Northside Woman January 2013

JANUARY 2013

New Year,New gigHow a local artist took her side business full time

january 2013

670 North Main St. • Alpharetta, GA 30009770-619-0435

6000 Medlock Bridge Pkwy.Johns Creek, GA 30022

770-418-2828

Grocery • Health & Beauty12315 Crabapple Rd. Roswell, GA 30004

770-772-0113

www.naturalfoodswarehouse.comVitamins & Supplements

Get OrganizedSavvy storage solutions

Money MattersPut your financial house in order

2 | northsidewoman.com | january2013

There is an immediate sense of satisfaction one gets uponentering the front door of a Boca Bargoons fabric store. Youcan’t help feeling you’re in the right place as you look for theperfect fabric for your home.

Perfection is defined as the highest degree of proficiency, skill,or excellence, and being the best at decorative fabric isn’t easy.It requires a well-choreographed effort by highly trained andtalented people. The staff at Boca Bargoons is exactly that…aisle upon aisle, rolls of decorative fabric are meticulouslypaired in stories of coordinated vignettes synchronized bycolors and patterns that make the visual experience of BocaBargoons extraordinary.

This process is repeated continually as new fabrics from theworld’s finest weavers arrive. Name brands like Brunschwig &Fils, Clarence House, Scalamandre, Lee Jofa, and many more fillthe Alpharetta store from ceiling to floor. The daily arrival ofthese impressive name brands coupled with the meticulousefforts of displaying them are only half the story of success inthis renowned fabric company.

The other half and perhaps the most memorable of the BocaBargoons experience would be the price you pay for the fabricitself. The premium fabrics this company carries also commandan equally premium price, however, their heavily discountedpricing — coupled with weekly sales events — makes shop-ping for fabric more of an adrenaline rush than a job.

On any given day, scores of decorators arehard at work at Boca Bargoons cuttingsamples of fabrics for clients’ approval,as Boca Bargoons carries hard-to-find,rare fabrics, as well as current patternsand colors.

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january2013 | northsidewoman.com | 3

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{ inSiDE }northside women{ 6 } UnsUng ‘she’Ro Former Drake House resident makes a new start

{ 12 } Women in ARt Liz Jahn turns passion for paper goods into full-time job

{ 18 } the inteRvieW Women buying guns for sport, hobby

northside lifestyle{ 8 } good eAts Ray’s on the Creek, Alpharetta

{ 14 } heR style De-clutter your closet

{ 16 } WomAn's best fRiend Pets of the month Lilly and Snow

{ 20 } heR heAlth Realistic fitness goals

{ 22 } heR style Thrifting for designer duds

{ 26 } tAke five Get your financial house in order

{ 28 } she blogs The divine swine returns

{ 30 } she ReAds Local author Claire Cook speaks in Roswell

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the coverLiz Jahn makes paperwork fun. In December, Jahn left her graphic design day job to take her paper goods side business full time. Through her business, dubbed Liddabits Design Shop, Jahn creates crisp, colorful banners, photo props, invitations and more. The artist has a particular knack for making grooms- and brides-to-be smile even brighter on their big days. Turn to page 12 for the full story.

associate publisher Kelly Brooks

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sales manager Lynn Danson

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sales executives Hans Appen, Helen Bausano, Linda Cohen, Mike Dorman,

Wendy Goddard, June Meltzer, Jennie Kushner, Jade Rodgers

sales assistants Susan Hernandez, Phyllis Anderton

production David Brown, Kellie Jureka,

Geoffrey Thurow

Northside Woman is published monthly & distributed free throughout north metro Atlanta. © 2013 Appen

Newspapers Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be copied or reprinted without the

express written permission of the publisher.

770.442.3278 | 770.475.1216 (fax)319 north main street, alpharetta, ga. 30009

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Christina Appen PUBLISHER

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staff

Katie VanBrackle EDITOR

[email protected]

Kelly Brooks GRAPHIC DESIGNER

[email protected]

Devon Morgan PHOTOGRAPHER

[email protected]

Candy Waylock SENIOR WRITER

[email protected]

Jennie Kushner FASHION EDITOR

[email protected]


Story & PhotoSBy KELLy [email protected]

An hour before a weekday lunch rush, Mirko Pasta employee Sharon Cross cozily scrunched in

a booth beside boss and restaurant owner Kathy Johnson. The duo told stories and joked like old friends, though they’ve only known each other since July.

“She’s irreplaceable,” Johnson said of Cross.

“She’s the best boss, I’m telling you,” Cross said of Johnson.

One thing stands in the way of their ideal employer-employee relationship: pants. Since Cross’ Mirko tenure started, Johnson’s jeans keep getting tighter.

Johnson said Cross perfectly cooks the menu items at Roswell’s Mirko. But Cross also dishes up mean specialties such as stuffing, corn bread and carrot cake during what Johnson calls staff family meals.

“I could have willpower, but it’s impossible,” Johnson said.

Cross has formal training in the culinary arts and has held several steady jobs in the food business, but the Mirko gig in Roswell marks her first long-term job since moving to metro Atlanta about four years ago.

The Florida native, now 54, first left home at 18 with her high school sweetheart and then-husband when he received Army orders to Anchorage, Alaska.

The couple raised five daughters and Cross’ younger sister there, but ultimately the marriage didn’t work and the two separated about a decade ago. Their house went into foreclosure after the divorce. Cross had been wanting to leave Alaska since 1981, she said, but ended up staying until 2009.

“I was very insecure, very afraid,” she said. “I felt like I didn’t have anything.”

Eventually, Cross and her youngest daughter Laronsia moved to Las Vegas, where Cross worked as an assistant buffet

chef at a resort and casino for just under a year. When that didn’t work out, her daughter LaToya, now 31, invited her mom to live with her in the Johns Creek area. Cross lived with LaToya, and then used unexpected child support back payments to rent her own apartment in Duluth, she said.

The avid cook said at one point she made up to $200 a day with a catering business she ran out of her kitchen, but that became another challenge.

“The turnaround time wasn’t working,” she said. “I got overwhelmed, and I got discouraged.”

Cross suffered from depression – sometimes, she said, she stayed at home and cried. She fell behind in her business and in her rent. In April, she and Laronsia

moved to Decatur to live with her oldest daughter, Sharron, to avoid eviction.

Family members encouraged Cross to look for a job, but she said she didn’t have it in her.

“At that point, I was at my lowest,” she said. “I had to accept the fact that I needed help.”

She called Atlanta-based Project Community Connections, and housing coordinator Nancy Zimmermann connected her with Roswell’s Drake House, which provides short-term housing and empowerment programs to homeless mothers in North Fulton.

Sharron, a mental health therapist, said her mom’s July move to the Drake House first threw her for a loop. She’d tried to help her mother, and suddenly her mom was going to a shelter where no one knew her or cared about her. But Cross’

oldest daughter now hypothesizes that for her mom, being around people she didn’t know – people who wouldn’t enable her lack of action – provided her with the extra push she needed.

“They were required to be motivated, regardless of whether they felt like being motivated or not,” Sharron said of her mom’s stay at the Drake House. “She was forced to get up and kind of recreate her life for her future, and she did it.”

Cross said the Drake House staff helped her learn the importance of consistent income and saving money for housing. She temporarily put her catering business on the back burner.

A lot of moms at the Drake House have an entrepreneurial drive like Cross, said Programs Director Christy Merritt.

“It’s great for them to pursue that in addition to the full-time job, but not instead of,” she said.

The Drake House also evaluates the mental health of program participants like Cross, and matches their needs to local resources. Cross said the Drake House helped her work through her depression.

The nonprofit also gave Cross a beige 2003 Ford Taurus.

“We get cars donated not often enough,” Merritt said. “When we do, we take the responsibility of gifting that car very seriously.”

The organization only considers families with enough resources to afford housing and car necessities such as insurance, registration and repairs, Merritt said.

