rvw nov dec 2015

A few of the Valley’s favorite holiday traditions

Cool Yuleedition

What women want...this Christmas

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Roanoke Valley Woman | 3

Roanoke Valley Woman916 Roanoke Ave., Roanoke Rapids NC 27870P.O. Box 520, Roanoke Rapids NC 27870

PUBLISHER Titus L. [email protected] 252-410-7065

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Baretta [email protected] 252-410-7042

MANAGING EDITOR Matt [email protected] 252-410-7054

NEWS EDITOR Tia [email protected] 252-410-7056

AD EXECUTIVE Rhonda [email protected] 252-410-7047

DISTRIBUTION252-537-2508

Contributing writersJennifer Gray, Erin Carson and Matt Lindberg

Contributing photographersLes Atkins, Jennifer Gray and Erin Carson

GRAPHIC ARTIST Hope [email protected] 252-410-7049

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Cover... Bonnie Garner Medlin is enjoying teaching her daughter Darci Claire the time ol’ tradition of baking Christmas cookies. Like most youngsters Darci Claire’s favorite part is licking the spoon. Read more about Medlin on page 26.

Cover photograph by Les Atkins

Cover design by Hope Callahan

Dear readers,

When I think about the holiday season, my mind immediately goes to my Noni’s homemade ravioli and meat sauce.

Noni became known among so many for making her delicious homemade pasta and family-favorite meat sauce each Christmas Day. It’s so mouth-watering good, that come dinnertime, you forgot about presents as a kid. Every time the meal was finished, it was hard not to show appreciation to Noni for rolling up her sleeves and cooking away in the kitchen for a majority of Christmas day. But when dinner was complete, she was smiling from ear to ear. She would see every plate was licked clean, with some people trying to get the last few drops of sauce out of the serving dish. Everybody — all 20-plus of us — was happy.

And maybe that’s why homemade ravioli became a Christmas tradition in the Lindberg family, and why now my aunts, uncle and Dad take pride in making it. She didn’t mind all of the hard work if it meant a wonderful meal for her family and seeing everybody so happy.

Being part Italian, nothing beats Noni’s homemade ravioli — NOTHING. I look forward to it each year I’m with the Lindberg family for Christmas, which is why I probably love the holidays so much. Well, that and all the great traditions my family has this time of year thanks to so many great women in my life.

My wife is an excellent baker, so our home is known for some seriously tasty treats this time of year. Among them are peppermint cheesecake, pumpkin bars and various chocolate concoctions.

We also have a tradition of purchasing a new family ornament each year and watching “Christmas Vacation” and “The Polar Express” with hot cocoa on Dec. 24.

My Mom always liked (maybe liked is a strong word) or rather chose to make a feast for everyone on Thanksgiving. Turkey, stuffing, cranberries — the works. Then we would turn on Christmas music and set up our tree.

It just seems like women know how to make the holiday season special for the whole family. You’ll read about what many Roanoke Valley women like to do this time of year if you’re needing inspiration to start new or add to old traditions.

In this “Cool Yule” edition, we will also have a list of great holiday tunes and movies to enjoy with loved ones, as well as some delicious recipes that might come in handy in the kitchen before the year’s end.

Need some gift ideas? You’ll find that in these pages, too, thanks to Staff Writer Erin Carson.

Whatever you like to do or wherever you’ll be this holiday season, the staff of Roanoke Valley Woman Magazine wishes you a joyous time with loved ones.

One last piece of advice: If you’re thinking about making homemade pasta, be sure everybody who’s coming to dinner knows jarred pasta sauce is never an option — NEVER, as my Noni told me once when I was 7 years old.

Matt LindbergManaging editor

From the Editor

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Roanoke Valley women have all kinds of traditions for the holidays. Dianne Rhoades, vice president of Institutional Advancement at Halifax

Community College, gets busy in the kitchen when it comes to the holidays.

“My favorite thing is having Christmas dinner, of course, with the family,” she said. “I have to ask every person about the one thing they like, and make it. All around my kitchen are all of these dishes of food.”She insists no one help her.

“I want everything ready at the same time — I’m a stickler about this,” Rhoades said, laughing. “I want everything ready so when the first person comes in the door, it’s all ready.”

If that person has a gift in hand, that’s OK — but it’s the joy on people’s faces that counts for Rhoades.

“I love presents; you can bring me one anytime,” she said. “But it’s the spirit everyone’s in. Everybody’s happy.”

Rhoades added her favorite ornament, is one her grandson made as a young child out of a glittery section of an egg carton.

