheon, 11:30 a.m., 1-866/213-9183.
SHARE: Supporting HSV/HPV awareness, resources , Sensovi Institute, 2125 Southend Dr., 6:30-8 p.m. Call 704/377-2022.
Every Friday
Second Thursday Of Each Month
Fridays Debtors Anonymous, St. Stephen United Methodist Church, 6800 Sardis Rd., 7:30-8:30 p.m. Call Harold, 704/362-0587.
Second & Fourth Wednesdays Of Each Month
Charlotte Newcomers Club, 10:30 a.m., 704/543-8330.
Legal Clinics, Mecklenburg Women’s Commission, free seminars; 704/336-3210, 704/336-3414.
Daughters Of The American Revolution, Mecklenburg Chapter, 10 a.m. Call Miriam Smith, 704/391-0504.
Third Wednesday Of Each Month Association Of Fundraising Professionals, locations vary, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Call 704/331-8518; www.afp-charlotte.org.
Daughters Of The American Revolution, Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence Chapter, 10 a.m. Call Patricia Autry, 704/366-3487.
Every Saturday
Friends Of Beverly, Borders Bookstore, Morrocroft Shopping Center, 6 p.m. RSVP by e-mail Beverly@friendsofbeverly.com.
Professional Association Of Healthcare Office Managers, lunch $10, guests free. Call Sandy Glaspell, 704/795-7010.
Charlotte Art League, 1517 Camden Rd., walk-ins welcome, 8-10:30 a.m., $10. Call 704/376-2787; www.CharlotteArtLeague.org.
Metropolitan Business & Professional Women, The Capital Grille, IJL Financial Center, 201 N. Tryon St.; 11:30 a.m.; members, $21; guests, $28; 866/851-9446; www.mbpw.org.
University City Women’s Group, Oasis Shrine Temple, 10 a.m. Call Jean Kern, 704/594-6884.
Second Saturday Of Each Month
Fourth Wednesday Of Each Month
What Every Woman Should Know, financial discussion group. Smith Barney, 6101 Carnegie Blvd., 2nd floor. Noon. E-mail Nicole.E.Hudson@smithbarney.com.
Assistance League Of Charlotte, Assistance League of Charlotte Center, 3600 S. Tryon St., 9:30 a.m. Call 704/525-5228; alcharlotte@bellsouth.net; www.charlotte.assistanceleague.org
Second & Fourth Thursdays Of Each Month
Charlotte/Mecklenburg Republican Women’s Club, Maggiano’s SouthPark, 11:30 a.m., members, $25; www.cmrwc.com for reservations, or call Dana Both, 704/621-9191.
Third Thursday Of Each Month
Guild Of Charlotte Artists, Sept.-May, Mint Museum of Art, 2730 Randolph Rd., 7 p.m., 704/337-2000; www.guildofcharlotteartists.org. Public Relations Society Of America Charlotte Chapter, Design Center for the Carolinas, Suite 110, Byron Hall, 101 W. Worthington Ave. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; members, $22; guests, $29; students, $15; www.prsacharlotte.org.
Thursdays Every Thursday Business Network International, Matthews Chapter, 7:30 a.m. Call Kim Hellman, 704/651-6008. CPA Club Of Charlotte, 8 a.m., 704/649-9526; www.cpa-cc.com. Parenting Group For Families Affected By Domestic Violence, Hal Marshall Bldg., 700 N. Tryon St., 6-7:30 p.m., 704/336-3210.
First Thursday Of Each Month Coming Out, Lesbian and Gay Community Center, 1401 Central Ave., 7-8:30 p.m., call Dori Luke, 704/576-3635. eWomenNetwork.com, University-Cabarrus region, Speedway Club, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., speaker/lunch/program; members, $35; guests, $45; call Lori Dvorak, 704/947-8476. National Association Of African Americans In Human Resources, Charlotte Chamber, 6:30 p.m., no meeting Jan. or July, 704/307-2598; naaahr-charlotte.org.
H.U.G.S., Healing and Understanding for Grief from Suicide, St. Stephens United Methodist Church, 704/541-9011. American Business Women’s Association, University Chapter, 11:30. RSVP Jane Norman, 704/552-8492; www.abwauniversitychapter.org. American Payroll Association, Charlotte Chapter, 12:302 p.m.; call Denise Bryant, 800/221-7573, ext. 6142; www.apacharlottenc.org. Cabarrus Newcomers & Friends Club, Rocky River Golf Club, Concord, 10 a.m., optional lunch, 704/788-8082. Carolinas’ Professional Saleswomen And Entrepreneurs, Marriott Executive Park, 5700 W. Park Drive, 11 a.m. networking, 11:30 a.m. meeting; members, $20 ; guests, $25; walk-ins, $30. Call Elsie Smoluk, 704/2826297; www.cpsecharlotte.org. Charlotte Area Christian Women’s After-5 Club, Cedarwood Country Club, 4100 Pineville-Matthews Rd., 6:30-8:30 p.m. Call Jean, 704/365-4611.