Cross, who moved out of the Drake House in December, qualified. The

Norcross resident currently works at Mirko five days a week, and on Thursdays, she works for the Atlanta Street Food Coalition.

Cross’ family now jokes they can’t tear their mom away from work, Sharron said. And her boss Johnson gushes about her employee’s determination. Cross never gave up, Johnson said.

“She’s never done that, attitude wise, work wise, everything,” Johnson said. “I just want her to be successful and keep going onward and upward.”

Johnson also supports Cross’ entrepreneurial endeavors: Cross sells cinnamon buns and other treats at Mirko, under the brand name Rolling in Dough.

Looking forward, Cross wants to roll out a Rolling in Dough food truck and hopes her business can become a franchise. She said she also wants to one day be in an arena to encourage other women facing similar hardships, because “against all opposition, no matter what, you can do it.” ■► For more information on Rolling in Dough, email Sharon Cross at [email protected]. Buy Cross’ goodies in person at Mirko Pasta, 1105 Woodstock Road in Roswell.► To learn more about the Drake House, visit thedrakehouse.org or call 770-587-4712.

unsung‘she’ro

After facing homelessness & coping with depression, local mom Sharon Cross—an Alaskan transplant—finds a promising job in her field, & peace of mind.

Cross’ comeback

left: Sharon Cross, right, chats with boss Kathy Johnson at Mirko pasta in Roswell.Right: Cross enjoys the scent of her cin-namon buns, which she sells at Mirko pasta under the brand name Rolling in dough.

“”

Against all opposition,

no matter what, you can do it.


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goodeats

Ray’s Killer Creek in Alpharetta reopens with new name, new menu

A fresh start for Ray’s on the Creek

Ray’s on the Creek 1700 Mansell Road, Alpharetta

770-649-0064

By KAtiE [email protected]

The new year is the perfect time for fresh starts and bold ventures. For Ray’s at Killer Creek, a fine dining establishment on Mansell Road in Alpharetta, the first

month of 2013 brings a new name (Ray’s on the Creek), a new look, a new menu and a new mission.

Founder Ray Schoenbaum wants to make Ray’s on the Creek a place diners will visit more often, not just on special occasions.

“This means a more fun and lively atmosphere, a greater selection of dishes under $30, and sharable plates,” he said. “Expect about half of the menu to be completely new and the other half to consist of Ray’s dishes that are customer favorites.”

Some of those favorite dishes include house-made chips drizzled with blue cheese, aged steaks, fresh fish flown in daily and New Orleans barbecue shrimp served Cajun-style with barbecue butter sauce and a garlic baguette.

On the outside, Ray’s on the Creek boasts a new coastal-inspired blue facade to compliment the remodeled, brighter interior space and present a more relaxed, casual atmosphere to diners.

In the kitchen, Executive Chef Tracey Bloom adds her personal touch to new menu items such as ahi tacos, a crunchy blend of fresh tuna, veggies and spicy avocado aioli. Bloom describes her culinary style as modern American with European influences and insists upon high quality, fresh ingredients. About 80 percent of the menu items are locally sourced, from the veggies to the Eden Farms pork chop.

The bar at Ray’s on the Creek has also been revamped to include an extensive wine list and eight premium martinis, including Ray’s Lemon Drop Martini consisting of Ketel One Citron, lemon juice, sweet and sour and a sugared rim.

As a female executive chef, Bloom is no stranger to pressure in the kitchen and enjoys the challenges of managing all kitchen operations. Bloom honed her skills in some of Atlanta’s finest restaurants after receiving a degree from the Culinary Institute of America, serving as the opening pastry chef at Sia’s Restaurant in Johns Creek and then joining the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group to work at 103 West under Chef Gary Donlick. She was the executive chef at Table 1280 in Atlanta before taking on her current position at Ray’s on the Creek.

Bloom enjoyed a brief taste of fame when she appeared as

a contestant on “Top Chef,” a Bravo network culinary competition in 2010. While she failed to reach the finals, she did make many new chef friends and says she would “totally do something like that again.”

When Bloom moved to the South from her native New York, she gladly embraced Southern comfort foods such as collards, barbecue and grits, which she says “were everywhere in so many savory applications and I had never even tasted them

before.” Lately, however, she has changed her personal concept of comfort food since going “free” eight months ago.

“I have eliminated gluten, corn and soy from my diet and as a chef, that is very hard,” said Bloom who recently joined with allergy coach Brooklyn Cole to launch an informational website, www.freecuisine.com. “Now I concentrate on enjoying fresh fish and vegetables and I do get on some kicks like enjoying steak tartare every day for a week.”

Steak tartare, a chopped tenderloin served with capers, shallots, sweet soy and flatbread, is a new menu item at Ray’s on the Creek, as is Georgia mountain trout served with green beans, chorizo and a soy-sherry butter sauce.

Chef Bloom and the executive chefs and sous chefs from the other two Ray’s restaurants (Ray’s on the River and Ray’s in the City) are participating in a new menu item cooking competition by developing new dishes and gathering guest feedback.

The highest rated dishes and the winning chefs will be announced at a grand reopening party at Ray’s on the Creek this month, giving friends, family, frequent diners and V.I.P. guests the opportunity to see the renewed space and enjoy an evening of music and delicious food and drinks.

Ray’s on the Creek is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Friday and dinner only on Saturday and Sunday. Live music performances are frequently held on Friday and Saturday evenings. To learn more and to view the new Ray’s on the Creek menu, go to www.raysrestaurants.com. ■

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plates from top to bottom:Georgia mountain trout, green beans, chorizo, soy-sherry butter sauce. $19.tuna nicoise, rare seared tuna, field greens, egg, tomatoes, red onion, green beans, potato. $17.herb-roasted half-chicken, buttermilk mashed potatoes, fresh vegetables. $17.

Tracey BloomExecutive Chef


GFt


A January blizzard is blowing into Newtown, Conn. as thousands of hand-cut paper snowflakes arrive

in boxes from cities and towns all over the United States. The flurry of activity is in response to a request from the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) at Sandy Hook Elementary where a tragic shooting took place in December.

Sandy Hook students are not returning to their old school after the winter break, but will instead travel to a different school in a neighboring town. To help ease the transition, the PTA plans to create a Winter Wonderland inside the new school as a surprise for the students. Snowflakes of all sizes, shapes and colors will decorate the school’s interior, creating a scene of beauty and giving a message of support and hope to the children.

A call for snowflakes was sent to teachers and PTA leaders across the country in December, including those at Creek View Elementary and Webb Bridge Middle School in North Fulton who jumped at the chance to help.

“It’s a small gesture, but it’s something,” said Karin Bilderback, whose family participated in the effort. Bilderback’s daughter Ellie brought paper and scissors to a sleepover where she and her friends created a variety of snowflakes, each one signed with a heart “from Alpharetta, Ga.”

Those wishing to participate can make and send snowflakes by Jan. 12 to Connecticut PTSA, 60 Connolly Parkway, Building 12, Suite 13, Hamden, CT 06514.

Some local schools are also conducting coin drives. Donations to the students at Sandy Hook can be sent to the “Connecticut PTSA Sandy Hook Fund” at the above address. ■

Counter-clockwise from top right: 1. Webb bridge Middle school seventh-graders, from left, Mad-ison Boyd, Katie Pepperman and rachel Whitehouse. 2. Creek view elementary fifth-grade students make snowflakes at a recent sleepover. Front, from left: Bailey Brown, Ellie Bilderback, holly Cook and Provy Campisi. Rear, from left: Sara Gotwalt, Dasha Scarborough and hadley Dawson. 3. students' snowflakes will be sent to sandy hook elementary. 4. Webb bridge Middle school seventh-graders Callie Dawson and Macrae Brown.

shecares

Snowflakes for Sandy Hook

Local students send a flurry of support to their peers in Newtown, Conn.

www.thetwistedthread.com


www.northpointmall.com


By KELLy [email protected]

Liz Jahn plans to push paper—and her boundaries— this new year.

