Expert advice for parents on how to tell the difference and, most importantly, how to react.

It’s not uncommon for a child to complain about a “mean” classmate from time to time. But for some parents, the abuse or attacks at their child’s school seem relentless and could be categorized as bullying.

As explained on StopBullying.gov, bullying affects everyone—the bullies, their targets and those who witness it—and is linked to many negative outcomes on mental health.

To gain insight on bullying and what parents should know, we sat down with Linda Grubba, MEd., SB-RPT, an adjunct professor of counseling at University of Lynchburg. She spent 37 years in education, 27 of those years as a school counselor.

First, how would you define bullying?

I’m glad you asked that. I think right now we have some misconceptions about bullying because there is so much attention paid to it. There should be attention paid to it, but it has almost gone to an extreme. If some parents hear that another child was unkind to their child, they think that is bullying. Bullying is more complicated and has three major components: it is a repeated pattern of behavior, an intent to cause harm (either physical or emotional), and there is a clear unbalance of power where one of the individuals doesn’t feel like they can defend themselves.

If a parent suspects their child is being bullied at school, what should they do?

Parents should first ask the child some questions such as: “How did you handle this?” or “Have you told anybody?” You should get a feeling right away about whether the child feels powerless. Also, look at how often the child talks about it. If your child is coming home every day for a number of days talking about this same other child, or situation, then you might have a bullying problem.

What should parents not say to their children?

“Just ignore it” is one thing I would avoid. Or, “They are all just jealous of you.” Not always! In some cases that might be accurate but sometimes it’s not. I had the parent who told their child to, “draw blood” and punch the other child. That’s not a good idea.

What’s the next step?

Ask your child, “Have you talked to your teacher or your counselor?” Help empower the child to take the first steps to solve the problem. We can’t always be with our children so we have to teach them how to ask for help. We don’t want them suffering in silence.

If a child sees a counselor, what can they expect?

School counselors are trained at assisting children to develop a variety of coping skills. They will meet with the child, assess the situation, possibly do some investigating, and formulate a plan of action. The purpose will always be to help the targeted child feel safe and have the situation come to a positive resolution.

What if that doesn’t seem to be enough?

The next step is for the parent to talk to the school. Parents can be great partners in problem solving; they bring an additional perspective. The school is in a prime position to do some investigating, observing and intervention. I remember when I was a counselor going out to the playground to watch certain students or sitting in the cafeteria to do the same. We want all children to be functioning at their best.

Some parents might wonder if calling the school means they are intervening too much? Being one of those “helicopter moms”?

Calling the school doesn’t mean you are filing a huge complaint. When you call the school, you don’t have to be angry and demanding. Just start small and try to get a handle on what is going on.

How has bullying become a bigger problem in recent years?

I think the area that is the most challenging at the moment is social media because of the lack of control. There is not that face to face accountability. People say horrible things to each other.

Even adults do!

Oh goodness, yes. We have a lot of adults who are engaging in bullying on social media. Then our children model that behavior—on social media and in real life.

Social media has definitely changed the dynamics. It used to be back in the day kids got a chance to go home and regroup.

Exactly. Our homes used to be the place where you got away from those stressors and got to refuel. But now, in just a split second, “There is another message on my phone.” They get so caught up in it. I’m not advocating that parents get rid of their child’s smartphones. But I think we really have to look at how they are being utilized and do we need more limits and controls? I don’t think kids necessarily have the judgment needed to navigate some of these social media platforms.

Looking at bullying in terms of mental health, what is the biggest concern for children who are dealing with it at school or online?

Bullying erodes the child’s confidence. So you want to intervene as soon as
you can with the school. We also need to help our children learn assertion skills.
If left unattended, it may lead to academic issues, school avoidance and more serious mental health concerns such as depression.

Assertion doesn’t come naturally for some kids, right?

Right. I could walk into a classroom and almost identify a student that would be a target. Some parents think aggression is assertion. And it’s not. Assertion is the ability to walk confidently and look at people when we speak, even if we are nervous on the inside.

What about the kids who are saying the mean things? There are concerns about their mental health, too.

When you label a child a bully, that’s such a negative label to carry. Bullying is something that many children often “try on” at different times of their life. We have to help them understand that’s not an appropriate way to get their needs met. We need to help the child who doesn’t have good assertion skills. We always need to help children who are using their power in a negative way learn how to get their needs met in a more positive way.

