SPRING 2016
yap
Dr. Jennifer Answers pressing questions from our readers
Featured blogs
Area professionals offer tips and advice
Something sweet
Satisfy your craving with this amazing recipe
Home
makeover Updating your home doesn’t have to be overwhelming. We’ll show you simple ways to make a big difference
On the cover Dr. Jennifer Yap answers pressing questions from our readers
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Something Sweet Desserts by Contagious Confections owner Michael Ward shares one of his most popular recipes with our readers
Home Makeover
It doesn’t have to be costly to make-over your home. We’ll show you easy ways to make a big difference.
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Wilson Woman Icon We sit down with Kay Bunch, the Wilson Woman Icon for this issue
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Dr. Jennifer Yap answers questions submitted by our readers
See what’s been going on all around Wilson.
The Doctor Is In
About Town
SPRING 2016 | WILSONWOMAN.COM
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Wilson Woman is a quarterly lifestyle magazine featuring information on food, home, fashion, beauty and the amazing local women who call Wilson home.
Publisher MORGAN PAUL DICKERMAN, III
Writers JENNIFER STRICKLAND
Director of Sales and Marketing SHANA HOOVER (252) 265-7858 shana@wilsontimes.com
Photography ELIZABETH CAPPS GÉRARD LANGE JENNIFER OLIVER THERESA SCOTT GRAY WHITLEY
Special Sections Manager JENNIFER STRICKLAND (252) 265-7848 jstrickland@wilsontimes.com
Graphic Design GÉRARD LANGE ____________________
Advertising Account Executives CYNTHIA COLLINS (252) 265-7826 ccollins@wilsontimes.com
WILSON WOMAN magazine is a publication of
LISA PEARSON (252) 265-7827 lpearson@wilsontimes.com
2001 Downing Street Wilson, NC 27893 www.wilsontimes.com www.wilsonwoman.com
BETH ROBBINS (252) 265-7849 brobbins@wilsontimes.com
find us on
TheWilsonTimes
Saturday, March 5, 2016
Wilson Recreation Center 500 Sunset Road, Wilson Over 100 Exhibitors Children’s Play Area Free Entry Lots of Fun!!!
TIFFANY ROBERSON
Silver Lake lends us their bartender and one of their favorite cocktail recipes. Pg. 5.
WES BROWN
Planning for retirement is super important for women. Our expert gives you a few tips to make planning for retirement easier. Pg. 30.
Look for a special preview section in the Thursday, March 3 edition of
DR. SUZANNE FISCUS
Hormone replacement therapy has many options. Dr. Fiscus tells us about the latest technology. Pg. 24.
MELISSA PHILLIPS
Are you caring for your skin properly? Here are a few tips to make sure your beauty routine is working for you. Pg. 16.
Like us on 4
SPRING 2016 | WILSONWOMAN.COM
Springtime Spritzer Ingredients 1 1/2 oz. blue curaçao 1 1/2 oz. mandarin vodka 4 oz. lemonade Sprite Lemon and cherry for garnish
Directions
Our Guest Mixologist
Add liquid ingredients, except Sprite, to shaker with ice. Shake hard to mix. Strain into glass filled with ice, top with Sprite, and garnish with a lemon and cherry. Yum!
for this issue is Tiffany Roberson, bartender at Silver Lake in Wilson.
Quality Pediatric Care
you can count on!
Shannon Drohan, MD • Christina Poythress, PA Leesa G. Lawrence, MD • Mark Eldridge, PA Susan H. Andersen, MD • Dr. John Buck, MD Ketarah Robinson, MD • Julia Watkins, NP
EASTERN CAROLINA PEDIATRICS, P.A. 1702 Medical Park Dr., Wilson • 252-243-7944
something
SWEET
Written by Jennifer Strickland Photographs by Barton College Photography Students
When you walk into Desserts by Contagious Confections, you’re immediately whisked into a dessert-lover’s dream. 6
SPRING 2016 | WILSONWOMAN.COM
The aroma of freshly baked pies, cakes, cookies, truffles, muffins, cobblers and more makes your mouth water and your stomach perk up. Figuring out what to get is undoubtedly the hardest part! It all looks SO good. I cannot
confirm or deny that I gained 10 pounds in one visit. I will say this though, it was totally worth it! The laid back atmosphere and comfy leather seating makes for a warm and inviting setting. Bottles of wine and
handpainted signs, both available for purchase decorate the space. Owner Michael Ward opened the store in November 2015 because he wanted to expand his culinary abilities. Ward is also the owner of Showside Grill in Spring Hope, which he has owned and operated since March 2010, and Michael’s Getaway in Lake Royale, which has been open since November 2014. Both locations offer live music on a regular basis. “Showside Grill and Michael’s Getaway are more of your full-service restaurants. Opening Desserts by Contagious Confections gave me the opportunity to expand more into the dessert area, which I haven’t been able to do at the other two restaurants,” says Ward. At Showside Grill, you’ll find a newly launched lunch and dinner menu, and at Michael’s Getaway, you’ll find what Ward calls an “upscale pub menu”. “We serve things like appetizers, burgers, sandwiches,