Charlotte Mommies, Dilworth Playhouse, 1427 South Blvd., Suite 103, 1st and 3rd Fridays, 10:30 a.m., 2nd and 4th Fridays, 3:30 p.m.; www.charlottemommies.com.
Saturdays
Gamma Phi Delta Sorority Inc., Charlotte Alumni Chapter, 10 a.m., locations vary, contact Sheika Wimbley at sheika7@yahoo.com.
Second & Fourth Saturdays Of Each Month Saturday Morning Toastmasters, SouthPark Suites Hotel, 6300 Morrison Blvd., 8 a.m. Call Morris Lawing, 704/366-0846.
Third Saturday Of Each Month American Association Of University Women, Trinity Presbyterian Church, 3115 Providence Rd., 10 a.m., 704/596-3482. No summer meetings.
Fourth Saturday Of Each Month Dining For Women, Charlotte Chapter. World Alliance for Families and Children, 4835 S. Tryon St. Contact Saba K. Washington, jesapro@hotmail.com. The Girl Friends Inc., locations vary, noon, members only. Call Victoria Carter, 704/258-3420. The National Association Of Negro Business And Professional Women’s Clubs Inc., Charlotte Club., Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, 517 Baldwin Ave., 3 p.m., members only. Call Dr. Carlether Burwell, 704/455-7205, or visit www.nanbpwc.org.
Sundays First Sunday Of Each Month
Charlotte Artists Society, Queens Gallery, 1212 The Plaza, 7 p.m., guests welcome. Call Chuck Calhoun, 704/847-2111; www.charlotteartistssociety.org.
A LOTT Of Sista Love, all women welcome. Locations vary, visit www.alottofsistalove.org or e-mail communication@alottofsistalove.
Charlotte Business And Professional Women, Hotel Charlotte, Sharon Amity Rd., 6 p.m. dinner/program, 704/517-2357 or 704/545-3717.
Third Sunday Of Each Month
Charlotte Newcomers Club, locations vary, lunch, speaker, 11 a.m., 704/543-8330. Sisters Network, for black women with breast cancer, Presbyterian Buddy Kemp Caring House, 242 Colonial Ave., 6:30 p.m., 704/384-5223.
Black Political Caucus, Memorial Presbyterian Church, 2600 Beatties Ford Rd., 7 p.m.; www.bpccharlotte.com.
BeInTouch To be considered for inclusion in The Meeting Place, or to update a listing, send details to editor@todayscharlottewoman.com.
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he has been performing classical music at weddings and other social engagements for several years.She has a love of the compositions of Felix Mendelssohn, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Éduard Lalo.And at only 16,she is the concertmistress of the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra. This accomplished musician, a North Mecklenburg High School junior who is also into Asian Hip-Hop and R&B, is Holly Lien,and she has been playing the violin since she was 4 years old. As a studied violinist, Holly trains weekly with Dr.Ernest Pereira,the CSYO’s esteemed conductor since 1988.Her role as the orchestra’s concertmistress means that she is first-chair violin,helping to lead the CSYO in its half-dozen performances each year throughout Charlotte and the state.The CSYO is the educational component of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra,offering students in The Queen City a unique training and performing experience in a semiprofessional ensemble setting. Music has always been an important part of Holly’s life — and her schedule. The busy teen plays every day, taking private lessons, participating in music classes at school, and rehearsing
with the CSYO. She is a member of the Amorosa Quartet,and she accompanies the choir at her church, Lake Norman Baptist,in Huntersville.In 2008,she was awarded the plum positions of first-chair violin in the Western Regional Orchestra, and fourth-chair violin in the N.C. AllState Honors Orchestra. After attending a six-week summer program for gifted youth at the Governor’s School of North Carolina in WinstonSalem,Holly discovered that performing the music of 20th-century composers had given her a whole new musical perspective. “I have been playing conventional classical music my whole life,”she says. “At the Governor’s School, I really got into contemporary — some of it classical and some of it what you might hear in a movie — and I’m looking at music in a totally different way now.” Holly is a straight-A student in North Meck’s International Baccalaureate Program and hopes to pursue music in college. In the meantime, she continues to play and grow in her musical tastes. “Music has brought so much to my life,”she says.“I can appreciate all different types of music, because my years of study have helped me to understand what makes music really great.” TCW
WantToGo? The Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra and Junior Youth Orchestra will perform at the Annual Youth Festival Concert, sponsored by the Symphony Guild of Charlotte, Feb. 26, 7:30 p.m. at Ovens Auditorium.The Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra will perform its Winter Concert March 16, 7:30 p.m. at CPCC’s Halton Theater. For information, visit www.csyo.net, or call 704/714-5124.
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