In December, the University of Georgia art school alumna left a more than five-year graphic design stint at locally headquartered Arby’s to work full time on her paper goods business, Liddabits Design Shop.

“I have the typical going-out-on-your-own anxiety that anyone would expect,” Jahn said.

But the 28-year-old designer likes a challenge.Jahn grew up with a passion for art. Her crafty stay-

at-home mom quilted, painted and ran her own purse business at one point. Her parents also flipped houses for several years.

“My mom had the vision and my dad was the executor, and I think I have both of those qualities which makes me a control freak,” she said with a laugh.

Jahn’s work mixes a vintage feel with a fun, crisp look, and her strengths lie in color and typography. She also has a passion for paper, eloquently explained on her Etsy page. Finishing products with her hands, she writes, satisfies her longing to interact with her pieces.

She opened Liddabits on Etsy two years ago partially as a new year’s resolution. The shop started with alphabets both painted and printed. She soon cut out and reassembled letters, birthing banners — what she now calls her bread and butter.

Jahn’s other popular items include flags on sticks and program fans.

“I have things on a string, things on a stick,” she joked, “And then just paper.”

Jahn helps clients with anything paper-related, but focuses on weddings. May marks the peak month for her Etsy shop.

The 6-foot-tall artist enjoys getting to know couples and helping them visualize what they want.

She helped Jay Taylor, one of her former superiors at the Arby’s Foundation, achieve the “outdoor, Southern” atmosphere he wanted at his wedding last year, with pieces such as program fans and a hand-painted tree on canvas for guests to thumbprint — a Pinterest-inspired spin on a guestbook.

Once Jahn hears clients’ input and ideas, Taylor said, she takes those to the next level — “to the level you couldn’t even dream about.”

In one of her favorite projects, Jahn created the full gamut of paper items — from the save-the-date to the cake

topper — for Smyrna resident Leslie Pistone’s April wedding.

Pistone first met Jahn at a wedding show in 2011. The bride-to-be came to Jahn’s booth for the banners, and stayed for the person.

“I just felt like she got me,” Pistone said of Jahn.

Jahn’s final products for the wedding, Pistone added, were amazing. “I got so many compliments that everything was very ‘us.’”

Jahn got the Pistones a little too well. The artist created the couple’s Christmas cards last year, and Leslie and her husband Anthony couldn’t choose between two designs. So they sent out both,

and have them framed on their wall.Now that she’s working on Liddabits full time, Jahn

said she wants to create wholesale items for boutiques. She’s also looking forward to cooking more in her free

time. Jahn lives just south of the Chattahoochee River in Sandy Springs, and loves frequenting delicious downtown Roswell spots such as INC. Street Food, Piehole and Lucky’s, where Danny Townsend, her boyfriend of nearly seven years, works.

Ultimately, Jahn wants to work in a physical space with some retail and a team of designers. For now, she jokingly compares her career move to jumping into the deep end, but she knows what she’s doing.

“I did two years of it as a side business before I made this decision,” she said. “I definitely feel confident that I can make it happen.” ■

More on Liddabits• etsy.com/shop/liddabits• liddabitsdesignshop.com• Brides-to-be can catch Liz Jahn at Wedding Day Hooray

marketplace Feb. 16 at Ambient Plus Studio in Atlanta. Visit weddingdayhooray.com for more information.

Liddabits goes bigGraphic designer Liz Jahn makes festive paper goods business her full-time gig

1. program fans at the wedding of Jay taylor, one of liddabits owner liz Jahn's former bosses. 2. the artist says banners are her bread and butter. 3. Jahn recently left her job at Arby's to work on liddabits full time. 4. Mickey Satterfield thumbprints taylor's wedding guestbook, created by Jahn. 5. the graphic designer focuses on weddings, but can help clients with anything paper-related. 6. one of Jahn's clever banners, sur-rounded by personalized candy containers, at leslie pistone's wedding. 7. Jahn strings a banner in her sandy springs home. 8. the wedding invitation Jahn created for pistone.

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www.etsy.com/shop/liddabits

liddabitsdesignshop.com

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www.parcatduluth.com


At the start of a new year, many people resolve to be more organized. Here are a few of my favorite organizational products that I recommend to my

clients. I use all of these items in my closet. They save time because you are not searching for that missing shoe or ear-ring. They save money by preventing damage to wardrobe items. These items are readily available at discount stores or your favorite organizational product store.

1. Hanging scarf organizer. My newest acquisition! I used to keep my scarves in a drawer, but out of sight, out of mind. With my scarves hung next to my clothes on this easy to see/use organizer from IKEA, I am using them more often to complete an outfit. Pictured: Komplement scarf hanger, IKEA.

2. Clear pocket jewelry organizer. Hang this in your closet near your clothes. Clear pockets allow you to see possible outfit combinations. Each pocket holds a bracelet or necklace and keeps them from getting tangled with other items. Pictured: Little Black Dress hanging jewelry organizer by Umbra, The Container Store.

3. Clear plastic shoe boxes. Protect and organize your shoes with these inexpensive boxes. Dressing is a breeze when you see exactly where your shoes are as they are stored in pairs. These boxes are sturdy and can be stacked to save space…for more shoes! Pictured: Shoe box, The Container Store.

4. Double-hung closet rod. A must-have for all clos-ets. Easy to install and use. I recommend hanging shirts and tops on the upper rod and trousers or skirts on the bottom. Organizing them in this manner makes it easier to see possible outfit combinations. Pictured: Double-hung closet rod, The Container Store.

5. Compartment canvas hanging shoe bag. I don’t keep shoes in it. I keep bras and wide stretchy belts in it. Invert one cup in the other, to keep bras handy and organized. Wide stretchy belts are rolled into themselves, stored for easy access and remind you to add that an em-bellishment to complete your outfits. Pictured: 10-compart-ment canvas hanging shoe bag, The Container Store.

6. Clear plastic divided box with lid. This is perfect for keeping earrings or cufflinks organized. Each compart-ment holds a pair, or two if you have an over abundance. The sturdy box fits easily inside of a drawer and keeps unnecessary wear and tear on your earrings since you are avoiding the constant stirring of earrings in a common bowl as you search for a mate. Pictured: Clear plastic divided storage box, www.stacksandstacks.com.

7. One last tip! To organize your hosiery, fold a pair in half, gently twist a few times and tie in a loose knot. I used to roll my stockings in a ball and tuck the end, but it always came undone and my sock drawer was a mess. This trick keeps them organized and easily accessible.

Happy organizing and better dressing in 2013! ■

De-clutter your closet!

Lori Wynne is the owner of Alpharetta-based Fashion with Flair. As a personal wardrobe consultant, she helps people look their best. Contact her for help with your fashion dilemmas: fashionwithflair.com

Wardrobe consultant shares her favorite tricks of the trade

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www.fashionwithflair.com

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www.northsideplacticsurgery.com


CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT: Deborah Daniel

Charter Accounting 1020 Cambridge Square, Ste A • Alpharetta, GA 30009

770-671-0021 • [email protected]

2013 marks my 20th year of preparing business and personal tax returns in the North Fulton and Forsyth Communities. In addition to preparing tax returns, we offer a full range of accounting; bookkeeping, payroll and tax planning services including training and set up of Quickbooks for small businesses. Our clients include small business

owners and busy professionals that want to know that their tax situation is being given personal attention.Let us worry about your taxes so you do not have to!!!

Lilly (right) is a pretty white adult kitty who is seeking a new home. She loves to be held and petted, and will “talk” to you when it’s time

for dinner. Lilly loves attention, but is a little shy now as she becomes accustomed to the unfamiliar world of rescued pets. She has been well cared for and would love another chance at happiness with a new family.

Snow, a fluff ball of soft white fur, is a mellow, well behaved kitty who instantly bonded to her

caregivers. She loves to be petted, loves all people and will come to you when called. Snow would love nothing more than a sunny spot to lie in and a warm lap to jump into for attention.

