Woman
Complimentary
January 2019
West Georgia
TM
Courtney Waldon
The Fire Within
Do You Have a Partner, or a Helper?
The Skinny on Diet Soda 1
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What’s inside... 10
Triumph Over Tragedy
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The Skinny On Diet Soda
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Do You Have A Partner, Or A Helper?
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Beating The Winter Blues
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Money Resolutions: How To Save In The New Year
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Local Happenings
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Womentality
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Kidz Korner
RalphE.E.Fleck, Fleck,Jr., Jr.,M.D. M.D. Ralph JubalR. R.Watts, Watts,M.D. M.D. Jubal GregoryS.S.Slappey, Slappey,M.D. M.D. Gregory AnthonyW. W.Colpini, Colpini,M.D. M.D. Anthony BradG. G.Prybis, Prybis,M.D. M.D. Brad KevinM. M.Charron, Charron,M.D. M.D. Kevin TaylorB.B.Cates, Cates,M.D. M.D. Taylor FranklinPence, Pence,M.D. M.D. E.E.Franklin Ki-Hon Lin, M.D. Ki-Hon Lin, M.D. Shomari A.Ruffn, Ruffin, M.D. Shomari A. M.D. Bryan Kirby, M.D. Bryan Kirby, M.D. David A.Scruggs, Scruggs,P.A.-C P.A.-C David A. MichaelC. C.Gravett, Gravett,P.A.-C P.A.-C Michael AndreaMaxwell, Maxwell,F.N.P. F.N.P. Andrea AlishaSchuchman, Schuchman,N.P.-C N.P.-C Alisha BritniLockwood, Lockwood,P.A.-C P.A.-C Britni 24
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Woman
Complimentary
January 2019
West Georgia
TM
Courtney Waldon
The Fire Within
Do You Have a Partner, or a Helper?
The Skinny on Diet Soda
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A Fresh Start Christmas is over, and the New Year is here. Time for new beginnings, resolutions and a fresh start. I'm excited to see what this year holds for me and my family. I don't know about you, but I'm ready to make some healthy changes this year, beginning with shedding some of these extra pounds I've accumulated over the last 12 months. Wish me luck! What are you resolving to do differently this year? Do you have some major goals in the works? Whatever you are striving for, I wish you much success with your New Year endeavors. In This Issue Our cover feature this month is Tallapoosa, Ga., resident Courtney Cosper Waldon. On Sept. 30, 2016, Courtney's life was forever changed in a horrific campfire accident that burned a large percentage of her body and came close to claiming her life. She is an amazing young woman with more strength and character than most people would have in her circumstances, and I am truly in awe of her resilience and powerful spirit. Read about Courtney and her triumph over tragedy on page 10. Are you frustrated because you feel as if you are expected to "do it all" in your family? Are you always the one picking up everyone's slack in the home and regarding the child care? You don't have to do this on your own. Find out if you have a partner, or a helper on page 22. For many people, saving money and eliminating debt in the New Year is a top priority. Check out our five tips for saving money on page 27. Is one of your resolutions to lose weight this year? We researched diet sodas and their effects on weight loss this month, and you may be surprised at the results – I know we were! We share the skinny on diet sodas beginning on page 32. The cold winter is settling in as well as the dark and dreary days of the season. Just looking outside can make you feel a bit depressed and anxious on occasion. Learn how you can counteract those negative feelings and beat the winter blues on page 40. Thank you for reading! Please do business with our valuable advertisers included in this publication, and please be sure to tell them you saw their advertisements in West Georgia Woman magazine. Without our advertising partners, we wouldn't be able to bring you these amazing stories of remarkable women each month! Happy New Year!
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West Georgia Woman is a voice for and about the women who live and work in West Georgia. Our mission is to engage, inspire, and cultivate a cohesive community for all women in West Georgia by sharing our hopes, our dreams and our lives. This magazine would not be possible without the inclusion of our advertisers. Please be sure to show your support by doing business with these VIP’s (very important partners) so we will be able to continue to share with you our stories about amazing West Georgia women! Please be sure to tell them we sent you! Inspiring women wanted.
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Volume 4 • Issue 3 January 2019
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Zachary@westgeorgiawoman.com Angela Brooks Dailey, owner and publisher of West Georgia Woman magazine, has lived in West Georgia most of her life and has a deep love and appreciation for the area. She received her B.B.A in management from The University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Ga., and is a Civil and Domestic Relations mediator and arbitrator registered with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution. She lives in Carrollton, and has two wonderful children, Zachary and Sydney Dailey. Angela enjoys reading, spending time with her children and extended family and loves to watch Sydney play soccer.
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Triumph Over Tragedy Tallapoosa Resident Courtney Waldon Says She's in a Better Place after Horrific Accident
10
Photos by Mark Steffey
By Janet Flanigan
11 Photo location courtesy of Drs. Fred and Anne Richards and Lisa King
C
ourtney Waldon rolls up her sleeve to reveal a tattoo that runs down the inside of her forearm. It reads “I survived because the fire inside me burned brighter than the fire around me.” The quote is from a character in the video game, Fallout: New Vegas, named Joshua Graham, who is also known as “The Burned Man.” While the video game may be a fantasy, what happened to Courtney was a terrifying reality.