“His picture is in the middle of it,” she said. “He checks every year

to see if it’s up.”Julia Meacham, mayor and resident

of Weldon, said she loves spending the holidays with her family.

“I still do the colored lights and the same ornaments I have been using for the last 40-plus years,” she said. “And I still use the ornaments they made in school. My tree is very traditional. It’s not a fancy tree. My family meets

every year. Christmas is for chil-dren, and that makes it for me.”

Sharon Vick, clerk for the Town of Halifax, said she loves the holiday parade there.

“I love the Halifax Christmas Parade; that’s my favorite time of the year,” she said. “I love my ornaments, too. I especially love my sand dollar ones.”

A few of my favorite things

STORY by JENNY GRAY

Self

Dianne RhoaDes JuLia MeaChaM

shaRon viCk

valley women share holiday traditions

“national Lampoon’s Christmas vacation”

Need a good laugh? How about a lot of laughs? Chevy Chase and company bring this family 1989 holi-day picture, which is considered a modern day classic today. It’s the third installment in the “Vacation” film series. This time around, Clark Griswold (Chase) plans

for a big family Christmas that predictably turns into a holiday disaster thanks to obnoxious family guests and a series of unfortunate mishaps. The iconic John Hughes, responsible for many top teen comedies of the 1980s, wrote this Griswold outing. Let’s just say your belly will hurt from all the laughing.


Fun

What to watch this season

Our top 8 holiday films

We all have our favorite holiday traditions, but there’s nothing like snuggling with the family on the couch with your favorite snacks (maybe even some hot cocoa) and watching a classic Christmas tale.

There are plenty of holiday films out there for couples and families to enjoy, as well as those who need something to do on their own. Our top 10 holiday film list boasts movies that will make you laugh and cry, but most importantly, smile, this season.

“it’s a Wonderful Life”

Our list starts with an all-time classic holiday movie. This 1947 family drama tells the story of an angel who helps a compassion-ate but desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would be like if he never existed. The legendary James Stew-art gives a superb performance as protagonist and all-around good guy George Bailey. The film is long as it clocks in at 130 minutes, but it is well worth the time. It’s a phenomenal story that will captivate you from start to finish.

1.

3.“Miracle on 34th street (1994 version)”

We all know the original movie is a classic, but children tend to stay more attentive with color pictures. Besides, the 1994 remake of “Miracle on 34th Street” is excellent in its own right. A little girl and a lawyer are out to prove a man claiming to be Santa Claus is the real thing. There’s love, comedy, family, drama and sentimentality — all the makings of a good holiday picture that can appeal to people of all ages.

STORY by MATT LINDBERG

2.


“home alone”

It has been 25 years since “Home Alone” hit theaters, and yet it remains a favorite of parents and children alike. Macauly Culkin stars as 8-year-old troublemaker Kevin Mc-Callister, who must protect his family’s home from a pair of burglars (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) when he is accidentally left home alone by his family during Christmas vacation. Sure, the plot is unrealistic, but Culkin shines as Kevin.

Plus, watching Pesci and Stern being put through the ringer by an 8-year-old boy is just funny.

“a Christmas story”

If you haven’t seen it, you’ve heard of it. Ralphie has to convince his parents, his teacher and Santa that a Red Ryder B.B. gun is the perfect gift for the 1940s. It’s a great telling-of-age story made for the whole family. It also teaches kids not to think about accepting a dare to stick their tongue on an ice-cold telephone pole in the middle of winter.

“The santa Clause”

Tim Allen stars as Scott Calvin, a toy salesman, divorcee and father who isn’t in to the whole Christmas thing. But when he inadvertently kills Santa on Christmas Eve, he finds himself magically recruited to take his place. He resists at first, but finally accepts the role. But then he’s charged with how he keeps it a secret from his disbe-lieving family.

“The Holiday”

Probably the most romantic, sweet holiday film you’ll find. Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz star as two women troubled with guy problems who swap homes in each other’s countries, where they each meet a guy and fall in love. Jude Law and surprisingly Jack Black give genuinely heartfelt performances to round out a solid cast and wonderful film.

“The Polar Express”

A young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express. During his journey, he learns about friendship, bravery and the spirit of Christmas. Oscar winner Tom Hanks shines as the conductor, though he also pro-vides the voices of Santa Claus, the hero boy and Scrooge, among others.

Yes, it’s an animated film, but the animation is incredible. Overall, it’s a heartfelt film (just like the book) that will leave you wanting more.