These cats, and several other felines looking for forever homes, are under the care of Cats in the Cradle pet rescue, and can be seen in person at the Petsmart on Northpoint Parkway in Alpharetta. For more information, visit catsinthecradlerescue.org, or email [email protected]. ■

Pets of the Month: Lilly & Snow

woman's best friend

ADOPT US

www.catsinthecradlerescue.org


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www.facebook.com/chateauelan


theinterview

By CAnDy [email protected]

While the national debate rages regarding gun control and Second Amendment rights, it’s clear the number of women who

own – and carry – their own firearm is growing. This trend is seen across the country, but statistics show the South has more gun toters per capita than any other section of the United States.

While statistics on gender are not kept for gun sales, anecdotal evidence from gun dealers and shooting ranges show that guns, and shooting skills, are no longer a boys-only club.

“I’ve seen a dramatic increase in the number of women purchasing guns, and I’ve been involved for about 20 years in firearms sales,” said Hugh Sawyer, general manager of Armistead Armory in Alpharetta. “For every 100 people who walk into the store, about 35 will be female.”

He said most women initially look for a firearm for defense or home security, but generally end up shooting as a hobby, whether on a shooting range or outdoors in trap or skeet shooting.

“There are a lot of couples [shooting] together, and the woman ends up wanting her own gun,” said Sawyer, who has a background in law enforcement.

Increasing number of women buying

guns for sport, hobby

{ }As we begin the New Year, our nation continues to grieve the loss of innocent lives after the senseless shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in

Newtown, Conn. last month. We are all hugging our own children a bit tighter as we try to process the shock of such horrific violence, but we are also beginning to evaluate public policies on everything from gun ownership to mental healthcare in the wake of this tragedy.

Back in December, as the news story of the Connecticut shooting was breaking, Northside Woman was putting the finishing touches on the following feature story about women and gun ownership. It was to be our January cover story. Out of sensitivity to current events, we decided to change our cover image, but kept the story as we felt the subject matter was of interest to our readers. In developing the story, we were all surprised to learn just how many local women (probably including many of your own friends and neighbors) carry concealed weapons on a regular basis.

While passionate opinions on both sides of the gun ownership debate continue to be a hot topic of discussion, there is also a movement afoot to show love and support to the children and families affected by the recent tragedy. Paper snowflakes are arriving in Newtown, Conn., daily from school children all over the United States. Read the heartwarming story on page 10.

—Katie VanBrackle, Northside Woman Editor

Editor’s NoteEditor’s Note

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A 2011 Gallup Poll on gun ownership shows that 47 percent of Americans own firearms, the highest percentage since 1993. However, the percentage of households owning guns has dropped since 1970 — as the number of households increases. The statistics can support either side of the gun debate.

The same survey also showed women are buying guns in record numbers. The number of women who reported owning a gun, or having one in their home, increased from 13 percent in 2005 to 23 percent just six years later.

While statistics are difficult to gauge on polls alone, the trend is clear that Americans are taking the Second Amendment to heart. On the positive side, deaths per capita by assault, which includes gun deaths, have dropped nearly in half since the peak in the 1970s.

Chances are, you may know more women than you thought who own their own firearm, and spend their free time at one of several shooting ranges in the area.

Lana Cavassa, a defense attorney from Johns Creek, has slept with a

shotgun under her bed for nearly two decades, prompted by a late-night stalker who showed up to her home in 1993.

“I showed up in court the next day, and there he was,”

recalled Cavassa, a single mother of a now grown

son. “I got a shotgun that day and now

sleep very well at night.”

She bought a shotgun instead of a

handgun since the former would be more difficult for her young son to accidentally fire. Also, she wasn’t sure she could handle a smaller weapon in an emergency.

“There’s something about a shotgun [cocking] that would scare off most people,” said Cavassa who grew up in Texas surrounded by guns. “And with a shotgun, aim is less important.”

Sawyer of Armistead Armory advises women

interested in firearms to

do careful research on the best type of weapon they need. There are several parameters to consider including physical hand strength, reason for purchasing a firearm and ability to shoot.

“I like to lay several firearms out for a person to put into their hands,” said Sawyer. “This is not a rush process, since you can’t bring a firearm back once you’ve purchased it.”

At Sharp Shooters indoor shooting range in Roswell, Tuesday night is Ladies Night with regulars and novices showing up to hone their skills.

On a recent Tuesday night, Cindy Lifsey was looking to add another firearm to her collection.

“It’s my sport and passion, and I enjoy coming out to the range and just shooting and working on getting more accurate,” she said, as she perused the variety of small handguns before her on the display case.

Like many female gun owners, Lifsey was first looking at firearms for home and self-defense, but ended up finding a hobby she loved.

“It’s amazing the number of women you meet on the gun range…from all walks of life,” said Lifsey, a nurse from Johns Creek. “There really is not a stereotype that describes the female gun owner.”

Sharp Shooters co-owner Leslie Deets said the number of women carrying concealed weapons led her to create a side company, Concealed Carrie, which offers a line of high-end purses with a hidden pocket for a holstered firearm.

“There was nothing fashionable on the market that women were comfortable carrying,” noted Deets, who had to double production runs to keep up with the demand.

Side pockets with stylish zippers lead to an easily accessible holster from which the gun can be quickly drawn.

“The number of women owning guns is increasing at a rate faster than any other group," said Deets.

"The gun world is constantly adapting to meet their needs." ■

theinterview

Owning a gun is like owning a car – without instruction and skill, both can become deadly weapons in the hands of the inexperienced user.

Alpharetta Police Department Officer Jennifer Howard, pictured above, advises any woman looking to buy a gun to first take a class on responsible gun ownership.

“Most local shooting ranges offer classes taught by NRA instructors,” said Howard, an eight-year veteran of the police force. “There you will learn how to handle the weapon safely, clean it and learn basic shooting techniques, such as sighting, trigger pull, grip, etc.”

Every firearm is unique, and women should test several out before deciding which one is best for them.

“I prefer Glocks, which are what we use at the department, but women should not make a purchase based on the look of the weapon,” Howard said, adding that some guns look good but don’t shoot well. “Some are more reliable than others. They need to do some research, try it out and buy one known for reliability.”

The second most important thing after a safety class is to practice, said Howard, to become familiar with the weapon.

“The worst thing [gun owners] can do is buy one and let it sit in the bedside table,” said Howard. “Owners need to practice so when and if the time comes to use it, they won’t hesitate and their shots will land on target.”

Carrying a concealed weapon requires a permit, which involves fingerprinting and a background check. Georgians can carry a weapon in their cars without a permit, Howard said, but it is best to have a permit to carry it. Any driver who is carrying a weapon should immediately let an officer know that they have one if they get pulled over.

“For women who carry their firearm in a purse, it needs to be in a special pocket with no other stuff in there,” said Howard. “And they need to be able to draw it from that pocket quickly…and practice this [maneuver].”

For women concerned with their personal safety, a gun is not the only option.“Learn a form of martial arts, or consider [pepper] spray, which when it gets in

the eyes is extremely unpleasant, to say the least,” said Howard. And most importantly, practice self-awareness and be constantly aware of your

surroundings.“Walk with purpose, head-up, confidently. If you are alone in a parking lot and

someone is approaching who is concerning to them, get to a place with more people quickly, make a lot of noise, or get in your car and lock the doors,” said Howard.

Know gun safety rules…& the law

Georgia does not require registration of firearms unless they are considered “dangerous,” such as sawed off shotguns, “bazookas,” rocket launchers, has a silencer, machine gun, etc. Georgia law actually prohibits local governments from registering firearms when someone is applying for a firearms license.

Anyone with a clean criminal record over the age of 18 can own a firearm, although background checks are not conducted if the gun is purchased at a gun show. There are however, numerous exceptions to the law governing minors, and the under-18 rule only applies to handguns. There is no limit in Georgia to the number of guns a lawfully eligible person owns.