Bullying By the Numbers

28% of U.S. students in grades 6–12 have experienced bullying.

Approximately 30% of young people have admitted to bullying others in surveys.

70.6% of young people say they have seen bullying in their schools.

9% of students in grades 6–12 have experienced cyberbullying.

In one large study, about 49% of children in grades 4–12 reported being bullied by other students at school at least once during the past month, whereas 30.8% reported bullying others during that time.

When bystanders intervene, bullying stops within 10 seconds 57% of the time.

Source: Numbers found in surveys and studies compiled by StopBullying.gov.

By Sam St. John

According to the American Chiropractic Association, there are 77,000 chiropractors in the United States treating an estimated 35 million Americans every year—proof of the popularity of this health care profession.

According to Linda Brown, owner of Brown Chiropractic and Wellness Center, chiropractic care is “a way of looking at the human body as a whole. It’s based on the idea that the body is self-sustaining and self-healing.”

Chiropractors don’t just adjust your neck and back. They are also utilizing new forms of technology to help patients in other ways. At Brown Chiropractic, two of those forms of technology include thermography and pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) treatments.

Thermography

Thermography or Medical Infrared Imaging uses a heat sensitive camera that detects areas of increased heat, which indicates inflammation and either increased or decreased metabolic activity.

The infrared camera demonstrates different areas of temperature variations. These variations, when evaluated by trained radiologists, can be used to follow breast health in both women and men. Other uses of this technology include imaging of the carotids (arteries that connect the heart to the brain), sinus cavities, thyroid glands and the spinal column.

If the spinal vertebrae are not moving correctly, the nervous, circulatory and immune systems can be impacted. This may cause less than optimal functioning throughout the entire body. This can often be seen as increased heat in the spinal segments. Chiropractors can use this information to create a specific care plan for the patient and monitor improvements.

All thermograms are read by Jeanne Stryker, MD, DABR for continuity of care.

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Treatments

With PEMF treatments, safe magnetic fields are used to “stimulate healing at the cellular level.” This, according to Brown, decreases pain and inflammation while improving mobility and an overall feeling of well-being.

“If our tissues, muscles or facial movements are restricted, it can cause interference with the electrical impulses moving through them. Pain and disease are not the initial cause but can be key indicators of nerve interference,” she says.

The treatments are considered to be a type of cellular exercise which gives the cells power to increase circulation, expel cellular waste, absorb nutrients and reduce pain by rebalancing the cell’s electrical charge. Patients find that they sleep better, have less pain and experience an overall feeling of well being. Other benefits include reduction in inflammation, enhanced tissue healing, bone strengthening and stress reduction.

Disease manifests when impaired nutrient flow and waste accumulation inhibits the cells natural repair cycle. Restoring these elements is the key to the overall health of your body.

If you are feeling pain in your joints, suffering from headaches or always tired, Brown suggests giving them a call for a consultation. Their newest forms of technology could identify problem areas and point you down a path where healing can begin.

“We will locate subluxations and reduce or correct them through a series of gentle chiropractic adjustments specifically designed to correct the vertebral subluxations in your spine,” Brown says. “Reestablishing structural integrity is the foundation of health. Eighty percent of all conditions improve when the structure of the body is properly reestablished to allow a free flow of vital energy.”

Learn more at www.LindaBrowndc.com.

WORDS & PHOTOS BY SUSAN TIMMONS

I take the gamble. Sometimes I win; sometimes I lose. But I never call it a real loss if the gamble is to plant amaryllis and paperwhite narcissus bulbs as potted houseplants and expect forced peak bloom precisely in time for a holiday party, Christmas Day, or a January Sunday display at church. This is the word of experience from years of trial and error with my Chancel Guild partner and friend, Nancy Brockman.

The good news is that these bulbs will inevitably give you the gorgeous display you seek. The not-so-good news is that they sometimes bloom earlier than expected per commercial instructions or take their merry ole time and decide to show off two weeks or more later. If you seek a surer calendar bet, you can buy these beauties locally at the last minute already (or almost) in full, glorious bloom for your special occasion. Plus, a good news bonus is that if you buy quality stock and give them proper care, the blooms will continue to bring joy for many weeks.