wraps, and things of that nature.” Originally from Maryland, Ward had several adventures in restaurants and with catering before settling down in Spring Hope. “I started as a dishwasher when I was 15. I moved up from there and was a busboy, a waiter, a bartender, a general manager and now I’m an owner.” Ward grew up third in a line of nine children, with seven brothers and one sister. Most of his family is still located in the Maryland area, but his mother and two of his brothers live just outside of Charlotte. “We try to see each other as much as we can, but life gets in the way. With kids and their activities and working full time, it makes it difficult to see each other as much as we would like.” He’s also been all over the place in his adventures. He’s lived in Key West, New York (Queens, actually), the Outer Banks and most recently
before Spring Hope, Rocky Mount. “I’ve had the opportunity to work in some of the best places and I learned something in each one of them,” says Ward. “I’ve learned what works in one place, won’t necessarily be the right thing for another place. In this business, you have to be willing to make changes to please your customers or you won’t be around very long.” When asked why he chose Wilson as the location for the store, his answer is simple. “I want to branch out and eventually open a restaurant here. This gives me a way to get out in the community and have people get to know who I am.” The store offers a wide variety of baked goods from cookies and muffins, to quiches and bread. “Everything you see here, we make. We do not buy anything from other stores or locations.” Eventually, Ward hopes he will be able to expand and offer a few sandwich options for
SPRING 2016 | WILSONWOMAN.COM
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lunchtime patrons. “I don’t want to turn this into a full-scale restaurant, but I think having a few different options will be a nice touch to what we have going on here.” In addition to the restaurants and what they offer, Ward also has a full service catering business, that offers a wide variety of options to fit the needs of every event and taste. “I have people contact me and ask if I can send them a catering menu. I don’t have a catering menu because I can do whatever the client wants. I ask them what it is they are looking for and then we customize a menu based on what they need. I like to have the freedom to give the client exactly what they want. If you have a pre-determined menu, you can’t do that.”
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SPRING 2016 | WILSONWOMAN.COM
Having multiple restaurant locations also allows him to expand the coverage area for his catering division. “We will go wherever we are needed, and having the two restaurant locations allows us to cover more area.” With two restaurants and Desserts by Contagious Confections, Ward stays pretty busy. Since he can’t be in three places at once, he relies on his staff to help him keep the restaurants going. “I have a very competent staff full of awesome employees. Many of them are in high school, so since I don’t have kids of my own, they are my kids. One of my managers is currently a senior in high school. He’s been working for me for a while, and he has proven that he can handle the responsibility I’ve given him,” says Ward. “I’m willing to give anyone a chance. Where you end up depends on you. If you want to end up in management, you have to work for it. If you don’t, you won’t. You can do whatever you want and end up wherever you want. It’s all in what you want to learn.” Though his life in his restaurants keeps him very busy, he still finds time to mellow out and do some of the things he loves. “I like to hang out with my friends and play cards and have bonfires. In the summertime, we’ll head over to Michael’s Getaway and sit
on the patio and listen to live music on the water.” Friends are very important to Ward, and he makes time for them at least two or three times a week. He also likes to spend time outdoors and works in his yard during the warm months, when the weather is nice. “I love being outdoors. It’s just an awesome place to be.” Ward’s future plans include expanding his business. He plans to do that by opening three more restaurants. “I think I can mentally and physically handle five restaurants and the dessert business. Anything more than that would be too much.” He plans to expand into a few other markets, which will allow him to expand his customer base. “We have customers from all over coming to the restaurants now, but it will be nice to give them something that is closer to where they are,” he says. It’s easy to see that Ward loves what he does, both in the restaurant and out. He feels comfortable in a restaurant setting and it shows. “I absolutely love what I do. I love people, and I love to see people happy. For me, there is nothing better than to watch a customer thoroughly enjoy what they are eating. You can see it on their face when they love it. That is a very satisfying feeling.” Ward’s advice for anyone who loves to cook and wants to expand their knowledge and experience is this: find a recipe base that you like and build on it. “Anyone can follow a recipe word for word. But if you’re willing to step it up a notch and make it your own, you’re bound to end up with something special.” He also has this to say. “Life is way too short to be anything but happy. If you don’t love what you do, get out of it immediately and find what it is that makes you happy.”