To carry a long gun (barrel at least 18 inches) you do not have to have a license to carry as long as you are not prohibited from owning a firearm. To carry a handgun openly or concealed in the state of Georgia (other than on your property or inside your home, car or your place of business), you must have a Georgia Weapons Carry License.

Even with a carry permit, firearms are not allowed in many places, including houses of worship, government buildings, state parks, jails or prisons, a bar without permission from the owner, nuclear power facilities, within 150 feet of a polling place and in schools. However, you can leave your gun in your car while parked at a school or other restricted places, if you are legally authorized to possess or carry weapons.

For women concerned with their personal safety, a gun is not the only option.

OCGA 16—11-126: The Georgia Firearms & Weapons Act

OCGA 16—11-126: The Georgia Firearms & Weapons Act

Far left: defense attorney Lana Cavassa bought a gun after she was stalked in 1993.top: Leslie Deets, co-owner of sharp shoot-ers in Roswell, created Concealed Carrie handbags as a stylish option for women.Near left: Cavassa shows the features of the side pocket on a Concealed Carrie handbag.


herhealth

By CAroLyn ASPEnSon

Since the beginning of time, or at least since the surge in processed food popularity, the No. 1 New Year’s

resolution has been to lose weight. Each year, one third of Americans make this resolution, yet only a measley 8 percent are successful.

There are many psychological theo-ries about resolutions and success rates. The fact is you have to want it, and want it bad. Losing weight and getting healthy aren’t for the weak at heart. If you’re not ready to commit to the task, scratch it off the list on that holiday napkin.

Resolutions are goals. As with all goals, there is a process to achieving them. Going hard and strong at the start is how many tackle a weight loss resolution, but it often leads to failure. Starting small may take the bang out of the buck, but it can save you from a quick burn out or injury.

If you want to be one of the 8 percent who achieve their weight loss resolutions, the following steps will help you.

1. Schedule a physicalConsult your doctor before starting

an exercise program. A physical provides information about what will work best for your body. Ask your doctor to check your

blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), percentage of body fat, balance and gait. If you have a family history of heart disease, ask if an electrocardiogram or a stress test is neces-sary. Discuss any medical issues and get the OK to start a fitness program.

2. Create a plan with a reasonable timeframe

Determine what is realistic. If you’re not a morning person, don’t say you’ll get up at 5 a.m. to hit the gym. Start out small, with about three or four days a week, and if you find in a few weeks you’re begging for more sit-ups or sprints, re-evaluate.

Losing one to two pounds a week is the healthiest, most realistic goal for weight loss. It didn’t take a week to gain that 10 pounds and it won’t take a week to lose it and keep it off.

3. Consult a fitness professional

Personal trainers know the body, and can guide you to a program. Consider set-ting up an orientation appointment and if it’s in your budget, a few training sessions. Trainers can design a workout based on your doctor’s recommendations, your schedule and your personality.

4. If you can’t consult a fitness professional, stay true to yourself

If you’re not a gym person, don’t think paying $40 a month for that fancy gym membership will make you go, because it won’t. Think about what you enjoy, like walking or dancing, and create a workout program around that. Promising yourself you’ll start lifting weights when you’ve always hated weights is setting yourself up for failure.

5. Start a food diaryLosing weight is 10 percent genet-

ics, 10 percent exercise and 80 percent diet. Every pound is 3,500 calories. You can spend hours in the gym, but if you consume too many calories, you’ll end up gaining weight, not losing. Spend at least a week writing down everything you eat. Write out how you felt when you ate, the time, what you were doing and where you were. Once you have the writing in front of you, you’ll find patterns and can plan how to eat accordingly.

6. Reward yourselfLittle successes deserve recognition.

They create the big successes, so pat your-self on the back and reward yourself with that cheesy romance novel you passed on the other day. Positive reinforcement goes a long way in achieving success.

7. Take it one day at a timeNo one is perfect. You ate a bag of

M&M’s, so what? It’s not the end of the world and it’s certainly not the ruin of your resolution. Wipe the chocolate off of your face, stand tall and recommit. Don’t trash-talk yourself into failure. Everyone makes mistakes. Get over it and move on. ■

Carolyn has been a fitness and nutrition enthusiast for over 15 years. She holds certifications from nationally recognized organizations in both fitness and nutrition. She can be reached at [email protected].

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There is nothing more riveting than digging and discovering designer duds for under $5. Thrift-ing is casually replacing shopping at big-box retailers—

all while leaving a few extra dollars for leisure. With these simple tips, turn castaways into a cache.

Mix-and-mingleBring patterns and textures out to play! Don’t be

afraid to interweave and include the atypical. Prints with solids, colors with colors, bolds with brights — the impossible can be possible!

Fit to be tiedThinking outside the

box is key while digging for designer finds. Find something that doesn’t fit perfectly? Don’t rule it out! The

number one key in clothing is fit, fit, fit! Whether it is taking something in, letting something out or just a simple hem-line, investing in a good tailor is something you will see the return on!

Time is moneyBlock out enough time to dig, doze, search

and scrutinize! Walking in with a time limit will only limit you!

The lookWhether it’s a dollar or a hundred, don’t

waste your money on a one-time find. Look for slick, shapely and timeless pieces. Buying something overused, overworked, frayed and drained will only result in a congested closet!

Check itCheck every section — men’s, women’s and

children’s. You never know what can be hidden where! ■

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When Alannah Naber of Roswell heard that her son’s teacher at Dolvin Elementary School

had been diagnosed with cancer, she was stunned.

The 33-year-old teacher, Kara Schwede, was a young mother herself and seemed to be in the best of health.

Schwede went to the doctor in the summer of 2012 with what she thought was indigestion. Further investigation revealed dangerous-looking masses on her liver. A biopsy determined that Schwede had stage 4 metastatic colon cancer that was spreading to other organs in her body. Within two days of the biopsy, Schwede began her first aggressive dose of chemotherapy.

For Naber, whose son had really

benefitted from having Schwede as a teacher during the previous school year, just making a casserole or sending a card didn’t seem to be enough. She knew that the Schwede family was reeling not only from the shock of the medical diagnosis, but also from the growing pile of medical bills.

“Kara’s medical insurance only covers 80 percent of expenses, so, for example, each time Kara has a $20,000 PET scan, she has to pay $4,000 out of pocket,” Naber said. “Those bills and treatments add up quickly on a teacher’s salary.”

Naber made a promise to Schwede. “I told Kara that she needed to focus

on getting better, and I would focus on raising money for her bills,” she said. “Don’t worry. Your friends and I will take care of you.”

Naber pulled together a committee of other moms from Dolvin Elementary and some of Schwede’s close friends and together they decided to hold a raffle with the goal of raising $5,000.

Susan King, Maureen Richards, Jennifer Natchus, Meg Moonan, Leigh Steele, Nadine Townsend, Kathy Marlo and Ashley Guzman immediately began spreading word about the raffle, reaching out to local businesses and making connections with people like former Atlanta Braves pitcher Tom Glavine, who donated a signed baseball bat.

Naber was touched by how generously and quickly the local community responded with over 40 donations, including restaurant and salon gift cards, rounds of golf, interior design services, jewelry and purses.

Raffle tickets sold for $10 each and the drawing was held in Naber’s living

room on Dec. 3, Schwede’s birthday. “When we sat down to count the

number of raffle tickets sold, I couldn’t believe it,” said Naber. “There were over 1,000 tickets. We had raised over $10,000 – twice our goal!”

Thanks to a Fight for Kara page on Facebook, and a website, http:fightforkara.weebly.com, word of the raffle spread to Schwede’s friends across the country. Raffle tickets were purchased in California, Michigan, North Carolina and Florida and a group of Schwede’s former high school classmates in Michigan were inspired to hold a second fundraising raffle in Schwede’s home state.

Naber’s husband set up a bank account through Chase Bank for those who missed the raffle but still want to make a donation. Those wishing to contribute can go to any Chase Bank locally and make a deposit into the account for Kara and Jason Schwede of Roswell, Ga.