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the fire leapt from the campfire up to the gas can, and her husband tossed the can away. In As the gas can flew through the air, gas splashed September on Courtney who was standing next to the fire. Once 2016, again, the flames followed the fuel and suddenly, Courtney, and Courtney found herself engulfed in flames. her husband “I immediately felt incredible pain and my hands of only two flew up to try to protect my face," she explains. "I months, don’t know why, but I remembered what they taught were grilling us in school to “Stop, drop and roll.” The tattoo Courtney received to commemooutside and She started rolling then popped back up to try rate her story of strength and survival. Photo courtesy of Courtney Waldon. standing to get to an outside hose. As she began to run, her beside a small husband tackled her and smothered out the fire. “I campfire for screamed in pain ‘Call 911! Call 911!'" she recalls. warmth. Courtney was absentmindedly scrolling "He was fumbling with the phone, and I later found through Facebook on her phone, and casually out he had trouble dialing because he had burned mentioned to her husband that she was cold. “I his hand when he covered me to put out the fire.” looked up and saw my husband with a gas can in his Before the ambulance arrived, she tried lying down hand, pouring gas on the fire,” she recalls. In a flash, on the pavement to cool off, but this embedded gravel and dirt into her burned skin. She began to go into shock and was shaking uncontrollably. Fortunately, the couple lived in downtown Tallapoosa, Ga., and the ambulance arrived in about two minutes. She was told later that if the ambulance had been delayed another minute, she probably would not be alive. By the time help arrived, her breathing was very labored, her body had already begun swelling and the paramedics could only use an infant-sized breathing tube on Courtney. Courtney, before, and shortly after the horrific accident that almost claimed her life. Photos: Facebook. Although she was in shock
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and in horrific pain, she was able to walk into the ambulance on her own. While in the ambulance, Courtney recalls praying to God, but it was not a prayer to spare her life, as might be expected. “I asked the Lord to forgive me of my sins and to please let me go to heaven," she shares. "I really thought I was going to die.”
Teenage Challenges The daughter of Scott and Karen Cosper, Courtney grew up in Tallapoosa. She and her sister, Lindsey, enjoyed a comfortable childhood and her parents ran a successful salvage discount grocery store. In 2012, the Cospers retired from the grocery business and the family opened The Overlook of West Georgia, a wedding venue located on their 100-acre farm. As a teenager, Courtney grew into a beautiful young woman. “In high school, I was a very pretty girl, but I was conceited, vain and judgmental," she admits. While she was in high school, she became the target of bullying, and in her sophomore year she made the decision to complete her education at home online. Courtney graduated high school at age 16. Shortly after graduating, Courtney married Casey Waldon and the couple had a daughter, Caroline, now age six. Courtney says they were married for a couple of years, but wed so young they decided on a divorce. The parents share custody, and Caroline and her father have a good relationship. During this time, Courtney registered for the C.N.A. (Certified Nurse Aide) program at Gadsden State Community College, but a shocking experience involving a patient left her feeling shaken, and she decided nursing was not for her. She began working at Custom Beverage Concepts (CBC) in Tallapoosa, where she met fellow CBC employee, Mitch Cobb. After a whirlwind sixmonth courtship, Courtney and Mitch were married. Courtney says she loved working at CBC and wishes she could still work there, but it’s no longer possible. “My hands are too fragile to handle the work anymore,” she explains.
says the paramedic told her no, but she was told later that the paramedic did not think she would survive. Usually, burn victims living in this area are sent to Grady Memorial Hospital, but Grady’s burn unit was full on that fateful day. Courtney feels that God was looking out for her when she was sent to WellStar Cobb Hospital in Austell, Ga. “I was so lucky to be put in the care of Dr. Claus Brandigi," she says. "He is one of the very top burn doctors in the United States.” Claus Brandigi, MD, FACS, is the medical director at Joseph M. Still Burn Centers, Inc. in Austell. He specializes in acute burn care, burn reconstruction surgery, reconstructive surgery, skin and soft tissue infections and wound care. After reaching the hospital, Courtney was placed in a medically induced coma, and underwent seven surgeries over the next few weeks. While the medically induced coma helped to manage her pain, Courtney says she had constant nightmares and paranoia while under the anesthesia. She remembers feeling as if she was being shocked, electrocuted and she believed that people were trying to kill her. She even dreamed the hospital staff told her parents that she had died. As she was gradually brought her out of her coma,
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Courtney continued to have terrors and paranoia. “My eyes were sewn shut, and my hands and body were bandaged everywhere," she says. "But I still was able to write to my mother on a dry erase board, ‘Please help me. They are trying to kill me.'" Fortunately, as she became more lucid, the paranoid hallucinations stopped. Courtney was in the ICU for 30 days, and remained in the hospital for another 51 days. During her time in the hospital, she had to relearn how to walk, feed herself and perform other basic tasks. Courtney was not offered a mirror for several days after she awoke from Courtney, in the hospital after one of the 40 surgeries she the coma. She recalls that has had to endure since the accident. Photo: Facebook. she continued to ask her mom how she looked. Her
mom was gentle, but honest, and told Courtney she no longer looked the same due to the extensive burns.
A Shocking Revelation Before she saw herself, Courtney said she kept touching her face and it felt rough, like a honeycomb. Skin grafts from her thighs and the inside of her arm were added to her face to promote the growth of new skin. Because she had used her hands to protect her face from the flames, they were also horribly burned. Over two years later, she continues to endure painful skin grafts to grow and stretch healthy, new skin on her hands and arms. The first time Courtney saw her reflection after the accident, she was washing her
“She was so young and didn’t understand that this was me, her momma, but when she heard me say, ‘Come here baby, it’s your momma,' she immediately knew it was me, and it was fine.” Caroline runs to her mom for a hug. Courtney says when Caroline introduces her mom to a new friend, she gives a simple, yet loving introduction: “This is my Momma. She got burned, but she is beautiful.”
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hands and there was a mirror on the wall above the sink. She looked up and accidentally saw herself for the first time. “I actually got sick and almost fainted when I saw what I looked like," she relates. "I looked like something from a horror show. I could not believe that was me." After 51 days in the hospital, Courtney insisted on coming home. She wanted to be with Caroline and her husband in her own home. However, it was a pretty rough homecoming. One of the roughest times was when she first reconnected with her daughter. Caroline was really nervous and stand-offish at first. “She was so young and didn’t understand that this was me, her momma,” she explains. “But when she heard me say, ‘Come here baby, it’s your momma,' she immediately knew it was me, and it was fine.” Courtney also realized how dependent she was on other people for every little thing. “I couldn’t even open a can of food, a bag of chips or a drink for me or my daughter,” she says.