Chocolate THUNDER Ingredients Batter 1 stick of salted butter, softened 1 cup sugar 4 large eggs 1 cup self rising flour 1 can Hershey’s Syrup
Directions
Icing 1 box powdered sugar 8 oz. cream cheese 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 stick of salted butter, softened 1/2 cup Hershey’s Syrup
Batter Blend together butter and sugar until smooth. Blend one egg at a time into butter and sugar mixture. Add flour and continue to blend. Add can of Hershey’s Syrup and blend to mix. Divide into layer pans and bake at 350º for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Icing Blend all ingredients until smooth and then ice between layers and outside of cooled cake. If desired, use additional Hershey’s Syrup to decorate top and sides of cake. Serve and enjoy! SPRING 2016 | WILSONWOMAN.COM
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sweetest in the Written by Jennifer Strickland Photographs by Gerard Lange
BUNCH
Sitting behind a large table in an upstairs room at the United Way, you’ll find one of the sweetest ladies in Wilson. Her name is Kay Bunch, and she’s one of the hardest working people you’ll ever meet. 12
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For Bunch, her story begins when she was growing up in Indiana with her two sisters and brother. Her grandmother, who she spent quite a bit of time with when she was growing up, taught her the importance of hard work and doing what needed to be done. “My grandmother was very special to me. She taught me how to be the person I am today, and I am forever grateful to her for that,” says Bunch. After graduating high school, Bunch met her husband Jesse, and they will have been happily married for 57 years this August. They have two daughters, Debbie and Janice
Leigh. Sadly, Janice Leigh passed away when she was just 23. Older daughter Debbie has two sons, Jesse and Michael, both of whom Bunch shares a special relationship with. Bunch and her husband moved around quite a bit in the early years of their marriage, living in several different states before finally settling down in Wilson. “My husband worked for Cummins Engine Company, and they sent us quite a few places over the years. I enjoyed seeing what different places had to offer, but Wilson has been my favorite,” she says. After settling in Wilson, it wasn’t long before Bunch found herself
working as the director of The Arc, an organization that promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. “I felt like that was where I was supposed to be. My daughter, Janice Leigh, was developmentally disabled, and I knew the struggles these individuals and their families faced in everyday life. Back when my daughter was born, there were no resources to speak of. I wanted to change that, and I feel like God sent me there so I could.” During her time as director, Bunch worked tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of her “kids” as she still calls them. “In order to do the things we did and provide the services these kids needed, we had to have money.” Bunch was instrumental in starting many fundraisers and raised a considerable amount of money for the organization. One of the most well-known fundraisers she started was the Taste of Wilson, which will kick off its 23rd year on April 19. If you haven’t already noticed, 23 is a pretty significant number for Bunch, but we’ll get into that a bit more later on. The Annual Taste of Wilson started out small in its first couple of years and then began to grow substantially. “We started out with just a handful of restaurants, and before we knew it, we had dozens and dozens of them,” says Bunch. To date, Taste of Wilson is still the largest annual fundraiser for The Arc. “We are fortunate that the community still supports this fundraiser. Without it and the funds it brings in, The Arc can’t continue to do the things it does to make a difference in the lives of the individuals they assist. I am truly grateful for everyone who continues to make it a success.” After 23 years as director at The Arc, Bunch felt it was time to move on. “I knew it was time to give someone else a shot.” Turns out that “someone else” was her very own grandson, Michael Stanford. “I know he’s the perfect person for that job. He has the dedication and determination you need to be successful in that position.” Remember when I said 23 was a pretty significant number in Bunch’s life? She calls it her “magic number.” Why? Many important events in her life revolve around that number. She was 23 when her special needs daughter, Janice Leigh, was born. Janice Leigh passed away when she was just 23 years old,
on Oct. 23. Her oldest grandson, Jesse, was born on Aug. 23rd. Her career with The Arc spanned 23 years, and this will be the 23rd year for Taste of Wilson. “I guess you could say that 23 holds a special place in my heart. It always will,” she says. Though her days at The Arc may be over, her commitment to the organization and its largest fundraiser is not. At the request of her grandson and current executive director, Michael, she still spearheads the silent auction that accompanies Taste of Wilson. “I love doing the silent auction. I like to get the donations in and see what there is to bid on. I am so glad that Michael asks for my help because I truly do love doing it.” These days, you can find Bunch working away at the United Way, where she is the volunteer administrator. “I do pretty much whatever needs to be done. I work on the annual campaign, I audit donation envelopes, I gather and sort the mail, run errands, you name it, and I do it!” Her coworkers describe her as extremely hardworking and very dedicated. When she’s not busy working with the United Way, you can find Bunch and her husband at their mountain home in
Fleetwood Falls. “It’s just beautiful there. So peaceful and relaxing. We thoroughly enjoy our time there.” Bunch also enjoys crafting. “I love to cross-stitch and paint, and I even do a little quilting.” As we wrapped up our time together, Bunch told me about her daily motto to herself. “It doesn’t matter what kind of house I lived in. It doesn’t matter what kind of car I drove. It doesn’t matter how much money I had in the bank. What matters is if I made a difference in the life of a child. If I made a difference in the life of a child, I have lived a good life.” I think we could all learn a little bit from this amazing woman, don’t you?
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What has been your life’s biggest struggle? Being a parent of a developmentally disabled daughter in the ‘60s where there were so few services available. I remember the dark basements for evaluations, no schools, not many professionals and no community support. I was determined that I was going to raise my daughter the best of my ability and was not going to place her in an institution as suggested by her doctor.
What has been your proudest moment? That would be a hard choice between two extremely proud moments. First being the completion after two years of dedication to build the largest boundless certified playground in NC. The BB&T All-Inclusive Playground. From obtaining donations, painting tiles, volunteers who so graciously built it from nothing but a truck load of bolts and pieces. I hope that it leaves a good legacy for all children in Wilson. The second choice is my grandson Michael Stanford becoming the executive director of The Arc of Wilson County upon my retirement. All I wanted was for someone to love “my kids” like I had. This happened with them truly loving each other. Made it so easy to not miss them as much when they care so much for him.
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What advice would you give a young woman starting her professional life? Be true to yourself! Work hard and dedicate yourself to whatever task you undertake. Nothing in life comes easy but everything successful comes to those who work for it.
Who has been the most inspirational figure to you? Why? My maternal grandmother (Cora Lambert) without a doubt. She taught me my faith in God and she was such an honest true soul. I would not be the person I am today if she had not been in my life. She made me who I am and I am just so grateful to have had her as my grandmother. I hope that I have been just a small part of the influence on my grandsons as she was to me.