As for Schwede, she is grateful beyond words for the shower of support and kindness. Her first surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota in December was a success and all tumors were removed from her liver. The second surgery will come in January when doctors will attempt to remove tumors in her colon. After that come more rounds of chemo and radiation as the long battle with cancer continues.

Naber is thrilled with the raffle’s success and happy to have made a difference.

“This is my first experience of having something horrible happen to a close friend,” she said. “I wanted to do everything I could possibly do. Hopefully others would do the same for me.”

Moms raise funds for teacher with cancer

Kara and Jason Schwede of Roswell.

A simple act of kindness

■

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Double-duty beauty products save time & money By CynthiA MorriSon EiKEvisage designs by Cynthia, llC

Get twice as gorgeous in the New Year with these products designed for double duty.

Silky skinPare down your

skincare routine and get gorgeous skin with beauty balms. Originally designed as a “post- procedure” treatment, these unique formulas smooth, soothe, protect and brighten skin tones instantly and over time. Bobbi Brown’s BB Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 35 ($42) comes in five skin matching shades and can be used under makeup or as a foundation on its own. L’Oreal’s Studio Secrets Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream ($11) also perfects skin tone while it protects. (Hint: Layer these with a mineral-based powder foundation for flawless coverage.)

Luscious lipsLove your lips twice as much

with a lipstick and cream combo.

Cover Girl Blast Flipstick Lipcolor ($9) has two formulas and coordinated shades in one tube. Use separately or layer them for the most impact. Apply creamy formula to bare lips and layer a shimmery shade over the center of top and bottom lips for the ultimate effect. Sync your lips and cheeks by using a product designed for both. Stila’s Convertible Color ($25) in

Camelia is flattering on most skin tones and subtly tints cheeks and lips. (Hint: Apply creamy cheek color after BB cream and before powder for best results.)

Edgy eyesGet smoky eyes by layering two

formulas of eyeliners and mascaras. Start

with a longwearing eyeliner gel or pencil in black, brown or

charcoal gray, then line the entire inner and outer

lash lines. Follow with a similar-colored powder eye shadow/liner

brushed over it and blended onto lid

for the ultimate smoky eye. Laura Geller’s

Perfect Pairing Waterproof Liquid and Powder Eyeliner

($27) makes it easy by pairing both in one, double ended product. (Hint: Double the volume of lashes by layering two formulas of mascara on upper lashes starting with a lengthening formula and finishing with a volumizing one – both in black.) ■

Cynthia has been a makeup artist for more than 25 years. She provides consulting services through Visage Designs by Cynthia. Contact her at visage- [email protected].

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With the New Year, everyone’s thoughts turn to resolutions – the gyms are packed and

everyone vows to make changes for the better. Changes in our diet and health are not the only ones that should be considered in making our plans for 2013. January is the perfect time to reflect on your current financial situation, organize and make improvements if necessary.

1. Look at all your expenses. During the first quarter as you are paying bills and gathering your tax return data, look closely at all of your recurring monthly expenses. Take a minute to call customer service to see if there are unneeded extras on any of your monthly services like telephone or cable TV and ask if there are any current promotions you may qualify for. This could save a substantial amount over the course of a year. Use this as an opportunity to organize your financial life as well. Most people do not have a central location to store all their data such as insurance policies, wills and bank, credit card and investment account statements. Often the hindrance to being successful financially is not a lack of funds but messiness and uncertainty about the whole topic. Remove the uncertainty by resolving to take control of your financial paperwork.

2. Pay yourself first. Make sure that you have an emergency fund. The old rule of thumb used to be six months of monthly expenses, but with jobs taking much longer to find on average, many experts are advising a whole year of expenses be stashed in your rainy day account. This may seem overwhelming, so start saving something at least. The best way to make sure it happens is to put your savings on autopilot and have an automatic transfer from your regular checking account into a separate account just for this purpose so that the savings

happen and begin to accumulate without added action on your part.

3. Take advantage of historically low interest rates if you have not already. Interest rates continue to hover around record lows, and if you have not acted on this to improve your monthly mortgage payments, do it now before rates go back up. A 1 percent reduction in interest rate on $100,000 mortgage can save over $700 per year if you are paying 5 percent now.

4. Put your finances on a cash diet. If you have credit card balances, make a plan to pay them down. While paying

down balances, do not add to them with monthly charges. Only purchase what you can pay for in the current month. This will reduce the size of the emergency fund needed in the future if you trim your spending needs when you do not need to.

5. Look at your tax situation. Carefully review all your tax documents as your prepare for your 2012 tax return. It may not be too late to improve your 2012 tax bill by checking with your tax advisor to see if you qualify to make any additional retirement contributions to IRAs if you are an employee of a company or other plans if you are self-employed. Make an appointment now to sit down with your advisor after 2012 returns are complete and make changes now to improve your 2013 tax situation.

Money and financial matters rank at the top along with diet and exercise as areas for New Year’s resolutions. Make cleaning up your finances the resolution you do not break in 2013! ■

Deborah Daniel is a certified public accountant for Charter Accounting in Alpharetta.

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sheblogs

By ELExiS hAyS

Editor’s note: Northside Woman readers were delighted by our December She Blogs column by Elexis Hays, featuring her newly adopted pig, Babette. The “divine swine’s” story continues in this month’s She Blogs.

I’m not a huge whiner. I said whiner, not winer. That’s a whole different issue. I am a person who, usually, sees the

glass as half-full. Again, not the wine glass, that’s a different issue.

Home should be a clean and serene place. An oasis. Today, I came home to two bored dogs and a pig loose in the house. Babette has rounded a corner to become a friendly and sweet pig. She’s a jumping pig and launches herself onto my white sofa several times a day. I have an entire stack of snout-cleaning towels in my laundry room. She has rooted up most of the yard, removed all my pansies and decorative cabbages and turned over two garden statues. Still, I love that little swine.

The thing about pigs is, they are hungry and they are smart. They oink about it once every three seconds, rhythmically, loudly and with a passion. They hear the most covert opening of a Kit-Kat bar in the kitchen, no matter how hard one hides.

In all the years my dogs have lived

with me, they have never entertained the notion that they could find food in the house and feed themselves. Today, Babette learned to open the cabinets and serve herself. She then helped out her friends, the dogs, and together they devoured some Apple Jacks, several Kit-Kat bars, chips, drink mix, pet treats (which I am thinking were pork flavored and I shudder at the cannibalistic implications), some oatmeal pies, unpopped popcorn and some straws. She even gnawed through the prune container. That’s dedication.

She was straining the elastic on her pink harness when I arrived home, fat and swollen, but is even now trying other cabinets to see what treasures they hold. The dogs have named her their messiah and are in awe of her ingenuity.

So, I no longer have time to be sad and gloomy. This house looks like a set for a scary movie. The Goose says I love any emergency in which something must be cleaned or repaired. He once dropped a can of latex paint in the kitchen and just stood there and said, “Go to it! You know you love it.”

And it’s true. I just need a mission, no matter how lame. We all do. So I’ll get to it now, turn on all the lights, turn up some of the kids’ loud music with lyrics that make me blush and clean up for when my family comes back from the world and

tracks mud right back across the floor. Days like today cause me to want to sniff my coconut oil furniture polish and dream of summer. ■Elexis Hays is a licensed wildlife rehabili-tator who lives on a farm in Cumming with her husband Buddy (a.k.a. The Goose),

daughter Amelia (a.k.a. Cricket), son Shep and WAY too many animals. Her blog: andapossuminthedishwasher.com.

Winter Blahs

top: Elexis hays offers a treat to Matilda the dog and babette the pig.bottom: babette the pig enjoys a feast after learning how to open kitchen cabinets by herself.