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Fun


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Self

Linberg is a Kansas native and a mother of two. When she is not working and spending with family she enjoys baking tasty treats, espeically during the holidays.

What’s your favorite holiday dessert to make?sL: Peppermint cheesecake because it’s refreshing. It’s cheesecake with mint and a chocolate crust — it’s deli-cious.

What’s something you would recommend to someone who doesn’t have much baking experience?sL: Not everything has to be made from scratch. Try doctor-ing up a box of cake mix or adding toppings to brownies.

What’s the easiest thing to bake?sL: Chocolate chip cookies. Everybody has a good choco-late cookie recipe — everyone has their own recipe. It’s amazing how many recipes there are.

What’s a good source for baking advice that one wouldn’t expect?sL: Pinterest. Pinterest has never steered me wrong. It’s a good tool because there are a lot of good recipes in one place and you can find out how popular they are — you get instant reviews.

What’s the best advice you could give someone planning to bake this holiday season?sL: Just have fun with it. I enjoy when people taste my des-serts and they think they taste good. Also, don’t be afraid to get other people, especially children, involved. It makes it more fun, and kids can do quite a bit to help in the kitchen.

Q/ASarah Lindberg

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Style

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Holiday fashion finds for all the ladies on your list


Style

• Infinity scarf and many more to choose from in a variety of colors.

• Anthony Alexander jewelry, hand-made in Reidsville, NC. Every piece is unique.


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• Gorgeous jacket by WEAVZ paired with chocolate slacks

• One of the only places in town to get a fashionable hat. Many styles and colors to choose from.


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Audio delight for the season10 songs to enjoy during the holidays

Nothing puts us in a festive mood more than holiday music. Looking for some good songs to enjoy while baking cookies,

setting up the tree or to have playing in the background when guests are over at the house? Give our holiday playlist a whirl as it’s full of tunes that are sure to make your days and nights a little brighter:

1. “i’ll Be home For Christmas” by Michael Bublé

Sure, we all know Bing Crosby’s version of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” but set the mood with your significant other with the blue-eyed soul/jazz voice of Bublé. His piano-driven version of the holiday classic makes listeners want to cozy up by the fire with a cup of coffee or hot cocoa.

2. “Last Christmas” by Wham!British pop duo Wham! scored a hit in 1984

with its cover of “Last Christmas,” originally writ-ten and produced by George Michael. The tune is about a failed relationship and makes only vague references to Dec. 25, but the smooth vocals and festive composition is delightful.

3. “santa Claus is Coming To Town” by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

Feel like rocking out this winter? Springsteen & The E Street Band famously performed the song live in 1975, and since then, it has dominated holiday radio stations. The E Street Band’s playing is excellent, and Springsteen sings with so much passion that you almost start believing Santa is truly coming to town.

4. “all i Want For Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey

Carey wrote and produced the holiday clas-sic in 1994, and since then, it has remained a favorite among music fans of all kinds. The song’s lyrics declare the narrator doesn’t care about Christmas presents or lights, and only wants to spend the holiday with her significant other.

The uptempo song is the ultimate holiday soundtrack as it features numerous bell chimes and heavy back-up vocals, as well as the use of synthesizers. It infuses R&B, pop, gospel, dance-pop into one, and Carey’s signature high vocals are flawless.

5. “it’s Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas” by Bing Crosby

Crosby recorded the famous tune in 1951, and it shouldn’t be surprising that it’s widely revered as a classic. His vocals are one of a kind.

6. “Wonderful Christmastime” by Paul McCartney As one-fourth of The Beatles, McCartney is

a legend known for so many classic songs. But in 1979, he released a solo gem in “Wonder-ful Christmastime” that has become a staple around the world this time of year. It’s not one of the iconic rocker’s greatest compositions, however, it makes all listeners cheery.

7. “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” by Gene AutryWe all know the words and story, but no-

body tells the tale of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” better than Autry. Known for bring-ing “Cowboy” to radio, Autry brought a certain western charm to the holiday classic. “Ru-dolph” remains his biggest holiday hit, but he did also gain popularity thanks to “Here Comes

Santa Claus” and “Frosty the Snowman.”

8. “Blue Christmas by Elvis PresleyA tale of unrequited love during the holidays

and a longstanding Christmas staple, nobody did the song justice quite like Presley. The song is considered a “rock-and-roll holiday classic,” but it oozes with country flavor.