What do you consider the most important virtues a woman must possess? Faith, honesty, love of fellow man regardless of ethics, love of life, laughter even through tough times.
What do you value most in the world?
developmental disabled citizens as there are few Arc’s in Eastern NC.
My faith, my family and my friends. They are my whole world.
What is your biggest hope for the future of Wilson?
What is the biggest problem facing Wilson moving forward?
Together we can continue to make this a wonderful place to live. I am so proud of the community each year when I see the generous giving through United Way Campaign (over $1,300,000) and through the Knights of Columbus Annual Tootsie Roll Drive. It is always a very rewarding experience to see how much we care about one another. It can only get better with teamwork.
Crime and drugs are probably No. 1. I wish they didn’t exist. I wish there were more services for mental illness and thankful that we do have The Arc and services for
Correctly caring for your skin is the key to achieving the results you are looking for. Are you doing it right? By Melissa Phillips Perhaps you have diligently cared for your skin most of your life. Or maybe you are like me, and you didn’t. But as you aged, you started noticing every blemish, wrinkle, sun spot freckle, and enlarged pore--and wished you had been more proactive in the fight against aging. No matter who you are, I have good news for you: it is never too early to start taking care of your skin. And it’s also never too late to begin working on correcting your skin concerns. Thankfully, the right skin care can help defend your skin’s appearance against the effects of neglect, time and the environment. The first thing you want to do is identify the skin concern that bothers you the most. Is it wrinkles? Loss of firmness? Dark spots? Dullness? Acne? Post acne marks? Sensitivity? Enlarged pores? Once you identify the exact skin concern you want to work on, it will be important to pick the best products that are specifically formulated to address that particular skin concern. So the question then becomes: How do I know what is right for me? As with anything, I’d encourage you to do your research. First, look for products that are developed and/or recommended by dermatologists. Look for products that are backed by scientific research and testing, that provide you with a routine (from you wash to your moisturizer to
your sunscreen), where products work synergistically, and which will provide you with detailed instructions on how to use them correctly to maximize your results. Often times, when browsing the selection at department stores or retail stores, we become overwhelmed with the product selections and then end up being underwhelmed with their results. What you don’t want to do is try everything at once. Because active ingredients can be also be reactive, you want those ingredients in each product in your skincare routine to work together. Most dermatologists will tell you that no one ingredient or product effectively treats our skin concerns. But using the right ingredients, in the right formulations, in the right order can deliver the results you desire--healthy, beautiful, even-toned, luminous skin. One important thing to note--If certain products have irritated you in the past (itching, burning, stinging, redness), then there is a strong likelihood that you have sensitive skin. If you have sensitive skin, you have to address the sensitivity first before you can begin to address any other skin concerns. Perhaps you are one who has resigned to thinking there is nothing that you can do about the appearance of your skin due to genetics. I have good
Our Guest Beauty Blogger for this issue is Melissa Phillips, an independent consultant with Rodan + Fields. You may access her website at http://www.melissaphillips.myrandf.com/
news for you, too! The appearance of our skin is estimated to be 20% genetic and 80% how we have cared for it. What this tells us is that while we might not be able to address everything we don’t like about our skin, there is a lot we can do to prevent further damage or to improve the damage we have already incurred. I encourage you, don’t make my mistakes. Your skin is your largest organ--take care of it. And it is truly the first noticeable sign of health and vitality in a person. While we are all aging all the time, the truth is this: what that looks like is up to us.
JC Harris of Wilson, NC
? 252-237-1111 | 4030 Ward Boulevard, Wilson
Upcoming Fundraisers to benefit the
Margaret Hearne Elementary School Playground fund
Monday, March 7
Doughraiser at Pizza Inn, 5-8 p.m. 700 Ward Blvd. • Wilson
Friday, March 18 Spaghetti Plate Sale*
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Join the Arts Council of Wilson in
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The Clothesline Muse March 15th • 7:30 pm $20 / $15
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Chuck Davis’ African American Dance Ensemble April 8th • 7:30 pm $15 / $10
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home
MAKEOVER Written by Jennifer Strickland For many people, the start of the new year is a time to reflect on all the improvements we want to make in our lives. For some, it’s to lose weight. For others, it’s to spend more time with family. For yet another, it might be a goal to buy a new car. Regardless of which category you fall into, and what your goal is, there is one area of our lives that is often overlooked when it comes to making improvements: The home we live in. Changing up the appearance of your
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home can make a huge difference not only aesthetically, but financially. Making small changes can increase the value of your home significantly. Something as simple as adding a new coat of paint or new flooring can add thousands of dollars to the overall value of your home. When thinking about remodeling or updating their home, many people go into panic mode. The dollar signs start flashing and breathing becomes more difficult. Fingers automatically begin to tighten around
the wallet and anxiety takes over. While it is possible to spend quite a large sum of money to update your home, it isn’t always necessary. Sometimes smaller, less expensive updates are all it takes to make a world of difference in the appearance of your home. We’ll show you just a few of the ways you can make the most out of your home improvement project and still maintain your sanity, and keep yourself within budget.