An Unexpected Loss Naturally, a traumatic accident or situation can shake the most solid of relationships, and for a couple who had only been together for six months and wed for just two months, the strain was too much. Only two weeks after her release from the hospital, Mitch moved out. Left on her own with Caroline, Courtney had to figure things out quickly. She tried to do as much as she could for herself, but at first, some tasks were just impossible. “My friend from across the street, Carrie Garner, was so much help," she shares. "She stopped in every day to see how we were doing. She opened food, made sure Caroline and I ate and did lots of things for me.” Holding onto the hope that Mitch would change his mind, Courtney held on by herself for a short while, but she soon realized he would not be coming back. With the mounting medical bills pouring in, a daughter to care for and a long recovery ahead of her, Courtney knew she couldn't face this alone, so she and and Caroline moved back home to live with her folks. “I had been on my own since I was 18, and it was hard moving back home, I’m not gonna lie,” she says. But the time at her parents’ home gave her time to heal until she could live on her own again. Courtney's first time going out in public after she left the hospital was really frightening for her. “People stare, and I know they don’t mean to be
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ugly," she explains. "They just want to know what happened.” She says her daughter takes it all in stride, and when she introduces her mother to a new friend, Caroline gives a simple, yet loving introduction: “This is my Momma. She got burned, but she is beautiful.” “I know this has been hard on Caroline, but she’ll be a strong little girl because of it,” she says. One of Courtney's earliest personal accomplishments was venturing out to reapply for her driver’s license. “When I look at the picture on the license, I really can’t believe I did it," she says. "But I was determined to drive my baby to school." Courtney had other reasons for wanting to drive as well. In addition to getting to doctor and physical therapy appointments, she wanted to be able to drive herself to church.
A Caring Church Family For a few months, Courtney had been happily attending The Refuge, a church located in Tallapoosa. Courtney says at The Refuge, all people are made to feel welcome and the environment is very non-judgmental. “Members of The Refuge take care of each other and people in the community,
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and I feel very loved there,” she explains. Church members prepare and serve a hot meal of some kind each night of the week and she says loves to go for the food and fellowship. Courtney had been at her parent’s home for about eight months, when leadership from the church told her they wanted to build her a new home of her own. “I could not believe it,” she says. Her parents donated a plot on their acreage and her church picked house plans and began to build her home. The construction began in early 2017, and she and Caroline moved in the house that November. Courtney had a stake in the home building process too, and contributed some funds to the completion of their home. “We love our house, and I could not have done it without my church," she relates. "They are such loving people. If I miss a Sunday, both the Pastor, Jon Ellis, and another member will call and say they missed me."She says the church has future plans for a large community center and apartments for people who do not have a home, and she is very excited about the work The Refuge does on behalf of others in need. She also tries to give back to her church and community when she is physically able; She
Courtney with her family from left to right: Daughter, Caroline; Courtney; niece, Elizabeth; sister, Lindsey; mother, Karen; and her father, Scott.
babysits the children at church and she recently donated her former vehicle to a family who needed transportation to get to work.
A Long Road to Recovery While she has endured over 40 surgeries to date, Courtney is not done with her recovery. Her hands still require more healing, and she had a recent graft surgery in Nov. 2018. Along with her treatments, surgeries and physical therapy come large medical bills, as well. Courtney has come so far since that horrible day when she saw herself for the first time after the accident. She has begun dating, and at her sister’s insistence, even put up an online dating profile. “This whole thing has changed me so much not just on the outside, but on the inside," she shares. "I was superficial before, and now I really care about who
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has learned is that she is perfectly fine by herself and doesn’t need a man in her life to make her feel complete. Her greatest happiness is spending time with Caroline, and the two of them love visiting with her 4-year-old niece, Elizabeth, as often as they can.
A Bright Future While Courtney cannot yet hold down a traditional job, she has begun doing some public speaking to share her story of hope with others. She has also been profiled in several national magazines, including “People," as well as some national television programs, such as “Dr. Oz” and “Inside Edition." Courtney, left, with her sister, Lindsey. Courtney says her entire family has been a huge Her first speaking engagement source of support for her. was at the Global Christian the person is inside – because that is how they have Professional Women’s Association to be with me.” in Myrtle Beach in 2017. She shared her story of But, Courtney says perhaps the best thing she faith, survival and victory while basking in God’s love.
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Courtney has been profiled in several national magazines, including "People." Photo: Facebook.
She was asked to deliver her testimony of victory over tragedy at the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast in Springdale, Ark., in May 2018, and she has spoken at various churches and other organizations. She hopes to expand her opportunities to share her story
with others in the future. “I would not take back this experience and be what I was before,” she shares. “I was conceited and vain and only thought about myself before this happened. I did not like the person I was before. Now I am in a real relationship with God. This experience has really opened my eyes and made me look at how I took so many things for granted. I am a better person, now.” WGW
To learn more about Courtney Waldon, or to inquire about a speaking engagement, email her at ccosper20@gmail.com To make a donation to help with her medical expenses, visit her gofundme page at
www.gofundme.com/courtneywaldon 21
Do You Have a Partner, or a Helper?
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o you feel as if you are doing the majority of the household chores? Is it a constant struggle to get someone in your family to just … help? Have you ever taken inventory regarding who does what around the house? Of course you have, and you don’t like it one bit. In fact, you resent all of the time and energy you spend working for the household after you get home from your full-time day job, and you are even more resentful because other household members don’t appreciate the work you do to keep the home running smoothly – especially the person who is supposed to be your partner in the relationship. Do you have a partner, or a helper? What’s the difference? Read below and find out what you can do to change your situation.
Partner and Helper Traits • Partners take initiative. The trash is full and needs to be taken outside. Helpers will let the trash pile up and fall out onto the floor or will leave the house and leave the trash for you to deal with. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, your helper will grudgingly take out the trash only if you have asked several times and continue to nag. Partners will see that the trash is full and
simply take it outside, after replacing the trash bag, of course. • Partners don’t babysit their own children. You’d like a night out with friends and ask your partner to take care of the kids solo so you can have some “me” time. Helpers will conveniently forget you told them you were going out, or, if they do stick around to watch the kids, they will call you 20 times during the night to ask you where the diapers are located. Partners will understand that being a parent means you have to actually, well, parent. • Partners do their fair share of the household chores. Helpers will rarely do anything on their own without being asked. Partners will see what needs to be done and will do it. End of story. Helpers, on the other hand, will only do things when forced to do them, and they will complain about every chore or will intentionally complete the task with no intent upon doing a good job. • Partners know there is more to taking care of a home than what is on the surface. Washing the occasional load of laundry or loading the dishwasher once in a while is a great thing (except when they leave them for
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you to fold and put the dishes away, but that's beside the point), but, what about the other things that need to be done? Cleaning toilets, vanities and bathtubs; cleaning the inside of the microwave or cleaning out the fridge; refilling soap dispensers, changing light bulbs and mopping; sweeping floors, vacuuming and dusting. All of these things need to be done regularly. Partners will know these things need to be done and will do them without being asked. Helpers will never do any of these things on their own without being asked to do them. • Partners are fully invested in their homes and their relationships. Partners realize they don’t get a pass to do nothing while their significant other does it all. Partners treat their home and relationships as if they are business owners - investing time and energy into something that is very important to them. Helpers lounge on the sofa watching television while their partner takes care of the kids’ needs, does the cooking, cleaning and shopping.