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Local author Claire Cook will be the guest speaker at the Atlanta Authors Speaker Series on Saturday, Jan. 19 at the Roswell Library. The 2 p.m. program is free

and open to the public. Reservations are not required.Cook is a charming, exuberant, sassy woman whose

contemporary women’s fiction books are rollicking fun and full of heart.

Cook wrote her first novel at age 45 in her minivan while parked outside her daughter’s swim practice. At 50, she walked the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere of the adaptation of her second novel, “Must Love Dogs,” starring Diane Lane and John Cusack.

Cook is now the bestselling and award-winning author of nine novels, including “Wallflower in Bloom,” with a 10th novel, “Time Flies,” coming in June.

The Atlanta Authors Speaker Series will be held in the meeting room off the lobby of the Roswell Library, 115 Norcross Street. For more information, see the author’s website, www.clairecook.com, email [email protected], check the Friends of the Roswell Library website, www.forl.net or call 770-640-3075.

“Must Love Dogs” tells the story of life after divorce for Sarah Hurlihy, which consists of juggling her job as a preschool teacher and the demands of her large, interfering Irish-American family. Even Sarah knows she should put the past behind her and take a bold step toward a fresh start, but she’s stuck.

So her bossy big sister takes matters into her own hands and places this personal ad for her: “Voluptuous, sensuous, alluring and fun. Barely 40 DWF seeks special man to share starlit nights. Must Love Dogs.” And the wild ride begins!

In “Wallflower in Bloom,” Deirdre Griffin has a great life; it’s just not her own, She’s the round-the-clock personal assistant and gatekeeper to her charismatic, high-maintenance, New Age guru brother, Tag.

Frustrated with her family and herself while drowning her sorrows in Tag’s expensive vodka, Deirdre decides to use his massive online following to get herself voted on as a last-minute “Dancing with the Stars” replacement. It’ll get her back in shape, mentally and physically. It might even get her a life of her own. Deirdre’s 15 minutes of fame have begun. ■

Claire Cook to speak at Roswell LibraryPart of Atlanta Authors Speaker Series

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While he may not be a North Fulton native, David Rosenberg, 30, has a resolute resume and a

tantalizing temperament. A University of Georgia graduate, Rosenberg lives, works and plays in North Fulton. In software sales for SAP in Alpharetta, Rosenberg’s dapper dynamism and disposition make him the ideal Northside Man.

1. Favorite spot for happy hour: It’s not about the place it’s about the

people. As long as my good friends are

around, I would be happy on a back porch.2. Single or attached?

Single but only looking for serious. I think single sometimes has a negative connotation attached to it.3. Favorite person to follow on twitter:

@fivestardaycafe. They post their menu every day, which is always amazing and it reminds me of enjoying lunch across from the Arch.4. How would you describe your current style, fashion-wise:

Comfortable but stylish. I think it is important to maintain a well groomed appearance (and the same goes for a significant other!) 5. New Years resolution for 2013:

My New Year’s resolution is to be more proactive in bettering myself so next year I don’t need a New Year’s resolution!6. If you could be a celebrity for one day who would it be and why?

Mark Cuban, billionaire, owns a sports franchise, extremely intelligent, admired, respected, among other things. Walking a day in his shoes wouldn’t be so bad!7. Favorite thing about the Northside:

Many of the people that I am closest to are on the Northside and that makes seeing them easier. By far my favorite part of the Northside.8. One word to describe yourself:

Confident9. BCS National Champs: Alabama or Notre Dame?

Alabama, SEC!10. Favorite place for dinner:

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By DEBBiE KEELNorth Fulton hospital Ceo

Every New Year, besides being filled with champagne and fireworks, is full of promises. We call them

resolutions, which would indicate we are resolved to meet them. But we rarely do.

You know the story: I will lose 15 pounds (how about five? Isn’t that enough?), I will be more energy efficient (no, I am NOT going to unplug my bedside phone charger every day because I will forget to plug it back in.), I will not gossip at work (until I tell my friends about Janie dating Paul).

In recent years, I’ve learned a few things about New Year’s Resolutions. Pick one that’s a challenge yet achievable. Start January 1 – no freebies cause you never get back on track. And find someone, either in your family, in public life, even in sports, that has the kind of focus and resolve you want to have.

Most people who know me know about my mixed college football loyalties: Mizzou (because I attended there many years ago), Alabama (because two of my three daughters graduated from there) and LSU (because my middle child graduated from there and I’m a New Orleans native). But I will tell you that there is one person

affiliated with one of these schools whose focus and resultant achievements are unmatched by any others in the sports world. (Don’t be mad, middle child.) That person is Nick Saban, head coach at Alabama.

Forget your personal feelings about the guy. He has a singular focus on execution of every play by every player every game. Don’t look at the scoreboard, just execute perfectly and the score will follow.

As I write this, Alabama is headed for another national championship game. Win or lose against Notre Dame, everyone already knows Nick Saban’s record—three national championships at two SEC schools, among other things. But if you have read his book, seen his halftime interviews, and the longer interviews done by national broadcasters, you know what he believes in more than talent and strength of schedule and training facilities and quality of coaches: Doing the right thing, the right way, every time. It minimizes mistakes and maximizes abilities. This takes tremendous focus from him and those he coaches.

I’m not a coach. And obviously have never played football. But I do lead about 900 employees through a difficult-to-navigate healthcare maze. In terms of their focus, it’s all about patient care, doing the right thing, the right way for

our patients each and every time we do it. When we succeed, as we most often do, we minimize errors (an especially good thing in healthcare) and we maximize our ability to serve our community in the many special ways that North Fulton Hospital does—through trauma services and neurosurgery and cancer and orthopaedics and so on.

In my own life, I try to focus on things like diet and exercise and getting enough sleep every day. Most of the time, I succeed and my outcomes aren’t bad for a grandmother of three. I rise early, eat properly (almost all of the time) and am kind of obsessed with training and swimming. Knock on wood, I hardly ever get sick. Since I resolve to be well, this all works out pretty good for me. Hopefully, that focus on execution works out well for our patients, too. Judging by the community’s loyalty to our hospital, it does.

So if it’s not Nick Saban, or even a sports hero or celebrity, if it’s your Mom or your sixth grade teacher, find someone with the focus that you want and need to keep your resolutions and maybe this time, you will be successful. ■

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give ita whirl


Hot off the heels of the holiday rush and on to the hustle and bustle of making (and hopefully not

breaking) New Year’s resolutions, who has time to revamp and spruce up their nail polish?

Even more so, who has time to sit and wait at the nail salon for hours on end just to leave and have one chip, scrape or scratch off days or even minutes after leaving?

The three-week solution: Gel nail polish. I’ve given it a whirl many times, but now I’m putting it in black-and-white, because this is one trend everyone needs

to try. The Product: Gel nail polish is nail

polish that is UV-cured and soaked off for removal. Applied directly on the nail just like a basic polish, the solution is topped with a clear gel and cultivated with a few minutes under a UV hand-light.

The Promise: Two to three weeks of flawless, elegant and exquisite nail polish – with no chips or mess-ups.

The Results: Three weeks later, the paint is still polished, unblemished, undamaged and unsullied.