flooring
paint When you shop for new paint colors for your home, you should consider how long you plan to stay in your current home. If you are planning to put your home on the market within the next one-to-two years, it is best to choose colors that are more neutral and will appeal to a wide variety of buyers. Bright and funky colors, while fun, are very difficult for homebuyers to look past when a realtor is showing your home. If you plan to stay in your home for the long haul, feel free to go crazy with your color selection and use that opportunity to really express who you are as a person and family. Lime green bathroom for the kids? Sure, why not?! Blood red dining room? Bring it on! The simple act of adding a new coat of paint can give a whole new appearance to a room. But don’t let your paint update stop there. While many homes these days have vinyl siding or brick and stone exteriors, many homes still have an exterior that requires regular maintenance and upkeep and needs to be painted every few years. If your home falls into that category, why not change it up the next time it’s due to be painted? Usually go with white because that’s what you’ve always had? Why not change it up and choose a beautiful beige hue? Is yellow your go-to shade? How about a gorgeous shade of grey this goround?
Changing up your flooring is yet another way to give your home new meaning. Over the years, things happen. The kids spilled cherry soda all over the living room carpet or the dog totally destroyed your kitchen linoleum. Or it could simply be that you’re ready for a change. Whatever the reason, updating your flooring can be a simple way to add design appeal to your home. Tile flooring has become quite popular over the last several years and has taken the place of its well loved vinyl counterpart. If you’re considering tile, you’ll want to decide which color, material, and size you want to use based on the location in your home. The color of grout you choose will also make a difference in the overall appearance of your flooring. Larger tiles are more suited for large rooms, like the kitchen, and can sometimes overpower smaller rooms, like the bathroom. Size and location can make all the difference when adding tile to your home. If it’s carpet you’re after, prepare yourself for an endless selection of colors, patterns, piles, and more. You’ll want to consider the amount of foot traffic you expect through the areas you wish to have carpeted. Some varieties of carpet will withstand much heavier foot traffic than their delicate counterparts. For heavy traffic areas, Berber style carpet may be best. If
you’re looking to carpet a formal living room that won’t be utilized very often, you can consider a much more delicate plush carpet. If you’ve got indoor pets, loop style carpeting is a definite no-no, as animal claws can become stuck and result in a not-so-pretty run all the way across your floor. Wood floors and laminate products that have the appearance of wood floors have also become quite popular. When choosing one of these options, you’ll want to consider how much upkeep you want to provide. Flooring made from real hardwoods requires much more maintenance and protection than that of a linoleum product that can have the exact same look. Pets can also have an impact on the long-term appearance of this type of flooring so you’ll want to think about that as well.
hardware Something we often overlook is the actual hardware on the cabinetry in our home. You go to the kitchen to get a snack, but do you ever really notice that cabinet handle you pull on to get to it? How about when you open that bathroom drawer to get your hairbrush? Did you stop and look at that drawer pull? Be honest, no you didn’t. If you want to make the smallest change that has the most impact, change out the hardware on your cabinets and drawers and stand back in amazement. Going from the standard contractor choice of shiny gold brass to a sleek and modern brushed nickel can take your bathroom or kitchen from boring to beautiful in just a matter of minutes.
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lighting How many times have you left your house thinking you looked one way, only to arrive at your destination and find yourself looking completely different than you remember? No, it’s not you. Okay, it might be. But most likely, it’s a result of the lighting in your home. If your light fixtures and light bulbs have not been updated since the late 1970’s, it’s definitely time for a change. Many older fixtures aren’t designed to work with newer concepts in light bulbs, such as LED and halogen. Standard incandescent light bulbs also have the tendency to give off a shadowed lighting that can be misleading. Are those shoes black or brown? Uh oh, there’s one of each. How embarrasing! LED lightbulbs also offer energy savings and can reduce your annual energy costs. They also radiate less heat when they are lit, resulting in a reduced fire hazard. Before replacing your standard
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bulbs, make sure your sockets and breakers can handle the new type you choose. Light bulbs aren’t the only way to change the appearance of your home. While updating to a newer technology can drastically change the way you see things in your home, that isn’t the only thing you can do. Swapping out older fixtures for newer, more modern ones is yet another way to update your home. Kick that shiny brass to the curb and replace it with something from this decade. Gone are the days of track lighting and fluorescent ceiling lights. Now, the sleeker and more modern, the better. Currently, one of the hottest trends in lighting is ‘industrial chic’ as they call it at those high-end retailers.
If you’re the do-it-yourself type, you can give new life to your current fixtures by changing up the color or design. Spray paint can do wonders for old fixtures and can easily make them new again. Not sure where to start? Hop on over to Pinterest and lose yourself for a few hours and find all the inspiration you can handle! I have to add that it is always best to contact a licensed electrician to make any changes to the electrical aspects of your home.