What You Can Do If you are the person who does everything around the home, ask yourself “Why?” Are there things you are doing – or not doing – that are contributing to you taking on too many of the household responsibilities yourself? The following are some things you may be doing to sabotage yourself. • You think your significant other or other household members can’t do anything right. Are you consistently going behind others in your home who are contributing, but you find fault in each task they complete? Do you redo each task to your standards? Do you get frustrated when you feel they don’t care about the task at hand and tell them to just leave it for you to do? If you treat them as if they are incapable, they will stop trying. • You are using the wrong language. No, we’re not talking about the angry words that fill your head while you’re picking up everyone’s slack. How are you expressing your need for others to contribute? Phrases like, “Can you help me out and take out the trash,” or, “Will you watch the kids for me Saturday night while I go out with my friends?” automatically place your significant other in “helper” mode. Using these words makes it seem as if these tasks
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are your job and they are doing you a favor. Instead, say, “The trash is full and needs to be taken outside. I’m cooking dinner right now and will be tied up for a while,” or, “I’m going out with my friends Saturday night. Jimmy will be home and Janie has her girl scout meeting. Will you be available, or do we need to hire a sitter?” • You don’t require your children to contribute. Your kids work hard in school all day and in their after school activities, we get that. But, you work hard, too. If you’re like most other American couples, you both work full-time jobs. Divide the household tasks between all members of the family, from the youngest to the oldest. Even very young children can match socks, clean up their own play areas or set the table for dinner. The new year is a great time to oust the old and bring in the new. Sit down with your significant other and discuss your frustration regarding the unfair division of the work. Don’t accuse, only explain. For example, you could say, “I am really overwhelmed with my job, the kids and all of the other household tasks. What do you think we can do to distribute the household chores and childcare more fairly?” Asking in this way gives your significant other some “skin in the game,” so to speak. You have taken him out of “helper” mode and brought him into “partner” mode by requesting the two of you work together to find a solution. You know, like a real partnership. Imagine that. Don’t start this new year by continuing to do everything on your own and wearing yourself out while the anger and resentment continues to build. Start developing good partnership habits for every household member right now. When everyone does their part, there will be more time to spend on what is most important – quality time with each other. WGW
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Treating Our Clients With Dignity, Respect and Care.
Michael L. Stone, AAMS®, PPC®, AIF® Wealth Manager • Founder & CEO
Financial Planning • Retirement Income Strategies Stocks • Bonds • Mutual Funds • Insurance
770.830.0063
www.milestoneinvestmentsllc.com
Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Fixed insurance products and services offered through Milestone Investment Management LLC or CES Insurance Agency. The Women's Choice Award® Financial Advisor program was created by WomenCertified Inc., the Voice of Women, in an effort to help women make smart financial choices. The Women's Choice Award Financial Program is based on 17 objective criteria associated with providing quality service to women clients, such as credentials, experience, and a favorable regulatory history, among other factors. Financial advisors do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Women's Choice Award Financial Advisors, though they may have paid a basic program fee to cover the cost of their client survey. The inclusion of a financial advisor within the Women's Choice Award Financial Advisor network should not be construed as an endorsement of the financial advisor by WomenCertified Inc. or its partners and affiliates and is no guarantee as to future investment success. Women's Choice Award® Financial Advisors and Firms represent less than 1% of financial advisors in the U.S. As of October 2018, of the 463 considered for the Women's Choice Award, 108 were named Women's Choice Award Financial Advisors/ Firms The criteria provided reflects the most recent year for which Financial Advisors/Firms received the award. The criteria used, the number of Financial Advisors/Firms considered for the award, and the number of those who receive the award, may vary from year to year. For more information, please visit http://www.womenschoiceaward.com/.
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Money Resolutions: How to Save in the New Year
1. Pay Yourself. You pay your car payment, house note and utilities each month, but you should be paying yourself, too. Pay yourself as much as you can, even if it is only $50 or $100 each month, to invest in a retirement fund. A good financial planner will help you decide how much you need to set aside based on your age and lifestyle needs. 2. Create and keep an emergency fund. There always seems to be something that comes up and throws a wrench in your finances. Unexpected auto or home repairs, emergency medical expenses or worse, losing your job can easily have you reaching for the credit card. How much do you need? Track all of your spending for an entire month and multiply the total by three. Financial experts say this is the minimum amount you should have on hand in case of emergencies. 3. Distribute unexpected windfalls using the rule of thirds. Every time you receive money unexpectedly through a bonus, working overtime or a gift, you should divide it into thirds. One third should be used for the present: Make a purchase you really want or use the money for personal or home improvements. One third should be used for the past: Pay off any debt you owe. One third should be used for your future: Put this amount into savings or an investment. 4. Set a budget and stick to it. Take your gross household income and use these
standards for budgeting: 30 percent should be going toward your rent or mortgage, auto loans, student loans and credit cards; 26 percent should be allocated for utilities, food, transportation expenses, clothing, entertainment and medical costs; 25 percent for local, state, property and federal taxes, Medicare and FICA; 15 percent for retirement and savings; 4 percent should be allocated for auto, life, health, homeowners or disability insurance. 5. Begin saving for your retirement. You should begin saving as much as you can in your 401k, Traditional IRA and Roth IRA, says Michael Stone, founder and CEO of Milestone Investment Management, LLC. in Carrollton, Ga. "The key to financial success in retirement is not really how much money you have, it’s how many expenses you have," he explains. "Work on eliminating as much of your debt expenses as you can while you are working. By doing so, you will free up income to adequately support yourself and have extra for those things you enjoy." Always ask your trusted financial adviser what is right for you, as everyone's financial situation is different. You don't have to be extremely wealthy to work with an advisor, and many firms offer a free initial consultation. Take that first step, and resolve to create your own path to financial freedom this year. WGW
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Daily Fare With
e s o R f e Ch
Chef photos by Keith May.