The Rating: Three out of four stars. While the nail does grow in just two to three weeks, the polish doesn’t – leaving some natural nail showing around the cuticle. ■

Gel nail polish trend shines in new year

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todo

JANUARY5 Night Hike at Chattahoochee

Nature Center7 – 9 p.m. Join a naturalist on an

outdoor journey to see what happens as the sun goes down and the night comes to life. Hike through the wetlands or woods, visit with a nocturnal animal up close and warm up by the campfire complete with marshmallow roasting. Suitable for all ages. $10 general public and $7 CNC members. Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell.

www.chattnaturecenter.com

“Evening with Mark Twain” at Cumming Playhouse8 p.m. This warmhearted family musical and humorous show will appeal to anyone who loves Mark Twain’s work. The “real” Samuel Clemens will entertain guests musically and depict characters from his popular novels. Cumming Playhouse, 101 School St., Cumming.

www.playhousecumming.com

6 Shen Yun 2012 World Tour ▲2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Shen Yun Performing Arts presents colorful

and exhilarating performances of classical Chinese dance and music with animated backdrops depicting China’s natural beauty. Tickets from $50 to $150. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta.http://www.shenyunperformingarts.org

9 Learn to Play Bridge for Juniors3:30 – 5:30 p.m. Atlanta Junior Bridge teaches juniors ages 10-18 to play

bridge free of charge to help improve math and critical thinking skills. Classes are taught at Ocee Library on Mondays from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m., East Roswell Recreation Center on Wednesdays from 4:30 – 6 p.m. and at the Alpharetta Library on Wednesdays from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.

www.atlantajuniorbridge.org

10 Georgia Ensemble Theatre presents “Swell Party”Through Jan. 27. Smith

Reynolds returns from a New York vacation to his North Carolina estate with a surprise souvenir: a wife who is also a jazz singer and a dozen years older than Smith. The wedding is ruined when the groom turns up dead. As guests try to solve the mystery, it becomes clear that for Southerners, the truth isn’t nearly as important as a good story. Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell.

www.get.org

11 Girls’ Night Out: Thai Cooking Class6 – 9 p.m. Spice things up during a

night out with your girlfriends by learning the unique ingredients and techniques for making fabulous, light and refreshing Thai fare such as hot and sour chicken and lemongrass coconut soup and shrimp curry with jasmine rice. $55 each; $95 per pair. Salud! Cooking School, Harry’s Whole Foods Market, 1180 Upper Hembree Road, Roswell.

http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/alpharetta

Winter Bingo at Roswell Area ParkBring family and friends to play “T’s,” “L’s,” straight bingo, four corners, diagonal, cover and all the others. The event is free, but each person must be registered to attend. Registration for adults includes two bingo cards and one raffle ticket; for children 15 and under, one bingo card and raffle ticket. Concessions available. Prizes awarded to winners. Bill Johnson Community Activity Building at Roswell Area Park, 10495 Woodstock Road, Roswell.

14 Roswell Restaurant Week ▲Through Jan. 22. Enjoy Roswell’s finest fare at exceptional prices

during the first annual Historic Roswell Restaurant Week. Many of the area’s best restaurants will offer a prix-fixe, three-course menu consisting of an appetizer, a main course and a delicious dessert for $15 and $25 per person, excluding alcohol, tax and gratuity.

www.roswellrestaurantweek.com

15 Blue Man Group at Fox TheatreThrough Jan. 20. Avant-garde performance art favorites

The Blue Man Group are on the road again with a unique show filled with unforgettable visual imagery and a unique and quirky score. Tickets: $56 to $236. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St., Atlanta.

www.bluemangrouptour.com

19 “Soups for the Winter Soul” Cooking Class10 a.m. Learn to make hearty

timeless winter soups including tomato bisque, bacon potato corn chowder, Spanish bean and chorizo soup, chicken gumbo and old fashioned soup rolls. $40.Publix Aprons Cooking School, 4305 State Bridge Road, Alpharetta.

www.publix.com/aprons/schools/Alpharetta

Reptile Day at Nature CenterSnakes, snakes and more snakes! Enjoy the Southern Snake Encounter Show at 1 p.m., featuring Jason Clark, star of the Animal Planet series “SnakesKin.” From noon until 4 p.m., the Reptile Wagon will give you an up-close view of live, native reptiles. Create a slinky snake with Camp Kingfisher’s Mr. Tim. Included in general admission, $5 child; $10 adult, $7 students and seniors. CNC members and kids under 2 are free.

www.chattnaturecenter.org

Claire Cook Speaks at Roswell Library ▲2 p.m. Local author Claire Cook will be the guest speaker of the Atlanta Authors Speaker Series at the Roswell Library. Cook’s novel “Must Love Dogs” was made into a Hollywood movie starring Diane Lane and John Cusack. Her latest novel is “Wallflower in Bloom.” Roswell Library’s meeting room, 115 Norcross St., Roswell.

www.forl.net

22 Glorious Arrangements with Grocery Store Flowers10 a.m. Roswell Garden Club

presents demonstrations on how to create beautiful floral arrangements using grocery store flowers. Free and open to the public. Bill Johnson Community Activity Building, Roswell Area Park, 10495 Woodstock Road, Roswell.

www.friendsofspruilloaks.org

Free Adult Self-Defense Workshop12:45 p.m. Revved Up Kids presents a free workshop designed to help adults recognize, avoid and escape dangerous situations and people by teaching simple, intuitive, self-defense techniques that can be used to injure and escape and attacker. The workshop lasts approximately one hour, with 15-30 minutes of skills practice afterward. Advance registration recommended, but not required. Northeast Spruill Oaks Library, 9560 Spruill Road, Johns Creek.

www.revvedupkids.com

23 Barrington Hall Lecture Series6:30 p.m. Joe Kirby, co-author of “Marietta” and “Marietta

Revisited,” speaks on the history of Marietta, Ga., as part of Barrington Hall’s Wednesday Lecture Series. Admission $5 per person; reservations strongly suggested. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the lecture begins at 7 p.m. Email [email protected] for reservations. Barrington Hall, 535 Barrington Drive, Roswell.

25 Library book sale: Northeast Spruill OaksFriday from 1 – 5 p.m.; Saturday

from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Sunday from 2 – 4 p.m. Purchase a wide range of teen, children’s and adult fiction and non-fiction books at this winter sale benefitting the Friends of Northeast Spruill Oaks Library. Northeast Spruill Oaks Library, 9560 Spruill Road, Johns Creek.

www.friendsofspruilloaks.org

High School Art ExhibitionSponsored by Roswell Fine Arts Alliance and Roswell Visual Arts Center, the annual North Fulton High School Art Exhibition and Competition showcases the talent of local high school artists in a variety of 2D and 3D media. For more information, call 770-594-6122. Roswell Visual Arts Center, 10495 Woodstock Road, Roswell.

Looking AheadFEBRUARY

2 Chattahoochee Challenge 10K Race and Fun Run7:30 a.m. Enjoy a 10K run along the

Chattahoochee River in this fast-paced benefit for the Chattahoochee Nature Center. The 10K is an official qualifier for the Peachtree Road Race. Register online at active.com or at any Big Peach Running Company store. Register in advance for a discounted rate of $27 or on-site, race day for $32. Registration for the one-mile Fun Run is $15.

www.chattnaturecenter.org

Fashion Show at Smith Plantation ▲1 p.m. As part of the Roswell Roots Celebration, Vernell Washington will highlight fashions in clothing, hats and accessories that are popular and representative of the African American culture. The show includes models and discussions of fashion as it has evolved from African roots. Archibald Smith Plantation Home, 950 Forrest St., Roswell.

www.archibaldsmithplantation.org

“The Mountain Music and Medicine Show” in Cumming8 p.m. The setting is Dahlonega from Gold Rush days of the early 1800s to the 1950s. Doc Johnson’s traveling Miracle Medicine Show has come to town and set up on the Square in front of Nix’s Store, the social center of town. Folks come from all around to hear Doc’s musical acts and chat about goings-on of the day, mixing local history, culture and humor in the unique Southern Appalachian style. The show will be recorded live and aired later on Georgia Public Radio, WABE 90.1.

9 A Beethoven Romance for Valentine’s Day7:30 p.m. The Ludwig Symphony

Orchestra presents a gala concert featuring renowned cellist Caroline Nocholas performing the Boccherini Cello Concerto, baritone Igor Vieira interpreting arias of Mozart, Wagner and Bizet’s Toreador Song from “Carmen,” and 14-year-old violin prodigy Tracy Du in her debut with the Saint-Saens Violin Concerto No. 3. Adults: $22; seniors: $19; students $12 (under 22).

www.ludwigsymphony.org


www.photosynthesisatlanta.com


www.nfultonhospital.com

Northside Woman January 2013

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