kitchen and bath While we spend a lot of time in both of these rooms, it is fairly easy to overlook the simple things that can transform these rooms into something spectacular. Something as simple as changing out a faucet can give the room a whole new look. “Most people don’t think about how much difference simple changes can make,” says Renee Hawley, showroom consultant at Ihrie Supply in Wilson. “Our showroom offers just a small selection of the products that are out there. A kitchen and bath remodel is a big deal, not something to be taken lightly. Having a showroom to visit can help the homeowner make important decisions that they may not be aware of.” If you’re looking to make a few cosmetic changes to your kitchen or bath, visiting a local showroom can be very inspiring. A big-box store, while a convenient place to shop, is not necessarily the best place to purchase your faucets and fixtures. Having on-on-one attention from a knowledgeable sales consultant who will stand behind the product they sell is worth the extra cost of shopping with a locally owned and managed store. The showroom at Ihrie Supply offers selections from Delta, Moen and Kohler. “We have a variety of offerings from those companies but we also have an extensive selection of special order pieces that we can get in about three to five business days as well,” says Hawley. Ihrie Supply also offers toilets, free standing tubs, vanities, and cabinet hardware, in addition to many other things. “We really are a one-stop shop for just about everything you need to update or remodel your kitchen or bathroom,” says Hawley. “If we don’t have it, chances are pretty good that we can get it in a short amount of time. We work with a lot of distributors and companies who work with us to ensure our customers get exactly what it is they are looking for.”
outdoors
Don’t get so caught up refurbishing the inside of your house that you forget the outside. Give your home a fresh new curb appeal with just a few simple changes. Change out some of the landscaping in front of your home and see how much of a difference it makes. Have that tree that blocks your view of the outdoors pruned back and reshaped and open up a whole new view from both inside and out. Repaint or replace your shutters and add new outdoor light fixtures. Simple, inexpensive changes can drastically improve what your neighbors see.
If you like some of the ideas mentioned here, but aren’t sure how to work them into your budget, start by shopping used. Many stores such as Habitat ReStore, Salvation Army and Goodwill offer quality used fixtures and items you can redo yourself at reduced prices. Once you remove your current fixtures that are in good shape, consider donating them so someone else can do the same thing. Remember, one man’s “trash” is another man’s “treasure”! SPRING 2016 | WILSONWOMAN.COM
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Understanding Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy Pellet Implants By Dr. Suzanne Fiscus Let’s face it, aging is inevitable and as we age, female hormones begin to decline at 2 percent per year after age 30. Unfortunately, this results in a number of troubling physical and psychological symptoms including: hot flashes, night sweats, loss of muscle mass, hair loss, skin changes, low libido, anxiety, irritability, mood swings, sleep disturbances, concentration problems and depression. This age-related hormone loss has been considered normal, but normal is not optimal. The traditional paradigm has been to treat these symptoms with a conventional “one size fits all” hormone therapy approach. The safety and effectiveness of which, has been a source of great debate. What is clear is that conventional hormone replacement therapy has produced inconsistent results and potentially an increased risk for breast cancer and blood clots. There is an alternative.
Numerous studies have shown that hormone optimization using Bio-Identical hormone pellet implants are a safe and effective alternative approach to achieve robust and consistent symptom relief, with a lower risk for certain side effects associated with conventional hormone therapy. The goal of Bio-Identical hormone therapy is to restore female hormone levels to those you had in your 20’s. Based on lab studies and a physician consultation individually customized small Bio-Identical hormone implants are placed under the skin which then release small consistent physiologic doses of hormone thus avoiding the inconsistent fluctuations in hormone levels seen with conventional therapy. Consistent release is important for optimal symptom relief. Following pellet implantation, most women feel better within 48-72 hours.
Our Guest Health Blogger for this issue is Dr. Suzanne Fiscus, a board certified OB-GYN at Wilson OB-GYN. If you are woman who is experiencing the effects of hormone decline there is a safe and cost effective solution to achieve optimal symptom relief. Contact your doctor for more information.
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the doctor IS IN
In the waiting room of True Radiance Medispa and Carolina Sports and Spine, there are spine models on one side of the room and supplements, anti-aging cosmeceuticals and information for improving your sexual health on the other side. 26
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For Dr. Jennifer Yap, this is what makes her day enjoyable. “I get to talk about prevention and help people lose weight or look younger in the spa and the next hour I get to take care of people’s lumbar spines and give them Botox injections for migraines in the clinic. What we learn in medical school is to treat disease, but Hippocrates himself said that “it is better to prevent than to cure,” so I get to do a little bit of both in one office.” Her interests in preventative medicine started in her formative years. Yap grew up in the Philippines initially but moved to New Jersey when she was very young. “I remember when I was little, whenever my brothers or sisters would get sick, my mother, who was a physician, would recommend
one thing and my father who was not a physician often had an Asian herb or some form of natural remedy to offer. My mom would generally step aside because they both believed that the body had the ability to heal itself. My dad grew his own fruits and vegetables, did lots of breathing exercises, pressed my acupuncture points on me and encouraged me to exercise and eat lots of vegetables. My cultural exposure to Eastern and Western medicine as a youth cultivated my future interest in health as an adult.” Yap completed her undergraduate studies at Smith College, an all women’s institution in Massachusetts. “It was at Smith that I appreciated the extraordinary role women have in guiding our families and country. It is there that I became committed to addressing women’s issues.” She soon after went to Columbia University in New York City to obtain her Master’s in Public Health focusing on preventive medicine. “What I really wanted to do was influence patients, and so I went to medical school. In medical school we learned how to take care of diseases and problems often when it was too late. It was a strong belief in me that we are what we eat, and I went back to Columbia University to enter their graduate program in human nutrition. I wanted to guide patients to make better food choices to prevent illnesses.” “I met my husband while I was in school in New York. As a sports medicine doctor, he encouraged me to combine my interests in physical activity and nutrition and I ended up doing my residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. While I was asked to stay and teach, we had two of our three girls while I was in training. My husband, who grew up in eastern North Carolina wanted our children to be raised near his parents, who lived in Roanoke Rapids, and that’s what brought us to Rocky Mount/Wilson.” Yap and her husband started Carolina Sports and Spine primarily to take care of musculoskeletal conditions like back pain and knee pain. “One of our biggest challenges was preventing these chronic conditions and encouraging people to lose weight. Prevention takes some effort and many of our patients didn’t want to change their poor eating habits or change their sedentary lifestyle. It was frustrating. So while my husband and I continue to take care of treating sports and spine disorders, I decided to open up True Radiance
Medispa to focus on prevention and antiaging for people who wanted to know how to avoid taking medications, lose weight, look and feel younger. My staff works primarily on aggressive skincare to prevent aging but we do offer anti-aging and weight loss supplements, hormone therapy, and cutting edge technology to prevent and treat problems like urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction.” We asked Dr. Yap to answer a few questions that were sent in by our readers. Here is what she had to say:
What kind of advice would you give to people who want to start the year off looking and feeling better?