Rose Isaacs is a native of Carroll County and lives in Carrollton with her husband Shawn. She graduated from West Georgia Technical College in 2013 with a degree in Culinary Arts. After graduation, she began her career as a chef at the Carrollton Kroger Marketplace where she works in the bistro.
28Recipe photos by Mark Steffey.
Apple Pomegranate Crisp
"
This is a wonderful, warm and fruity dessert that goes perfectly with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. .
Ingredients
Preparation
4 medium apples peeled, cored and sliced
Preheat oven to 375 degrees and butter a 9-inch-by-13-inch baking dish. In a large bowl toss together apples, pomegranate seeds, pecans, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Spread evenly into the prepared pan. In the same large bowl, stir together oats, flour and white sugar. Add butter cubes and rub between your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over the top of the fruit. Bake for 40 minutes or until apples are soft. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Serves 6.
1/2 fresh pomegranate, skin and membrane removed 1/4 cup chopped pecans 1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes
"
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Ingredients
Taco Soup
1 lb lean ground beef 1 small onion, chopped 2 15-ounce cans chili beans 1 can corn kernels, undrained 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce 1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies 1 pouch taco seasoning Suggested toppings: Shredded cheddar cheese Sour cream Pico de gallo Sliced avocado
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Corn chips Lime wedges Cilantro Preparation
Brown the ground beef and diced onion in a large pot until cooked through. Drain any excess fat. Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Cook over medium heat, about 10 minutes, to let flavors blend. Serve with any of the suggested toppings Serves 6 to 8. WGW
” This taco soup is a flavorful and affordable weeknight dinner for those cold January nights.”31
The Skinny on Diet Soda Y
ou want to lose weight in the New Year, and one way to drop those unwanted pounds is to cut calories. But, when it comes to drinks, cutting those calories by replacing your regular soda with diet may not help you manage your weight after all. With an average calorie count of 150 in a 12-ounce can of regular soda versus zero calories in a diet soda, most people believe this is a no brainer when it comes to weight loss, but multiple studies have shown that people who drink large amounts of diet soda actually weigh more, according to the Mayo Clinic. There are currently five artificial sweeteners that have been approved by the FDA: sucralose, saccharin, aspartame, neotame, acesulfame and sucralose, and one natural low-calorie sweetener, stevia, has been approved. However, the way the brain and human body respond to these artificial sweeteners can be complex. One concern health professionals have is that people who use these artificial sweeteners may replace those lost calories in other, unhealthy ways which can possibly offset any health benefits or weight loss, according to Dr. David Ludwig, a weight loss and obesity specialist at Boston Children's
ACUPUNCTURE
Real Medicine, Real Results
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Leigh Sawyer, L.Ac., MSTCM, Dipl.O.M NCCAOM ANXIETY • FERTILITY • BACK PAIN • CHEMOTHERAPY SUPPORT 210 South Street • Carrollton • 770.317.5003 • WestGaAcup.com
Hospital. This happens because people fool themselves into thinking it's OK to eat more high calorie foods because they are also drinking diet sodas. For example, "It's OK to eat these potato chips because I'm drinking a diet soda." The use of artificial sweeteners can also change the way your food tastes because they are more potent than high-fructose corn syrup or table sugar. Even a very small amount of artificial sweeteners produce a sweet taste similar to sugar, without the extra calories. And people who consume artificial sweeteners regularly may actually begin to find less intensely sweet foods, such as fruit, less
Dr. Howard Seeman
Dr. Thelma Lucas
Dr. John Arledge
Dr. Prashant Sharma
Dr. Peter Ojuro
appealing and foods that aren't sweet at all, such as vegetables, downright disgusting. In other words, the use of artificial sweeteners can make you avoid eating highly nutritious, filling and healthy foods while consuming more artificially flavored foods that have less, or very little, nutritional value. Artificial sweeteners may also play another trick on our minds. Studies suggest they might prevent people from associating caloric intake with sweetness. As a result, we may have a tendency to choose sweeter foods over nutritious foods, may crave more sweets and essentially gain more weight in the long run. A study from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio linked regular, daily consumption of diet drinks to an increase in belly fat among adults age 65 and older. During the nine-year study, researchers found that older adults who never drank diet soda gained an average of 0.8 inches around their waistline compared with 3.2 inches for people who drank diet soda every day. The occasional drinkers showed a gain of 1.83 inches. Another San Antonio heart study showed that people who consumed more than 21 diet drinks
Susan Prescott, NP
Corie Price, NP
per week were twice as likely to become obese or overweight compared to those who didn’t drink diet soda at all. So, now that you know diet sodas may actually increase weight gain, you can stop drinking them at anytime, right? Not so fast. Animal studies have suggested that artificial sweeteners may actually be more addictive than cocaine. In one study of rats who were given a choice between saccharinsweetened water or a behaviorally effective dose of cocaine, most of the rats chose the saccharin. So, if you're working hard to shed those extra pounds you gained over the holidays, but aren't ready to totally drop the sodas, just remember that sodas made with artificial sweeteners are not considered health drinks and aren't a panacea for weight loss. Much healthier and lower-calorie choices are available to help you better manage your weight, including skim milk and unsweetened tea or coffee. But, plain old H2O is usually the healthiest choice for your body. Water helps your bodily functions work properly, keeps you hydrated (which may help you become less vulnerable to wrinkling and skin disorders) and will help you lose weight when coupled with other healthy lifestyle changes. WGW
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Womentality
Inspiring quotes by extraordinary women “If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back and get it right side up again.” – Sojourner Truth
“I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took an excuse.” – Florence Nightingale
“How wonderful is it that nobody need to wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank
“Working hard feels good. Of course it’s exhausting and stressful and causes you to miss a party or two, but at the end of the day it is so rewarding. One of the best feelings in the world is when you know that luck didn’t play a role in your success. Doing work eliminates the need for luck. I’m not lucky, I just took the stairs. And you should, too.” – Lilly Singh
“But life doesn’t often spell things out for you or give you what you want exactly when you want it, otherwise it wouldn’t be called life, it would be called vending machine. It’s hard to say exactly when it will happen, and it’s true that whatever you’re after may not drop down the moment you spend all your quarters, but someday soon a train is coming. In fact, it may already be on the way. You just don’t know it yet.” 34 – Lauren Graham
Local Happenings
West Georgia Mental Health Professionals Wellness Meetup Group
This group meets the last Saturday of every month in Douglasville or Austell. For more information, contact Cheryl at theheartmatters@gmail.com or 678.754.5840. Learn more at www.heartmatterswellness.com.