It’s fun to place a group of paperwhite bulbs in a pot of stones and water and watch nature progress from shoots to buds to full blooms. Their pungent aroma isn’t for everyone, but paperwhites, as well as amaryllis blooms, are indeed glorious! They don’t as obviously shout “Holiday Houseplant” as the more popular and always showy poinsettias with colorful bracts (not blooms, but modified leaves) that are seasonally for sale in grocery, big box, and other stores. Savvy marketers know poinsettias will bring in the bucks.

I’m not disparaging poinsettias, mind you. This species, indigenous to our neighboring Mexico, was named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States minister to Mexico, who introduced the plant to the U.S. in 1825. It has since become the bread-and-butter of colorful, reliable holiday houseplants.

I can’t recall a Christmas when I didn’t enjoy poinsettias enlivening my living room and other spots in my house that beg for holiday cheer. I’m still partial to poinsettias with old-fashioned red or white bracts but occasionally switch to pink, variegated, or other newer hybrids just for the sake of variety. And I do place the plastic store pots inside slightly larger drip-proof decorative pots (saved year-to-year just for this purpose) since I’m not partial to the look of their ubiquitous foil wrappers that sometimes spring a leak that could result in water damage to tables, rugs, and floors.

And I also like—and once had—an old-time holiday blooming houseplant favorite, Christmas cactus (which can also toy with the calendar and decide to bloom at Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter). With so many varieties of beautiful colorful hothouse plants (blooming and foliage) readily available year-round these days, any variety in colors to complement your holiday décor and preferences is a great choice for festive holidays and, with proper care, can give weeks, months, or even years of houseplant pleasure beyond the holidays.

Reblooming

Most blooming houseplants from nurseries, big box and grocery stores, as well as other sources, come with instructions for care that vary according to the plant. I’ve found that many, such as inexpensive poinsettias, are delightful in their extended showy season, but typically aren’t worth the trouble to save and attempt to achieve their original beauty in subsequent seasons. There are exceptions, of course, and I once saw a magnificent old indoor poinsettia plant in the window of a dry-cleaning shop in our climate zone that could hold its own with those grown along roadsides in Mexico.

The lovely amaryllis (native to the Western Cape region of South Africa) is the one holiday blooming houseplant that friends most frequently inquire about reblooming techniques. When I lived on the farm, I simply planted spent holiday potted amaryllis bulbs directly in the ground in an outside garden with a very protected south-facing microclimate, and they rebloomed naturally in springtime of the following year and thereafter.

However, to keep your bulbs as houseplants, cut the bloom stalks within an inch of the bulbs after the flowers have faded, place in sunlight, and continue to water and fertilize so the leaves continue to grow and new leaves form. In springtime, after the last frost, place potted bulbs outdoors in a protected place, acclimating them gradually to direct sun, and move them back indoors in the fall before first frost. If moving them outdoors isn’t an option, give them lots of sunlight and good drainage indoors.

Interestingly, these are essentially the same reblooming techniques I used for my potted orchid collection, which topped 70 at one point. (Warning: orchids can become addictive, as I wrote in the January/February 2016 issue of Lynchburg Living.) Moving orchids outside to my screened back porch during summer and bringing them back inside just before fall’s first frost gave them a wide daily temperature range that set bloom spikes. Then, they’d begin blooming in January (but usually not in time for Christmas), with blooms lasting for months or longer as an antidote to winter doldrums once holiday décor has been packed away. FYI—Don’t try planting orchids outside in your garden. They’ll be goners with the first frost.

If you choose not to attempt reblooming, leftover poinsettias and other lingering and increasingly leggy holiday bloomers can be clustered with other houseplants in a window or sunroom grouping that allows enjoyment of lingering blooms but camouflages gangly stems.

In addition to orchids, a whole host of other blooming houseplants can serve as great mood enhancers during gray winter months, and there are options to fit every color scheme and space opportunity or constraint. Just remember that they need light to bloom, so windows or good grow lights are necessary if you want long term blooming pleasure. They may also have humidity needs that create requirements a bit tougher to meet in our homes unless you’re willing to mist regularly, run a humidifier, or place particularly needy plants near the kitchen sink or shower.

Why Bring Plants Indoors?

Indoor flowering plants are traced back thousands of years. History records flowerpots and other evidence of houseplants back to the Minoans on the island of Crete, Egyptians, and Indians. Romans even devised heated precursors to modern greenhouses to grow plants out of season or with different climate needs for indoor pleasures. Thus, humans became hooked on plants that required indoor care to thrive.