One of the first things I would say is eliminate or reduce sugar. Each year the top new year’s resolution is to lose weight. Well you can accomplish so much more than losing weight if you cut sugar and/or carbohydrates. You can reduce blood pressure, improve your cholesterol profile, decrease your risk of cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and depression. It can also help you look younger because sugar has the ability to affect your collagen and elastin which are proteins that keep your skin firm and elastic. The average person eats more than 20 teaspoons a day. You should consume no more than 6 teaspoons of sugar a day or consider natural alternatives like stevia. Next, exercise is the ultimate anti-aging activity. It can reduce the inflammation that comes with aging as well as improve your mental function, your mood and prevent a whole host of medical problems. They say the easiest day of a diet is the second day, that’s because you’re finished the diet by then. You have to build a manageable habit that you can stick to. Making small changes is sometimes the best way to achieve your goals.
What’s the best way to limit sugar from your diet?
Sorry to say, but the answer is cut the sweet tea and soda! Next people always ask me about food labels because there is so much sugar hidden in foods. My answer is stop reading the labels - eat food without labels and cook it at home. There are so many diets out there and it gets confusing, what are important
misconceptions that need to be clarified? A lot of the population still believe in calories in and calories out. The latest research has debunked that. Calories do matter but what is more important is what the food does in our bodies. Each of our bodies are unique and complex and not everyone stores or mobilizes fat the same way. Two people, even twins, can eat the same exact food and exercise the exact same amount and store fat completely differently and hence look completely different. We also know that it takes more energy to process proteins than carbohydrates and that carbohydrates cause the secretion of insulin (the hormone that stores fat). Sadly, carbohydrates are the main source of body fat for most Americans, so I constantly tell our patients they need to decrease their carbohydrate intake if they want to lose weight, eliminate their joint pain and live longer.
Are there any misconceptions about exercise that need to be clarified?
Yes, many of our patients think that the best way to lose weight is to exercise, but that’s also not true. Some research says that exercise makes people hungry and that people end up eating more calories than they burned from exercising. Exercise has so many benefits, but it is not the main way to lose weight. You can’t eat the donut because you jogged a few miles. Most people are not able to burn enough calories to create a calorie deficit. The main way to lose weight is changing one’s diet.
You have a body contouring machine, is that what you would recommend for people who want to improve their body?
Our Lipo-Ex program is not a weight loss program but it is a great way to reduce some unwanted inches from your tummy, thighs, arms or love handles. It is also great for tightening lose skin, wrinkles or scars and for cellulite. The innovative technology uses radiofrequency to help shrink fat cells. Some of our clients have lost several inches of fat. It is a great alternative to surgery because there is no pain, downtime or risk of infection.
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Is there any product that you recommend every person should have to improve the health of their skin?
The most important thing I can recommend is sunscreen with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Ninety percent or more of the aging skin is due sun damage. There is a myriad of medical grade products in my office, but it really depends on what you want to achieve. The items below don’t get marketed as much as Lancome or Chanel so you may not have heard of them, but they are significantly better. Here are the top items in my office that really make a difference and why: IS Clinical Youth Eye Complex - The skin around the eye is delicate and needs special treatment. This product has powerful peptides, key growth factors and nutrition to improve wrinkles, puffiness and hydration. TNS Essential Serum by Skin Medica This product has two of the most powerful ingredients out there for improving the skin, which are human fibroblast growth factors and peptides. These ingredients really help you skin heal. They also improve fine lines and wrinkles, tone and texture. Obagi Hydrate Luxe- As we age our sebum production decreases and we need more moisture. This is the ultimate in longlasting hydration as it has Chronoline and Kollaren to work while you sleep. Skin Medica Retinol - Retinol is an
antioxidant and it interupts the free-radical damage process that causes skin to look older. Retinol makes a huge difference in improving acne, preventing wrinkles and encouraging collagen production.
What is the difference between medical grade skincare and overthe-counter skincare and is it more expensive?