9. “underneath the Tree” by Kelly ClarksonKnown for power pop rockers and country

jams, Clarkson created a modern-day holi-day classic with “Underneath the Tree.” The Christmas-themed song sings of gratitude for companionship during the holiday season the only things the narrator needs underneath her tree.

10. “The Christmas song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)”

Want to have a good time with those who are youthful in your family? Try The Chipmunks. Sure, the high-pitched chipmunk voices can grow tiring after a while, but the singing is in tune and the track is quite humorous. More importantly, Alvin, Simon and Theodore are sure to bring a smile to children’s faces.

Fun

STORY by MATT LINDBERG


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MaTeRiaLs:– A wreath ring (any size and mate-

rial you like)– Green florist wire– Various types of foliage, flowers

and berries

noTe: Fragile plants won’t work too well here, look for hardy wooded plants and sticks that will last a while without water. Also, include some foliage with more volume and leaves helps to fill out areas and hides the wire better.

step 1.Cut your foliage into manageable

pieces.

step 2.Wind a loop of wire around the

ring edge and secure. Keep the wire attached to the roll, it’s a handy way to continuously pass the wire around the wreath.

how to make a fresh green Christmas wreath

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step 3.Take one or two of your foliage

pieces and lay them over the wire. Bring the wire around the ring and over the foliage stems to keep them in place. Keep the wire fairly tight so they don’t shift around.

step 4.Always work in the same direction.

Place the next piece overlapping the bottoms of the last so as to cover the wire. Bring a loop of wire around again and secure tightly.

step 5.Continue this way (not forgetting to

also cover the inside and outside edges as well) until you reach the start again. Finish off by hiding the stems of your final foliage pieces under the tops of the first pieces you put down. Care-fully wind the wire around a final time, keeping it hidden as much as possible under foliage. Once you’re sure it’s all secure, cut the wire and secure the end under the wreath.

step 6.Now you can look at your wreath

overall and gently maneuver pieces that seem out of place, or even add new pieces if you think it needs it.

That’s it! You can add a ribbon later if you want to, or a hook of wire at the back for hanging. Most of all, just enjoy the process and have fun with it!

Style


Self

What women want this holiday seasonKnowing what to buy for friends, family and significant others during the holiday season can be tough, but we’ve got some jumping-off points.

From the hot items to the more thoughtful and less conventional, our Top 10 list has something for every woman.

Rose Gold iPhone, $649+

Although the latest iPhone, the 6s, dropped in September, it is still ex-pected to be a hot gift this holiday season. It features a better camera, faster operating system and 3D Touch, which is a pres-sure-sensitive mechanism inside the phone that of-fers more ways of interact-ing with the device. Plus, it comes “Pretty in Pink” (allegedly Rose Gold), which is perfect for the girlie-girl on your list.

Chuck Taylor ii by Converse, $70-75The iconic Chuck Taylor All-Star shoe by Converse has

gone unchanged for nearly 100 years, but this year the company launched the Chuck Taylor II, which is supposed to retain the original exterior design but add com-

fort and support. The new versions are a little

pricier than the originals, but are easier on the soles of feet than their tried and true predecessor. HiTops start at

$75 on converse.com, and Low Tops start at $70.

a tea gift set, $19.99-69.99With an assorted tea gift set, the lady in your life can snuggle

up with calming hot tea to end a long day or wake up with a bold tea to start

the morning off on the right foot. Several companies offer affordable gift sets that

smell good and look even better. Bed Bath and Beyond has a Primula set for $19.99 that includes a glass mug, tea ball infuser and 10 assorted teas. Teavana has a pricier gift set on its website for $69.99 that makes more than 60 cups of tea and comes in a classy copper box.

Story by Erin Carson


Selfa record player and thoughtful vinyl picks, prices varyVinyl has had quite the comeback in recent years, hitting a high in 2014 with more than 9.2 million

copies sold. Audiophiles love the organic, warm sound of analog records over digital music, and there is something to be said about dedicating time to listening to an entire album you have to get up and turn over, versus hitting shuffle on an iPod while you do something else. Record players, or turntables can be found in a variety of places, from pawn shops and record stores to bookstores like Barnes and Noble and retailer Urban Outfitters. A record player and a few thoughtful albums to start off someone’s collection can go a long way this season.

a monthly wine subscription, $55-125The gift of a subscription is the gift that keeps giving year round. There are several companies

that do a monthly wine club, but one nearby company in Virginia gets the recommendation for this list. Wisdom Oak Winery in North Garden, Va., offers quarterly shipments of their wine in March, June, September and December. They have two wine club options. The Barrel Club ranges between $55-75 for the year and includes quarterly shipments of three bottles each, as well as member perks like free wine tastings, a dinner series and a jazz festival. The Cellar Club ranges between $100-125 and includes quarterly shipments of four to six bottles, as well as expanded member’s only perks.