The Victorian 19th century solidified the passion for humans to enjoy plants from all parts of the world, made possible by glass houses, most splendidly exemplified by those at Kew Gardens in London. Thanks to these innovations, worldwide plant exchange offered the enticement of gorgeous exotic plants to those who had never known such gifts of nature existed. And, of course, being who and what we are, over time humans wanted these enticing plants in their own homes.

Houseplants became both status symbols and vehicles to satisfy our need for nature, gardening, and aesthetic beauty when we do not have available outdoor land, the climate to support plants we wish to grow, or the time, energy, or other resources for gardening. A collection of African violets (what lover of these sweeties can have just one?) or a single short-term cyclamen on a coffee table when company comes can bring joy in the form of beauty, ambiance, and serenity to our homes and lives.

They’re also great design and decorator tools for creating focal points in a room, filling gaps in décor, and sectioning or screening spaces. Plants are typically mobile and versatile in that you can move them away from window light for days or even weeks without harm for a special party or other purpose. Tip: Unless you have strong muscled help to do the heavy lifting, wheeled bases for large and/or heavy plants are necessary for those you wish to move around.

Plants in our indoor environments contribute to good health through the exchange of carbon dioxide exhaled from humans and oxygen emitted from plants as a waste product of photosynthesis, enhancing the oxygen availability for us humans. Studies have shown that plants in our indoor spaces also have a positive effect on our psychological well-being.

Flowers Aren’t the Whole Story

While flashy flowering plants grab our eye, foliage houseplants can give them a run for their money. They can climb, cascade, sport many leaf shapes and textures in endless shades of green and other sunlight-enhanced colors; and they can be combined in interesting groupings. Many houseplant aficionados start off with simple, tough, fairly foolproof houseplants like ficus tree, philodendron, peace lily, schefflera, spider or snake plant, and others that, within reason, tolerate a great deal of neglect or over-solicitude. Our success with these “work horse houseplants” emboldens us to try something a bit more challenging or requiring more nuanced care.

Many decades ago, my success with both a ficus tree and schefflera astounded me! I followed advice about medium light and not overwatering, and they steadily grew strong and healthy—and outgrew my home before I learned pruning techniques to keep them in check. So, I gifted them to my spacious, high-ceilinged office, where they continued to thrive.

I’ve certainly had my houseplant failures, such as a Norfolk Island pine that seemed to pine away despite my best efforts. Yet long-term successes that still amaze me include a huge decades-old jade plant and a ming aurelia that’s been under my care for more than 40 years. It’s now at least 7 feet tall with gnarly and twisted woody stems holding clumps of lacy leaves that give it the demeaner of an ancient bonsai. And it actually is a bonsai of sorts since it’s totally root bound, having never been re-potted in all this time. It’s a classic example of benign neglect working better than excessive attention, especially over-watering; and it looks way cool and artsy—like something out of a Chinese painting. (Hope I didn’t just jinx it!)

Care and Nurture

Now that I’ve confessed that I don’t always follow the rules, I’ll share a bit about the “rules” on potting houseplants. First, the pot must fit the size of the plant and its root ball with space to grow and support the plant. And it must drain unless you have such close communion with your plant that you’re able to monitor the moisture and let it dry out sufficiently between watering so roots don’t rot. My rule of thumb is to let houseplants dry out until they start to look slightly stressed before watering again. Knowing that magic time is a matter of observation and practice. To make room for normal growth patterns, the plants should be repotted when needed. Again, knowing when is learned by trial and error.

The potting medium should be suited to the plant. Many do well in commercial potting soil, while others, such as succulents need a sandier or more porous medium to facilitate drainage. And orchid roots need bark nuggets or another medium that offers air spaces to avoid over-saturation and root rot, which will bring on sure death of the plant.

Many foliage houseplants, such as philodendron and peace lily, will tolerate low light if window space is not available. Just remember if you use artificial light that they do need alternating times of light and darkness, as they would find in nature.

With knowledge and sensitivity to your houseplants, you too can be a “Plant Whisperer” and develop an innate sense of whether to water more or less. Move them closer to or farther from light. Repot or not.