Hope For The Journey This group meets the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the board room at the Tracy Stallings Community Center at 118 South White St. in Carrollton. These events are free to breast cancer survivors or those currently battling breast cancer. Learn more at www.hopeforthejourneywestga.org, email execdirector@hopeforthejourneywestga.org or call 770.214.1491.
Rare Pearls Mentoring and Leadership Program
Rare Pearls mission is to enrich and empower the lives of young girls and women. This group meets the third Saturday of each month at WellStar Douglas Hospital, 8954 Hospital Dr. in Douglasville, in the Sycamore Room from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. This program is open to all girls ages 10 to 17. For more information call 770.947.8210, email rarepearls2015@gmail.com or visit the website at www.rarepearlsmentoringandleadership.org.
Nursing From The Heart Breastfeeding Support Group This group meets the third Monday of each month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 500 Old Bremen Road in Carrollton. These events are free to pregnant women and moms looking for breastfeeding support. Free
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weight checks for your baby will be available. Come and share your breastfeeding journey with us. Please check our website for meeting and event updates at www.nursingfromtheheart.com.
Gertrude's House Breast Cancer Support Group This group meets the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at Lithia Springs Family Chiropractic at 1758 Lee Rd in Lithia Springs. This group is open to all survivors, caregivers, supporters, friends, family and those fighting breast cancer. Visit their Facebook page @GertrudesHouse or email them at GertrudesHouse@yahoo.com.
GriefShare at Tabernacle Baptist Church Utilizing a video seminar, support group and workbook, each of the 13 weekly GriefShare meetings center around a topic important to the grief recovery process. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m., and the meetings run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. each evening. Meetings are held at 150 Tabernacle Drive, Room 256, Carrollton, Ga. Classes are free. Participation workbooks are $15. For more information on GriefShare, call or text John Pearson at 404.368.2746.
DivorceCare at Tabernacle Baptist Church Utilizing a video seminar, support group, and workbook, each of the 13 weekly DivorceCare meetings center around a topic important to your recovery process. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m., and the meetings run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. each evening. Meetings are held at 150 Tabernacle Drive, Room 260, Carrollton, Ga. Classes are free. Participation workbooks are $15. For more information on DivorceCare, call or text John Pearson at 404.368.2746.
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Carroll EMC Accepting Applications for Washington Youth Tour Carroll Electric Membership Cooperative is accepting applications from area high school students, who will be 16 by June 2019, to compete for an all-expense-paid spot on the 2019 Washington Youth Tour. The week-long once-ina-lifetime leadership trip offers participants the opportunity to experience U.S. government and U.S. history up-close while having fun, making new friends, and gaining leadership skills. If chosen, the students will become one of the three delegates sponsored by Carroll EMC and join more than 110 teens from other EMCs across Georgia to represent the state during the 2019 Washington Youth Tour to be held June 13-20, 2019. The fast-paced, high-energy program is designed to give students a taste of democracy in action, expose them to the nation’s rich history through visits to national monuments and museums, and encourage students to become politically aware citizens. “The Washington Youth Tour not only taught me more about the exceptional individuals who have helped to shape the history of my nation, it allowed me to meet and form bonds with exceptional individuals in my community, who I know will become the great leaders and history-makers of our nation’s future,” said last year’s delegate, Anna Handley. That sentiment, expressed by many former delegates, underscores the significance of the program – to participate in an unforgettable weeklong journey in the nation’s capital that includes face-to-face meetings with state and national leaders, leadership training, and discussions on important issues with students from other states. The tour begins in Georgia where students get to know each other before boarding an airplane and flying to Washington, D.C., where they connect with more than 1,800 students from across the country. Plans are in the works to cruise down the Potomac River; lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery; meet with Georgia’s U.S. senators and representatives; take photos outside the White House and tour the U.S. Supreme Court, the United States Capitol, Mount Vernon and the National Cathedral.
Students will visit memorials honoring Presidents Franklin Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and George Washington; Martin Luther King Jr.; World War II; the Korean and Vietnam Veterans memorials; and watch the U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and the Silent Drill Platoon perform at the Marine Memorial (Iwo Jima statue) as well as spend time at the Smithsonian, Newseum and Holocaust Museums. Applications can be found on our website, www.carrollemc.com, from Nov. 1 to Feb.15.