a cookbook and box of spicesSpur some cooking this holiday season with an easy-to-follow cookbook and a box of spices the person

may need to try the new recipes. Many celebrity chefs put out new cookbooks around holiday time with simple but tasty dishes fans can take on. The gift of the spices may give the person the extra nudge they need to get started.

a Crockpot, as low as $14With busy schedules that can include anything from household duties to running companies, there are

plenty of busy ladies in the Roanoke Valley. The endless “set it and forget it” dinner options that a Crockpot can provide make it a great gift option any time of year. There are even specialty Crockpot cookbooks to help those who haven’t dabbled in the art of slow cooking get started. You can get a small four-quart Crock-pot for as low as $14 at Walmart.

a sentimental coupon book, essentially freeThis isn’t your typical coupon book with 15 percent off from your favorite clothing store. A homemade

sentimental coupon book can offer things like “two hours of me-time with no distractions” or “a day without chores” or “an impromptu picnic for two” that a loved one can cash in at any time. With all of the high-priced items that catch our eyes during the holidays, a thoughtful gift that offers the things money can’t buy can be a great stocking stuffer or add balance to the sometimes over-commercialized season. A little extra time spent designing and printing a top-notch booklet can take this from the kinder-garten construction paper project it used to be to a next level crowd-pleaser gift.


a plushy robe and bath salts, prices vary

Everyone needs a little relaxation from time to time, but it’s easy to forget to make time for ourselves. The gift of comfort and relaxation can go a long way. Nice plushy robes can be

found at various retailers in the area and vary in price. Bath gift sets are popular around the holidays and can be found in department stores like JC Penney or specialty shops like Bath and Body Works.

Diamonds, ‘cause they’re a girl’s best friend’

This one is pretty self-explanatory. While diamonds may not be in all of our price ranges, if you can swing it, you can’t go wrong with a diamond as a gift. Add some sparkle under the tree this year, and earn extra points if it comes in a little blue box.

Self


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Food

inGReDienTs:

1 roll Pillsbury™ refrigerated sugar cookies 3 tablespoons unsweetened baking cocoa1 cup marshmallow creme (from 7-oz jar)1/3 cup crushed peppermint candies

DiReCTions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In medium bowl, break apart cookie dough. Knead in baking cocoa until thoroughly combined.

Shape dough into 20 (1 1/2-inch) balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheets, and press down slightly with fingers. Bake 10 to 13 minutes or until centers of cookies are set; cool 2 minutes on pans. Transfer to cooling racks to cool completely, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, with spatula sprayed with cooking spray, transfer marshmallow creme to microwavable cup sprayed with cooking spray. Microwave uncovered on medium (50 percent) 60 to 90 seconds or until melted. Cool slightly, then transfer to resealable food-storage plastic bag.

Cut 1/8 inch from 1 corner of bag, then drizzle cookies with marsh-mallow creme, and sprinkle with crushed peppermint candies. Refrig-erate at least 30 minutes but no longer than 12 hours before serving.

Peppermint Hot Cocoa Cookies


bonnie garner MedlinRoanoke Rapids resident Bonnie Garner Medlin is the owner and dance instructor at Ms. Bonnie’s School of Dance in Roanoke Rapids, 501 E. 10th Street. It has been open for about six years. She said she started teaching dance in sixth grade but decided to finally pursue her dream of opening a dance studio after the death of a friend.

One Last Thing

I know you love dance, what is it about using the movement of the body to create art that you love so much?I think it’s that we always glorify God through dance. We give him the glory for it.

What do you love most about wintertime and the holiday season?I love being able to spend time with family, quality time, and also just celebrating Christ.

What’s your best Christmas memory?That’s a tough one because Christmas is my favorite time of year. I’d say last Christmas because it was my daughter’s first time being old enough to unwrap presents and see the excitement of Christmas.

Are you an early holiday shopper or a late shopper?Early. I’ve already started (in October). I’m usually completely finished by Dec. 1.

What’s your go-to seasonal drink?I don’t really have one. I mostly drink water or milk.

What’s the best way to spend a cold evening in the Roanoke Valley?Honestly, for me, watching a movie at home with my family. We just cuddle up with some blankets and watch Christmas movies.

Reported by Erin Carson

rvw nov dec 2015

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