One of the joys of houseplants is propagating and sharing them. Most of my houseplants have come as gifts from family and friends through division, slips, or other means of propagation. I’ve bought very few. Slips from one prolific lipstick plant are now vibrant houseplants for an entire group of my friends. My friend Robert Roberts told me a touching story about his grown daughter recently giving him a spider plant that she propagated from his long-deceased mother’s original plant. Most of my friends have stories of plants handed down from generation to generation.

I gave my son Reid a few orchids and cuttings from succulents that hadn’t rebloomed for me in the past couple of years. And they are now blooming for him in his house on the Chesapeake Bay! I’m always thrilled at seeing photos of his happy plants, and as my houseplant success diminishes, his grows. It makes my heart sing. You too can grow foliage plants that become interesting members of your family with lifespans that could even exceed your own.

The sweet and savory creations at Cinn City are turning heads (and taste buds.)

By Rachel Dalton | Photos By Ashlee Glen

Lemony Snicket may have said it best in A Series of Unfortunate Events: “Anyone who gives you a cinnamon roll fresh out of the oven is a friend for life.”

If that’s truly the case, then we all have lifelong friends at cinnamon roll and beignet shop Cinn City, one of Downtown Lynchburg’s newest additions.

Co-owner Alex Richardson, who has a long-standing history on the Lynchburg restaurant scene, describes Cinn City as “a happy little place” where he is laser-focused on the quality of ingredients as well as the customer service provided to all who enter.

Richardson has a passion for all things local, organic and sustainable. He loves working with area farmers and producers within the community and, with that in mind, the concept at Cinn City is simple. “A soft, sweet yeast dough bread whether baked or fried is a great starting point that you can do so much with,” he explains.

Inspired by his travels to cafés and bakeries all over, he wanted to take the concept a step further here on his home turf. “The best way to describe Cinn City is as a Quick Serve Bakery cafe set up for you to get a hand rolled bun, sweet or savory, right out of the oven and build your own custom masterpiece from a wide array of frostings, spreads, sauces, toppings, fresh fruit compotes and veggie blends,” he says.

The combinations are endless, even more so this holiday season. But don’t feel as though you have to pick something wild to get the full experience. On a recent visit, I kept it simple and had a made-to-order, steaming hot cinnamon roll covered with traditional cream cheese frosting—it was the best cinnamon roll I have ever had.

Don’t miss the opportunity to try the rolled out, hand-cut, flash fried, powder sugar dusted beignets while you’re there. Add a dipping sauce of your choice. I added two (chocolate and raspberry) and had no regrets.

If you’re craving something for lunch or don’t have much of sweet tooth, order a savory bun that’s made with the same scratch-made dough as the cinnamon rolls but is filled with fresh garlic, olive oil and herbs. These serve as the perfect vehicle for Boursin cream cheese, gourmet sauces, sautéed veggies or a variety of meats.

Enjoy your delights with fresh ground fair trade coffee, espresso drinks, sodas, juice, or even Virginia craft beer and wine. There are gluten-free and vegan options available, weekly and holiday specials, ice cream and specialty desserts. They also offer large to-go orders so you can be the office hero with your delivery of rolls and beignets.

7 Ways to Cope When Life Gets Overwhelming

School is in full swing. The busy holiday season is around the corner with its gift lists and get-togethers. It can be hard to find time to slow down—especially for women. In fact, since 2007, the American Psychological Association’s annual Stress in America survey has found that women consistently report higher levels of stress than men.

According to Lynn Bufka, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist and Associate Executive Director for Practice Research and Policy with the American Psychological Association, here are seven stress-relieving suggestions with women in mind.

1. Track your stressors. Use a journal to identify which situations create the most stress and how you respond to them. Taking notes can help you find patterns among your stressors and your reactions to them so that you can develop a management plan.

2. Set limits. List the projects and commitments that are making you feel overwhelmed. Identify which commitments are priorities and cut back on anything nonessential.

3. Tap into your support system. Reach out to family or friends. Your friends or family members may have tackled similar challenges and have useful ideas and perspectives.

4. Make one health-related commitment. Do what you can to boost your health so that you have the energy and strength to tackle the challenges you are facing. One small step, like cutting back on excessive snacking, can have a positive effect.

5. Manage your devices. People who report constantly checking email or social media typically report more stress. Give yourself a break over the weekend and in the evenings. Put your phone to bed before you go to bed.