Dawnbreakers Donation Will Fund Scholarships The Rotary Club of Carrollton Dawnbreakers is making a lasting impact on local students by establishing an endowed scholarship with the West Georgia Technical College Foundation. The club – known locally as the Carrollton Dawnbreakers – has a long history of support for West Georgia Technical College, most notably by funding testing scholarships for those seeking a GED. “The Dawnbreakers Rotary Club has been a proud supporter of WGTC for many years through the GED program, and, as we looked at how we can best serve our community through the money we’ve raised, investing in an endowment for technical education was the perfect fit,” Club President Adam Wilkins said. Initial funding for the endowment was completed over the summer, and the first scholarship should be awarded for Spring Semester 2020. Students who reside in Carroll County with demonstrated financial need are eligible to apply. Applicants are not restricted to a particular field of study at WGTC, but those who have received a Dawnbreakers GED testing scholarship will be given a preference, WGTC Executive Director of Institutional Advancement Kelsey Jones said. Jones said the funds can go toward tuition costs, but they can also be used for other expenses – books, equipment and fees. The goal, she said, is to break down barriers that would keep students from completing their education. “When we sat down with the WGTC team, we looked through the different options for endowments, and choosing this one was an easy decision,” Wilkins said. “We realize that those who qualify for this scholarship are those who may put off
their courses, not due to the tuition costs, but due to the smaller things that may put them over budget. For some, it may be the difference between feeding their families or continuing their education – and we can help alleviate that gap.” Scholarship recipients also will have the opportunity to build a relationship with the club through opportunities for mentoring. Wilkins said the club will invite recipients to meetings and events and provide support by connecting them with club members who can help the student grow personally and professionally. At a check presentation event, West Georgia Technical College President Dr. Scott Rule expressed appreciation for the club’s support. “One of the first events I attended as President was a check presentation by the Dawnbreakers to support GED testing scholarships,” he said. “I learned quickly that this is a group of people who really understand the need and understand the impact that their support can have on real people in our community.” “We are so grateful for this expansion of their support to include our credit programs. Beyond the financial assistance, the opportunity for a student to engage and be mentored by club members really is priceless,” Rule said.
Members of the Rotary Club of Carrollton Dawnbreakers have endowed a scholarship to benefit Carroll County students at West Georgia Technical College. Club President Adam Wilkins presented a check to WGTC Foundation President Bryant Hightower and WGTC President Dr. Scott Rule.
WGTC Ending Athletic Programs Citing low student participation and difficulty finding comparable opponents, among other factors, West Georgia Technical College announced
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it will be ending its athletics programs June 30. “We have been looking at athletics for most of this calendar year,” WGTC President Dr. Scott Rule said. “Many of our sister colleges around the state have eliminated their programs, and this has put additional pressure on our teams to find opponents. Any time you travel long distances to play, there is cost both in fuel and lodging, but also in lower student participation.” West Georgia Technical College first fielded a men’s basketball team in 2008. Over time, women’s basketball, men’s baseball and women’s fast-pitch softball were added to round out the College’s program. The College is a member of the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association and the National Junior College Athletic Association. Rule said out of a Fall Semester 2018 enrollment of 7,187, the College has 82 players across four sports. Home games for basketball are played at Oak Mountain Academy in Carrollton. Baseball and softball play at Central High School. Rule said attendance for games is low, likely due to the focused, career-minded nature of technical college students. “Many of our students are busy with jobs, homes and families,” he said. “We don’t have on-campus athletics facilities or residence halls, so students don’t even associate the College with athletics. What we do have are robust and relevant academic and technical programs that prepare students for careers where there is growth and where there is demand for their skills,” Rule said. “We are going to focus on these mission-critical areas where our communities count on us to make a difference.” Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Tonya Whitlock said the College will work with student athletes as they decide whether to finish their studies at West Georgia Tech or transfer to other programs. “One reason we are announcing this now, before winter break, is to allow students to discuss this with their families and others and decide how they want to proceed,” Whitlock said. “We’ll play the remainder of our basketball season and the spring seasons for our baseball and softball teams will continue as planned, but students need to have plans in place following that.” Rule said West Georgia Tech’s mission is workforce development. “We know that athletics provides many benefits, but it is essential that we prioritize our mission – workforce development – and we arrange our organization and our budget and everything else we do to support workforce development,” he said. Rule said players have been informed and each
has been offered individual help in transferring or staying. “It is our hope that every one of our student athletes decides to finish his or her education at West Georgia Tech,” Rule said. “But if they decide they want to continue an athletic career at another institution, we will do what we can to ease that transition.” West Georgia Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson and Troup counties and class sites in Heard and Meriwether counties, offers more than 120 associate degree, diploma and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Georgia Tech is one of the largest of the state’s 22 technical colleges. For more information, please visit westgatech.edu.
The Ultimate P.A.R.T.Y. with a Purpose Youth Forum 2019 (An event for male and female middle and high school students.)
Let's P.A.R.T.Y. this MLK, Jr. holiday in a teen talk forum to address: Politics; Social Action; Rights and Responsibilities; Teen Issues and Your Future. Also, featuring The Counselor's Corner: Get tips on how to stand out to colleges, get financial aid and use your school counselor toward your advantage; Youth Financial Management: In this breakout session, get on the path to financial responsibility. The P.A.R.T.Y will be held Jan. 21 (MLK, Jr. holiday) from 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Douglas County High School, 8705 Campbellton St., Douglasville. This is a free event with lunch provided. College representatives will be available. Event is hosted by the Educational Development and Economic Development Committees at the Douglas-Carroll-Paulding Counties Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Workshops are conducted by business professionals and the members of all nine PanHellenic historically African American greek letter public service organizations. On the next MLK, Jr. holiday, show a student you are invested and committed to their success. Let's raise up a generation to be great! On-site registration opens at 8:15 a.m. Find the registration form at www.dcpdst.org.
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Beating the Winter Blues
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C
hristmas is over, the days are shorter and colder and the bills are about to begin rolling in from making merry in December. Let's face it, if your happy place involves sunshine, shorts and sunglasses, but all you've got now is gloomy skies and bitter cold wind chills, awkwardly thick winter coats and every inch of your body is covered up, then you may be experiencing a bit of sadness, anxiety and depression during this time of year. It's common to feel this way during the winter months, but you don't have to stay this way. With these tips on beating the winter blues, you won't even be bothered when Jack Frost nips at your nose.
Get Moving It's so easy to lead a sedentary lifestyle during the winter months. It's cold, dreary and often wet outside, and your motivation to exercise is virtually non-existent. But, there are plenty of ways to get daily exercise without having to take one step outdoors. • Get some cardio indoors. Climbing stairs, jumping jacks, jogging in place and jumping rope are all excellent ways to get your heart pumping. • Play with your children or your pets. Actively playing with your kids or animals is a great way to prevent all of you from going stir crazy during the cold weather months. Playing a rousing game of tag indoors or having a family dance-off is good for the body and the soul. Just be sure to move the coffee table out of the way and put up all breakable items before busting a move. • Try some bodyweight exercises. These exercises are an effective and simple way to improve your strength, balance and flexibility without needing any special gym equipment or machinery. Burpees, planks, push-ups, wall sits, lunges and squats are some tried-andtrue bodyweight exercises. • Utilize free online workout videos. There are multiple free exercise workout videos on the web. One of our favorite sites is FitnessBlender.com. They offer over 500 free workout videos for every goal and fitness level, and they release new workout videos every week. • Find indoor alternatives for your favorite outdoor workouts. If you just can't bring yourself to workout from home, find a local gym that offers alternatives for your outdoor
workout. If you're into cycling, yoga, aerobics or crossfit, your gym may offer low-cost classes indoors or, they may even be included with your monthly gym membership fees.