Over-the-counter products only work on your dead skin layer, or epidermis, but medical grade products work on your dermal layer or active skin layer. Medical grade products are also regulated by the FDA and are sold by licensed professionals who understand the ingredients and skin conditions that they are meant for. In addition, they must be backed by scientific studies and must demonstrate a beneficial effect on the skin. In other words, it has to work. They are not more expensive than many department store brands, like Estee Lauder or Clarins, but they are better for your skin.
What are some procedures people can do to improve their appearance?
There are so many procedures that we have at the medispa to treat, correct and
prevent fine lines and wrinkles, acne, stretch marks and aging skin. If you want what the Hollywood actors who are constantly in the camera want, we have it, including microdermalinfusion, facials, microneedling, botox injections, and filler. We even do the vampire treatment that Kim Kardashian had where we take a sample of your blood and inject the platetet rich plasma from your blood back into your face. I have to say one of my favorite procedures is our collagen induction therapy. We create thousands of microscopic channels into the dermis to stimulate collagen and elastin without ablating the skin. It really improves acne scars, wrinkles and the texture of one’s skin. It is a client favorite.
What kind of advice do you have regarding sexual health?
Many women and men suffer in silence because they have difficulty talking about vaginal dryness, urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction and decreased libido. These often happen with age. These can be uncomfortable topics, but there are things you can do about them, such as utilizing balancing hormones or doing procedures such as injecting platelet rich plasma in specific areas to address these concerns. These are things that we do in my office.
Is there anything else you would encourage our readers to do to age gracefully?
There are many reputable scientists that feel the single most potent preventive health measure is to take multivitamins and supplements. The benefits are numerous from decreasing cognitive decline to improving energy, immune function and overall well-being. If you are going to take vitamins, get them from a doctor’s office or a compounding pharmacy that offers pharmaceutical grade vitamins. The vitamins in local drug stores are of variable quality and absorption. Finally other than optimal nutrition and exercise, if you want to slow down your biological clock, you should sleep well, avoid environmental toxins, stress less, breathe more and think positively.
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Women must plan (Extra) Carefully for Retirement By Wes Brown If you’re a woman, you have to be actively involved in your financial preparations for retirement - and that’s true whether you’re single or married. As a woman, you have at least two special considerations associated with your retirement planning: You’ve got a longer life expectancy. Women typically outlive men by about seven years, according to the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics - and more years of life mean more expenses. You may have less money in your retirement plan. Women drop out of the work force for an average of 12 years to care for young children or aging parents, according to the Older Women’s League, a research and advocacy group. This time away from the workforce results in women accumulating much less money in their employer-sponsored retirement plans, such as 401(k)s. The prospect of a long, underfunded retirement is not a pleasant one. Fortunately, there’s much you can do to avoid this fate. For starters, know what’s going on in your financial situation. If you are married, share the responsibility of making investment decisions. What are your retirement goals? Are the two of you investing enough to eventually achieve these goals?
And where is the money going? You must know the Our Guest Financial Blogger answers to these questions. You’ll also need to know for this issue is Wes Brown, Financial Advisor what you could expect to with Edward Jones in Wilson. receive if your husband dies before you. As a surviving spouse, you will likely inherit all your husband’s assets, unless he has up. Your 401(k) provides you with specifically named other people - such as tax-deferred earnings and a variety grown children from an earlier marriage of investment options. as beneficiaries. Nonetheless, you can’t just assume that all sources of income Contribute to an IRA that your husband receives will automatically roll over to you. For example, if your Even if you have a 401(k) or other husband were to die before you, you employer-sponsored retirement plan, wouldn’t get his Social Security payments you might be eligible to contribute in addition to your own, although you could to a traditional or Roth IRA. A choose to collect his payments instead of traditional IRA offers the potential yours. But if you both earned close to the for tax-deferred earnings, while a same income, you might not get much of Roth IRA potentially grows tax-free, an increase in Social Security benefits. provided you don’t take withdrawals In any case, whether you’re married until you’re 59-1/2 and you’ve had or single, here are some moves that can your account at least five years. You benefit you: can fund an IRA with virtually any
“Max out” on your 401(k) If you can afford it, invest the maximum amount into your 401(k) and increase your contributions every time your salary goes
investment you choose.
Do whatever it takes to help ensure a comfortable retirement - and the sooner you start planning, the better.
Elect E VOARTCH 15 M
• The right choice to bring a Woman’s perspective back to the bench • 30 years experience in private practice & public service Paid For By Freshwater - Smith For Judge Committee
Ladies, let’s face it getting older is inevitable but feeling and looking older is now optional. Hormone levels decline at a rate of 2% per year after age 30. This age related loss is normal. However, normal is not optimal. Symptoms associated with declining hormones:
• Hot Flashes • Fatigue • Mood Swings • Sleep Disturbances • Loss of Libido • Irritability
• Night Sweats • Weight Gain • Depression • Discomfort During Intimacy • Urinary Incontinence • Loss of Muscle
Numerous scientific studies have demonstrated that Bioidentical Hormone implants are superior in achieving optimal hormone levels to alleviate symptoms and restore vitality. Stop settling for normal when optimal is just a phone call away! Schedule your confidential appointment today with a board certified Ob/Gyn experienced and versed in all aspects of Women’s health and age management medicine.
Suzanne Fiscus M.D. 2500 Horton Blvd. Wilson
252.237.6132
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