6. Enhance your sleep quality. Women who are chronically stressed often suffer from lack of adequate sleep and, in some cases, stress-induced insomnia. Begin winding down an hour or two before you go to sleep and engage in calming activities such as listening to relaxing music.

7. Seek additional help. If you continue to feel overwhelmed or are having trouble getting through your daily routine, seek help from a licensed mental health professional, such as a psychologist.

Source: www.womenshealth.gov/blog/7-ways-manage-stress

Small batch distilleries are more than just a flash in the pan. Bourbon has an especially rich history in the state.

According to the Virginia Distillers Association, Virginia became the birthplace of American Spirits when colonist George Thorpe distilled the first batch of whiskey made from corn in 1620. This first batch became the ancestor of all corn-made moonshine and bourbon. Roughly 180 years later, our Founding Father, George Washington, began commercial distilling using crops from his Mount Vernon estate. At the time, it was the largest whiskey distillery in the country, churning out almost 11,000 gallons of distilled spirits per year.

Today, Virginia is still a thriving area for craft spirits, with more than 50 small batch distilleries in operation, creating premium distillations ranging from gin, rum and vodka to whiskey and bourbon. In honor of Elijah Craig, a Baptist preacher from Orange County—who is often credited with creating the first bourbon by aging whiskey in charred oak barrels, thus giving it a unique color and flavor—here’s a toast to bourbon and the many ways you can enjoy it.

Your favorite Virginia bourbon can be enjoyed year-round. In its simplest form, you can sip it straight or on the rocks. When the weather is warm, you can mix it with cola or ginger ale for a refreshing imbibe, or it can serve as the base for more complex cocktails such as a Mint Julep, Old Fashioned, Whiskey Sour, Manhattan or in a variety of punches. Some diehard fans have been also known to drop a shot of bourbon (shot glass and all) into a mug of beer creating what has been called a Depth Charge or Boilermaker.

During the cooler months, a little bourbon mixed with honey and hot water makes a simple Hot Toddy that some claim is remarkable for curing colds and coughs. A little shot of bourbon in your holiday egg nog or hot chocolate is also good for whatever ails you.

Warm or cold out, here are a couple of recipes we think you may enjoy:

Tom and Jerry Batter

Ingredients

12 eggs (separated)
1 pound butter (room temperature)
3 pounds confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon allspice

Method

Beat chilled egg whites until stiff peaks form. In a separate bowl, beat egg yolks to soft peaks. In a third, large bowl, beat the butter and confectioners’ sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks and vanilla to the butter mixture and mix. Stir in the nutmeg, cloves, allspice and egg whites and mix until fully blended.

Chill batter until ready for use.

To make a Tom and Jerry, add a heaping spoonful of batter to a mug, add boiling hot water and a shot of bourbon. Stir and sprinkle the top with fresh nutmeg.

Backyard Paradise

Ingredients

4 cups fresh pineapple (cubed)
1 cup bourbon
1 cup lemon sparkling water,
such as Perrier (chilled)
1/2 cup Southern Comfort
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method

Process pineapple in a blender until smooth. Press mixture through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a pitcher. Add remaining ingredients, stir and serve over ice in individual glasses. Makes about 4 cups.

Bourbon Marinated Hangar Steak

Ingredients

1/2 cup bourbon
6 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 teaspoon fresh ginger (grated or minced)
1 teaspoon fresh garlic (pressed or minced)
1 tablespoon shallots (minced)
1 pound hangar or skirt steak (trimmed)
1/4 cup heavy cream

Method

Combine all ingredients except steak in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, then simmer one minute. Pour marinade into shallow dish large enough for the steak and let it cool. Add meat to the cooled marinade and coat thoroughly. Refrigerate overnight for no more than 12 hours.

Dry beef with paper towel. Heat a large pan/skillet on high. Sear beef about three minutes per side for medium rare. Remove from pan and let steak rest. Cook down remaining marinade and whisk in cream.

Cut meat into strips and drizzle pan sauce over strips.

Bourbon Bananas Foster

Ingredients

1/3 cup bourbon
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup dark brown sugar (packed)
3 bananas, halved crosswise then lengthwise
4 slices pound cake
4 scoops vanilla ice cream

Method

In a large skillet, cook the butter and brown sugar over medium-high heat, stirring until butter melts. Add the banana pieces and gently turn to coat. Once the sauce starts to bubble, add the bourbon and ignite the mixture using a long match or lighter. Cook until the flames extinguish.