Try Out New Hobbies Cold weather has a tendency to make even the most outgoing person want to snuggle up on the couch, eat junk food and hibernate until spring. Trying out a new and interesting hobby will help keep your mind occupied and will add some spice to those boring evenings and weekends indoors. • Try your hand at the arts. Painting, calligraphy, woodcarving, sculpting, creative writing, building scale models, origami and scrapbooking are some you may want to try. • Expand your culinary skills. Learn how to create healthy and delicious alternatives for your favorite meals, how to bake bread or bake and decorate cakes. Or, get the entire family involved and create unique dishes from all over the world to experience together. • Get in touch with your inner child. Who says having a hobby has to be all stuffy and grown-up? Pull out those board games you
Just Want to Feel Better? You’re Not Alone.
Individual Therapy • Family Therapy Group Therapy
678.754.5840 Cheryl A. Francis LPC, CPCS Certified MHFA Instructor
5000 Austell Powder Springs Rd Suite 222 • Austell, Ga.
cheryl@heartmatterswellness.com 41
HAPPY NEW YEAR ! FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS
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loved as a kid and make it a family game night instead of vegging out in front of the TV. Invite friends over for a weekly gathering of fun and games paired with some cheese and wine and try out a different card or board game each week. If you're not into games, putting together puzzles is a great way to exercise your brain while having fun. Work on it some each day and you'll soon have a masterpiece. • Learn how to lap quilt, knit, cross stitch or crochet. These hobbies are the best for multi-tasking. Once you get the basics down, you can listen to audiobooks and podcasts or watch TV at the same time. The benefit of movie nights is that you'll wind up with some beautiful handiwork at the end of the evening.
Spend time with people who make you laugh.
Laugh Out Loud You've always heard the phrase, "Laughter is the best medicine," and it's true: there is scientific evidence to back up this theory. Studies have shown that laughter reduces pain, helps you tolerate discomfort easier, burns calories, reduces blood sugar levels, increases blood flow and improves blood vessel function, boosts your immune system and relieves stress and tension while relaxing the entire body. Humor helps create a sense of well being and is one of the best antidotes for stressful situations. It is actually one of the most powerful tools at your disposal to ensure your emotional state and daily mood support good health. Here are some ways to bring more laughter into your life. • Spend time with people who make you laugh. Does your best friend make you almost pee yourself from laughing so hard when she's around? Who is the wittiest person you know? Spend more time with them or, at least have several phone conversations per week if you can. Fun people who can laugh easily at themselves and at the absurdity of life have a playful perspective that is contagious. • Pay attention to children and mimic them. Children are experts on rolling with the punches, laughing and playing. Just being around smiling, happy children can raise your
spirits and make you smile. • Remind yourself to lighten up. If you are able, practice not taking life so seriously. Keep reminders of fun around you: In your office, place a funny poster on the wall; keep a toy, such as a wind-up car or robot on your desk or in your car to remind you to play; place photos of you and your family laughing together in your living and office space; choose a favorite, funny screensaver for your computer that makes you laugh out loud and change it out each week. • Bring laughter into every conversation. Remember that time when you grabbed a complete stranger's hand, thinking he was your husband, and started walking with him in the mall? Share some of your most embarrassing moments with people and have a laugh at yourself. Ask other people the funniest thing that has happened to them this week. Always find humor in every situation, even if it seems bleak. The absurdity and irony of life can be really amusing if you can get past the other stuff, and, you can't control what happens to you the majority of the time anyway, so why not laugh about it? Using these simple prescriptions for being a healthier and happier person will hopefully help you manage the winter blues a bit easier this year. These simple changes can make a huge difference and are sure to make a positive impact on your life and on the lives of those around you. WGW
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Kids Korner
Really Easy Sock Snowman
By Charlene Brooks Photos by Zachary Dailey
Glue Marker Scissors
K
eep your kids on their "toes" with these adorable sock snowmen. With only a few materials needed, these are a snap to make. Bring out your child's creative side with this super cute doily snowwoman. Both of these crafts are perfect when the kids are stuck indoors on a cold and blustery day.
Materials Plain white sock, any size Rice Rubber band or elastic hair band Cotton balls Googly eyes Pom pom, any color Felt, two colors Buttons
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Instructions Fill the toe of the sock with rice, or anything that will have some weight to keep the snowman in place while standing up. Secure the top of the sock toe with a rubber band or elastic hair band. Fill middle section of the sock with cotton balls until full and round. Secure the top of the middle section of the sock with a rubber band or elastic hair band. Fold the top down to form a boggin. Glue the pom pom to the top of the sock. Glue the googly eyes, the buttons and a felt carrot nose. Using the marker, draw a mouth on the snowman. Cut a strip of felt to make the scarf. Use scissors to fringe both ends and tie the scarf around the snowman's neck.
Super Cute Doily Snowwoman
Materials Doilies
Construction paper Scissors Glue stick Marker Buttons or pom poms, or, you can draw them
Instructions
Googly Eyes
If your doilies are the same size, trim one of them to make it smaller than the one you use for the body. Glue the two doilies, larger one on the bottom, to a sheet of construction paper. Glue the buttons to the bottom doily. Glue the googly eyes to the top doily. Cut a carrot nose out of the construction paper and glue to the top doily. Using the marker, draw a mouth on the snowman. Cut pieces of construction paper to make a scarf, then glue where the two doilies meet. WGW
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L i fe . Star ts . He re . 45
Word Bank
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Ball Confetti Festivities Holiday Kiss Countdown Memories Resolutions Tradition New Year Parade Football Party Sparklers Noisemaker January Clock Fireworks Cheers Music
Word search created at puzzle-maker.com
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