Divide the cake among serving dishes and drizzle with bourbon sauce. Top with ice cream, followed by bananas and remaining sauce.

RECOMMENDED DISTILLERY:

Filibuster Distillery
Spirits of Distinguished Character

All you have to do is take one sip and you’ll discover something that may surprise and delight you. Filibuster is unlike any other bourbon. It’s handcrafted in small batches. Why? Because it’s worth it.

80 Maurertown Mill Rd. • Maurertown, VA 22644
(703) 350-7276 • www.filibusterbourbon.com

Another “Best Of” Record

Our website was in overdrive this fall as readers casted their votes in the 2019 Best Of Lynchburg contest, featuring your favorite businesses, destinations and more. We counted 203,466 votes this year, breaking last year’s record of approximately 172,000 votes. Find the full list of winners in our January/February issue of Lynchburg Living!

Rave Reviews

On the Lynchburg Living Facebook page, Elise Weber gave us five stars, saying “It’s my go to guide for everything in Lynchburg.” We also received five stars from Emily Peerson who said “Love it!” We would love to hear from more readers. Visit our Facebook page and rate/review us today!

Top Teacher Search

We need your help choosing our 2019 Lynchburg Living Top Teachers! Visit LynchburgLiving.com to nominate your favorite educator and tell us how they are making a difference in the lives of students. (He or she must be a current teacher at a local school). A panel of judges will review the nominations and select the top group. Then look for the full feature in our March/April issue!

We Want To hear From You!

Send us an e-mail to shelley@lynchburgmag.com. Correspondents must identify themselves; names may be withheld on request. Lynchburg Living may edit or condense.

Look What I Found!

Have you bought Dad a tie more times than you can count? Or do your kids’ presents always seem to be the same cheap plastic year after year? Whatever Christmas shopping dilemma you’re facing, the 13th annual “Look What I Found!” Holiday Gift Guide is a place to get ideas and inspiration. On the next few pages, check out some items we hand-picked from local stores—a little something for everyone on your list!

Enjoy our Virtual Gift Guide below! You can zoom in to read all the details!

You’ve probably seen this research on the news or shared on social media. Psychology experts say putting up your Christmas trees and decorations earlier can make you feel happier since the holidays usually remind us of our less-stressful childhoods. (I had mine up November 10 last year thanks to some nudging by my stepdaughters.)

Maybe it’s the twinkly lights or the way the multi-colored, overly adorned tree fills up a corner of my living room that otherwise looks a little bare throughout the year—but I get it. There is something innately soothing about the sights and sounds of Christmas.

I guess that’s why I’ve been feeling a lot more chipper lately as I work on our annual Holiday Issue. It’s been fun to proof these pages—from the bright and cheery (think pink and orange) Christmas décor seen in our featured home to the five festive holiday destinations we profiled in our Travel section. I’m also excited to try out a few of the recipes in our Taste department for my next meal. Lisa Woodroof, a self-proclaimed “bourbonista,” uses bourbon in marinades, sauces, desserts, side dishes… you name it. And our annual “Look What I Found” Holiday Gift Guide does not disappoint. I’ve already picked up some gift ideas for a few people on my list.

With the holiday season also being a time to focus on the wants and needs of others, we are excited to unveil this year’s winners of our 5th Annual Giving Back Awards. I’m always so impressed and encouraged to hear what our Top 25 nonprofits are doing in the community… often on shoestring budgets with mostly volunteers.

Also in this issue, for the first time in Lynchburg Living, we are dedicating a special section to focus on mental health. In it, you’ll find us tackle topics such as PTSD, bullying and, the catch-all concern for most of us… STRESS.

Remember—while it won’t take away your financial concerns or make your life less chaotic, those experts say your Christmas tree can serve as a form of therapy. So go grab your fake one from the attic or be the first in line at the tree lot down the road. And while you’re at it, keep it up well into the New Year if you want to.

You aren’t crazy. You might actually be better off mentally than the rest of us!

Shelley Basinger, Managing Editor
Shelley@lynchburgmag.com

Photos by 323 Unmanned Flight Services

This bird’s eye view of the Christmas tree at the roundabout in Wyndhurst was taken by 323 Unmanned Flight Services, an aerial photography and drone service company located in Lynchburg.